Archive for category 500
News and Updates on 500 Card Game
Posted by oscar in 500, Card Games on October 19th, 2009
With massive popularity word wide, the card game 500, still well known and often referred to as Euchre, is becoming more accessible than ever. The internet allows more people to connect from anywhere in the world and play with other individuals or simply play against the computer.
Community Clubs and Organizations that have been sitting out games for a few years are once again becoming interested in this fun and fascinating game. With tournaments popping up all over the internet world, hard core players are playing for keeps!
One of the latest updates on the game comes from a site known as Euchre Club. They indicate that there has been a new rule added which states:
DO NOT ‘GO ALONE’ WITH 9 POINTS!
You are allowed to ‘Go Alone’ on 8 points but you will be disqualified if you go alone with 9! Sometimes it is necessary to go alone on 8 points so that your partner doesn’t trump the first trick (you may need the lead for 2nd trick!), thereby messing up your chance for 2 points and the win.
It is disrespectful to the other team and your partner to go alone with 9 points. IF YOU GO ALONE WITH 9 PTS-If you go alone on 9 points you will be automatically disqualified from the tournament, even if it was a mistake. If a member goes alone on 9 points, the Host must be called to the table so they can witness the end result of the hand.
If a point is made, the partner gets credit for the win and is declared the winner of the game. The partner that went alone will automatically be disqualified and his direct opponent will advance as the 2nd winner of that game.
(Courtesy of Euchre Club Newsletter www.euchreclub.com)
If you would like to join the Euchre Freak League and take part in the tournaments that are happening or for more information about the league, visit www.myleague.com/freaks.
If you are a player with some spare time, Luv_Euchre.com is looking for part time hosts. Since the game has exploded more than ever over the internet, many sites are finding themselves short -handed in being able to accommodate their players.
Luv_Euchre is in need of players who have some spare time either during the day, afternoon, or evenings who would like to join our team of dedicated staff. If not through the week then maybe some weekends would be better for you.
We are looking for some Great people who can dedicate at least 1 day a week or even a weekend to host. If you would like to join our Ladder as a TD or HTD please fill out a TD Application link found on our main page.
(Courtesy of www.myleague.com/luvs_euchre.)
The game world of Euchre or 500 has remained popular since its arrival in the late 1700’s and it appears that the game will continue to be a classic favorite in countries around the world for many more years to come.
Book Reviews for 500 Card Game
Posted by oscar in 500, Card Games on October 19th, 2009
There are several good books on how to play this game. Many of the topics include effective strategies, understanding the basic principle behind the game and tips on how to play it and win.
The Columbus Book of Euchre, Second Edition by Natty Bumpo
The Columbus Book of Euchre, Second Edition by Natty Bumpo had an impressive 4 1/2 out of 5 stars with 26 customer reviews. This book covers the rules, definitions, ploys & axioms for the game. The book was revised in 1982 to add additional terms, new ploys, old rules, and old axioms. It also includes a section with reviews of other books on euchre, a section on computer euchre and an index.
One review of this book stated that “This book does have some great strategies and a wonderful home-spun humorous approach to the game of euchre…Overall, it is a decent book, and I liked it for the most part.”
Another enthusiastic review for Natty Bumpo’s The Columbus Book of Euchre, Second Edition claimed that “If I knew a friend was about to play Lucifer in a game of euchre, I’d recommend the ‘Columbus Book of Euchre’… by Natty Bumpo”.
Another hard hitting book for Euchre is Win at Euchre by Tom Gallagher which offers simple bidding tactics for winning at Euchre. The book received a 4 out of 5 star rating with customer reviews like “A well thought out ‘point system’ to bidding worked well to take the deal and only average results to those that play by the seat of [their] pants.
Euchre is a game of luck but this system eliminates stupid bids.” “[It is] well organized, comprehensive, but concise. Easy to read and follow. Bidding methodology [is] excellent for both novice and experienced players.” The book did receive a less than favorable review from one customer that felt that the book “…fails to distinguish between the value of a ‘next’ ace and one of the other colors.
An ace off color is much more valuable…It fails to evaluate distribution…It gives no value to kings. While a king often has no value in euchre, it has tremendous value in a two-suited hand or if its ace is buried or in partner’s hand.
The third book with good reviews is Euchre: the Grandpa Lou Way by John Ellis. Editorial reviews for this book:
“Is Poker too costly? Was Crazy Eights great when you were eight? Do you still enjoy playing card games…? A difficult game to get started in but challenging and fun it is actually quite easy to learn.
Up until now if you weren’t lucky enough to have a patient and wily Grandpa to teach you there was no way to learn; there’s never been a book to show you how. Well meet Grandpa Lou- the Euchre equivalent of a Bridge Master. He takes you by the hand and teaches you all the tricks. Within minutes you’ll be ready to play.”
This book also received a 4 out of 5 star review from customers who considered the book to be “Brief, clearly written, easy way to learn the game”. There are many other books that may contain useful tips and strategies for winning the game, and becoming a better player. This is just a small list of the top customer rated books.
All reviews: Courtesy of Direct Source Shopping: Books/Euchre www.directsourceshopping.com
Where to Buy 500 Playing cards
Posted by oscar in 500, Card Games on October 19th, 2009
Just about anywhere that sells a variety of card and board games will have cards for the game 500. There are hundreds if not thousands of design options to choose from when purchasing a new deck of playing cards. There is something for every player from beginner to pro, players that play just for fun to players that play for cash. There are cards for the whimsical, the bikers, the colorful, the vintage, the young and just about any personality or hobby.
If you are shopping online here are some options that might be of interest to you. Amazon is featuring a Bicycle Six-Handed Five Hundred Playing Card Set. The set is being sold by the U.S. Playing Card Company. The product is a new, sealed deck of the Blue 808 Rider Backs. It has a 10 card expansion pack for playing 6 handed 500. There is also an add-on pack that contains 4-11’s, 4-12’s, and 2 Red suits 13’s which ships in a re-sealable bag.
The price is $14.99 plus shipping. For information or to order visit www.amazon.com and enter keywords “Bicycle Six-Handed Five Hundred Playing Card Set” in the search column.
The second online option is from Triple Topper. This is a brand new site offering the world’s first 3-D playing cards. They offer the basic budget deck which, of course, is cheaper easier to shuffle and will not be seen by your opponents.
But, for the serious player who is playing for big bucks, they offer the pro-deck where it is impossible to see through, so no worries at the playing table. You can order online, contact their sales support and join their mailing list of the latest updates on 500 card game products. For more information on their products and to order, visit www.tripletopper.com.
The third online option comes from the ever popular eBay. This site features over 270 different design options. The Classic Bicycle Cards features design options for every personality. There are Bicycle Black Ghost cards, Bicycle Elephant Tsunami cards, Bicycle Black Spider & Scorpion cards, Bicycle Tetra Fan cards, Vintage 1800 Ellusionist Bicycle cards and many more.
Whatever your tastes, you are sure to find the playing cards that suit you perfectly. The price starts at around $15.00 and goes up depending on the design. If you would like to purchase any of these cards or would like to browse, visit www.ebay.com and enter “playing cards” in the category search.
As for shopping and purchasing your 500 playing cards off line, there are specialty shops all around the U.S. and internationally but the most commonly known vendor would be the U.S. Playing Card Company which was based for many years in Cincinnati Ohio, U.S.A. but is now located in Erlanger Kentucky, U.S.A.
The U.S. Playing Card Company is the original manufacturer and distributor of the playing cards Kem, Bee, Bicycle, Aviator, Maverick, Tuxedo, Hoyle, Tally Ho, and other playing card accessories as well. To learn more about the U.S. Playing Card Company, visit www.usplayingcard.com.
Where to Play 500 Card Game Online
Posted by oscar in 500, Card Games on October 18th, 2009
There are a great number of online sites that you can play 500. Some of them are for playing with other people around the world online and some places are where you can play against a machine to practice and improve your skills before you play against other individuals.
Some sites offer good strategy and tips for beginners and some are for the more advanced 500 players. Whether you are just interested in passing time and playing a hand or two or you are a serious player in need of some serious competition, there is an online site to fit your preferences.
One online site is Julianne’s 500 Club which is the home of Australia’s “premier online 500 card game!” This site allows you to play against friends worldwide, or to play against the computer. They offer interactive tutor for new players, multiple game rooms, memberships that feature rankings and tournaments where the pro players can compete for virtual trophies. To play or become a member go to www.play500online.com.
There is a site that features all of the variations on Rummy 500. In this site members can play for actual money. New members are rewarded with a bonus of free $5 when they join. This site is good for beginners as well as advanced players. They have a big tournament of $15,000 for all Rummy Kalooki players.
Rummy Royal also offers a complete “about” section on all of the types of Rummy, how to play, rules, objectives, etc… For more information or to become a member, visit www.play-win-rummy.com.
The Deck of Cards is an excellent site offering lots of resources and information on playing card games online. The site includes sections on how to play various classic card games, the best online gaming sites and also includes advanced strategies for playing cards, with links to forums, blogs and reference books about card games. This site also mentions playing online at Juliann Giffin’s site which was mentioned earlier.
This is just a really good informational site for people who want to know more about how to play and also want to know the best places to play depending on their skill level and dedication to the game. You can visit this site at www.thedeckofcards.com.
Gamesville, which was founded in 1966, offers an opportunity for guests to play on their site. Although you don’t chat or receive prizes as a guest, it gives you another online gaming option to consider without having to become a member before finding out whether you like their set up or not.
They also offer basic gaming information, a blog page that has gaming news and some fun entertainment, links to twitter and facebook so you can stay connected with your gaming friends around the world, cash competitions and free games to play as well. If you would like more information or if you would like to play as a guest on their site, visit www.gamesville.com.
There are a vast number of online gaming sites for 500 players to connect with friends, touch up their skills, learn new strategies and even earn some cash. This list offers a little bit of something for all 500 players, beginners or pros.
Tips for Beginners in 500 card Game
Posted by oscar in 500, Card Games on October 18th, 2009
The game of 500 is a trick-taking card game where the goal is to be the first to reach the score line of 500 points. This game is a game of concentration, skill and strategy. The first way to improve your game is to practice. When you are playing, it is important to stay focused because being absentminded and not paying attention to what the other players are doing could cost you valuable points and ultimately you could lose the entire game.
It is important to always know how many trump cards are remaining to be played. When the game is dealt, there should be at least 13 trump cards so keep track of when they are played in order to know how many are left in the game.
When you bid, you are bidding to win and when playing with more than just two players, you are working as a team. If you are the first bidder on your team, let your partner know what you have with an “inkle bid”. If the last player on a team to bid wins the bid, they get to change out up to half of their cards with cards that are in the “kitty”.
An “inkle bid” is mostly a strong hint to your partner(s) about what you have in your hand. You can not actually tell them straight out what you have because that is considered “table talk”. Remember that the bid goes up as it goes around the table. You have the option to bid or to pass if you don’t have a strong enough hand to bid higher than the person who bid before you.
If you have a pretty good hand with trump cards, play them as soon as you can, but be careful because if you can’t take at least 3 tricks, your opponent could get 2 points. Leading with trump cards is risky but can also be a huge advantage if done right. If you have a garbage hand with say only one good trump card like an Ace of hearts, play it fast.
By playing your one good card right away, you will force your opponents to relinquish their higher cards in that suit and possibly prevent them from being able to take a trick with some of the lower numbered cards. So whatever you do, don’t pass up an early trumping opportunity. If your partner calls trump, play your bowers right away, unless doing so will cause you to trump your partner!! Remember, oftentimes, you are playing as a team.
There are many variations to 500 and many proven strategies for each.
The most important things to consider when playing 500, or any card game, is to pay attention, stay focused, stay in sync with your partner(s), always remember the highest unplayed card in each suit and play your hand accordingly, Don’t be afraid to call trump early on in the game if you have some really good high cards, and most importantly, have fun!!
Rules of 500 Card Game
Posted by oscar in 500, Card Games on October 18th, 2009
The card game of 500 is a trick-taking game. There is a variation on the rules of 500. The most common game usually consists of 4 players playing in partnerships of 2, although the game can be played with 2-6 players. A breakdown on how to play the game with 2, 3, 5 and 6 players will be noted later on.
When playing in groups of 4, a deck of 43 cards is used. A joker is included and the 2’s, 3’s, and black 4’s are removed. 10 cards are then dealt to each player and 3 cards are dealt face-down on the playing surface to form the “kitty” (also known as the “widow” and the “blind”). If a deck of 45 cards is used, the 4’s are not removed, each player is still dealt 10 cards and the “kitty” gets 5 cards instead of 3.
In non-trump suits the order of the cards is: A, K, Q, and J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 (and 4 depending on the deck used). In a trump suit, the highest card is the joker which is followed by the jack of trump (right bower) and then the jack of the suit that is the same color as the trump suit (left bower).
The left bower is considered part of the trump suit. With the trump suit, the order of the cards from highest to lowest is: Joker, Right Bower, Left Bower, A, K, Q, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, (and 4 depending on the deck used).
Bidding:
Each set of partners bid on the total number of tricks combined between them they think they may have in their hand, which suit will be the trump or if there will be a trump used. Bidding is done going clockwise around the playing surface. Each player makes a higher-scoring bid or passes.
The Game:
The main focus of the game is on the tricks. Usually, the player to the dealer’s left starts the lead. Players must try to follow suit if they can, including the left bower or any other card that is considered a trump card, if trump cards are led. If a player does not have any of the cards of the suit that is led, he/she can play any card in his/her hand.
After all four players have played their card; the highest trump takes the trick. The winner of the trick leads the next trick. Once all ten tricks are played, the hand is scored. For the next hand, the player on the left of the dealer for the previous hand is the dealer. This continues so that the deal moves in a clockwise direction around the playing surface.
For 2, 3, 5 and 6 players:
The number of players can be anything from 2 against each other, 3 against each other, 2 partnerships of 2 with 1 dealer, 2 against 3 and 2 partnerships of 3. The card decks used will vary depending on the amount of players in a game. 2-3 players use a 33 card deck with cards A-7 in each suit plus the joker.
5 players use the standard 52 pack plus a joker. 6 players use a special 62 card deck which has “spot cards” numbered 11 and 12 in each suit, 13 in each of 2 suits, 13 hearts and 13 diamonds. The joker is optional.
Variations of 500 Card Game
Posted by oscar in 500, Card Games on October 18th, 2009
There are many variations to the game known as 500. The rules for each game are mostly similar but there are a few differences. The most popular form of 500 is usually played with 4 people playing in partnerships of 2.
When playing in partnerships of 2 with 4 players a 43 card deck is used. There are variations with additions or deductions to the deck when playing with 3, 5 or 6 handed 500.
A 3 handed game uses no teams, everyone plays solo. 5 handed games can be played where each player takes a turn without a partner or with 2 teams of 2 and a dealer sitting out each hand. 6 handed games can be played with either 3 teams of 2 or 2 teams of 3. When playing with 6 players, a special 63 card deck is required.
When just 2 people are playing 500, a deck of 43 cards is used, just as when 4 people are playing. The difference is, instead of having partners; each player will play both the hand that is dealt to them and the one that is dealt to the table which would have been the partners’ hand.
The hand that is dealt to the table is dealt so that they have 5 cards face down, each covered by a face up card, making a total of 10 cards on the table.
With 3 players, a deck of 33 cards is used. Dealing, scoring and game play are the same as in the standard 4 player game. Another variation of 500 is with 5 players. All of the cards in a deck are used with only 1 joker and each player is dealt 10 cards. This variation of the game differs because of the bidding.
It is the same as the standard 4 player game, except that whoever wins the bidding gets to choose a card (other than the joker). Usually one of the bowers is chosen or another high card.
Whoever has that card announces that they have it and then they become the bidder’s partner for that round. Now that the partnership is formed, the remaining 3 players will play against them. Scoring is the same as the standard 4 player game.
There is also a variation called “Walker Ultimate 500”. In this variation the winning team or player has to win exactly 500 points. The game is played just like the standard 4 player game with the addition of the rule that 1000 points loses the game, i.e. negative 500 points.
In this variation “Peggings” or “Scab Points” must be played. There is also a French Canadian variation that plays to a total of 1000 points. If a team fails to reach its “contract” for points, the points are given to the other team’s total. In this variation points are never subtracted.
The game 500 has spanned out with variations in strategies, rules, game objectives and number of players. Other card games that were originally tied to 500 are Rummy 500, Partnership Rummy 500, Euchre and Contract Bridge.
History of the Card Game 500
Posted by oscar in 500, Card Games on October 18th, 2009
The card game known as 500, formerly called Euchre, is thought to have originated from a former province of France known as Alsace sometime during the French Revolution in 1789. There are some historians who believe that the game is actually a descendant of the Spanish game Triomphe.
For a short while the game was also known as Ruff. Even though that name faded out rather quickly, the phrase “to ruff”, or trump, is still well known today.
Believed to have been brought to America by German immigrants, its original name was Juckerspiel, which was actually pronounced with a “Y” instead of a “J”. It was in the early 1800’s that the game became known as Euchre.
The first description of Euchre was in an American Hoyle in 1845 and the first book to be devoted entirely to the game was published in 1850. The game was particularly popular in New Orleans and later spread along the Mississippi River into the northern states and 100 years ago was the #1 game in America.
In 1872, the Joker, which is used as either the highest ranking card in the game or a wild card, was born. It is often played both ways, depending on the gamers. Although the game had been in existence for more than 100 years, in 1904 the game was formally invented and copyrighted as 500 by the United States Playing Card Company. 500 is particularly popular in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the U.S.
The game has somewhat evolved since its arrival in the late 1700’s. There are a large number of different versions and alternate rules for the game. Many of the variations are specific to a particular region. For instance, in the U.S. one popular variation is “Stick the Dealer” or “Screw the Dealer”, depending on the players.
In this version the dealer is forced to call trump if no suit is chosen after the second round of bidding. Another popular version is known as “Farmer’s Hand” or “No Ace No Face No Trump”, which allows a player with a bad hand to force a re-deal, or exchange his low cards for the kitty or blind. In Australia and New Zealand, it is common to play with 11 points rather than 10. In southwestern England and Guernsey, the joker is sometimes played as the highest trump.
General Information About 500 Card Game
Posted by oscar in 500, Card Games on October 17th, 2009
The card game known as 500 formerly called Euchre, is thought to have originated from a former province of France known as Alsace sometime during the French Revolution in 1789. There are some historians who believe that the game is actually a descendent of the Spanish game Triomphe.
For a short while the game was also known as Ruff. Even though that name faded out rather quickly, the phrase “to ruff”, or trump, is still well known today. Although the game had been in existence for more than 100 years, in 1904 the game was formally invented and copyrighted as 500 by the United States Playing Card Company.
The card game of 500 is a trick-taking game. There is a variation on the rules of 500. The most common game usually consists of 4 players playing in partnerships of 2, although the game can be played with 2-6 players. A breakdown on how to play the game with 2, 3, 5 and 6 players will be noted later on.
When playing in groups of 4, a deck of 43 cards is used. A joker is included and the 2’s, 3’s, and black 4’s are removed. 10 cards are then dealt to each player and 3 cards are dealt face-down on the playing surface to form the “kitty” (also known as the “widow” and the “blind”).
If a deck of 45 cards is used, the 4’s are not removed, each player is still dealt 10 cards and the “kitty” gets 5 cards instead of 3.
The game has somewhat evolved since its arrival in the late 1700’s. There are a large number of different versions and alternate rules for the game. Many of the variations are specific to a particular region. For instance, in the U.S. one popular variation is “Stick the Dealer” or “Screw the Dealer”, depending on the players.
In this version the dealer is forced to call trump if no suit is chosen after the second round of bidding. Another popular version is known as “Farmer’s Hand” or “No Ace No Face No Trump”, which allows a player with a bad hand to force a re-deal, or exchange his low cards for the kitty or blind. In Australia and New Zealand, it is common to play with 11 points rather than 10. In southwestern England and Guernsey, the joker is sometimes played as the highest trump. The game 500 has spanned out with variations in strategies, rules, game objectives and number of players. Other card games that may have been originally tied to 500 are Rummy 500, Partnership Rummy 500, Euchre and Contract Bridge.
There are many variations to 500 and many proven strategies for each. The most important things to consider when playing 500, or any card game, is to pay attention, stay focused, stay in sync with your partner(s), always remember the highest unplayed card in each suit and play your hand accordingly, Don’t be afraid to call trump early on in the game if you have some really good high cards, and most importantly, have fun!!
Oscar
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