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Which One is the True Gin History?
Despite the undeniable popularity of rummy games, it is
a surprise that no one really knows where the game came from or how
the game came to life. There are many different theories about where
the game originated, but no one is sure which of the theories
accurately follows the story that led gin rummy to the popularity it
holds today. And since gin rummy is simply a variant of the
traditional rummy game, it is also a given that following gin
rummy’s history also means following the history of all rummy games.
What makes the tracing back of gin history difficult is the fact
that the “draw and discard” concept of playing cards is very common.
There are a lot of other card games around that takes after this
concept. This common play pattern, however, is also what gives us
clues about the true gin history.
The Spanish Gin History
The most popular version of gin history is the Spanish
version. A lot of gin enthusiasts believe that this is the most
accurate version of the history of this widely played card game. The
Spanish history of the game can be traced right back to the card
game Conquian, an old Spanish card game that is strikingly similar
to gin rummy. In fact, Conquian is said to be the root of all rummy
games. Conquian, which also goes by many names such as Coon Can or
Conkin, originated in Spain several hundreds of years ago. It was
able to find its way to Mexico, until it spread all the way to
America. The 19th century was a good period for Conquian.
The Poker Gin History
Gin rummy has also been likened to the even more
popular card game Poker for so many times. Poker has a French
history, so this means gin rummy also has French roots. Poker, as a
very popular game, also has several different variants. Somewhere
along the way, a game called Whiskey Poker was formed. This specific
variant is said to have been the game that eventually led to gin
rummy, first known as Rum Poker, Rum, then Rummy, before the gin
rummy variant was born. The main similarity between Poker and gin
rummy is the idea of melding cards into different groups and
sequences, known as sets and runs in rummy. Until now, gin rummy is
still sometimes referred to as gin poker.
The Asian Gin History
There is also an Asian side to the debated gin history.
Some game enthusiasts believe that gin rummy bears a similarity to
several games that made its way through the Japanese history. Japan
has a rummy game called Hanafuda, and this form of rummy game is
said to have originated from Japanese games played with western
cards, which became popular when the Portuguese made their way to
Japan. Aside from the Japanese connection, gin rummy also has a gin
history that came from China. The draw and discard play pattern is
very distinctively incorporated into the famous Chinese game
Mah-jong, which is also one of the ancient games linked to the gin
history. Mah-jong started out during the Tang Dynasty in Chinese
history. More recent versions now have undeniable similarities to
gin.
Other Gin History Aspects
It seems that rummy originated from various countries,
and it eventually gave birth to gin rummy and to many other
variants. One popular version of the rummy game is the Canasta,
which means “basket” in Spain. This version is the most developed
variant of Rummy. It made its appearances in Uruguay, Argentina, and
Latin America before it made its way to the mainstream gaming
industry. But some experts believe that Rummy did not give birth to
Canasta and the truth is actually the opposite. Canasta also gave
rise to other Rummy variants such as Bolivia and Samba. Although
there are many different versions of the gin history, most experts
have their own standings about which describe the true history of
the game. Some experts, however, have managed to piece together a
plausible story, which veers more towards the Conquian side of the
story.
Game authors such as Irwin Steig and Robert Frederick Foster are
both supporters of the Conquian theory, though some famous authors
and game inventors such as David Parlett also support the Chinese
theory. Another expert, Scarne, is a firm supporter of the Poker
origins of gin rummy. But regardless of where this game really came
from, it is no question as to how far it has come. That’s why most
gin enthusiasts just embrace the game for what it is and have
stopped wondering about where it came from.
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