🗂️ Quartets (Happy Families): card game rules

Google Classroom

Quartets, known in the UK as Happy Families, is a favorite in homes and preschools. Each set of four cards shares a theme, and the fun is in asking for exactly the card you need.

How to play Quartets (Happy Families)

Goal: Collect as many complete quartets (four cards from the same group) as you can.

Setting up

  1. Shuffle and deal out all the cards.
  2. Each player sorts their hand into groups without showing anyone.
  3. Anyone who already holds a complete quartet lays it on the table right away.

How to play

  1. On your turn, ask another player for a specific card from a group you already hold at least one card of, for example: 'From the fruit group, do you have the apple?'
  2. If they have it, they must hand it over, and you ask again.
  3. If they don't, the turn passes to the player you asked.
  4. Lay each completed quartet face up in front of you.
  5. A player who runs out of cards is out, and the others keep going.

Who wins

Once every quartet is on the table, the player with the most quartets wins.

Tips

  • Remember who asked for what. If someone asked about a group, they hold at least one card from it.
  • No Quartets deck at home? Use a normal deck: each number is a group, and each suit is one card in that group.

Variations

  • Mystery Quartets: ask only for a group, not a specific card, and the other player hands over any card from that group they choose.

Questions and answers

Is Quartets the same as Happy Families?

Yes, they're the same kind of game: collect themed groups of four by asking other players for cards.

Can you play Quartets with a regular deck?

Yes. Treat each number as a group and each of the four suits as a card in it.