Having written about card games recently in my new book (the one that comes out in July) you'd think I'd know the rules of various games. But, just as I can never remember jokes, so I am hopeless with cards. No matter how hard I try I have never managed to retain the rules of Rummy or Poker or Whist, not even when I was young and my brain more retentive.
It turns out, though, that it doesn't really matter. I had no idea how much teenagers could enjoy daft card games such as Cheat and Snap (the only two I can ever remember). We are having serious Cheat and Snap competitions in the evenings at the moment, with Phoebe the series winner at Cheat (so funny that she is the least deceptive of all of us, or so we thought...) while I have the upper hand at Snap. Tom is doing his best to cheat and shout his way back into the competition, but so far all his ruses have been spotted.
We use old brewery cards for a touch of nostalgia (and the added excitement of a missing Jack of Hearts), but I don't think I'd cut the mustard in any pub with proper card-players, not even with my nifty Snap moves and demon cheating.
Out of all of the toys and games which we spent ridiculous amounts of money on last christmas, the best was a card game (for children). We love it and have played it to death. We wait til the babies are in bed and then it is really game on!
Posted by: The Antidote | May 12, 2009 at 18:29
I have such great times with my family playing cards. The memories go way back, and we are still at it.
Posted by: KT | May 12, 2009 at 18:37
I came from a generation when childminding was the preserve of the older generation. I had great aunts and grandparents who loved teaching me card games. I could have opened a casino by the time I was 8 and by the same age my brother was taught the mystical arts of swigging a shot of whiskey and hand rolling cigarettes! Those were the days! t.x
Posted by: kitschen pink | May 12, 2009 at 20:16
My hand is up! I know the rules of Rummy!
Card games are fun aren't they....
Posted by: Julie | May 12, 2009 at 20:23
You've got to play Speed. I thought it was only known in my school until I discovered someone at work (16 years later) that knew how to play it. It'll damage your pretty cards though..if you're playing it right !
Posted by: Ponytail | May 12, 2009 at 21:24
Snap I'm familiar with, but cheat???
Please enlighten us Jane!
Posted by: Mrs C | May 12, 2009 at 21:37
love these cards, so retro!
Posted by: claire | May 13, 2009 at 09:09
Some of my happiest times as a nanny were those spent playing Racing Demon with the girls. "Just one more game Nanny" they would plead, and I would usually agree, as this simple game is so much fun.
Posted by: Fran H-B | May 13, 2009 at 12:04
I am like you about remembering rules of card games. But we spent many hours playing canasta with my grandparents. Years later, I found myself at my German landlady's card table playing canasta. Of course, I didn't have a clue what the cards were called in German and wondered if I remembered anything more than that red threes were good and that black threes were really bad. I don't know either of the games you mention, but just thinking about cards helps me remember lovely evenings.
Posted by: Peg in Kensington, California | May 13, 2009 at 23:36
As usual, your visual is so great! It occurs to me that these cards might inspire a quilt not unlike your Tate Art museum quilt in 'The Gentle Art' ---
Posted by: dee | May 15, 2009 at 13:41
Please tell me your new book , or another post, will have the rules of how to play Cheat and Snap. I'm always looking for a fun new game.
Posted by: Relyn | June 01, 2009 at 03:06