All-Fours

All-Fours, All-Fools, is an English tavern trick-taking card game dating from about the middle of the 17th century, and may have been adapted by the English from another typically low-class Dutch game. It was introduced to the United States in the 18th century and soon became the most popular game by the 1800s. It is considered the game responsible for attaching the name Jack in 1864 to what was formerly just a knave. The name derives from the fa... more

All-Fours, All-Fools, is an English tavern trick-taking card game dating from about the middle of the 17th century, and may have been adapted by the English from another typically low-class Dutch game. It was introduced to the United States in the 18th century and soon became the most popular game by the 1800s. It is considered the game responsible for attaching the name Jack in 1864 to what was formerly just a knave. The name derives from the fact that one card may count all fours: If the eldest hand holds the Jack, the dealer having neither trump, Ten, Ace, nor a court-card, then the Jack will be both High, Low, Jack, and Game in the hand of non-dealer. This combination gave name to the game of All-Fours. The game of All-Fours is to be found amongst the oldest games of cards in England for it was the Tudor version of Seven Up during the English Renaissance. One of the earliest references to the game is recorded in Charles Cotton's Compleat Gamester of 1674, noted to have been played... less