Curse

Mercury Angel · Sep 08, 2005, 12:54 AM // 00:54

There're those occasions where you've got time to burn, but you don't feel like booting up the computer, or you want something to do with your less technologically inclined friends.

So you plop down around a table, and pull out a deck of cards. One person immediately reaches over and grabs it from your hands, and proceeds to shuffle them incessantly while your group bickers about what game to play. As titles are tossed around, "Bridge", "Pinochle", "Spades", "Hearts" and down the line, fond memories of past games come to mind, sitting with your family and friends. As you reminisce, the noise slowly dies, and the eyes are all on you. The final vote for the game of the night is in your hands;

What's your favourite card game?

(Hurrah for a dramatic buildup leading to a simple question!)

Canasta was often played by my mother, step-father, aunts, and uncles when I was younger and everyone lived closer together. When I was too young to understand the rules, I'd sit and watch, and when I grew older, I eventually started filling in for family members when they couldn't make it.
Hearts was also the first multiplayer computer card game I'd ever played, so that holds a special fondness in my heart.

With other children, Go Fish was the first card game I'd ever learned to play. But that game, like Tic-Tac-Toe, grew rather old fairly quickly.
Later on, Rummy was the in-game around school and the neighbourhood. We'd all gather in somebody's garage, clear off a spot, and settle down to play.

I hear right now Speed is what younger card players are interested in.

However, in my repertoire, I have Cribbage, Spades, Scat (AKA 31), numerous forms of Solitaire, Poker, and Blackjack as well.

What is it that I prefer playing most of all?
Definitely Canasta. The memories of family brought together that will never actually be realized again, the cooperative team play, and the relatively simple yet elegant rules (Which most people will describe their card game as, I'm sure, when in reality, the games are insane to try to play without prior instruction and practice.) It's been over a year since I've played Canasta with 3 other people physically, and computer games, even with real people, just don't capture the essence quite as well.

So, what fond memories do you have of other card games, and which one do you prefer above all others?

Bormil Stonemight · Sep 08, 2005, 12:57 AM // 00:57

Euchre is definitely the best card game in... the history of forever. Or something like that.

pedro11 · Sep 08, 2005, 06:43 AM // 06:43

I would have to disagree with the Euchre statement, obviously you have neverplayed Kaiser

Shinsei · Sep 08, 2005, 07:03 AM // 07:03

Magic: The Gathering.

Little Thom's Bro · Sep 08, 2005, 07:11 AM // 07:11

Yugi Oh

Guillaume De Sonoma · Sep 08, 2005, 07:23 AM // 07:23

I hate all who play Yugi Oh it is a plague that sweeps the nation detererating childrens brains. I do think magic is better because it does make you think pretty hard if your up against some one good but i quit that a few years a go.

I have to go with cribbage. Its an old military mans game but its very good and there's only one person in my family that can't play it but shes 8. If you get a modified bored you can play teams or with more people but everyone has their own opinion.

zehly · Sep 08, 2005, 01:15 PM // 13:15

Strip Poker with a bunch of your girlfriends is awesome.

Xue Yi Liang · Sep 08, 2005, 02:52 PM // 14:52

As a kid, after I read that classic book by Ricky Jay "Cards as Weapons" I liked flinging playing cards relentlessly at my brother from across the room.

*I gave away my copy of that book when I was in the 8th grade. Recently I looked for another copy and discovered they were out of print. To my surprise, used copies sell for around $600!

Mercury Angel · Sep 08, 2005, 07:40 PM // 19:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xue Yi Liang

As a kid, after I read that classic book by Ricky Jay "Cards as Weapons" I liked flinging playing cards relentlessly at my brother from across the room.

*I gave away my copy of that book when I was in the 8th grade. Recently I looked for another copy and discovered they were out of print. To my surprise, used copies sell for around $600!

Now you made me look it up!

http://www.davidslife.com/funstuff/cards/technique.htm

I've been wondering how they managed such control on cards when thrown for a while now.

Anyway, as for Yugi-Oh and Magic, I was more referring to the 52 card decks, or their derivatives, which can be easily used to play numerous games among most of the general public.

I'll play Magic with other people's cards rarely, but the hobby is too rich for my blood.

Aracos79 · Sep 08, 2005, 08:45 PM // 20:45

Magic is great in a casual sense. You get together with a bunch of your friends, cook up crazy decks, and let the madness begin. Tournaments suck big time though. I tried to get in to tournament Magic... it damn near bankrupted me.

If we're just talking about the 52 card deck... Spades FTW! Unless you have a dumba$$ partner and then Hearts FTW.

midnyte13 · Sep 08, 2005, 09:23 PM // 21:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by zehly

Strip Poker with a bunch of your girlfriends is awesome.

i'll bring the beer and chips

and my vote is texas hold em

Xue Yi Liang · Sep 08, 2005, 10:08 PM // 22:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercury Angel

I've been wondering how they managed such control on cards when thrown for a while now.

Well there's a special way to grip the cards. The best way to describe it is that the throw is not like a frisbee toss - it's more like snapping your fingers while whipping out your arm. With practice you'll get remarkably accurate with a lot of cutting power. The card kinda flies in a spiral at your target. I can still do it... really cool.

Thanks for the link - it's taken directly from that book.

Labrie · Sep 08, 2005, 10:24 PM // 22:24

Speed is always fun. Spoons is a family favorite, the games can get pretty intense with people literally fighting over the last spoon. Black eyes and bruised arms are all but a small price to pay for fun.

Divine Elemental · Sep 08, 2005, 11:25 PM // 23:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by zehly

Strip Poker with a bunch of your girlfriends is awesome.

Seeing Beldanady Do That = Price Less ^^
when i was 7 i liked pokemon and yu-gi-oh

and when i was 10 i liked Magic gathering
for now i like non but hmm ^^

Mistress Eyahl · Sep 08, 2005, 11:30 PM // 23:30

Super Scrummy

ManadartheHealer · Sep 09, 2005, 03:30 AM // 03:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by midnyte13

...my vote is texas hold em

/signed

Poker is great, also black jack. And occasionally I like to play Hearts, Michigan (I think that's the name of the card game played for M&Ms LOL

), and Bullshit