Step back in time over 100 years or more ago, sitting around a table with a deck of cards was considered the height of entertainment. And in some respects, it still can be, regardless of how technology has reshaped the world in which we live, and inevitably changed what people now do for leisure and to relax.
In fact, the digital era of video gaming becoming a mainstream activity has boosted card games, bringing them back to life via downloadable aps on mobile phones, and presenting them to an entirely new generation of audiences. Likewise, even some that were more popular in Australia than other countries are once again in the spotlight, continuing to entertain and captivate players, just like they did many decades ago.
Five Hundred
Despite being originally devised in 1904 by the United States Playing Card Company, created as an intentional bridge and euchre crossover, the most common location to encounter games of Five Hundred is actually in Australia. While there is no singular standard, anyone from two to six players can participate.
Most popular tends to be the three-player variant of the game, using a deck of 32 cards and the joker, and has often considered to be the national card game of both Australia and New Zealand. Essentially, this is a trick-taking game, whereby players bid on the number of tricks they will take, then attempt to fulfil that bid.
Still frequently played in Aussie homes and bars, Five Hundred has even made the leap online and to mobile devices, with both single and multiplayer apps available for download. Such continued popularity ensures this unique card game will remain popular for decades to come, as new generations discover how to play and enjoy the fascinating strategies involved.
Blackjack
Also known as “pontoon” or “21” in card gaming circles, the first examples of blackjack are thought to have originated in Europe during the 15th century, and possibly earlier. The first written account was of vientiuna, the Spanish version mentioned in the works of acclaimed author, Miguel de Cervantes, recounting the tale of two players in Seville.
Nevertheless, the modern game really took off once it reached American shores, brought to the country with European settlers during the 18th and 19th centuries. Essentially, the same happened when colonists arrived in Australia, bringing the game from the Northern Hemisphere, typically using 52 cards and a designated dealer.
Indeed, playing online blackjack in Australia has enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent years, particularly now that casino sites are offering a more diverse array of game variants. These can include Classic or American with a traditional flavour, European and Switch that are both challenging formats, and Surrender where players have more control over their staking.
Oh Hell!
Now if you want an idea of the colourful Australian vernacular and slang, Oh Hell! Is perhaps one of the best examples when it comes to card games. Although the game is thought to have originated in London during the 1930’s, it probably made its way to the Southern Hemisphere during and after the Second World War, due to the large movement of troops.
Bearing many similarities to other card games using trumps and tricks, Aussies often use a wide variety of other names, including Oh Shit! or Bust, Up and Down the River, and even the somewhat descriptive Bugger Your Neighbour. The latter would suggest just how competitive the card game is among participants
Similarly to Five Hundred insofar as bidding, players must bid exactly the number of tricks they’re aiming for. Points are then deducted if they don’t reach that target, and that’s likely where the Oh Hell! name stems from, should anyone fail to beat their opponents and choose to express their frustration vocally.