I write about games that catch my interest from all over the world. Sometimes, these are ancient games nearly lost to time. They might be traditional games passed through the generations. Or, I might write about a new way to play with classic components.
Games and how to play them are always evolving. What kind of game would you like to read about today?
Board Games
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Games of the Caddo Tribe
I first taught historic games at Caddo Mounds State Historic Site. Here are some of the tribal games I learned about.
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El Mundo – Four Player Backgammon?
This is an intriguing backgammon variant from Libro de los Juegos. Four players circle the board in the same direction to reach the opposite side and bear off.
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Juego de la Oca – Encrypted Guide of the Templar Knights
Juego de la Oca, also known as “Game of the Goose” is considered to be the first modern board game. In this article, we will explore one theory about its origin, linked to an ancient pilgrimage route.
Dice Games
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Lunar Festival Gambling – Bau Cua Ca Cop
Bầu cua cá cop is a popular Vietnamese dice game played mostly during Tết – their Lunar New Year.
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Games of the Caddo Tribe
I first taught historic games at Caddo Mounds State Historic Site. Here are some of the tribal games I learned about.
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Educate, but Criminalize? Dice in Medieval Spain
The Libro de los Juegos, completed in 1283 for Alfonso X, included several dice games, despite their illegal status. Let’s learn a few!
Card and Tile Games
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Ombre – The First Card Game with Bids
In the late 16th century, Spain introduced a new concept to trick-taking games – bidding that you could win. Ombre is a 3-player trick-taking game so popular that triangular tables were in fashion for a time.
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Tien Gow – One of the First Domino Games
Tien Gow began as a dice game in China, but it quickly adapted to dominoes around the same time they were invented, as a trick-taking game!
Physical and Dexterity Games
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Games of the Caddo Tribe
I first taught historic games at Caddo Mounds State Historic Site. Here are some of the tribal games I learned about.
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Hopscotch – What Makes a Game “Ancient?”
Sometimes you can’t believe everything you read. An author in 1975 claimed the Romans created Hopscotch to add interest for his readers. So what’s true?
Parlor Games
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Charades – From Cryptic Riddle to Pantomime
Did you know that charades was once played without any gestures? Or that Jane Austen helped to spread it? Learn the fascinating roots of this party game.
