Libya's Got Game

By Huda Biuk

It is a Friday afternoon, and a Libyan family is spending the afternoon together. The father is home from Friday prayers, and sits on the living room floor with the children where it is most comfortable. Near the huddled family are scattered throw pillows, a bowl of mixed nuts the children take turns seizing handfuls of and, at the center of the huddle, four numbered cards lie face-up. This is one of the many forms of Libyan fun.

The engaging card games that are considered national card games in Libya are staples of a Libyan childhood that involve different age groups. If you haven?t played these games fat 3alaik al jow, as Libyans would say. What many card games in Libya have in common are their communal effect. Even if the amount of players is a restriction, the game can be just as entertaining for spectators.

Shkuba is one of the most played card games in Libya. Like many aspects of Libyan culture, this game has Italian roots, and most likely was introduced to Libyan society by the Italian immigrants during the Italy?s occupation over Libya in the 20th century.

The Italian card game is called Scopa, a word that derives from the word ?broom?, but refers to the verb ?sweep? in the context of the game; when all the cards are swept from the table. This game is played with the standard Italian 40-card deck.

Due to its relatively simple mathematic criterion, most ages can enjoy playing this game. Shkuba is usually played by an even number of players, often four players, split into two teams with teammates sitting opposite each other.

The game starts out with three cards in each player?s hand, and four cards on the table. Each player has the option of placing one card down, or capturing one or more cards from the table. This is done by either offering a match to the card on the table, or by matching the sum of more than one card that add up to the value of the card in-hand.

When a player succeeds in sweeping the table, it is called a Shkuba. The move adds to the player?s points that are calculated at the end of the game.

Though Shkuba is a game for the whole family, there are other games preferred by specific age groups. Scambeel, for example, is a game of the older generation and encourages complex strategic game planning. The children also have a favourite.

Hasla fil rai is another famous card game in Libya and is usually the game that children turn to first when looking to have a good time. Not only does it offer an exciting element of suspense similarly to the game of Hot Potato, but can also be seen as the Libyan version of Gold Fish; only with more painful consequences than simply losing bragging rights.

The objective of the game is to eliminate all of your cards by finding ones that match. At every round, each player chooses a random card from his or her neighbor?s cards. Though all pictured-cards are eliminated from the stack, one King is left within the deck to wander between the players? possessions. The player last to retain the King loses the game.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of this game for kids comes after its completion. Losers face the consequences, and it is up to the Loser, in a way to decide what those consequences will be.

Once the deck is collected and shuffled anew, it is spread on the table and the Loser must choose one card to offer each of his fellow players. If the card chosen is black, the loser has escaped penalty. But, if the card is red, the number of the card holds the weight of the punishment.

Often, penalties are transferred via Shibshib, or house sandal. The loser is forced to lay out his or her hands at the will of the players? strokes which add up to the number of the card the Loser chose for them.

Interestingly, the probability of penalty usually fails to discourage new players. Perhaps it is the challenge that keeps Libyan children coming back to the game? Or maybe it is the pressure from others, to suck it up and play the game. Either way, card playing is one of many ways that Libyans come together; and it is fun just watching it happen.

Source: http://www.tripolipost.com/articledetail.asp?c=17&i=9159

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