What's The Best Card Game?

[IsaacNewton]

OT:
I find it interesting to discover what games individuals most enjoy. I think one can learn something about a person by the games they like to play. In addition, to bridge and pinochle, I like Go, Diplomacy, backgammon, chess, "figure it out" games like Myst, and some RPGs.

FWIW and because folks have mentioned it, I can play poker -- I'm even somewhat decent at it -- but I don't particularly enjoy playing it. Ditto the other games that casinos offer and that I've played (roulette, Blackjack, and baccarat)

Myst was incredible when it came out. We spent hours working through the puzzles. It was too cool to finally figure something out and get some machine to work or go to a new area. Also like Chess. And Parchisi.

For a standard deck of cards I have no favorite, hearts, spades, poker, gin rummy. All good.

 

[saveliberty]

For brain fun bridge, for socializing euchre.

 

[longknife]

I was once a Poker dealer and the true test of the game is reading the other players, something you can't do online or the slots.

The most challenging game for me was Duplicate (tournament) Bridge. Socializing and brain testing.

 

[my2¢]

Euchre is my personal favorite. Also like Hearts and Rummy. There's Solitaire when nobody else is around and when we don't want to get serious there's always I Doubt It (aka Bullshit).

 

[WillMunny]

I like Fizzbin - you know, that one Capt. Kirk made up on the spot.

 

[Bonzi]

What is Tonk?

God bless you always!!!

Holly

P.S. I voted "other" because my favorite game is like War, but better. I don't know the actual name of the game, but I love the game like War where having the King, Queen, Jack, and Ace cards give you an advantage and if you and your competitor lay down the same number or letter card one right after another, the first person to slap the pile is who gets every card that is in it.

I've not played it myself, but know people that have. Here is the Wikipedia summary:

Tonk, or tunk, is a matching card game, which combines features of knock rummy and conquian. Tonk is a relatively fast game that can be played during brief periods of time by varying numbers of players. It was first known to be played at Highland Park High School, Topeka, Kansas in the early 1970s

 

[Bonzi]

Though I voted for bridge because I play it more often, I'm equally given to bridge and pinochle.

Do you know of any sites or apps where you can play against robots for free?
I had one app but it only gave me so many hands to play against the robots.
I don't want people to have to suffer through my learning process!

 

[Bonzi]

For teams I like Spades. I just learned Euchre recently, so that is not bad, but again, I hate teaming with someone cause I'm so new and it's like a guaranteed loss.....

For one on one it's hard to beat Rummy 500 (or Cribbage)


Non standard deck card games, I like UNO, but, also love SkipBo

 

[iamwhatiseem]

Hands down....

Coed Strip Poker

You realize today that could be all men...

 

[Pop23]

On usmb

It’s the race card game!

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Poker...stud, draw, Texas hold'em...

Newcomers always welcome!!!

^ this

 

[CrusaderFrank]

`
Solitaire

Solitare strip poker

 

[usmbguest5318]

Though I voted for bridge because I play it more often, I'm equally given to bridge and pinochle.

Do you know of any sites or apps where you can play against robots for free?
I had one app but it only gave me so many hands to play against the robots.
I don't want people to have to suffer through my learning process!

Do you know of any sites or apps where you can play against robots for free?

No. You many care to check out the following:

• Pinochle
• Bridge

Commentary/Considerations:

Bridge:

FWIW, I cannot imagine playing bridge with AI partners and opponents. How does one declare one's conventions with them? Do computerized opponents declare conventions? I suspect AIs are programmed to play SAYC, but I suspect they don't overlay or have provision for much else. (See also: 13 Conventions You Should Know By Heart) Indeed, inasmuch as SAYC is rather straightforward and simple enough to learn, one doesn't need to play for long before the value of basic conventions -- Stayman, Blackwood, Jacoby, and Weak Twos, for instance -- becomes apparent, indeed, essential.

For example, are AI's programmed to recognize one's invoking Michaels (called a cue bid, but has nothing to do with slam bidding) rather than standard cue bidding, which is about exploring slam prospects? I don't know, but absent a lot of detail about the AI and how it's been programmed, I wouldn't meddle with playing with or against one. I haven't seen any that do that, but it's also been decades since I tried playing a computerized bridge game.
​

Pinochle

I've tried a few computerized pinochle games (double-deck varieties) and they're decent enough; however, I'm not aware of any of them that implement bidding conventions that account for the differences between single and double-deck pinochle. For instance, I've not seen any pinochle AIs that apply the "power of eight" concept or that situationally modify meld bidding. Furthermore, one of them I encountered implements play few if any human players would and in other instances AIs don't do things most intermediate and nearly all advanced players do.

For example, while holding a ace, a counter and a two non-counters, the AI would on partner's second ace lead point the play by throwing it's protected ace, that even though the suit was, prior to partner's lead, unintroduced. Similarly, I've never seen an AI that "push bids" or that "buys time."
​

Computerized Bridge and Pinochle

One thing that computerized games are very good at is counting cards and assessing distributional probabilities. For both bridge and pinochle, both skills are one's you'll want to master regardless of how well you bid or play the cards because both games, like chess, are all about controlling the play and creating opportunities to exploit imbalances or minimizing the impact of unfavorable imbalances one must, for a given hand, endure.
​

Am I suggesting that playing with/against a robot cannot benefit you in some regard? No. I'm saying that the value of playing with/against robots is very, very limited. Bots are good for teaching one the "brute force/blunt instrument" approach to the games, but that's it. Finesse is part of both bridge and pinochle (as well as there being a play called "the finesse") and I've yet to see an AI that exhibits it.​

 

[Bonzi]

Though I voted for bridge because I play it more often, I'm equally given to bridge and pinochle.

Do you know of any sites or apps where you can play against robots for free?
I had one app but it only gave me so many hands to play against the robots.
I don't want people to have to suffer through my learning process!

Do you know of any sites or apps where you can play against robots for free?

No. You many care to check out the following:

• Pinochle
• Bridge

Commentary/Considerations:

Bridge:

FWIW, I cannot imagine playing bridge with AI partners and opponents. How does one declare one's conventions with them? Do computerized opponents declare conventions? I suspect AIs are programmed to play SAYC, but I suspect they don't overlay or have provision for much else. (See also: 13 Conventions You Should Know By Heart) Indeed, inasmuch as SAYC is rather straightforward and simple enough to learn, one doesn't need to play for long before the value of basic conventions -- Stayman, Blackwood, Jacoby, and Weak Twos, for instance -- becomes apparent, indeed, essential.

For example, are AI's programmed to recognize one's invoking Michaels (called a cue bid, but has nothing to do with slam bidding) rather than standard cue bidding, which is about exploring slam prospects? I don't know, but absent a lot of detail about the AI and how it's been programmed, I wouldn't meddle with playing with or against one. I haven't seen any that do that, but it's also been decades since I tried playing a computerized bridge game.
​

Pinochle

I've tried a few computerized pinochle games (double-deck varieties) and they're decent enough; however, I'm not aware of any of them that implement bidding conventions that account for the differences between single and double-deck pinochle. For instance, I've not seen any pinochle AIs that apply the "power of eight" concept or that situationally modify meld bidding. Furthermore, one of them I encountered implements play few if any human players would and in other instances AIs don't do things most intermediate and nearly all advanced players do.

For example, while holding a ace, a counter and a two non-counters, the AI would on partner's second ace lead point the play by throwing it's protected ace, that even though the suit was, prior to partner's lead, unintroduced. Similarly, I've never seen an AI that "push bids" or that "buys time."
​

Computerized Bridge and Pinochle

One thing that computerized games are very good at is counting cards and assessing distributional probabilities. For both bridge and pinochle, both skills are one's you'll want to master regardless of how well you bid or play the cards because both games, like chess, are all about controlling the play and creating opportunities to exploit imbalances or minimizing the impact of unfavorable imbalances one must, for a given hand, endure.
​

Am I suggesting that playing with/against a robot cannot benefit you in some regard? No. I'm saying that the value of playing with/against robots is very, very limited. Bots are good for teaching one the "brute force/blunt instrument" approach to the games, but that's it. Finesse is part of both bridge and pinochle (as well as there being a play called "the finesse") and I've yet to see an AI that exhibits it.​

What would be your suggestion to one starting to play bridge? Read? Is it beneficial to make up a convention with a steady partner?

 

[Valerie]

i like to play 'pitch' ..



i learned it as a kid and use to love to play with my parents and aunts and uncles

Pitch Rules | Hoyle Card Games | Official Site

 

[Valerie]

also, we use to play 'whist'.

i like to play "knock out whist" with the kids...

or crazy eights if they are too young to get whist yet. (like uno)

 

[Valerie]

with my friends, we use to play spades or hearts... or poker for money.

i use to love to play cribbage with my nana...

 

[Valerie]

gin and rummy are for playing with friends who don't know how to play those other games, or if you don't really feel like having to focus much.

 

[usmbguest5318]

Though I voted for bridge because I play it more often, I'm equally given to bridge and pinochle.

Do you know of any sites or apps where you can play against robots for free?
I had one app but it only gave me so many hands to play against the robots.
I don't want people to have to suffer through my learning process!

Do you know of any sites or apps where you can play against robots for free?

No. You many care to check out the following:

• Pinochle
• Bridge

Commentary/Considerations:

Bridge:

FWIW, I cannot imagine playing bridge with AI partners and opponents. How does one declare one's conventions with them? Do computerized opponents declare conventions? I suspect AIs are programmed to play SAYC, but I suspect they don't overlay or have provision for much else. (See also: 13 Conventions You Should Know By Heart) Indeed, inasmuch as SAYC is rather straightforward and simple enough to learn, one doesn't need to play for long before the value of basic conventions -- Stayman, Blackwood, Jacoby, and Weak Twos, for instance -- becomes apparent, indeed, essential.

For example, are AI's programmed to recognize one's invoking Michaels (called a cue bid, but has nothing to do with slam bidding) rather than standard cue bidding, which is about exploring slam prospects? I don't know, but absent a lot of detail about the AI and how it's been programmed, I wouldn't meddle with playing with or against one. I haven't seen any that do that, but it's also been decades since I tried playing a computerized bridge game.
​

Pinochle

I've tried a few computerized pinochle games (double-deck varieties) and they're decent enough; however, I'm not aware of any of them that implement bidding conventions that account for the differences between single and double-deck pinochle. For instance, I've not seen any pinochle AIs that apply the "power of eight" concept or that situationally modify meld bidding. Furthermore, one of them I encountered implements play few if any human players would and in other instances AIs don't do things most intermediate and nearly all advanced players do.

For example, while holding a ace, a counter and a two non-counters, the AI would on partner's second ace lead point the play by throwing it's protected ace, that even though the suit was, prior to partner's lead, unintroduced. Similarly, I've never seen an AI that "push bids" or that "buys time."
​

Computerized Bridge and Pinochle

One thing that computerized games are very good at is counting cards and assessing distributional probabilities. For both bridge and pinochle, both skills are one's you'll want to master regardless of how well you bid or play the cards because both games, like chess, are all about controlling the play and creating opportunities to exploit imbalances or minimizing the impact of unfavorable imbalances one must, for a given hand, endure.
​

Am I suggesting that playing with/against a robot cannot benefit you in some regard? No. I'm saying that the value of playing with/against robots is very, very limited. Bots are good for teaching one the "brute force/blunt instrument" approach to the games, but that's it. Finesse is part of both bridge and pinochle (as well as there being a play called "the finesse") and I've yet to see an AI that exhibits it.​

What would be your suggestion to one starting to play bridge? Read? Is it beneficial to make up a convention with a steady partner?

What would be your suggestion to one starting to play bridge? Read?

My suggestion is that you reach out to a bridge club that is convenient to you and make contact with other bridge players in your area.

• Clubs | American Contract Bridge League
  
• ACBL
  
• - Bridge Clubs Database - Addresses, Contact Details of Local Bridge Clubs | Ron Klinger Bridge Games | RonKlingerBridge.com

As for what to read, my typical suggestion for anyone who is serious about becoming a social or competitive bridge player is Goren; however, if you are a rank beginner, Bridge for Dummies is excellent to get you started without burdening you with the level of sophistication found in Goren. That said, all that's covered in Goren is going to be necessary relatively soon after one begins playing on a regular basis. FWIW, when I learned bridge, Goren was what I started with. (There was no "for dummies" bridge text at the time, or at least I wasn't aware of it if it did exist.)

There are plenty of online sites that discuss bridge and its conventions; however, all of them that I've encountered assume readers are well founded in the/various rudimentary aspects (rules, concepts, strategy and tactics) of the game. Being written with such assumptions, those narratives can be hard to follow for a pure beginner. (Mind you, the period of one's novelty is somewhat long -- typically, a few years -- for most social players, mainly because it takes time to develop the experience needed to develop into an intermediate player and lots of folks just don't get to play often and thereby more quickly master the conventions, probabilities, concepts, etc.)

Is it beneficial to make up a convention with a steady partner?

By "make up" do you mean invent a convention? If so, absolutely not; developing a convention is something best left to experts.

As a process, I suggest the following:

1. Find people with whom to play.
2. Start playing the game.
3. Learn, practice and master the SAYC system, which is "basic contract bridge" bidding, by reading and playing the game.
4. Learn to play one's cards well by playing the game and paying attention to what works and what doesn't. (Much of what's written about bridge focuses on bidding, but make no mistake, a "world class" bidder who plays poorly -- ignores card counting, ignores the statistical probabilities, ignores finesse, disregards the role of control, etc. -- will lose more than will a solid competent-but-not-outstanding player who has but only a solid foundation in SAYC.)
5. Play the game.
6. Notice what obstacles one encounters that SAYC doesn't adequately overcome.
7. Play the game.
8. Learn and by playing master the 13 primary conventions and which one's work (and don't) when and in conjunction with the others. For example, Blackwood is a fine convention for exploring the viability of bidding and making a slam (in bridge, underbidding is as sure a way to lose the game as is overbidding); however, it's lame when one has a void; thus a player should not invoke Blackwood while holding a void because Blackwood asks for aces and the value/power of a hand having a void is in trump length and strength, not in broad/general hand strength. The preceding illustrates that while knowing how to bid in accordance with a given convention is essential, equally critical is knowing a convention's contextual purpose, strengths and weaknesses, and fully understanding each of a convention's aspects from a bidding and subsequent play perspective.
9. Play the game.
10. Settle on a regular partner ("P") or small group thereof and play with them most of time.
11. Play the game.
12. Agee on the conventions you'll use and master them.
13. Play the game.
14. At this point, you and your regular "P" (or "Ps") should be sufficiently adept enough to develop and experiment with practical modifications to existing conventions. Don't be surprised if your innovations don't work often enough to merit implementing them (i.e., declaring them on one's convention card). On the other hand, don't let their insufficiency discourage you. Figuring out and working through those kinds of challenges are part of what takes one from being a beginner to being an intermediate player and sets the foundation for eventually becoming an advanced player.

 

[Bonzi]

My suggestion is that you reach out to a bridge club that is convenient to you and make contact with other bridge players in your area.

So how did you learn? Reading or playing?