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Seems very arbitrary. There's a very similar card game in Spain called Truco (and in Italy called Briscola). Truco accepts communication and even bluffing as a

Seems very arbitrary. There's a very similar card game in Spain called Truco (and in Italy called Briscola). Truco accepts communication and even bluffing as a core component. There are very standard system for hidden communication, like a wink representating a particular strong card and pursing the lips means another. Because these are so well known, its common to either wait for the right moment to share info, or intentionally share incorrect values to confuse your opponent. At the end of the round, there's an opportunity to bluff and call "BS", increasing the stakes at every hand. Its a very similar game, but accepting implicit communication changes it completely.

toyg 11y ago
In a similar way, another Italian card game, "tressette", has a set of formalized signals which you are forced to use (and are limited to) when opening a round, without lying - "i have other cards of this type", "this is my last card of this type" and "I want your strongest card" (I know them as striscio/volo/busso, but they change regionally). So you have a situation where card and signal technically mean one thing everybody knows, but might ask different strategies of the partner depending on his interpretation of the matter, the sequence of calls, and his tactical skills. Obviously it later generates untold amounts of discussion and fighting over such interpretation, which is what us Southerners fundamentally crave ;) I have to say, I miss card games. They used to be a fundamental part of Italian education, a social icebreaker and a great generational bridge. Electronic entertainment completely obliterated them, and unsavory vices like slot machines and drugs have now replaced them in public spaces. There are less fights and loud arguments, sure, but it's all very sad.
- cbd1984 11y ago
  Something that leads to fights and loud arguments sounds like a pretty unsavory vice...
- machinshin_ 11y ago
  Ah there's an Indian card game called 904 "nine nought four" that's the same way. It's great fun :)
- cbd1984 11y ago
  Something that leads to fights and loud arguments sounds like a pretty unsavory vice...
epx 11y ago
In some Brazilian variants of Truco, the communication must not be noted. If the adversary can tell that gesture X means Y, you lose a point.

toyg 11y ago

In a similar way, another Italian card game, "tressette", has a set of formalized signals which you are forced to use (and are limited to) when opening a round, without lying - "i have other cards of this type", "this is my last card of this type" and "I want your strongest card" (I know them as striscio/volo/busso, but they change regionally). So you have a situation where card and signal technically mean one thing everybody knows, but might ask different strategies of the partner depending on his interpretation of the matter, the sequence of calls, and his tactical skills. Obviously it later generates untold amounts of discussion and fighting over such interpretation, which is what us Southerners fundamentally crave ;) I have to say, I miss card games. They used to be a fundamental part of Italian education, a social icebreaker and a great generational bridge. Electronic entertainment completely obliterated them, and unsavory vices like slot machines and drugs have now replaced them in public spaces. There are less fights and loud arguments, sure, but it's all very sad.

cbd1984 11y ago
Something that leads to fights and loud arguments sounds like a pretty unsavory vice...
machinshin_ 11y ago
Ah there's an Indian card game called 904 "nine nought four" that's the same way. It's great fun :)
cbd1984 11y ago
Something that leads to fights and loud arguments sounds like a pretty unsavory vice...

epx 11y ago

In some Brazilian variants of Truco, the communication must not be noted. If the adversary can tell that gesture X means Y, you lose a point.