Rummoli

Does your family have any games that they play regularly? Are you competitive? Is it just your immediate family, or does it extend to include other family members?

In our home, we play Rummoli. My mom once invited me to join a game out at my uncle Mike’s house quite a few years ago. My aunts and uncles were quite competitive, but it was lots of fun and super funny to participate.

I joined in again a few more times after that, but then about four years ago, I asked Mr. Grumpy if he’d make a board for me. I showed him what I wanted, and it turned out amazing! He even put it on a little turntable.

We planned our first family game. It would be just my side of the family playing. A few of the members were hesitant at first but quickly adapted and changed their opinion. We played quite late into the night. There was lots of laughing, name-calling, smacking, and swearing. That is what we call a good game in our house.

It quickly became a regular game. We would get together once per month to play if we could. We extended the game to include one of my cousins, occasionally a second and her husband. We also like to get together to play when my aunts and uncles visit from out of province. Sometimes there are so many of us, we have to have two boards going at once. It is so much fun.

Now over the last couple of years, we have learned a few things. Sasha and my Auntie Karen can’t sit together, they get quite aggressive with each other, so we separated them lol. My mom will start to call Little Deb names because she missed a card or something. And if someone wins a big pot, Mom gets mad and calls us other (not so desirable) names. We know it is all in fun and don’t leave the table with a grudge. Landeyn gets highly competitive and yells and swears a lot, but it is hilarious to watch. We all pick on Sasha because she has a terrible “poker face” and cannot hide what she has. Ande, I think he is learning to read every one. I can’t quite tell yet, but he just seems a little quiet. He has something up his sleeve… And Eric, he doesn’t always participate as he thinks we get too aggressive. What a wussy, hahaha, just kidding.

A few years ago, my friend Angie gave me a trophy that she acquired. It was originally a cribbage trophy, but she suggested that we use it for our Rummoli game. So that is precisely what we have done. We had nameplates made for the regulars, and the winner of the night gets to put their plate on the trophy and is deemed the current champion.

With COVID-19, we have not been able to get together for a while. But last weekend, my Auntie Karen and cousin Brandon came out for a visit, so we got a few people together for a game. If you’ve never played before, typically the hardest pots to win are the King & Ace of diamonds and the 7,8,9 run. When we decide it’s time to end the game, we play a few open hands of poker to determine each of the remaining pots’ winners. Well, during this game, shortly before we decided to end, my mom won the King & Ace pot. Then, she won the 7,8,9 during the playoff poker hand. She had luck with her for Rummoli that weekend for sure. It was a fun night and so great to spend time with my aunt and cousin.

I sure do miss our regular games and hope that we can start them up again soon. It is great to get together with friends and family for some good fun.

I’d love to hear some of your family games and game night stories.