Imported from the Mamluks of Egypt, card games first hit Europe around 1371 and within ten years had spread from Spain and Italy to France and Germany. By 1420, German and Swiss cardmakers were producing packs by the thousands (first by stencil, later by metal engraving) marked with a bewildering array of suits, including hounds, bears, parrots, roses, helmets, banners, and bells. Games proliferated as well, and by 1534, Rabelais could name 35 different card games in Chapter 22 of Gargantua. Today, of course, there are thousands of games, from the universally popular Poker and Contract Bridge, to national manias such as Swiss Jass, German Skat, and French Belote. This is a historical guide to cards in Europe and America. This is not primarily a book of rules or hints on how to play better, but a survey of where the games originated, how they have developed over time, and what their rituals and etiquette tell us about the people who play them.

Classic and comprehensive, this guide to over 350 games is sure to appeal to all ages. From Bridge to Poker and Solitaireto Hearts, card games are a beloved source of entertainment and competition (and they are recession proof!). This authoritative book is ideal for every household, college dorm, family cabin, or neighborhood bar that has a pack of cards. Designed in the style of the popular Ultimate Bar Book, this essential resource provides the rules to dozensof variations of your favorite games, and a few you've probably never heard of (Bezique, anyone?). With simple instructions and clear illustrations to guide the way, this volume will be a welcome addition to any gamer's library.

An historical guide to the card games of Europe and America. It surveys how the games originated and developed, and the rituals and etiquette which surround them.

First published in 1931, this vintage book explores the history and origins of playing cards from traditional English playing cards to tarot cards and card manufacturers in Britain and Europe. Extensively illustrated and full of interesting information, “Playing Cards” is highly recommended for those with an interest in the history of playing cards and is not to be missed by collectors of vintage literature of this ilk. Contents include: “Card Games”, “Preface”, “Many Theories About the invention of Playing Cards”, “The Tarot Cards”, “Varieties of the European Four-Suit Pack”, “Earliest References to English Playing Cards”, “Genesis of the English Pack”, etc. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new introduction on card games.

The Penguin Book of Card Games is the authoritative up-to-date compendium, describing an abundance of games to be played both for fun and by serious players. Auctions, trumpless hands, cross-ruffing and lurching: card players have a language all of their own. From games of high skill (Bridge) to games of high chance (Newmarket) to trick-taking (Whist) and banking (Pontoon), David Parlett, seasoned specialist in card games, takes us masterfully through the countless games to choose from. Not content to merely show us games with the conventional fifty-two card pack, Parlett covers many games played with other types of cards - are you brave enough to play with Tarot? With a 'working description' of each game, with the rules, variations and origins of each, as well as an appendix of games invented by the author himself, The Penguin Book of Card Games will delight, entertain and inform both the novice and the seasoned player.

Your Favorite Card Games, All in One Place! Now you can enjoy all the games you've always loved--and find new favorites--with The Book of Card Games. From bridge and pitch to war and whist, this timeless collection outlines the rules to more than fifty classic games and a number of entertaining variations. You can reference the exact rules for gin rummy or try a new spin on the game-night staple with Manipulation Rummy. Why not switch it up on the poker table and go all in during a round of Anaconda, Football, or Omaha? You can even have fun on your own with solitary games like Free Cell and Monte Carlo. The Book of Card Games stacks the deck in your favor for hours of entertaining fun with family and friends!

A leading inventor and collector of games, Sid Sackson is also an expert on game history. For this highly entertaining volume, the self-proclaimed "game addict" has selected over 60 popular games from around the world. A brief but fascinating introductory chapter to the history of card playing is followed by a valuable glossary of terms associated with this popular pastime. Additional chapters supply instructions, detailed illustrations, and an abundance of clear examples for playing such intriguing diversions as Sampen, Kowah, Kabu, Cha Kau Tsz' and Khanhoo from Asia; Skat, Blackjack, Old Maid, Fan Tan, Eights, Klondike, La Belle Loucie, Accordion, and Hearts from Europe; Whist, Blackout, Cribbage, Spoil Five, and Casino from the British Isles; Pif Paf, Samba, Bolivia, and Canasta from Latin America; and Poker, Pinochle, Contract Bridge, Rummy, and Oklahoma Gin from the United States. Most games can be played by children or adults with a common deck of 52 playing cards (a few will need additional cards from a second deck).

Learn when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em with Card Night, a collection of 52 classic card games, including rules and strategies. Featuring step-by-step, illustrated instructions, and two indexes that organize each game by difficulty and number of players needed, Card Night includes directions for playing all the most popular card games, including Hearts and Bridge, Rummy and Go Fish. In addition to providing the rules of standard game play, Card Night also details the fascinating stories and peculiarities behind some of the world's most famous card decks, some of which were used as currency, tools for propaganda, and even as a means for sending coded messages. Offering one game for each week of the year, Card Night is the go-to companion for weekly game nights, long car rides, and rainy days spent at home. Wow your friends and family with your game playing prowess and keep them entertained with fascinating details from playing card history.