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Wikipedia

Ranter-Go-Round

January 01, 1970

Ranter Go Round is a primitive, traditional, English gambling game and children's game using playing cards that also nowadays goes under the name of Chase the Ace.[1][2]

Ranter-Go-Round
The king is the safest card to hold
OriginEngland
Alternative namesChase the Ace
Typesocial game, game of chance
FamilyShedding game
Playersany
Age range6+
Cards52
DeckFrench-suited pack
Rank (high→low)K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 A
PlayClockwise
Playing time10 – 45 minutes
Related games
Coucou

In America it is usually recorded in the literature as Ranter Go Round (rarely is it hyphenated), but is also sometimes called Screw Your Neighbor which, however, is an alternative name used for at least four other quite different card games.[3]

A similar game is known in most European countries as Cuckoo;[2] it originated in 16th-century France and developed into the French game of Coucou. Ranter Go Round is related to the dedicated pack card or tile games of Gnav and Killekort.[2]

History edit

Ranter Go Round is described as early as 1881.[4] The game "is said to have been first played in Cornwall,"[4] although its rules are almost identical to French Coucou ("Cuckoo") which itself goes back to the 15th century and there are other European games of the same family played with bespoke cards. An 1882 account describes Ranter Go Round as "a first-rate game for a winter evening." Players have three lives in the form of counters, receive one card each and exchange with their left-hand neighbours, the dealer exchanging with the stock. Players may stand i.e. refuse to exchange if they believe they have a card high enough not to lose. There are no cards with special privileges.[4]

According to Professor Hoffmann (1891), the original method of scoring was to use a board like that in the games of merelles or nine men's morris, each player receiving one counter. "When a life was lost, the player placed his counter on the outermost line, at the point nearest to himself, and at each further loss pushed it one line nearer the centre, finally placing it therein." This effectively meant players had four lives.[5]

In Cornwall, the three lowest cards had nicknames; the ace was "wee", the two was a "pig's toe" and the three a "tailor's yard." Refusing to exchange on account of holding a king was announced by saying "Bo".[5]

Confusingly, at about the same time, the name Ranter Go Round appears in the literature associated with the different game of Snip, Snap, Snorem. For example, in 1879 in a publication by the English Dialect Society it is described as "an old-fashioned game of cards, marked with chalk upon a bellows or tea-tray. Now at a table, and called Miss Joan. This is followed by the lines 'Here's a card, as you may see! Here's another as good as he! Here's the best of all the three; And here's Miss Joan, come tickle me. Wee, wee!'"[6] The same description appears in the West Cornwall Glossary of 1880.[7]

Rules edit

The following rules are based on Phillips and Westall (1945) except where stated.[8]

Players and cards edit

Any number of players may participate. Five is usually reckoned to be the minimum and somes sources say up to 20 may play.[a]

A standard pack of 52 cards without jokers is used. The card rankings (from highest to lowest) are K-Q-J-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-A. Suits are irrelevant. The first dealer may be chosen by dealing cards singly around the players and the first with a jack, deals.[9]

Objective edit

The aim in each hand is to avoid being the holder of the lowest card, aces counting low. Each player receives three counters representing "lives". A player who loses all three lives is out. The winner is the last player left in.[8][b]

Deal and play edit

Each player is dealt one card, face down, after which play begins with eldest hand, to the left of the dealer. Holding a king, eldest faces it on the table otherwise decides whether to keep it, by saying "stand", or exchange it with the player on the left.[c] The following players have the same options.[d] If a player has a king, the exchange is rejected and the player to the left of the one with the king must decide to keep or exchange a card. Play proceeds clockwise around the table, with the dealer going last; instead of exchanging cards with someone else, though, the dealer may exchange by cutting a card from the stock.[8]

Some rules state that, if a king is cut from the stock, the dealer alone loses a life.[2]

After all players have taken a turn, they turn their cards face up and the one with the lowest card loses a life by paying a counter into the pot.[8] If two or more players tie for lowest card, they each lose a life.[e]

The dealer rotates clockwise for each new hand. A player who loses all 3 counters is out of the game; the last player left in wins and sweeps the pot.[8]

John McLeod is the only source to consider the case where the last two players both lose their final counters in a tie and gives several options which must be pre-agreed:[12]

  • They are joint winners and split the pot.
  • They play a decider.
  • They cut and the highest card wins.
  • The pot is carried forward to the next game.

Variations edit

Typical variations include:

  • A common rule is that a player forced to exchange an Ace, 2 or 3, announces or faces it, so that all know where it is.[9]
  • When exchanging the dealer takes the top card of the stock instead of cutting it.[f]
  • When exchanging with the stock, the dealer is not penalised for drawing a King.

McLeod records further variations in an American version of Screw Your Neighbor in which up to 26 players start with four lives in the guise of 4 stakes. The last in wins all the stakes. Kings may be treated differently as follows:[12]

  • King Trading - kings must be exchanged if demanded
  • King Stops Hand - anyone dealt a king faces it, the hand is not played but the lowest card loses a life.
  • King Stops Play - anyone dealt a king faces it on being asked to exchange or when the turn comes round. Play stops, everyone turns their cards and the loser is the one with the lowest

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ For example, Arnold gives 5 to 20[9] as do Morehead, Frey and Mott-Smith.[10]
  2. ^ If played for money, stakes may be used instead or players may ante to the pot at the outset.
  3. ^ Several sources say that an exchange is announced by saying "change" e.g. Morehead, Frey and Mott-Smith,[10] Culbertson[11] and Arnold.[9]
  4. ^ Several sources say the player announces "King" on being challenged e.g. Arnold.[9]
  5. ^ For example, see Culbertson.[11]
  6. ^ This is the original rule in Cassell's.[4] In all other sources the dealer cuts the stock.

References edit

  1. ^ "Chase the Ace" in 50 Card Games: 50 Popular Card Games for Hours of Fun. Igloo Books. 2018. p. 41. ISBN 9781784409852.
  2. ^ a b c d Parlett (2008), pp. 482–483.
  3. ^ Ranter-Go-Round at pagat.com. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d Cassell's Book of Sports and Pastimes (1882), pp. 869–870.
  5. ^ a b Hoffmann (1891), pp. 211–212.
  6. ^ Specimens of English Dialects (1879), p. 46
  7. ^ West Cornwall Glossary (1880), p. 46
  8. ^ a b c d e Phillips & Westall (1945), pp. 192–193.
  9. ^ a b c d e Arnold (2009), pp. 108–109.
  10. ^ a b Morehead, Frey & Mott-Smith (1991), pp. 453–454.
  11. ^ a b Culbertson (1957), pp. 356–357.
  12. ^ a b Cuckoo at pagat.com. Retrieved 1 May 2023.

Bibliography edit

  • _ (1879). Specimens of English Dialects. English Dialect Society.
  • _ (1881). Cassell's Book of In-Door Amusements, Card Games and Fireside Fun. Cassell.
  • _ (1882). Cassell's Book of Sports and Pastimes. London, Paris and New York: Cassell, Petter, Galpin.
  • Arnold, Peter (2009). Chambers Card Games for Families. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap.
  • Courtney, Margaret Ann (1880). West Cornwall Glossary. London: Trübner.
  • Culbertson, Ely (1957). Culbertson’s Card Games Complete. Arco.
  • Morehead, Albert H, Richard L. Frey and Geoffrey Mott-Smith (1991). The New Complete Hoyle Revised, rev. by Richard L. Frey, Tom Smith, Phillip Alder and Matt Klam. London, New York, Toronto, Sydney and Auckland: Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-24962-4
  • Parlett, David (2008). The Penguin Book of Card Games. London: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-141-03787-5
  • Phillips, Hubert and Westall B.C. (1939, reprinted 1945). The Complete Book of Card Games. London: Witherby.

External links edit

January 01, 1970
ranter, round, ranter, round, primitive, traditional, english, gambling, game, children, game, using, playing, cards, that, also, nowadays, goes, under, name, chase, king, safest, card, holdoriginenglandalternative, nameschase, acetypesocial, game, game, chanc. Ranter Go Round is a primitive traditional English gambling game and children s game using playing cards that also nowadays goes under the name of Chase the Ace 1 2 Ranter Go RoundThe king is the safest card to holdOriginEnglandAlternative namesChase the AceTypesocial game game of chanceFamilyShedding gamePlayersanyAge range6 Cards52DeckFrench suited packRank high low K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 APlayClockwisePlaying time10 45 minutesRelated gamesCoucou In America it is usually recorded in the literature as Ranter Go Round rarely is it hyphenated but is also sometimes called Screw Your Neighbor which however is an alternative name used for at least four other quite different card games 3 A similar game is known in most European countries as Cuckoo 2 it originated in 16th century France and developed into the French game of Coucou Ranter Go Round is related to the dedicated pack card or tile games of Gnav and Killekort 2 Contents 1 History 2 Rules 2 1 Players and cards 2 2 Objective 2 3 Deal and play 3 Variations 4 Footnotes 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksHistory editRanter Go Round is described as early as 1881 4 The game is said to have been first played in Cornwall 4 although its rules are almost identical to French Coucou Cuckoo which itself goes back to the 15th century and there are other European games of the same family played with bespoke cards An 1882 account describes Ranter Go Round as a first rate game for a winter evening Players have three lives in the form of counters receive one card each and exchange with their left hand neighbours the dealer exchanging with the stock Players may stand i e refuse to exchange if they believe they have a card high enough not to lose There are no cards with special privileges 4 According to Professor Hoffmann 1891 the original method of scoring was to use a board like that in the games of merelles or nine men s morris each player receiving one counter When a life was lost the player placed his counter on the outermost line at the point nearest to himself and at each further loss pushed it one line nearer the centre finally placing it therein This effectively meant players had four lives 5 In Cornwall the three lowest cards had nicknames the ace was wee the two was a pig s toe and the three a tailor s yard Refusing to exchange on account of holding a king was announced by saying Bo 5 Confusingly at about the same time the name Ranter Go Round appears in the literature associated with the different game of Snip Snap Snorem For example in 1879 in a publication by the English Dialect Society it is described as an old fashioned game of cards marked with chalk upon a bellows or tea tray Now at a table and called Miss Joan This is followed by the lines Here s a card as you may see Here s another as good as he Here s the best of all the three And here s Miss Joan come tickle me Wee wee 6 The same description appears in the West Cornwall Glossary of 1880 7 Rules editThe following rules are based on Phillips and Westall 1945 except where stated 8 Players and cards edit Any number of players may participate Five is usually reckoned to be the minimum and somes sources say up to 20 may play a A standard pack of 52 cards without jokers is used The card rankings from highest to lowest are K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 A Suits are irrelevant The first dealer may be chosen by dealing cards singly around the players and the first with a jack deals 9 Objective edit The aim in each hand is to avoid being the holder of the lowest card aces counting low Each player receives three counters representing lives A player who loses all three lives is out The winner is the last player left in 8 b Deal and play edit Each player is dealt one card face down after which play begins with eldest hand to the left of the dealer Holding a king eldest faces it on the table otherwise decides whether to keep it by saying stand or exchange it with the player on the left c The following players have the same options d If a player has a king the exchange is rejected and the player to the left of the one with the king must decide to keep or exchange a card Play proceeds clockwise around the table with the dealer going last instead of exchanging cards with someone else though the dealer may exchange by cutting a card from the stock 8 Some rules state that if a king is cut from the stock the dealer alone loses a life 2 After all players have taken a turn they turn their cards face up and the one with the lowest card loses a life by paying a counter into the pot 8 If two or more players tie for lowest card they each lose a life e The dealer rotates clockwise for each new hand A player who loses all 3 counters is out of the game the last player left in wins and sweeps the pot 8 John McLeod is the only source to consider the case where the last two players both lose their final counters in a tie and gives several options which must be pre agreed 12 They are joint winners and split the pot They play a decider They cut and the highest card wins The pot is carried forward to the next game Variations editTypical variations include A common rule is that a player forced to exchange an Ace 2 or 3 announces or faces it so that all know where it is 9 When exchanging the dealer takes the top card of the stock instead of cutting it f When exchanging with the stock the dealer is not penalised for drawing a King McLeod records further variations in an American version of Screw Your Neighbor in which up to 26 players start with four lives in the guise of 4 stakes The last in wins all the stakes Kings may be treated differently as follows 12 King Trading kings must be exchanged if demanded King Stops Hand anyone dealt a king faces it the hand is not played but the lowest card loses a life King Stops Play anyone dealt a king faces it on being asked to exchange or when the turn comes round Play stops everyone turns their cards and the loser is the one with the lowestFootnotes edit For example Arnold gives 5 to 20 9 as do Morehead Frey and Mott Smith 10 If played for money stakes may be used instead or players may ante to the pot at the outset Several sources say that an exchange is announced by saying change e g Morehead Frey and Mott Smith 10 Culbertson 11 and Arnold 9 Several sources say the player announces King on being challenged e g Arnold 9 For example see Culbertson 11 This is the original rule in Cassell s 4 In all other sources the dealer cuts the stock References edit Chase the Ace in 50 Card Games 50 Popular Card Games for Hours of Fun Igloo Books 2018 p 41 ISBN 9781784409852 a b c d Parlett 2008 pp 482 483 Ranter Go Round at pagat com Retrieved 1 May 2023 a b c d Cassell s Book of Sports and Pastimes 1882 pp 869 870 a b Hoffmann 1891 pp 211 212 Specimens of English Dialects 1879 p 46 West Cornwall Glossary 1880 p 46 a b c d e Phillips amp Westall 1945 pp 192 193 a b c d e Arnold 2009 pp 108 109 a b Morehead Frey amp Mott Smith 1991 pp 453 454 a b Culbertson 1957 pp 356 357 a b Cuckoo at pagat com Retrieved 1 May 2023 Bibliography edit 1879 Specimens of English Dialects English Dialect Society 1881 Cassell s Book of In Door Amusements Card Games and Fireside Fun Cassell 1882 Cassell s Book of Sports and Pastimes London Paris and New York Cassell Petter Galpin Arnold Peter 2009 Chambers Card Games for Families Edinburgh Chambers Harrap Courtney Margaret Ann 1880 West Cornwall Glossary London Trubner Culbertson Ely 1957 Culbertson s Card Games Complete Arco Morehead Albert H Richard L Frey and Geoffrey Mott Smith 1991 The New Complete Hoyle Revised rev by Richard L Frey Tom Smith Phillip Alder and Matt Klam London New York Toronto Sydney and Auckland Doubleday ISBN 0 385 24962 4 Parlett David 2008 The Penguin Book of Card Games London Penguin ISBN 978 0 141 03787 5 Phillips Hubert and Westall B C 1939 reprinted 1945 The Complete Book of Card Games London Witherby External links editCuckoo at pagat com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ranter Go Round amp oldid 1213461065, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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