One thing I’ve gotten hooked on during this pandemic is online solitaire. It’s a lot more addictive than playing with cards, however, you can’t cheat. This forces somewhat lazy gamers like myself to focus on technique.
Online you can play the same hand again and again which would be very difficult the old fashioned way. Replaying a hand gives you an advantage because you know where all the problem cards are hiding (or at least can make an educated guess.) Then the problem becomes getting to those cards.
I was once married to a man who played solitaire every morning before going to work. He claimed the winning card foretold which way the stock market was headed (he was a stockbroker). I’ve forgotten which cards warned of bad days and which of good but I do remember that I was the Queen of Clubs. If I ended the game, it was always bad news. Not surprisingly, we divorced.
The Ex wasn’t that crazy as according to some sources, Solitaire, also known as Patience or Klondike, has its roots in fortune telling, particularly the Tarot Cards. The game has also been linked to cabal, described as “a mystical interpretation of the Old Testament.” However, practically anything can be described as a “mystical interpretation.”
Perhaps that’s what inspired the makers of these playing cards. M.C. Escher’s infinity etchings.
For me, March is always such a long month. Generally it’s only punctuated by St. Paddy’s day which isn’t celebrated properly in America. But it’s the month that really sets the tone for the rest of the year. The holiday frenzy is over, it’s still too cold for the garden, just about anywhere you could travel (if not for the covid) is having unpredictable weather so you might as well start finishing up old business and planning for what you might actually get accomplished.
Unless you’re a lazy gamer like me. My Smarty Pants phone is telling me I haven’t finished my Daily Challenge. I might be able to earn another crown! Maybe my winning card will be the King of Diamonds! Meaning … I dunno. A secret admirer. One with lots of money and chocolate bunnies!
Anyway – Happy Spring.
Saying nothing in particular 
I recently learned that Nintendo started out in Kyoto manufacturing playing cards.
Stock market prediction, pfffft. Flip a coin, pull a card, raining? Sunny? Did your cat barf on the carpet during the night? They all work just as well as honest Indicator Charting Software, which is to say, not at all.
I could easily get into collecting unique playing cards but I already collect too many things. I’ve listened to many people who claimed to be able to predict the stock market but cat barf? That’s a new one.
I’ve never played online Solitaire. I feel like I’m missing out on something now. You can replay a hand? So it’s a learning experience as well as a distraction!
Yup – you can keep replaying until you win – although I generally give up after three times. I don’t know if I’m learning anything – just goofing off!
Hi JT. This post reminds me very little of a great 1966 cult film, “The King of Hearts.” Here’s a 2-minute trailer 🙂 Gary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsOInjrRcOo
I loved that movie – thank you!
I used to play solitaire a lot when I was a teen. These days, I don’t even remember the rules!
You have been a very patient teen!
Wonderful, love those cards!
I love that deck of cards although I can’t remember where I got it. Perhaps a Renaissance Faire many years ago.
They are beautiful!
I played a solitaire game on floppy disk where the computer would play the same cards after me. It won a lot more than me until I sought to find out why. It took me a long time but I figured it out.
No cheating? Not interested.
You can cheat if you use a deck of cards!
I’d forgotten all about solitaire. And I had no idea that some believe it’s connected to tarot cards. I used to read tarot cards. I had my own deck but sold them on eBay many years ago. I was surprised by how much interest I got from them.
If I were a playing card, I’d be the 5 of hearts. Why? I don’t know, but that card used to be the first card at the top of any deck I shuffled.
Really? How interesting. Five is a good solid number. And who doesn’t love Hearts.
Happy Spring, JT!
I’d watch my grandfather play solitaire, when I was a child. I didn’t know how to play it, but I could tell when he cheated. I’d point it out and he’d say in an angry voice…goddammit… I’ve got to beat the devil!!!!
He cheated in Gin Rummy, too. He loved cheating at cards.Lol!