Card Games Badge, Step 3
Step 3 of any badge is to take action and share what you’ve learned with others. To complete Step 3 of the Card Games Badge, we hosted a Neighborhood Euchre Tournament, taught a new friend the game of Countdown, and gave up on Cribbage. You can complete Step 3 of this badge simply by teaching someone a card game or planning a card playing party or tournament.
As stated previously in the Card Games Research Post I already know how to play Euchre…but hosting a tournament for the neighbors was all new to me. Some simple research and asking others for advice lead me to create ground rules that worked well for the number of people we had attending and our time frame.
Euchre Tournament
Rules and Forms: I printed out some very handy forms found on EuchreFun.com. The forms I found most useful were the score sheet (which also assigned each player a number) and the rotation sheet (which assigned players to a table and partner). The website had multiple options to fit your tournament needs! See the ones I used below.
I also reviewed the sites quick tips on how to run a Euchre tournament.
Snacks: I decided on some quick snacks and drinks (for in between game refreshments). I recommend something that is not too messy and can be left out during many hours of play. I made some delicious carrots in a blanket and put out some simple snack mix. I also encouraged other players to bring a snack to share. This ensures that all will have something they enjoy eating.
Prizes: “What does the winner get”? Was a question that was thrown at me last minute! Ugh! Bragging rights? I had not thought of a prize! Some Euchre tournaments have everyone pay in a small amount ($5) and then pay out to the winner the total. Instead, I dug out an old plastic trophy and made a quick label that read “Neighbors Euchre Tournament” and was good to go! The winner took the trophy home and has promised to bring it back to the next tournament so it can be a traveling trophy!
I think nearly anything could have worked for a prize. Keep things fun and get creative! Check out some creative prize ideas on our Pinterest Board.
Once everyone was assembled we drew cards to determine number assignments on the scorecard. The scorecard then directed each player to their table. Everyone grabbed a drink and a snack and we got down to playing some cards!
After Tournament Thoughts/Tips:
- We played out every game. Consider ending a round when the first table to complete a game is finished. This would have sped up our evening significantly.
- Consider having timed “between game” periods. We definitely had some loooong breaks.
- Score players individually with their actual points earned. We played with every player as an individual (in other words you had a new partner every game). This kept things lively and everyone got to partner with new people.
The Game of Countdown
Countdown is one of our family’s favorite games. I learned this game from my high school bestie Kim Hardy. Countdown was created by her husband’s family and has been passed down through the generations. When they taught us this game it was an instant hit. It is very similar to Euchure (but with no Bauer’s). The game is simple enough for younger kids to play and the best part-everyone can win!
We often teach this game to new friends and boyfriends our teenage daughters bring home. It has been dubbed “The Boyfriend Test”. Card playing is a great casual way to get to know someone new! We were lucky enough to get to teach this game to a new friend recently. See the video above for instructions.
Cribbage
Some of you may be wondering what happened with our newly gained cribbage knowledge. After our lesson with Ben, my husband and I did try to play several times even bringing our travel sized board along on a weekend getaway. We were never quite sure we were remembering all the rules and eventually we lost enthusiasm. My husband simply didn’t enjoy the game (which is an important component of game play).
Just because I think it’s fun doesn’t mean my partner thinks its fun.
Wisdom adapted from Gretchen Rubin
A few more cribbage lessons would have been necessary for me to share this game confidently with others. So for now our cribbage board has been tucked away….waiting to come back out when I find a willing (and more knowledgeable) partner.
Have you ever hosted a Euchre tournament? How did it go? What did you learn? Did you make a trophy? We’d love to hear from you. Comment below, send us a message, or reach out on Facebook or Instagram! You can find the badge guide and worksheets to help you complete it here.
Badges for All 