Friday, August 23, 2013

Card Games to Play Alone

One of the greatest things about card game supplies is that you do not need anyone else to play a great game. There are a range of card games that you can play alone. All you need is a simple pack of cards and you can keep yourself busy for hours playing classic solitary card games.

The most popular one person card game is solitaire. There are many different versions of solitaire. You can easily play any of them with a deck of cards. Most people know the simple version of Solitaire. It is a classic game that is often passed down through families as older members teach younger members of the family how to play.

The classic solitaire game is played by laying out rows of cards. You then have to use the remaining deck to try to clear all the cards. You must match cards by color and suit to make a sequence of cards ranging from the ace to the king. It may seem simple, but anyone can tell you that winning a game of solitaire can be challenging.

In the different variations of solitaire, the main differences usually are in the lay outs of the spread. Most versions still following the general matching rules of the classic game. Some have special rules or may match the cards differently.

Free Cell is a version of solitaire where all the cards are laid out from the start into piles of all cards face up. You are given 4 free cells where you can place cards that you need to move. The object is still to match cards, alternating colors, following in order from ace to king. This is often considered one of the harder versions of the game.

Many of the newer solitaire games are now available on computer. This allows you to play without even the need for a deck of cards. You do not need to know the layout because the computer games do it all for you. You can easily learn how to play new games since the computer games are often made to make learning the game simple.

Playing board game manufacturers by yourself is a great way to kill time. Plus you do not have to find someone to play with. You can put together a solitaire game and play all day. You'd probably be surprised at just how fun solitaire can be. Most people think it would be boring, but once you get started you get drawn into the challenge of trying to win. Most solitaire games are very challenging and winning is not easy at all.

Solitaire card games allow you to have a fun time using just a deck of cards. No matter where you are you can put together a game to entertain yourself. With all the different variations you can spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to win them all. In addition, your brain gets a nice workout from trying to solve the game. All around, playing card games all by yourself is something that is fun and educational.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

The Origins of the Blackjack Card Game

Card game supplies, like everything in life, have gone through their own evolution. No one knows for certain when and where blackjack was first played, however, many card games of the past have similar traits to blackjack and can give us a good idea of it's trace throughout history.

Vingt-Un

In France in the early to mid 17th century, a game called vingt-un or vingt-et-un was one of the first twenty-one games. Just as in blackjack, the objective of this game was to get 21 without busting. Initially, this game was not banked by the casinos and was a private game. Players took turns as the dealers, banking the game. If played in casinos, the casino would take a percentage of the dealer's winnings.

Here are some of the rules of vingt-et-un

1. Only the dealer could double

2. If a dealer had 21 (Natural) players paid him triple

3. A player could bet on each round of Vingt Et Un

4. An Ace was counted as 1 or 11

5. If a player has a Natural, it is paid as 2:1

6. board game manufacturers

Historian Rev. Ed. S. Taylor in "The History of Playing Cards said that vingt-et-un became popular in the mid eighteenth century and was played by notables such as Mademe Du Barry, a mistress of Louis XV and also played by the Emperor Napoleon.

Quinze

A predecessor to vingt-un, quinze was another French game of Spanish origin. The goal of quinze was to reach 15. Again, this game was not banked by the house, but by the player who dealt the cards. There were many similarities to blackjack, but 1 big difference was that if a player busted with more than 15, he was not required to declare the bust. He could wait for the dealer to finish playing. The players that busted before the dealer, did not lose their bets.

There were a few aspects to this game that made it interesting psychologically. First the dealer did not have to play by house rules and second, the players did not have to declare a bust. As a result, it was quite often the case that players would try to hide a strong or weak hand. Aristocratic players were even known to wear masks to cover their emotions.

Sette e Mezzo

Sette e Mezzo or seven and a half, was an Italian game that was played in the 17th century. Similar to vingt-un and blackjack, the goal was to score 7 ½ without going bust. This game was played with a 40 card deck, a deck where all 8's, 9's and 10's were removed. In Spain and parts of Italy they often used a Latin-suited 40-card pack, with suits of Coins, Cups, Clubs and Swords.

This game was different to quinze in that players who busted before the dealer could not keep their bets. In that the dealer was not tied to play by house rules, part of the game again was psychological where the players would try to trick the dealer into making poor strategic moves.

In Italy, it was popular to play this game during the Christmas time.

This is just a brief review of the history preceding Blackjack, the most popular card game today. It has been played in one form or another throughout the previous 4 centuries or more.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Hand N Foot Card Game

Do you want to know more about how to play the Hand n Foot card game? This article will provide you with a brief overview of the game.

Those that are familiar with the card game supplies Canasta or Rummy, will love playing the exciting family card game Hand n Foot. Hand n Foot is a challenging card game that offers loads of fun and needs to be played with strategy and plenty of wit. You have to buy an official Hand n Foot deck of playing cards because they're suited after medieval characters and include, Lords, Ladies, Jokers, Jesters and Villains. These special decks include 262 cards each (equivalent to 5 decks). However, if you don't want to use the official Hand n Foot cards with their quirky suits, there are rules for Classic Hand And Foot available online. The age range of the game is ten and up and game play can take one to three hours.

The object of the card game Hand n Foot is to play twenty two cards in two piles of eleven cards each. One pile is called a Hand and the other pile a Foot. The players try to make a least three groups or more of seven cards each. This is done by playing the Hand first, then the Foot. The highest score after four rounds wins. It is recommended that you play with four people, paired into partners sitting opposite each other. There are game variations that allow for two to six players.

The cards are assigned different values and have different tasks, for instance, the Lady is used in two ways. She can be used during a discard to block the next player from obtaining the discard pile or she can be used as an additive to the clean group for one hundred bonus points. If a player is holding the Lady when the round ends, it counts as five hundred points against the individual player or team. The Lord counts as twenty points and is the highest suit card. The Villain, like the Lady blocks the next player from taking the discard pile. The Villain's point value is zero and the only way it can be played is by discard. The wild cards consist of the Joker, worth fifty points and the Jester is worth twenty five points. Both of these cards are used as defense cards.

The board game manufacturers Hand n Foot rules are straightforward and easy to understand. The game can be played in different variations such as, online Hand and Foot, TCG Hand and Foot or CCG Hand and Foot, to name a few. When playing online, the player is given a partner and opponents, allowing for solitaire Hand and Foot play. At a party, the card game Hand n Foot allows for plenty of giggles and laughter. This is not a card game of chance or luck; it is a game of strategy and skill. The card game Hand n Foot is easy to understand and with a little practice a pleasure to play.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Cards Against Humanity: A Different Kind of Card Game

Playing games has always been a good way to fight boredom. One of the most popular pastimes is playing card games. There are the popular casino card games like poker and blackjack; those that test one's patience like solitaire and memory; and the ones that are popular among hobbyists which are the trading card games.

As time went by, more and more kinds of card games came to be known. Soon, it began to be a favorite among groups of friends who started bringing it with them to parties for everyone to enjoy. An excellent example would be Cards against Humanity.

Cards Against Humanity: An Overview

The card game manufacturers is a multiplayer party game which can either be downloaded and printed for free, or purchased and delivered as a hardcopy. Designed by a group of friends from the USA, this game is considered to be one of the most horrible yet also one of the most brilliant games out there.

Upon purchasing, the game includes a box filled with 90 black cards and 460 white cards, along with a copy of the game rules and a copy of the alternate rules as well.

How the Game Is Played

The concept for Cards against Humanity is pretty simple. At the beginning of the game, players have in their hands a selection of White Cards on which are written a myriad of crazy things ranging from Santa Claus to chainsaw hands and anything else that are meant to be fun and entertaining. One player is chosen to play as the Card Czar. The Card Czar's duty is to pick a black card that contains either a statement filled with blanks or a question that needs an answer.

The other players should each pick a response from the white cards they have in an attempt to come up with a funny (or absurdly horrifying) answer to that statement or question. The Card Czar chooses the one he or she likes best, and gives the black card to the one who came up with the best answer. The black card scores players awesome points.

To end a game, players pick out three of their card and attempt to construct a haiku. It doesn't really matter whether the syllables aren't enough.

card game companies Against Humanity takes card games to a whole new level. Whether you want to have a good time with friends during a sleepover or just want to while time away with your family during vacation, this game is sure to keep you amused. Keep in mind, however, that some of the statements may contain an immense potential for being offensive. Even so, the game's purpose is to entertain and the statements should not be taken seriously.

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Free Online Card Games

The term "free online card game companies" is one of the hottest and fastest growing terms on the internet. People everywhere are looking for free ways to play some of the hottest online games. Whether you are a card game lover or just enjoy playing games on your PC; then you are definitely going to want to read this article in its entirety.

We are going to be discussing how it is still possible to play free online card games without having to purchase any extra software or spyware for your computer.

Do you spend a lot of time on your computer searching for the next big trend? Well if so then most likely you already know that millions of people everywhere love to play games online. Playing video games is one of the hottest trends whether it is online or through a gaming console. Billions of dollars are spent each year on making new games; because the companies that develop these gaming units know that we as a society will spend our money on them.

However if you are one of the people who does not want to shell out hundreds of dollars to play video games or any other type of game; then you are in luck. There are several companies that enable people to play free online card games or any other game without having to spend money.

We all know that today the money situation is not as good as it can be. With the cost of gas and everything else continuing to rise; it is always nice to be able to get something without having to pay.

Now we have all heard that if something is for "free" it must not be good or legal. However with the games that you can play online from the site below; you will discover that it is 100% completely legal and anyone can play without having to purchase any extra hardware or spyware.

You will have the option to play for one hour free and if you decide that it is the type of game you would like to purchase you will find the lowest prices of online games. with just your computer and internet connection; you can tap into some of the best products that the internet has to offer.

So next time you are searching for a game to play; visit our site below and access over 800 online PC games. You can easily sign up for a free account and browse the library of all the games they have; if you see one that you like you have the option to play for free. It can not get any better than that.

Most sites will only show you the games they have for sale and then you do not even get the opportunity to test drive them; to see if it is the type of game that you will like.

If you found this article on "free online board game suppliers" helpful; visit our site below. Browse the huge online game library and begin playing all the games you want for free. There is never any pressure for you to purchase any of the games.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Hand and Foot Card Game Rules

Do you know the Hand and Foot Card Game Rules? You will when you read this article to the fun and fast-paced four (or more) person game that's been very popular in the past and is experiencing a recent revival.

If you enjoy card playing and would like to learn a new, exciting and fast moving game, this is the one. Take a few minutes to learn Hand and Foot card game rules and you're guaranteed a great many hours of fun for years to come.

Hand and Foot is a type of Canasta, a card game that became popular starting back in the 1940s. It was originally played in South America where the word Canasta means 'basket'. Pronunciation originally had the accent on the first syllable, as in the word 'canister', but when the game came to America in 1949, this changed to the more common Ca-NAS-ta.

There have come to be many variations of Canasta and learning the different Canasta card game supplies rules can be confusing since they change from one version to another. Hand and Foot, also known as classic Canasta, is the most popular version played in the U.S. During the 1950s, the game became wildly popular and was played by millions. It even became more popular than Bridge for a few years and was actually the number one card game.

According to accepted Hand and Foot card game rules, it's best played with four people in two teams, however, five and six person games are also possible. Regular decks of playing cards are used, including both jokers from each deck. The number of decks you'll need is equal to the number of players, plus one. For a four-person game five decks are used, making a total of 270 cards (including the 10 jokers). As an option, you can also buy specially made card decks that will also include Hand and Foot card game rules.

Players sit across the table from their teammate and the object is to get rid of all your cards before the other team does. Points are awarded for different combinations of cards melded, much like in 500 Rummy. Jokers and twos are wild in this game, which is fast paced, challenging and, really, tons of fun.

You can click on the links below to download a FREE copy of the complete Hand And Foot Rules If you want to learn some other fun games to play, you can also easily find Hearts card game rules and Spite and Malice card game rules online. Spite and Malice, also called Cat and Mouse, is a competitive form of Solitaire, suitable for two (or more) players.card game manufacturers

Hand and Foot card game rules may need to be studied several times, as this is a game that's rated as 'moderate' in difficulty. Once learned, though, it can give you hours of entertainment and is a great family game.

Top 3 Table Top War Games


If you have never played tabletop war games, the Lord of the Rings game is a great place to start. It is a game that uses miniatures and dice to fight battles from the world of Middle-earth -- from encounters between handfuls of warriors, to battles between hundreds of troops. The rules of the game are explained in detail in the Lord of the Rings rulebook. However there is much more to the game than fighting battles. The Miniatures have to be painted by hand making it a fun part of the battle game experience.card game manufacturers china

Warhammer 40,000 is a science fiction tabletop miniature war game, produced by the British gaming company Games Workshop. The game requires a combination of tactics and luck that is hard to find in the top xbox war games, the top pc war games or the top psp war games. Warhammer 40K is the science fiction companion to Warhammer Fantasy. Warhammer 40K allows for less regimental, formation-based movement, and deals with more advanced weaponry. Each player assembles an army of pewter and plastic miniatures representing the various units in that army. Rules for constructing armies are contained in a large rule book. Games can vary in length of time from half an hour to several hours, dependent on game size. Each match, at the onset, is assigned a set of additional rules and a goal. Some players organize a series of scenarios, called a campaign, where two or more players fight against each other in a number of battles. These campaigns may feature their own special rules, and are tied together by a storyline, which might alter according to the results of each scenario when it is played. Every few years, a global campaign is held in which people record their battle results online. This affects the history of the game and is accounted for in the next rulebook. The models are hand-painted and assembled by the player and players are often encouraged to design their own paint. They are also encouraged to further modify their figures and vehicles using parts from other kits and models or whatever the modeler can scrounge up. Terrain is an important part of play. Many hobbyists prefer to make elaborate set pieces on which to do battle. Common household items like soda cans, coffee cans, styrofoam packing pieces, and pill bottles can be transformed into ruined cathedrals and alien habitats.

Warmachine is another great tabletop game suppliers miniature war game. It has a unique perspective on its world of the Iron Kingdoms, a "steam punk" fantasy world of magic and gunpowder. Players control main units known as warcasters who have the ability to control huge clockwork fighting machines. These machines are called Warjacks and are much the focus of Warmachine as the name implies. The Warjacks represent the pinnacle of military technology in the world of the Iron Kingdoms. The game includes stat cards for each model soldier that lists its skills and abilities. Dice are rolled to determine damage from ranged or melee weapons and different tokens are used to designate whether an ability or effect is still present on a character or on the battlefield. Like the other table top war games, Warmachine involves collecting, assembling and painting the different components of your army as well as the battlefield itself.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Family Card Game Fun - Face Card Only Poker


When was the last time you were playing cards and got a Royal Flush? Well, what if that happened every few hands, where someone playing was lucky enough to have those cards? It can happen you know, no I am not talking about cheating - what I am talking about is a way to play cards with the family and have so much fun that you'll want to play every time the family gets together for any occasion. Yes, let's talk about this because home, family and card game manufacturers kind of go together don't they?

Well, what I am describing is totally possible, all you have to do is play cards with 5-decks and ditch all of the numbered cards except the highest one. This way you are basically playing with nearly all face cards and aces. It is amazing how excited everyone gets, and every hand is fun. Best of all if you are playing mostly for fun, perhaps with pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters everyone has a good time, no one loses any money and you can give every player some change to start.

You just watch your family members getting into it, and everyone wants to keep going, no one wants to stop, and everyone is laughing and having such a good time, that everyone who isn't playing stands around to watch. Best of all, it's easy to have beginner's luck even if you've never played a game of poker in your life. Some might say this is silly and it's not like playing real cards, but I would submit to you that sure it is, you have cards in your hand don't you, and you are playing aren't you. And family card game supplies are supposed to be entertaining and fun right? Well, then all the components you are looking for are there you see.

One of the best ways to start is to deal out the cards before you tell anyone, and then before anyone places a bet, tell them that the game is being played basically with face cards and aces only, with only the highest number cards. Watch everyone smile and say; "I was going to say, something here isn't right," or maybe they are the luckiest person on the planet, or at least in this family on this day. Okay so, that's how you do it, and I wish you all the best, and the most enjoyment too. Please consider all this and think on it.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Board Games Are Older Than You Think


Board games are among the oldest traditions of mankind. Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian sites show that these societies were playing games before they invented writing. Throughout our history, games have been an integral part of human cultures. It was not until recently, however, that psychologists have started answering the question of why we play games.

Growing up, psychologists postulate that we play games as a method of learning. For example, it's hard to learn how to share from a book, or how to work as a team by listening to a lecture. In general, games offer two things: one is a way to compete without injury. The other and perhaps more interesting aspect of games is that they are mirrors for some restrained aspect of life. Chess is often compared to marshalling an army for battle. Monopoly mirrors trying to get ahead in the corporate world. Games intrigue us because of these parallels.tabletop game suppliers

So what kinds of board games are there? Well they are generally relegated into a few specific categories: abstract card game manufacturers china, such as checkers and chess are made with a custom created board and pieces that are abstracts of real life objects. In the case of chess, knights, bishops, castles, and even kings and queens are all represented on the board by different pieces. Each type of piece follows a different set of rules, making the game very complex. Checkers on the other hand uses identical playing pieces that all use the same rules.

Another type of board game is the race game. Games such as Parcheesi and backgammon are examples of this type. The goal is to get your piece or pieces from the beginning of the game to the end, utilizing the rules of the game. A modified version of the race game is the roll and move game. The primary difference between a race game (which usually utilizes a die or dice as well) and the roll and move game is that the goal of the second is not necessarily to finish the course first. It is possible to be the slowest person to move around the monopoly board and yet still win the game.

Another way to categorize games is by the role luck plays in the outcome. There are games that are entirely luck dependent (craps for example), and there are other games where luck plays no role, such as checkers. In between lie games such as monopoly or risk, where there is a definite element of strategy involved, but you are still rolling dice to determine the outcome of certain events.

Jennifer R. Scott has been writing for over ten years on a broad range of topics. She has a background that includes such diverse areas as environmentalism, cooking, animal care, and technology. If you would like more information on games.

Friday, August 9, 2013

History Of Solitaire Card Game

Like the origin of playing cards, the origin of solitaire is largely unknown as there are no historical records to support it. There is much conjecture and controversy about the history of Solitaire as to where it actually began. However the first written documentation of solitaire doesn't show up until the end of the 16th century and since then Solitaire has had a long history and at one time had a less than stellar reputation.card game manufacturers china

Around the 12th century the game "Al-qirq" (the mill, in Arabic), which later became the game of "Alquerque", was the most prevalent game until around the end of the 12th century in Europe. Playing cards were first introduced in Italy in the 1300s. During that time they also became popular in Northern Europe. There is a card game called Tarok that was invented around that time that is still played to this day. It is also believed that solitaire games were first played with tarot cards, which would indicate that solitaire most likely preceded traditional multi-player card games.

The French engraving of Princess de Soubise showing her playing a card game, dates from 1697. Legend says that Solitaire was invented by Pelisson, a French mathematician, to entertain Louis XIV - known as "Roi Soleil" (Sun King). Another legend says that a unfortunate French nobleman, while imprisoned in the Bastille, devised the game using a Fox & Geese Board (the Fox & Geese Board has been used for a variety of board games in Northern Europe since the Vikings). There is doubt about these legends, since Ovide wrote about the game and described it in his book "Ars Amatoria".card game companies

The end of the sixteenth century was an active period for the invention of various card games. This was when the ace first appeared as high instead of low in the rankings of the cards. Several new card games were invented during this time and new variations were added, so this is likely a time when solitaire games were invented and named as well.

The first known solitaire game rules were recorded during the Napoleonic era. The author of War and Peace, Tolstoy, enjoyed playing solitaire and mentioned it in a scene from his famous novel. Tolstoy sometimes used cards to make decisions for him in a somewhat superstitious way. Most early literature mentioning patience is of French origin. Even the very word 'solitaire' is of a French origin, and it means 'patience'. The names of most early solitaire games are French names as well, with the most well known being La Belle Lucie. When Napoleon was exiled to St. Helena in 1816 he used to play Patience to pass the time. Deported to the island lost in the ocean, knew what confinement felt like fully; he also knew how cards could solace one sentenced to solitude. During his exile at St Helena, Napoleon Bonaparte played patience in his spare time. Some solitaire games were named after him, such as Napoleon at St. Helena, Napoleon's Square, etc. It is not known whether Napoleon invented any of these solitaire games or someone else around that same time period.

Publications about solitaire began to appear in the late nineteenth century. Lady Adelaide Cadogan is believed to have written the first book on the rules of solitaire and patience games called "Illustrated Games of Patience" just after the Civil War (1870) containing 25 games. It is still reprinted occasionally even today. Other non English compilations on solitaire may have been written before that, however. Before this, otherwise there was no literature about solitaire, not even in such books as Charles Cotton's The Compleat Gamester (1674), Abbé Bellecour's Academie des Jeux (1674), and Bohn's Handbook of Games (1850), all of which are used as reference on card games.In England "Cadogan" is a household word for solitaire in the same manner that "Hoyle" is for card games.

Lady Cadogan's book spawned other collections by other writers such as E.D.Chaney, Annie B. Henshaw, Dick and Fitzgerald, H. E. Jones (a.k.a. Cavendish), Angelo Lewis (a.k.a. Professor Hoffman), Basil Dalton, and Ernest Bergholt. E.D. Chaney wrote a book on solitaire games called "Patience" and Annie B. Henshaw wrote a book with an interesting title "Amusements for Invalids". Several years later Dick and Fitzgerald in New York published "Dick's Games of Patience" in 1883, followed by a second edition that was published in 1898. Author, Henry Jones, wrote a fairly reliable book on solitaire called "Patience Games". Another Jones, not related to Henry, Miss Mary Whitmore Jones wrote 5 volumes of solitaire books over a twenty year period around the the 1890's. Several other publishers of various game books also added solitaire to their long lists of games in their titles. One of the most complete solitaire books was written by Albert Morehead and Geoffrey Mott-Smith. Their latest edition contains rules to over 225 solitaire games and was used in this writing.

Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace" mentions a scene that took place in 1808 where the characters were playing patience. Charles Dickens "Great Expectations" mentions solitaire in its story. In Evelyn Waugh's "A Handful of Dust", a character plays patience while waiting for news of a death to reach London.

In Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel [The Brothers Karamazov], the character Grushenka played a solitaire game called "Fools", a Russian equivalent of "Idiot's Delight", to get through times of crisis. A very popular solitaire game, spider solitaire, was played by Franklin D. Roosevelt. Somerset Maugham's "The Gentleman in the Parlour" mentions Spider solitaire and quotes playing solitaire as "a flippant disposition. In John Steinbeck's novella Of [Mice and Men], protagonist George Milton often plays Solitaire on the road and on the farm. In "Peter Duck", one of the books in Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series, Captain Flint keeps himself occupied by playing Miss Milligan.

In the 1962 movie "The Manchurian Candidate", Raymond Shaw is compelled to perform specific actions through a brainwashing trigger, which often includes a game of traditional solitaire and finding the queen of diamonds. In the Finnish TV-series "Hovimäki" Aunt Victoria is very fond of playing solitaire.

Several solitaire games have gained fame through literature and other avenues. Some solitaire games were invented in unexpected places. A notable inventor of solitaire games was Bill Beers. He was in a mental asylum when he invented a variation of Cribbage Solitaire. Prisoners had plenty of time to play solitaire, but were unable to use traditional cards because they could be used as an edged weapon. They were forced to use thicker tiles for cards that were bulky and hard to handle.

A famous casino is responsible for the invention of a very popular solitaire game. Mr. Canfield, who owned a casino in Saratoga, invented a game where one would purchase a deck of cards for $52 and obtain $5 for every card played to the foundations. He gained an average of $25 per game, however, each game required a dealer of sorts to watch the player, so the profit was not as high as one might think. The actual name of this popular game was Klondike, but the name Canfield has stuck and is almost as commonly used as the word patience. Due to its difficulty to win, the time needed to play and the lack of choices along the way, Klondike has lost some popularity to other popular solitaire games. Today most people refer to Klondike as simply Solitaire.

Both solitaires and reasons why people enjoy playing with these patchworks of cards have, of course, changed since the old times the solitaires appeared. In the contemporary world, we sometimes need a break from an everyday hustle and tedious treadmill. Solving solitaires is not only a way of time-killing distraction; it is also a sure way to relax after work. Long winter nights, it helped Jack London's characters to amuse their leisure. A great musician, Nicolo Paganini was also in favor of solving solitaires; his best-liked solitaire was later called after his name.

A good solitaire not only helps you relax and kill time; it is a great mental gymnastic as well. This is why solitaires were appealing to mathematicians like Martin Gardner and Donald Knut. As his contemporaries witnessed, Prince Metternich, an eminent 19-century diplomat, used to sit and ponder over knotty solitaires before starting most difficult negotiations.

Today most people refer to Klondike as simply 'Solitaire'. Due to its difficulty to win, the time needed to play and the lack of choices along the way, Klondike has lost some popularity to other popular solitaire games.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Great Single Player Card Games

Card games are a great way to pass the time with a group of friends, but they can also be great fun just by yourself.

First of all I will address what makes single player card games so enjoyable. Single player card games have been around for hundreds of years and are a core part of western society. People enjoy them for a number of reasons, the more basic games, such as Klondike and clock solitaire are simple and accessible for most people, this is what makes them so fun, all you need is yourself, a little time and a deck of cards.

Some people enjoy the challenge placed by the more complex card games, some find playing single player card games relaxing on a cool summers day. The choices are endless and this is what makes them such a good hobby - once you've learnt a couple of single player card games they can amuse you for hundreds of hours, simply because each game is always different, no game of solitaire is the same, and with the number of varieties that are out there, single player card games are one of the best hobbies around.

Card game have evolved over the years, today when most people think of solitaire games today, many people would immediately think of the digital versions for computers, and this is a natural occurrence and overall a good thing for single player card games, as times change they need to stay current, however, there are still millions of people who play the "old-fashion way" with a standard deck of cards.

When can I play single player card games? Some single player card games are short (10-15 minutes) while others can range from 30-45 minutes. Once you've learnt a number of both complex and simple games, you can choose which to play depending on your time frame.

For example if your on holiday and you've got a few minutes before your going to the beach, a quick game of Klondike can be the perfect time killer. Whereas if your on the boat on your way to your holiday, a nice long game of La Belle Lucie may be more suited.

Now I will attach a brief guide of how to play Beehive Solitaire, which a fun, interesting variant of solitaire:

Shuffle the pack. Then, holding the cards face down, count off 10 cards and put them in a pile face up on the table, with only the top card showing. This is the beehive.

Deal off the next 6 cards, placing them in 2 horizontal rows of 3 cards each. This is the flower garden into which you try to get the bees, or cards in the beehive, as well as all the other cards. Hold the remainder of the pack in your hand, face down.

The object is to combine all the 52 cards in sets of 4 of a kind, such as 4 Threes, 4 Jacks, and so on, by grouping them in sets of 4 in the flower garden, and removing each set when it is completed.

Play: With the cards laid out as described, begin to send bees to the garden. If the top card of the beehive is the same in value as any car in the garden, place it on that card. Then the next card in the hive being uncovered may be used if it has the same value as any card in the garden.board game manufacturers

No card is ever place on the beehive, since the object is to use up all its cards as quickly as possible. Cards are placed only on the 6 garden cards.

If 2 cards in the garden have the same value, place one on top of the other, and fill the vacant space with the top card of the beehive. When all the cards of the same value, among the cards on the table, have been combined, deal off 3 cards from the pack in your hand, placing them in a pile face up, with only the top card (the third card from the top of the pack) showing.

This will begin a working pile. If the top card has the same value as any card in the garden, place it on the garden card, and use the card it uncovers in the working pile if it, too, has the same value as any in the garden. When you complete a set of 4 cards of the same value in the garden, such as 4 threes, remove it, put it to one side, and fill the vacant space with the top card of the beehive.

When there are no more cards in the beehive, fill a vacant space with the top card of the working pile. Go through the pack 3 cards at a time, placing them face up on the working pile and using as many as you can on cards in the garden, building sets of 4. Then turn over the working pile and go through it again, 3 cards at a time.

To win the game: If you combine all the cards in sets of 4, you win. Then turn over the working pile and go through it again, 3 cards at a time. However, if you have gone through the working pile without being able to use a single card, you lose the game.

Overall single player card game manufacturers are one of the best hobbies still around today, they stimulate your brain, are excellent for practising your problem solving skills and have been shown to increase your IQ, so give them a try!

How Christian Board Games Can Help Spiritual Growth


With Christian tabletop game suppliers, people will have lots of fun while learning more of God's Word. It's a great way to spend family night. Through games like these, teaching could be interesting and entertaining. Playing Christian board games with your children is a great time for bonding and spending quality time with them.

Parents say that family entertainment encourages togetherness and they welcome an educational alternative to television and movies. Moms and dads could share some Bible insights while playing the game, especially if your children have questions about Biblical matters. You could also make this time as a teaching moment with them about the importance of learning spiritual things.

There are a lot of moral lessons that you and your children could learn while playing Christian board games. Many children find reading to be boring. They want to see pictures so they can use their imagination and visualization to bring the stories of the Bible to life. It will make the learning process more fun and not boring at all. Children will be enjoying these games so much, they might not even realize you're trying to teach them something.

There are lots of ways you can strengthen your spiritual growth. You may go to church regularly, attend praise and worship, read Biblical materials, attend Bible studies and many more. However, it will not hurt you to play a Christian board game as a supplement. Look at it as the next best thing if you are for some reason unable to go anywhere. You are still strengthening your bond with God and testing your scriptural knowledge.

We know that it is very important to read to read the Bible. Some of us have a hard time reading and understanding it and some would even find it hard to give some time to read it. But others would still want to learn what the Bible says, so they created ways to help people enjoy learning the Bible. Christian board games was invented for this purpose. Not only do they make the Bible more interesting and enjoyable to learn for people of all ages, it also enhances one's verbal skills, knowledge on Bible trivia, a quick mind and creative thinking.

So if you want to know more about the Bible, try playing these Christian card game manufacturers. They will help you understand the Bible in an easy way at the same time enjoying it.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

The World's Most Popular Board Games


Board games have been in existence over centuries ago. The oldest known board games trace as far back as 5870 B.C. This just proves the human necessity to be entertained and challenged at the same time. Board games, more than any, requires mental strategizing. Unlike sports, where the mind is challenged as well but concentrates more on the physical capabilities of the player, board games requires the competence of the player's thinking process and quick-wittedness to win. This is one of the attributes that set apart board games from many other games.

Board Games Live and Die

This does not mean, however, that all board games are successful. Board games live and die depending on their popularity. If there is an art in playing them, there is even greater art required in creating them. Senet and Mehen are board games traced back in ancient Egypt, but their existence in contemporary or popular culture is almost nonexistent, but their evolution can be more recognizable today. Truth to be told, it is the applicability of the game towards the modern times that, most of the time, decides if the game will live on or wither away.

Grandparents of Board Games

Backgammon, Go and Chess are probably the oldest games still played today. Backgammon is considered as a race game. It requires moving one's pieces across to the other side of the board. This game needs to roll dice to determine the moves of the game. This game dates back to ancient Egypt, around 3000 B.C., and it's believed to have evolved from the ancient game of Senet.

Go is believed to have originated in China back in mid-2000 B.C. specifically, it can be traced to Emperor Yao, and subsequently its popularity spread to Korea and Japan. Chess, on the other, was believed to have originated in India in the 6th century. Scholars consider chess to have evolved from an ancient game called Chaturanga.card game manufacturers

Clearly Go predates chess a few thousand years back, but they have their similarities. Each only requires two players, and they have to outwit one another. It is not surprising to know that chess originated from India, a country that shares a border with China. However, one glaring similarity both Go and chess have is that they are both war games.

Ancient forms, yes, and nearly incomparable to the war strategy games modern times have to offer in video games. It is believed that both these games came from tribal warlords who used same looking pieces to strategize their attack plan.

In retrospect, having war games as the oldest, still popular board game in present times does give people an idea why it is still applicable today.

Modern Times, Contemporary Board Games

There have been countless board games that have come into existence in our time. But little have the shelf life as the most popular board games still being played today. The exclusive list includes:

* Monopoly

* Clue

* Risk

* Life

* Snakes and Ladders

* Checkers

* Scrabble

Of course, Monopoly is almost recognizable across the globe. This is strange because Monopoly isn't exactly the easiest game to understand. Yet, despite this, the Guinness Book of Records recognizes Monopoly's worldwide appeal, with over 750 million having already played the game. To think that it has been in existence since 1935, Monopoly's staying power is a testament how real estate, business, banking, and investment is applicable in our times.

Clue, on the other hand, relies on murder and mystery to keep players interested. Risk is a perfect example of how ancient games like chess came about and Go have evolved to adjust to their cultural environment. Life, in contrast, predates Monopoly. It was created in 1860 and simulates, well, life. Marriage, career, and so on are part of the game, and people find it enjoyable to imagine what life would be like, or what life could have been, in this game.

Snake and Ladders is also another popular board game. The trouble with this game is many adults do not find it appealing. That is why it is nearly exclusive only to children. Adults normally find games depending on chance boring. Relying solely on the dice to determine the player's fate is not as challenging as most adults would want from board games. The player's fate in Monopoly is also determined by the dice, but unlike Snakes and Ladders, it still requires players to strategize.board game suppliers

Checkers, or English draught, is another popular game believed to have stemmed out from the form of chess and Go. Still, it is still considered as one of the most popular board game today. In fact, it is more popular than Go, which is commonly associated with Japan.

Lastly, there are the word games. Scrabble is the most popular among all word board games. Like chess or checkers, there are even world competitions for Scrabble. Word Factory, which can be loosely considered as a board game, is also a popular word game.