Sailors have been at sea for centuries, and during their downtime, they had to find ways to entertain themselves. One such way was playing card games.
Card games were popular among sailors because they were easy to carry around and could be played with just a few people. In this article, we will look at some of the card games that sailors played.
Cribbage
Cribbage is a card game that was popular among sailors in the 17th century. It is a two-player game that involves scoring points by forming combinations of cards that add up to 15 or 31. The game is played with a special cribbage board and pegs, which are used to keep score.
Poker
Poker is a popular card game that sailors still play today. It is a game of skill and strategy that involves betting on the strength of your hand. There are many variations of poker, including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven-Card Stud.
Euchre
Euchre is a trick-taking card game that was popular among sailors in the 19th century. It is played with a deck of 24 cards, which includes all the cards from nine to ace in each suit except for the ten. The objective of the game is to win tricks by playing high cards in each suit.
Hearts
Hearts is another trick-taking card game that sailors played. It is played with a standard deck of 52 cards and involves players trying to avoid taking certain cards, particularly the queen of spades and hearts.
Spades
Spades is another popular trick-taking card game that sailors played. It is similar to Hearts but involves players bidding on how many tricks they think they can win before play begins.
- Blackjack
- Bridge
- Whist
Another popular card game among sailors is Blackjack. It is a simple game that involves players trying to beat the dealer’s hand without going over 21.
Bridge is a more complex card game that sailors also played. It is played with a standard deck of 52 cards and involves four players playing in two partnerships. The objective of the game is to score points by winning tricks.
Whist is a classic trick-taking card game that sailors played in the 18th century. It involves four players playing in two partnerships, and the objective of the game is to win tricks by playing high cards in each suit.
Conclusion
In conclusion, sailors played a variety of card games during their downtime at sea. These games provided entertainment and helped pass the time during long voyages.
From simple games like blackjack to more complex ones like bridge, there was something for everyone. So, if you find yourself at sea with some downtime, why not try your hand at one of these classic card games?