A Classical Background

Here is a bit of history on these classic card games, which will be MSO 2000 events.

Euchre -

This game has been in the US since the early 1800's, having been introduced by the French settlers in the New Orleans area. From there it migrated along the Mississippi River, and became very popular in the Midwest (Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Euchre was the # 1 card game in the US until the late 1800's - when it was finally supplanted by Whist and Poker. It has made a wonderful comeback - thanks to the Internet, and promotions by US Playing Card Company ("Bicycle").

Euchre is a very easy game to learn, with a nice mixture of luck and skill. Each hand requires only a few minutes of time to complete, and the typical game of ten points is over in less than an hour! The Partnership variation with a 24-card deck is the most popular in the US; three-handed and Joker variations are also quite challenging. The advent of the Internet has rekindled interest in this Classic Game. More and more sites are adding this game to their repertoire.

Spades -

The game of Spades was created in Cincinnati, OH in the late 1930's, as an alternative to Bridge, and Whist - the latter of which was in decline. The Partnership game was the most popular, and after the Second World War, it spread to the the College campuses in the USA.

Although Spades is played mechanically the same as Bridge, it does have four significant differences. (1) There is only one round of bidding; (2) Spades are always trump; (3) It is possible to bid "zero" or "Nil"; and (4) Overtricks are penalized in the form of "bags". This, too is a very easy game to learn; however, it is replete in strategy and skill, and a good pair will usually triumph.

Spades is the # 1 Partnership card game in the US - with more than thirty thousand players on line at various sites at any one time. The game has lots of variations, and the novice player is advised to be sure of the Rules of a Site or Tournament before participating. Strangely enough, this game has not really grown significantly outside of the US; however, it is slowly gaining a group of devotees in various countries.

Hearts -

Hearts is an old favorite - having evolved from a game called "Reversis" - in which the object was to avoid winning tricks. Here is another card game with basic rules and a whole boatload of strategy and technique! It flourished in the US in late 1700's, and was a smash hit during the heyday of the Mississippi/Missouri river boats trade. In time, Hearts became quite popular - especially on college campuses. By the 1950's, it was the most popular individual's card game in the U.S.

The Internet has also helped to popularize Hearts, and it is played in many countries. Variations abound - including a very neat Partnership Game!

My next article will focus on the detailed histories of these classic games... For more details on Hearts, Spades, and Euchre - refer to this Site: www.pagat.com - it is a treasure trove of information!

- Joe Andrews