There are different stories about the Cossacks. When you say the word "Cossack" you immediately imagine a brave warrior with a herring and a saber, which he is ready to swing to destroy his enemies. But in addition to being warriors, the Cossacks were also ordinary people. Entertainment was no stranger to them, especially when it came to excitement.
But did the soldiers allow themselves to gamble? Of course, if we talk about lord's palaces, then anything could be played here. Preference, yarolash, rummy, bridge and so on. But among ordinary peasants, you could find games like drunkard, witch, fool, gypsy, lava, and a little bit.
Some claim that gambling among the Cossacks was prohibited. Like, it's okay to bet on money, to be distracted from the main goal. However, as some historical facts indicate, gambling was dominant among the Cossacks. At all times, Cossacks bet money, thereby showing that they were willing to risk what they had won in battle or otherwise.
Dice games were also honored. In this way, sometimes whole fortunes were lost and drunk. This did not stop the players.
Did the Cossacks play cards just like that?
The first thing to note is that card games for the Cossacks were not only entertainment. It was also an important means of constant training. The Cossacks trained their own choice reaction in a duel, while card games were an excellent means of rehabilitation. The following can be said about this:
- Among the Zaporizhian Cossacks, gambling was common and dominated. To date, only one called "Chuprundur" has survived;
- The situation that happened to the game could be very similar to the situation in the match. It is necessary to follow the reaction of the opponent, predict his course. Fair play seemed to model a potential battle;
- Kozak played as if not with an opponent, but with chance. Which required, on the one hand, the presence of factors that are not always predictable. On the other hand, a Cossack needs to show endurance, courage, the ability not to lose control, even if the circumstances are difficult, while maintaining dignity.
The maps themselves were called "Cossack letters". It was with these letters that the Cossacks played a witch, a fool, a drunkard. However, all these games were quite simple, used by Cossacks when they wanted, so to speak, to "relax" and earn easy money. Are these all options? Of course not!
Special games for special events
Take, for example, the Hetmanate, the middle of the eighteenth century. It is no longer about ordinary Cossacks, but about Cossack elders, nobility.
When guests came, then young people preferred friendly games. It could be the following options:
- They could play such games as the crane, the tall oak tree, the godfather, and the close woman;
- Games were not limited to cards alone. Older Cossacks tried their hand at chess, but this game was not particularly widespread;
- Maps remained the most popular. During the winter evenings, they gathered and played pickets, quadrille, etc.
By the way, during the games, many of the Cossacks smoked pipes, so that little was visible from the children around. It also happened that the games went beyond the permitted limits. For example, when a losing player did not want to admit it and got into a fight. It is not surprising that if they wanted to ban card games, little would come of it.
Although there were prohibitions, this cannot be denied. In the Hetmanate (as well as in other European countries), there were restrictions that were quite strict before. Sometimes it could be real bans or even persecution. This was explained by the fact that many players could not stop in time and were drowning in card debts, for which they were later sued for years.
"Cossack letters" - what were they like?
"Cossack letters" I called the maps at that time, which have not survived to our time. But it is safe to say that they were not similar to the models of maps that modern people are used to. The Cossacks "cut" into German-type maps that were printed in Augsburg. Such a deck is distinguished by other emblems and suit names. There are no queens, but two jacks. We are talking about Ukrainian "nizhniki" and "vyshniki". Subsequently, the French lady began to receive the title of cherry tree.
The Cossacks played cards until they got dark. But even then they tried to prolong their lives. Rubbed with tallow or lard, thus hoping to play again. Which is not surprising, because the deck of cards was expensive at the time and it was not so easy to find such a game tool. Which happened only among the property of Cossack leaders.
What to say as a conclusion?
It can be said that the Cossacks were quite adventurous people. They played cards, dice, even chess with pleasure. For them, the games were something like a battlefield, because in order to win, they also had to show courage and courage, sometimes risking everything. In one evening, the player could become rich, or, on the contrary, be left with empty pockets. Everything depended on perseverance, the ability to keep the situation under control and the favor of fortune.
We have prepared a special article on the history of gambling for you. Read "Gambling on human life” only on azart-games.