Most Played Card Games In Arab Countries
Card games are quite popular globally, and the Middle East is no exception. While gambling is illegal in most parts of the Arab world, social card games are quite common among family and friends. It’s common to see Arabs playing card games at a family gathering or hanging out on the weekend.
It’s estimated that Arabs started playing card games over 700 years ago, and the activity has only grown in popularity over millenniums. The activity is believed to have been taught to the Arabs by the Middle East and Chinese traders until it reached the western world. Below are the most popular card games you can expect to see people playing in the Middle East and other Arabic countries.
Solitaire, known for its universal appeal, stands as one of the most popular card games played globally, boasting an impressive 35 million annual users, including a significant player base in Arab countries. This game of patience and strategy is typically played solo with a deck of 52 cards, where the objective is to create four foundation piles, one for each suit, arranged from Ace to King.
The gameplay involves arranging the cards on the tableau in descending order, alternating colors, while strategically uncovering and utilizing cards to build the foundation piles. Solitaire requires a blend of strategy, skill, and a bit of luck, making it a beloved pastime for players seeking a challenging yet relaxing card game experience. Its widespread popularity is reflected in its availability on various digital platforms, allowing players from around the world, including the Middle East, to enjoy this classic game at any time.
Tarneeb
Most card game enthusiasts from the west would choose to play blackjack online at Joe Fortune casino in their spare time. However, card game players from the Middle East mostly appreciate Tarneeb. This trick-taking game is played with a 52-card deck with four players – two in every team.
Tarneeb is a strategy and memory game where each player gets 13 cards, and they start bidding on the number of tricks they think will win. The team with the highest bid is known as the “declarer.” Their work is to try and take as many tricks as possible since their opponents will attempt to prevent that.
The players take turns to lay down a single card, and they must follow the leading suit where possible. Those who lack the card from the leading suit can lay down any card. The trick winner is whoever puts down the highest card from the leading suit or the highest trump card.
Conquian
Also called the “hand,” conquian is basically the Arabic version of Rummy. In fact, many countries that play this Arabic game in North Africa still call it Rummy, as they both follow the same rules. Conquian is mostly played in the Levant region, and you can find people from the Middle East playing it, especially in the Gulf.
Conquian’s gameplay is slower than Tarneeb’s and other online casino games, but people can get very loud once it gets going. Incidentally, it’s normally the first card game that most Arabs learn.
Baloot
Baloot is another trick-taking game played with a 32 cards deck featuring all 7,8,9,10, Q, K and aces suits. Like Tarneeb, Baloot also involves four players divided into two teams. However, the game comes in two systems – Hokum and San.
The card order (strongest to weakest) is different in the two systems of Baloot. That makes Baloot a little more complex than Tarneeb, but it’s quite fun. Today, the Baloot mobile game is among the Middle East’s most downloaded card game apps.
Trex
Trex is another four-player card game widely popular in the Middle East. The game features four rounds – a round for each player, and every round comprises five games. A single round featuring five games is called a cycle, where the players take turns to become the king and choose the contracts to play.
While most trick-taking card games reward the players who take more tricks, Trex works in the opposite mechanism. Players who lose a trick are given a negative score. Several danger cards come with hefty point deductions to make the card game more interesting if you’re unlucky enough to take these tricks.
Conclusion
While we’ve only looked at four popular card games that Arabs play, you can download many mobile apps if you want Middle Eastern games. Ashok, Hand, Kent and Estimation are other card games that deserve a closer look. Remember that the Arabic world highly adored card games, and you can find all sorts of strategy-based trick-taking games to play.
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