Card games in Lithuania

This page is based on information contributed by Albinas Borisevičius.

Introduction

The standard pack of 52 French suited cards is in general use. For many games the lower ranks are removed to give shortened packs as follows:

• 36 cards consisting of A-K-Q-J-10-9-8-7-6 in each suit;
• 32 cards consisting of A-K-Q-J-10-9-8-7 in each suit;
• 24 cards consisting of A-K-Q-J-10-9 in each suit.

Below is a list of card games played in Lithuania organised by type of game and cards used. Where possible I have included references to similar games from other countries, and links to the rules on this web site if available.

Trick-taking games with 24 cards

• Burmistras (Mayor) - a plain-trick game for two players
• Guzas (Bump) - a two-player game with some similarity to Bid Euchre
• Kiksas - an ace-ten game in which the trump queen is the highest trump, above the ace.
• 66 - similar to the German game 66.
• 1000 - another marriage group game, similar to Polish Tysiąc and Russian Tyziacha.
• Ramsas - probably a game of the Rams group.
• Piramidė (Pyramid) - an exact bidding game, invented by Albinas Borisevičius.

Trick taking games with 32 cards

• Avinas (Ram)
• Ožka (Goat) - a game related to Avinas and 66
• Preferansas - a version of Russian Preferans with some special Lithuanian nuances - is especially popular
• Kingas - probably similar to the Russian version of King.
• Kirtis (Trick) - a plain-trick game for two players; each player has six face-up cards, six face-down cards under them, which are exposed when the corresponding face-up cards have been played, and a reserve of four cards, which can be looked at and used only after the player has won a trick.
• Karavas - a Latvian game also played in the north of Lithuania - similar to Schafkopf
• Bura - a Russian game, that can be played with 32 or 36 cards.
• Knarkimas (known in Russian as Hrap), a game of the Rams group, similar to Mauscheln.

Trick-taking games with 52 cards

• Aukštyn-žemyn (Up and Down) - an exact bidding game - the Lithuanian equivalent of Oh Hell!
• Bismarkas (Bismarck) - this is not the compendium game known in other countries as Bismarck, but a version of 8-5-3 (Sergeant Major).

Fishing games

• Karuselė (Caroussel) is played with 52 cards plus 2, 3, or 4 jokers. When 4 jokers are used, one is the "Šluota-joker" (Broom-joker), which captures all the cards from the table. The game is a distant relative of Zwickern.

Beating games

• Durnius (Fool) is a game related to Russian Svoi Kozyri, played with 24 cards.
• Einikiavas is a distant relative of Finnish Mustamaija, played with 24, 32 or 36 cards.
• Kopšas is related to Russian Podkidnoy Durak, and is played with 32 or 36 cards.
• Vežimas (Cart) is related to Russian Prostoy Durak, and can be played with 24, 32 or 36 cards.
• Eilutė (the sequence) a round game for 2 to 8 players, played with 32 cards.

Competitive patience with 52 cards

• Žioplys (Gawk)

International Games

As in most countries Rummy, Canasta, Bridge and Poker are played. Also the Lithuanian version of Crazy Eights, which is known as Japanese Fool or Czech Fool.

Gambling games

• Akis (Eye) (a form of 21 or Blackjack) with 32, 36 or 52 cards, optionally including jokers
• Devynakė (Nine) - similar to Baccarat, played with 36 or 52 cards
• Trina and Seka are Russian gambling games played with 36 cards

Children's games

• Asilas (Donkey), played with 24, 32, 36 or 52 cards
• Karalius (King), played with 24 cards. This is a different game from Kingas!
• Karas (War), played with 24, 32, 36 or 52 cards
• Kiaulė (Pig), played with 24, 32, 36 or 52 cards, optionally with jokers
• Melagis (Fibber) (which may possibly be similar to Cheat, I Doubt It or Verish' ne Verish'), played with 24, 32, 36 or 52 cards
• Ragana (Hag or Witch) is similar to Old Maid, it is played with a 24, 32 or 36 card pack from which one Queen is removed, leaving 23, 31 or 35 cards
• Čigonas (Gipsy) - similar to Schwarzer Peter, played eith 24, 32 or 36 cards.