Cards and games in Emerson-Garfield
Pull Up a Chair: Cards and Games Every Day
Pinochle, dominoes, bridge, cribbage and pool, and if you forgot the rules, someone at the table will teach you.
Pinochle is on Wednesday. Mexican Train, which is dominoes, is on Tuesday. Bridge, cribbage, Scrabble and Wii bowling fill other days to confirm: day. Pool tables are open every weekday. If you have not played since 1990, say so, and someone will teach you. Come as a guest and ask for a seat.
Why is Wednesday the big day?
Wednesday is pinochle. The tables fill, and so does the parking lot. It is full by 12:30 to confirm: Wednesday lot-full time, so come early or ask the front desk about where to park when it fills.
Pinochle starts at to confirm: time in to confirm: room. If you have not played in years, say so out loud. Pinochle players love explaining pinochle.
The honest part: Corbin is a former church, the floors creak, and a full pinochle room is not a quiet one. Bring a sweater for the arguments over who dealt.
What is Mexican Train?
Mexican Train is a dominoes game, not a card game. Players lay dominoes end to end in lines called trains and race to empty their hands. You can learn it in one round.
It is on Tuesday. The start time and room are to confirm: time. Tuesday is also the day of the Tuesday Dance, so you can play dominoes and then see the dances.
What else is on?
| Game | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee and Conversation | Monday to confirm: day | to confirm: time |
| Cribbage | Monday to confirm: day | to confirm: time |
| Bridge | Thursday to confirm: day | to confirm: time |
| Scrabble | Thursday to confirm: day | to confirm: time |
| Wii Bowling | Friday to confirm: day | to confirm: time |
- Coffee and Conversation. No game, no rules. Pour a cup and talk.
- Cribbage. Pegs, a board and a lot of counting out loud. Bring a partner or find one.
- Bridge. The one that takes the most thinking. Ask who is at the table before you sit down.
- Scrabble. Bring your vocabulary. The dictionary is a judge, not a weapon.
- Wii bowling. Bowl on a screen, with no shoes to rent and no lane fees. The score is only a rumor.
Which game should you start with?
Pick by how much you want to think.
- Easiest to learn: Mexican Train. You match numbers and place a domino. One round and you have it.
- Easy with company: Coffee and Conversation. There is nothing to learn at all.
- Good for two to four: cribbage. You count, you peg, you groan at your hand.
- A word person: Scrabble. The board explains itself.
- Worth the effort: pinochle. Partners, bidding and a lot of table talk. Ask someone to sit beside you for the first hand.
- The long game: bridge. Come when you have a free afternoon and a patient partner.
Played years ago and forgot the rules? You are not the first. The table will refresh you in a hand or two.
Can I just shoot pool?
Yes. The pool and billiards room is open every day the center is open. It sits next to the Lower South Classroom. Come when you like, rack the balls and play.
Why play here instead of at home?
At home, cards means solitaire, or no cards at all. Here a game needs other people, and they need you to make four. Sit at the same table for a few weeks, and people notice when your chair is empty.
That is the point of a standing game. It gives Wednesday a shape. You get dressed, you drive or ride over, and someone says, "There you are." A game is only the excuse. Pinochle is just a very good one.
I don’t know the rules. Now what?
Someone teaches you. Nobody expects you to remember every rule, and no one will make you feel slow.
- Tell us you’re coming. Use the visit form and say which game you want.
- Walk in. Your name tag is waiting. A table host walks you over.
- Say it out loud. "I am new, and I have not played since 1990." Someone deals you in.
- Play one hand. Watch first if you want. Nobody keeps score on your first day.
Hungry? Lunch is a suggested $5 donation, and nobody is turned away. When you want a regular seat, see what a membership includes.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a partner to play?
No. Come alone. Tell the table you are new, and someone pairs you up or deals you in to confirm: how new players are seated.
Do I have to be a member?
Maybe not to confirm: what membership includes versus what is open to the public. Come as a guest first, and the front desk will tell you. Nobody asks you to join on your first visit.
What does it cost to play?
Playing costs to confirm: cost per game. Lunch is a suggested $5 donation, and nobody is turned away. Your first visit is free.
Do I bring my own cards or dominoes?
Probably not. Cards, dominoes and the pool tables should be on hand to confirm: games and equipment provided. If you have a favorite deck, bring it.
When should I arrive on a Wednesday?
Come early. The parking lot fills by 12:30 to confirm: Wednesday lot-full time. Spokane Transit Authority (STA) buses run on Monroe, just east of Corbin. Call (509) 327-1584, and the front desk will help you plan the ride.
Ready to pull up a chair?
Wednesday is pinochle. Tuesday is Mexican Train. Somebody will save you a seat, and the coffee is on.
Free first visit - no forms at the door - someone teaches you the rules
Global blocks on this page, from 00-global.md, not rewritten here: Announcement bar, Header navigation, Mobile call bar, Newcomer’s Guide signup block (after the FAQ), Footer.