Pit (1903)

Pit

“Pit” is a fast-paced card game designed to simulate open outcry bidding for commodities. The game was first released in 1904 by the American games company Parker Brothers and was developed by clairvoyant Edgar Cayce. The game was inspired by the Chicago Board of Trade (also known as ‘The Pit’) and the US Corn Exchange. The first edition of Pit had a deck of 63 cards, with 9 cards for each of 7 commodities, each with a value ranging from 40 to 99. The modern version of Pit contains 74 cards and players compete for a complete set of one of 8 different commodities.

Why is Pit Popular?

Pit is a popular game because it:
– Simulates the excitement of open outcry bidding for commodities.
– Requires no turns, allowing for fast-paced gameplay with all players participating at once.
– Involves blind trading of commodities among players.
– Has a long history dating back to the early 1900s.

Game Components of Pit

The Game Components of Pit include:
– A deck of 74 trading cards.
– A table and chairs for all players.

Game Setup of Pit

Each player is dealt a hand of cards. Players take turns to call out the number of cards they wish to trade. Another player holds out an equal number of commodity cards. The two parties exchange the cards face down.

Gameplay Mechanics of Pit

Pit is a game of hand management and deal-making. Players trade commodities among one another by blindly exchanging one to four cards of the same commodity. The trading process involves calling out the number of cards one wishes to trade until another player holds out an equal number of commodity cards. The two parties then exchange the cards face down.

Game Objective of Pit

The goal of the game is to be the first player to acquire a complete set of one of the eight different commodities.

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