Okay, let’s try this one more time to see if we can get adequate interest to make this happen, possibly as a regularly scheduled event. Six people showed up for a previous game session, and we had a great time. Ideally, we want to have 4, 6 or 8 players, playing as two teams of partners. You do not need to be an expert to play, since your partners will support you if you are still learning, although winning strategy seems to come with greater experience.
Are you a fan of the card game called Pitch (also sometimes known as Auction Pitch, Setback, or High-Low-Jack-Game)? I played this around my parents’ kitchen table every Sunday afternoon when I was a kid right through adulthood, often with aunts, uncles and siblings part of the game. I also played it with friends most every morning in my high school cafeteria before the home room bell. There was a Pitch league that used to play in the winter months at the Northampton Country Club, and there might still be a league that plays at the Crestview Country Club, in Agawam. I play against AI opponents using the NeuralPlay Pitch App on my phone, but that is not the same as playing with friends or family around a table. The play can typically get pretty competitive and somewhat boisterous, but you do NOT need to be a highly experienced player to participate. By playing, we all learn to improve.
Here are a couple of online resources that will familiarize you with the rules, although these rules tend to vary regionally. For our games, we hope to play the partners version, with a winning score of 15.
https://bicyclecards.com/how-to-play/pitch
https://medium.com/@rm6744b/how-to-play-pitch-a-card-game-71d98def513d
The game can also be played “cutthroat”, where single players compete against any number of opponents.
Abandoned Building Brewery in Easthampton is open on Thursday nights until 9:00 PM. The Riff’s Joint Food Truck is also set up out front on Thursdays from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, serving up some good food. Abandoned Building has plenty of long tables available where we can accommodate up to 8 players, plenty of free parking, and great beers!
