The card game dilemma

The impact and repercussions of Donald Trump’s (D.T.) presidency on this country and the world continue to unfold, and it will be quite some time before we know the full extent of what really happened, if in fact we ever will. I certainly do not want to add any more to what is already out there, but something that I have been thinking about for quite some time is how the world of card games is dealing with all of this?

If you’re not into card games bear with me, if you are a card playing junkie, then you probably know where this is going! There are so many card games that use “trumps” (trump cards) as a game tool or strategy. There are the more familiar ones like: Bridge, spades, euchre, whist, and trumps (similar to bridge and spades). And there are some that are not too familiar, at least I had never heard of them: Klaberjass, eighty points, ninety-nine, and bezique.

I have been playing bridge and spades for years but never felt the need to question why the “special” cards were called “trumps,” until now that is! So, I did a little digging. It turns out that the word “trump” is a derivative of the Italian word trionfi, a type of 15th C playing cards and what tarot cards derived from. It also is a derivative of the Latin word triumphus, meaning “triumph, victory, procession.” While most of the definitions of the word are tied to cards and card games, I did find this little gem: Trump, a fart: used mainly by children. I will graciously let you run with that one!

Now I am sure the Trumpettes, D.T.’s high society supporters, were playing bridge at their country clubs with a renewed sense of purpose for the last six years, but I am pretty sure that for many others these card games became a source of anxiety, forcing many bridge clubs and players to scratch their heads and say: “What are we going to do?” Scratch no more, as I have come up with an easy solution. Since the action of playing a “trump” card (any card of a predetermined suit) in bridge means that you have just “beaten” the cards of another suit on the table, I suggest that “trumps” now be called “beats!” Try it out, it will soon be rolling off your tongue. Win a contract at three spades, then spades are beats. No-trump games are now no-beats. And here’s hoping Apple has a sense of humor!

Los Angeles 2022