dejavu
08-21-07, 12:51 PM
An introduction and a question, if I might.
I was in the Corps from 1969-73, stationed at Camp Lejeune most of the time. I was in 2nd Anglico the whole time, paratrooper (32 jumps).
Back then we played a card game called Back Alley. Every Marine I ever met knew how to play it and nobody not connected to the Corps did.
The game (a trick-taking kind of game) had two jokers (a big and a little), the game started with 13 cards to each of four players (two teams), the top card of the leftovers was turned up and declared trump. You bid on how many tricks you thought you could take (you got 5 pts for tricks you took that you bid on and 2 pts for any more you took). Your team was responsible for the collective bid of your team. The next hand you dealt 12 cards and turned over the top of the rest for trump, then 11, continuing on down to a one card hand, then went back up. The game had 26 hands and the top score won.
We still play it to this day in my family (once I teach it to people).
I have asked Marines from the fifties and they never heard of it. I don't know about modern day Marines. Can any one help me determine the life-span of this card game in the Corps? Just curious.
Thanks so much. I have enjoyed the forum discussions today.:)
I was in the Corps from 1969-73, stationed at Camp Lejeune most of the time. I was in 2nd Anglico the whole time, paratrooper (32 jumps).
Back then we played a card game called Back Alley. Every Marine I ever met knew how to play it and nobody not connected to the Corps did.
The game (a trick-taking kind of game) had two jokers (a big and a little), the game started with 13 cards to each of four players (two teams), the top card of the leftovers was turned up and declared trump. You bid on how many tricks you thought you could take (you got 5 pts for tricks you took that you bid on and 2 pts for any more you took). Your team was responsible for the collective bid of your team. The next hand you dealt 12 cards and turned over the top of the rest for trump, then 11, continuing on down to a one card hand, then went back up. The game had 26 hands and the top score won.
We still play it to this day in my family (once I teach it to people).
I have asked Marines from the fifties and they never heard of it. I don't know about modern day Marines. Can any one help me determine the life-span of this card game in the Corps? Just curious.
Thanks so much. I have enjoyed the forum discussions today.:)