Take it from those of us born in the 20 century, in-person human connection is something to be thankful for. We somehow become lesser versions of ourselves.Īs we huddle for Thanksgiving this week with smaller family gatherings, why not break out the playing cards and board games. Our games usually last about 30 minutes, and then we all scatter back to our screens - TVs, laptops and phones - where we lose our personalities and become passive one again.Įxpression drains from our faces. When somebody offers him a do-over because of his tender age, he is more than willing to take the advantage. He want to win but he also wants everyone to be happy.Īs the "baby" of the family, he does sometimes use his status as the youngest player at the table. * Our younger son, who is 14, is a people pleaser. But he's a good sport and doesn't rub it in. Sometimes being the smartest person in the room has its drawbacks because it removes the mystery from the course of play. As a result, he often knows how a hand will play out about midway through. He has a near photographic memory for what cards have been played. * Our older son is a borderline card shark. It also makes losing a bit harder for her to swallow, but that's OK. Play the classic card games Spades against computer opponents. Far from a character flaw, this is actually a nod to self-motivation that I really admire. This infuriates the other pair because it's the tortoise-style path to victory, slow and steady. There is a small points penalty for underbidding, but my partner and I rarely go "set" - the word for failing to make your bid and losing points. If I think I can take five tricks in a hand, I will bid three. This plays out in a spades game with underbidding. If you said I could have a 90% chance of becoming rich or a 100% chance of never being hungry, I'd go with the food guarantee. In our family you can boil each player down to a one-word descriptor. I like watching people play spades because it reveals their personalities. Our sons picked it up on family vacations. The game requires some skill and concentration, but not so much that you can't play, chat and eat cake, too. It reportedly was spread to college campuses by vets on the GI Bill. Spades, according to online sources, was invented by a Mississippi family in the 1930s and popularized by troops worldwide during World War II. Most people play the trick-taking game to 500 points, but our attention spans are short, so we stop at 200. Sometimes, when we are in a "family time" mood, my wife and I and our two sons will clear the dining room table and settle in for a short game of spades. Our nuclear family of four ranges from ages 14 to 62. It's the Goldilocks of card games: not too easy, not too hard. If you really want to know your family, play cards.
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