Recreational Games:
The history of men sitting around and playing games go back thousands of years. Men have been playing with sticks or some form of dice
for centuries. Card games originated in China around 800-1100 AD. Before today's version
of texas hold em and other games of chance, card games first appeared in Italy by the late
1200’s and spread to Germany, France and Spain. The four suite originated in France in the 1500’s. Many European countries have developed
games that are unique to their own country. This is true with the Belgians.
We may not participate in “unique” Belgium games anymore but at monthly meetings, we still participate
in cards and darts.
Euchre is the most popular card game with the most participants of all our games. Thirty-One is a card
game similar to Black Jack or Twenty-One, but you must get 31 points to win. Thirty-One is also known
as Schnautz.
Bein and Pinochle are similar games with Bein being a Belgium version of Pinochle. We are always in
need of more players for these games, as they aren’t as popular as Euchre and Thirty-One.
Darts are very popular with a large portion of club members. We shoot old feathered wood darts (rather
then metal or plastic) and our targets and piks are the original. Belgian-American
"Vogel-Pick"
handmade by a Belgium Family.
Records are kept on a monthly basis of the scores for the games. Our season begins in January, and ends
in December. Games aren’t played during the two joint meetings. Champions for the year are declared in
December. In some games, you are allowed to throw out your lowest monthly score of the season. Thus
champions are decided on your best of nine-month’ scores. Cash prizes are awarded to each card game and dart
player with the highest score of the season. Prizes are presented to the
champions at the annual January party.
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