The 18th century was a time of great social and cultural change. It was also a time when gambling became increasingly popular, particularly among the aristocracy. Card games were a favourite form of gambling, and many of the games played during this time are still popular today. In this article, we will explore some of the most popular card games of the 18th century and how they were played.
Whist
Whist was one of the most popular card games of the 18th century. It is a trick-taking game that is played with four players. The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards and the objective is to win as many tricks as possible. The game was often played for high stakes, and it was not unusual for large sums of money to be wagered on the outcome.
Players would sit around a table and take turns dealing the cards. The player to the left of the dealer would play the first card, and the other players would follow suit. The player who played the highest card of the suit that was led would win the trick and lead the next trick.
Faro
Faro was another popular card game of the 18th century. It was a game of chance that was played with a deck of cards and a special table. The table had a layout that consisted of a tableau, a discard tray, and a betting area.
The game was played by a banker and any number of players. The banker would shuffle the deck and then deal two cards face up. The players would then bet on whether the next card would be higher or lower than the first two cards. If the player guessed correctly, they would win the bet.
Pharaoh
Pharaoh was a game that was similar to Faro. It was played with a deck of cards and a special table. The table had a layout that consisted of a tableau, a discard tray, and a betting area.
The game was played by a banker and any number of players. The banker would shuffle the deck and then deal one card face up. The players would then bet on whether the next card would be higher or lower than the first card. If the player guessed correctly, they would win the bet.
Piquet
Piquet was a two-player game that was popular in the 18th century. It was a game of skill that was played with a deck of 32 cards. The game was often played for high stakes, and it was not unusual for large sums of money to be wagered on the outcome.
The game was played in a series of hands, and the objective was to score points by forming various combinations of cards. Players would take turns playing cards and scoring points until one player reached a predetermined score.
Conclusion
The 18th century was a time when gambling card games were at their height of popularity. Whist, Faro, Pharaoh, and Piquet were just a few of the many games that were played during this time. While many of these games are no longer played today, their influence can still be seen in the card games that are played today.
