Canasta Card Game – How to Play the Popular Canasta Card Game
Posted by in Classic Card Games on April 22, 2012
Do you know how to play the Canasta card game? This article tells you how. Canasta is a rummy-like game that originated in the 1930s. While the rules and variations of the game were developed in Uruguay, popularity spread quickly and Canasta became the most preferred card game over other games including the Hearts and Cribbage card games. In the early 1950s, this Latino Rummy card game became standardized with a few variations and was labeled Classic Canasta. While Canasta rules will vary based on the country in which you reside and your specific preferences, most versions are similar in form and differ primarily in terms of players and points. In the paragraphs below the original Canasta card game will be discussed to give you a feel for how the game is meant to be played.
Canasta is designed to be played with four players that are playing as partners. While there are versions that can be adjusted for two and three players, the rules mentioned below will be referring to the four-player version. What you will need to play Canasta at home with your friends are two standard decks of 52 cards, and 4 jokers for a total of 108 cards. Each card is assigned a different point value. In original Canasta, the points differ from other versions like the Canasta Caliente card game. Jokers are assigned the highest point value of 50. Aces and twos are assigned 20 points each. Kings, queens, jacks, tens, nines and eights are given 10 points each. In addition, the remaining cards are assigned the lowest point value of 5. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: canasta card game, rummy card game, spades card gameThe History of Card Games
Posted by in Classic Card Games on April 18, 2012
A deck of cards is something you probably do not give much thought to. It is just a tool that you can use to play fun games alone or with others. For some people a deck of cards is a serious thing that allows them to make money and serves as part of their business. For others, a deck of cards is computerized and used to kill time. Have you ever thought about where cards and card games originated? It seems they have been around forever, but why where they created and how did they become such a staple in everyday life?
The origins of cards seem to go back to dominoes. When paper was invented, cards were invented as more convenient way t play classic games. The Chinese are said to be the actual inventors of playing cards, which occurred around the ninth century when paper was invented.
Somewhere between the 14th and 15th century playing cards began showing up in Europe. The Europeans redesigned the cards into the more modern looking deck that we know today. They added the four suits and the court cards. This is also when the many popular card games we play today were created.
Classic games like euchre, spades, bridge and hearts became very popular as in home card games. Today there are many different types of card games, ranging from group games to single play games. Most of these card games came from Europe. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: court cards, deck of cards, traditional suitsIlluminati Card Game
Posted by in Classic Card Games on April 14, 2012
Illuminati: Deluxe
Illuminati Deluxe is the classic card game brought to you by Steve Jackson. The object of the game is to take over the world by controlling illuminati societies such as, but not limited to: The Bavarian Illuminati, The Discordian Society, The UFOs, The Servants of Cthulu, The Bermuda Triangle, The Society of Assassins, The Network and The Gnomes of Zurich; keep in mind, some societies will only be available by purchasing separate expansion packs or stand-alone games.
As for gameplay, in Illuminati Deluxe players will trade, form alliances, and backstab each other in order to gain control of a world represented a group of cards such as: Secret Masters of Fandom, CIA, International Communist, etc. In order to win, players must complete the aim of the game; for example, building a power structure consisting of a given number of cards, or controlling at one card of each alignment; though, there are many other ways to win.
Illuminati: Crime Lords
Illuminati: Crime Lords is a stand-alone expansion brought to by Steve Jackson; in it, rival mobs compete with each other over control of the city in ruin. When starting out, you’ll control a few gangsters; however, with ambition you’ll be able to take over the entire world.
To do this, take control over bordellos, chop shops, and racketeering schemes to earn income. But don’t let the Feds or the police stop you. The game supports a total of 2-8 players that directly compete with each other in order to take control of the world. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: bavarian illuminati, card game illuminati, gnomes of zurich