Games have been around for decades (millennia, even) and while we’re more than happy to be along for the ride on this addictive and interactive rollercoaster, we thought it might be nice to take a quick look at some of the oldest games in history.
The oldest game
The first game of recorded history was the Chinese game of “Go” which was in existence as early as 2356 BCE. The idea of the game is to place stones at intersections on a board to create lines extending to the other side of the board. However, your opponent can capture your stones by surrounding them with their own placed stones.
Chess – A Grand Old Master
Another old and still hugely popular game, particular after The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix, is Chess, thought by some to be one of the world’s oldest games and dating back at least 1,300 years. The game was designed in India in approximately 600AD and spread across the world via trade routes by Persian and Indian soldiers. Although the game is a bit more complicated than Go, both are quick to learn but take a lifetime to master.
Playing cards – A Game Of Patience
Playing cards date back to early 14th century France. While we think the first card games were played for the joy of gambling, playing cards are still fun to play with and have been used for centuries to play simple card games. Technology now allows online play. Players can now face real or computer opponents on gambling sites like lclubonline.com.
Games that use the 4 suit style of cards have become very popular worldwide and include:
- Poker
- Patience
- Rummy
- Solitaire
- Blackjack
Checkers – It Takes Two To Tango
Another old game that is still played today is Checkers, which was thought to be invented in the Middle Ages. While checkers may seem simple, it requires a lot of strategic planning and can actually be quite difficult to win.
Backgammon’s history in a nutshell
Backgammon can trace its history back by roughly 5,000 years to Iraq. The game was played through the Middle Ages, Korea, and China. Today Backgammon remains a popular game worldwide. The rules to play are quite simple and can be easily learned. Backgammon is another old game that can now be played online.
The Origins of Roulette
There’s no question that Roulette is one of the most well-loved casino games. It’s a contest of chance between the player and the wheel but is an easy game to learn. It is believed to have been invented by Blaise Pascal in 1655. The game became very popular in the 19th century and remained pretty much unchanged until the 1970s when electronic table games were invented.
Poker
Poker is one of the most popular casino games and is believed to have originated in China in the 10th century. The game quickly spread across Asia, Europe, and America. Today, Poker is played everywhere from the Caribbean to China. Online poker at sites such as Poker Stars lets players face off against virtual opponents or chat with other players over a webcam.
Some of the world’s oldest games are even more popular today because of the internet, which has allowed a resurgence in old games and means that players can connect all over the world, even if there is no one nearby to play with.