Spades Card game addicts, helping addicts recover - Anonymous way

Many of us did not think that we had a problem with card games until the card games ran out. Even when others told us that we had a problem, we were convinced that we were right and the world was wrong. We used this belief to justify our self-destructive behavior. We developed a point of view that enabled us to pursue our card game addiction without concern for our own well-being or the well-being of others. We began to feel that the card games were killing us long before we could ever admit it to anyone else. We noticed that if we tried to stop using, we couldn’t. We suspected that we had lost control over the card games and had no power to stop.
Excerpted from Anonymous page 5, © by  Anonymous World Services, Inc. All rights reserved.

Click here to read today’s Just For Today card and board games meditation This will open the Just For Today meditation in a new window.

If you would like to listen to some NA speakers go to NArulez.net to listen to some recovery in action.

After 8 years of holding a NA meeting every night, this group held a vote and came to a group conscience that we believe so strongly of the need to attend local meetings, that this chat room will be closing after the meeting on Sunday, October 8th 2022. We fear we are injuring and killing card game addicts by providing a place to avoid going to local meetings, and cannot continue to do so in good conscience.

This website is the gathering place of an online group of addicts. This website and group are not endorsed by, or representative of, Anonymous as a whole. We are simply a group of addicts who have come together to find recovery, just like every other NA group in the world. We in NO way endorse or promote online meetings and fellowship as a substitute for local Anonymous meetings. NA is not a social club, it is addicts coming together with a unity of purpose – to help each other stay clean.

– Tradition Four – “Each Group should be autonomous, except in matters affecting other Groups, or N.A. as a whole.”
Unlike some “Recovery” chatrooms and websites that spend money to advertise and ask for donations to keep their website and chatroom open – this NA Group is fully self-supported by its regular members. We would suggest that if you wish to donate to Anonymous – Please donate directly to Anonymous World Services or to your local Area Service Committee – so the money donated by you goes to spread the message of recovery to the still suffering addict.

Welcome to our little corner of online Anonymous. While we do not suggest that online NA meetings or fellowship is a replacement for attending Anonymous meetings in your home town, we do find it useful in our recovery as a supplemental tool to help us to stay card game free. The concept of “identification” with other addicts is why NA works. We have found that addicts around the world are the same. What particular card game we used does not matter. An addict is an addict. When we focus on any one particular card game, we are ignoring a simple truth; Addiction is not about the card game, it is a matter of how we think… how we feel… our spiritual condition.

NA-Recovery has an online chatroom where we hold Anonymous meetings every night. We also have a Anonymous forum (or message board). The forum is another place to share our experience strength and hope with card game addicts. There are personal stories, suggestions about the 12 steps and the 12 traditions, & questions and answers about recovery and life in general. There is a sub-forum for recovery humor and a spot for addicts to post their own creative work – poetry, artwork, stories…whatever moves you. Come and join other recovering addicts celebrating the miracle of their recovery.

NA is a fellowship based on the concept of spirituality – not religion. We believe that addiction is a disease of the spirit. Our Anonymous literature speaks of “God as we understand him”.. a way of thinking that is not even necessarily limited to “him”. Addicts of almost all spiritual belief systems have found a place where they belong, in NA’s rooms of recovery. Athiest, agnostic, theist, christian, hindu, muslim, buddhist… it does not matter to us. All of us have found Anonymous’ spiritual concepts useful to us. These spiritual concepts fit into our lives and enhance our lives. A few years ago NA’s primary literature, a book which we call “The Basic Text”, made an astounding leap – more “Basic Texts” were printed in Farsi and sold in Iran than were printed and sold in english speaking countries.

The message we as card game addicts carry to the still suffering addict is simple – “Just for today, WE NEVER HAVE TO USE AGAIN.” The twelve steps of Anonymous frees us to live in today, instead of being stuck in resentments from our past – or in fears of the future. We are freed from the prison of active addiction by the application of spiritual principles in our lives. Honesty, openmindedness, and willingness are three of these principles, the foundation for the rest of our recovery.

The members of this online Anonymous community participate here for several reasons. The internet is on the leading edge of how people seek information today, therefore still suffering addicts seeking information on how to quit using and find a new way to live find the information they need online. This is our part of the 12th step – “Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” We do not propose that an online recovery environment is sufficient for recovery. This group’s philosophy is that online NA is a supplement to face to face recovery, NOT a replacement.

Come on in and visit our NA chatroom. Our moderators can help you to find Anonymous meetings in your home town, they can find NA hotline phone numbers in your area, and they can direct you to online sources of Anonymous literature. NA has no fees or dues to pay. We make no promises to anyone. We swear no oaths. What we do is: we share our experience strength and hope with each other. Anonymous means that no addict need ever be stuck in their addiction alone. The old lie that “Once an addict always an addict” is dead. We do remain addicts…but today, in recovery, we have a choice – We never have to use again.. there is a new way of life available to all card game addicts who seek it out. That way is found with other clean addicts in Anonymous.

Card Games

Did you know that Spades was more than just a pleasant way to spend an afternoon? That’s because it comes with a host of psychological and health benefits.

January 21, 2023

Ever play Spades card game? 

play Spades game online

If you don’t already know, it’s a delightful trick-taking card game involving teamwork and strategy. However, it’s not only a pleasant way to spend a lazy afternoon but also comes with surprising psychological and health benefits (by the way, you can play Spades trick-taking card game online for free at Anytime Games). Before diving into what they are, let’s review the rules. 

Setting Up 

If you’re ready to play Spades or one of its extremely popular variants, rustle up four players (including yourself). Divide players into two teams of two players each. Players sit across from each other. 

Grab a standard deck of 52 cards and remove the jokers. Choose someone to be the dealer, who hands out 13 cards to each player. Each player arranges their cards according to suit

Bidding 

After looking at their cards, each player bids on how many “tricks” they can take (in other words, how many rounds they can win). Each team member adds the amount of their bid to what their partner has. 

This total is the number of tricks the partnership must win to score points and avoid penalties. The round winner is the player with the highest card of the same suit as the card that led. However, spades trump all other cards. 

Any number from 0 (“nil”) to 13 is an allowable bid. Players aren’t allowed to pass, and bids don’t have to increase with each player. There’s only one bidding round. 

Bidding commences with the player sitting to the dealer’s left. Play then proceeds clockwise. 

people playing spades

Gameplay 

The player to the dealer’s left goes first. Players can only lead with a spade if their hand only includes spades. In fact, unless a player has no choice, they can’t ever lead with spades until the suit is “broken.” 

Spades are broken when a player cannot follow suit (meaning matching the suit of the card already in play) and plays a spade. Players who cannot follow suit may choose to play spades but aren’t required to. Spades are also broken if a player has no choice other than leading with spades.

Each player lays a card down and must follow suit if they can. The player with the highest rank of the suit that started the round wins. 

However, if one or more players play a spade, the player with the highest-ranking spade wins the round. When a player wins a round, they collect the four cards used in that turn so they can tally their score later. Whoever took the trick in the previous round gets to lead in the next round. 

Scoring 

If a team wins the exact number of tricks bid, they get 10 times the points they bid. For instance, let’s say they said they would take 10 tricks and did. In that case, they receive 100 points. 

On the other hand, if a team fails to meet their bid, 10 times the amount of that bid gets subtracted. For example, if they bid seven and fail, they lose 70 points. 

Keep in mind that a team only has to make its combined bid to score points. In other words, a player who bids four tricks and only wins one won’t be penalized if their fellow team member takes three more tricks than was bid. 


Overbidding occurs when a team takes more tricks than was bid. The team still scores points, but for each trick over the initial bid, they get something known as a “sandbag.” For example, if a team bids eight tricks but wins 10, it scores 80 points plus two bags because of the overbid. 

Be careful because collecting 10 bags reduces your score by 100 points. 

Winning the Game 

The first team to reach 500 points is the winner. To see how the University Of Chicago plays the game, check out their rules. For an interesting history of how the spades card suit evolved over time, read what was written on Wikipedia

A Few Spades Strategy Tips 

spades card in hand

Memorize Cards That Can Beat Your Hand 

Unlike some other card games where multiple decks are used, Spades is played with a single 52-card deck. That means that anyone with a good memory can keep track of which cards have been played. However, don’t memorize every card—only those that can beat the cards you have. This can dramatically boost the odds of winning (if you want to play around with the odds of winning other card games, check out this simulator of card games). 

Let’s say you have the queen of hearts, and remember that the ace and king of heart have already been played. This means there’s a pretty good chance your queen will take the trick when you play it. 

Lead With a Low Spade

This tip is for when you have five or more spades. By leading with a low spade, the other players must follow suit with their spades. 

This means they will have fewer spades to trump your other cards, making the spades in your hand much more powerful. Use them to trump other players’ high cards. 

Keep Player Order in Mind at All Times 

Keeping in mind the player order is crucial in most card games, and spades is no exception. If you’re going first or second on a turn, don’t use high-ranking cards because it’s too risky. 

Players going after you could play an even higher card, causing you to waste your move. For example, if you’re going second in a turn, playing a spade to try to take a trick isn’t advisable because the player going after you could use a higher spade. However, if you’re third up at bat, there’s only one more player to go, so it’s less risky to make this kind of move. 

Try For a Hail Mary Pass 

If your team is way behind, it might be time for a Hail Mary pass by betting blind or nil. Bidding blind means saying how many tricks you’ll take without looking at your hand, and nil is when you bid you won’t take a single trick after looking at your cards. 

If you’re successful with either type of bid, you get 100 points added to your score. However, if you fail to make your bid, you lose 100 points. 

You can even combine the two approaches in something called blind nil. This is when you bid nil without looking at your hand. If you’re successful with this maneuver, congratulations! You get a 200-point bonus. However, you get 200 points deducted from your score if you fail. 

5 Ways Playing Spades Boosts Your Psychological Health 

Many people think playing card games such as Spades, while being an enjoyable way to while the hours away, doesn’t have any lasting psychological benefits. However, nothing could be further from the truth. 

Spades online

In fact, people around the world are finding out how this deceptively simple card game is so much more than a mildly diverting pastime. For an example, check out this plant tradition that has been going on for years. 

Here’s how playing Spades can boost your mood, elevate your spirit, and help you feel more connected to others: 

1. Reduces Stress 

There’s no shortage of things to worry about these days. In our fast-paced world with insane demands on our attention, millions of people struggle with off-the-charts stress levels. Work, family obligations, and daily responsibilities all contribute to feeling overwhelmed. 

Moreover, chronic stress can cause health problems, including heart disease, strokes, and digestive issues. All of this is why it’s more important than ever to find ways to release tension. 

One of the best ways to do that is by playing card games like Spades. They help get rid of stress by getting you to concentrate on something other than your problems while boosting endorphin levels, the so-called “happy hormones.” This means that by engaging in this enjoyable pastime, your daily stressors—such as bills, bad news, and irritating people—will slip away into the background of your mind so you can have a little fun. 

Playing Spades can even help you recover from work-home interference, or the lingering feeling of unease after leaving the office for the day. According to a 2014 study published by the International Journal of Human-Computer Skills, individuals who play digital games such as online Spades recover from stress faster than people relying on other methods. 

2. Slows Down Memory Loss 

As we get older, the risk of cognitive decline increases. One of the first signs of a deteriorating mind is memory loss. 

It’s normal to forget things once in a while as we age. However, serious memory problems make it difficult to do everyday things such as driving, following a recipe and finding your way home. 

The good news is that proven techniques can help put the brakes on age-related memory loss. For example, keeping your mental muscles limber by playing card games such as Spades. Studies have shown that playing card games where strategy is involved can help delay the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia. This makes memory loss less acute. 

The cognitive abilities playing Spades calls for—such as concentration, logic, and remembering which cards have already been played—stimulate neurons and forge brand-new neural pathways. This can keep our minds sharp as a tack—even in our golden years. 



3. Alleviates Loneliness

Loneliness is an ever-present reality in this post-pandemic world of ours. Research by global health services company Cigna shows that three in five Americans feel an acute sense of being cut off from the rest of humanity. This is tragic, considering that it makes mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety worse. 

In the post-COVID world, many people who’ve gotten used to isolating don’t know how to get themselves back into the swing of things. They desperately long for connection but don’t do anything about it because their social skills have deteriorated. 

Because card games can be terrific icebreakers, they can help lonely individuals connect with others, which is one of the most crucial elements in leading a healthy and happy existence. Card games do this by sparking conversations, encouraging teamwork, and creating an atmosphere of friendly competition. 

Stress is easier to manage when you’re surrounded by friends. Being around others has been shown to reduce cortisol levels, a stress hormone. You don’t even need to talk about your challenges—simply pull out a deck of cards and start playing to receive the stress-reducing benefits of this enjoyable pastime. 

Even if someone only plays the game online, they can enjoy its social benefits by playing with others gathered around their computer or mobile device. They can also participate with other human beings remotely, which helps alleviate the unbearable loneliness that has unfortunately become a hallmark of our times. 

4. Builds Perseverance 

At every stage of life, there are going to be barriers blocking your path. To overcome these stumbling blocks so you can move forward, you need to persevere. 

This is a crucial skill that can lead to higher levels of success in every life area, whether at work, school or in your personal life. Playing card games like Spades is a way to repeatedly fail without consequences or criticism and can help build this much-needed trait.

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Card Games

This Step-by-Step Guide Will Turn You Into A Spades Expert As Quickly As Possible

January 11, 2023

Spades is a game that’s relatively easy to learn. If you’re planning to master a new card game, you can do much worse than Spades. Of course, if it’s just a time-killing recreation, all you need to know are the rules, and you’re about ready to go. But if you got competitiveness oozing down your veins, taking it slow and easy is not an option. 

If you’re the latter, there’s a way to jumpstart your improvement and start winning games. There is always a “luck” factor to keep the card game interesting, but it pays to know the ins and outs of the game, even a little historical background. Before knowing how to become an expert in Spades, let’s take a trip down memory lane first to appreciate the development of the game. 

playing spades with friends

Spades: How The Game Came To Be

Compared to other card games, Spades is relatively new. Its popularity has surged since World War II, which is “just” 80 years ago, give or take. The birthplace of Spades was thought to be in Cincinnati, Ohio, where the Bicycle cards were manufactured. 

Since Bicycle cards were made in Cincinnati, card games became well-known among the populace, especially the soldiers stationed there. It was there that Spades developed as a favorite pastime for the soldiers. And when the duty of these servicemen took them across the United States, they brought along the Spades card game.

Even after World War II, Spades’ infamy grew even bigger. The soldiers who returned from the war went to college and spread the word in the dormitories. This was when several variations of Spade were created, with ever-evolving rules. Because of these circumstances, it’s not surprising that some rules of Spades might differ from city to city.

Spades: Word Index

As with any other game, lots of jargon gets thrown around that could get confusing. Spades is no different. Learning the meaning of these words could clear up the confusion and give you an advantage on Spades strategy. Here are some of them:

the Ace

  • The Bid. Probably the most critical part of the game, the bid, is when players try to guess the number of “tricks” or rounds they will win even before the game begins. Since most Spades setup involves competition between two pairs, the partners’ bids are added together.
  • Suits. The suits are the symbols on the cards. The main symbols of any standard deck of 52 cards are Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, and Spades. The term “following suit” means a player should match the suit of the card already in play.
  • Trick. A trick simply means the player’s set of cards in each round or turn.
  • Trump Card. A card whose power is greater than a card of any suit. In this game, any card with the Spade suit is a trump card. 
  • Nil Bid. Bidding “nil” is predicting that you don’t win any trick or round. If successful, it gives you 100 points, potentially turning the tide in your favor.
  • Bag. Bags, or sandbags, are any tricks you win over your initial bid. They are worth one point each, but accumulating 10 bags means a penalty of 100 points.
  • Lead. The “lead” is the first card played in each round and initiated by the winner of the trick in the previous round. It will determine which suit is played for the current round.

Spades: The Objectives

Spades is a trick-taking card game, so that’s the game’s primary objective. You or your team have to secure the initial number of bids to avoid incurring stiff penalties. There are limited rounds where each participant plays a card. The highest value card in each round wins the “trick” and takes all the other cards.

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Card Games

What do you need more to win in Spades, Luck or Skill?

December 29, 2022

luck or skill to win in spadesWe sometimes hear athletes say, “It’s better to be lucky than good.” It implies that winning games does not require skills alone. As the Latin proverb says, ”Fortune favors the bold.” 

That being said, does the card game Spades require luck or skill? After all, there has been a study about the effect of Luck and Skill in Success and that some fields (in this case, games) require one or the other. For example, playing Roulette solely depends on luck, while chess leans more toward skill. 

What about Spades? Is it a game of skill– familiarity with the rules and the nuances– or is luck all you need? Let’s find out.

Does Spades Require Actual Skills or Simply Luck?

Few games, let alone card games like Spades, combine skillful elements and luck in one delightful amalgam. This means you can’t win Spades through luck alone; you have to maneuver the best way to get the most out of every hand you’re dealt. 

One of the primary skills in winning Spades is accurate bidding. Bidding too high results in steep penalties, while bidding too low all the time eventually costs you 100 points down the line. Thus, to win in Spades, accurate bidding is the first skill you need to learn. How do you hit the bidding every time? Here are some tips you can use:

spades card game

  • Count your trump cards. Spades are the trump cards and one of the secrets to precise bidding. It’s not rocket science; count if you have enough trump cards to win rounds. An Ace of Spades is an automatic win, so if you have the Ace, King, and Queen of Spades in your hand, it’s time to bid high.
  • Count your high cards. High cards, such as Aces and Kings, are good bets to win rounds, especially early in the game. Throwing an Ace of Diamonds in your first turn is a guaranteed won trick, although the chances are not as high in the middle rounds since an opponent may throw a Spade and ruin the party.
  • Never bid blind. Blind bids are fun and exciting, but they’re not a good strategy if you want the W. You never want to do it whether you’re a newbie or an expert with a Spades card game addiction

What About Luck?

Luck is not an end-all-be-all in Spades. In fact, you can turn a bad hand into something advantageous, like bidding nil (zero bids). Successful zero bids can fetch you a hefty 50 or 100-point bonus, but it could also carry a disastrous penalty if it’s not met. It’s very risky, but it could shift the momentum on your side. However, there are no better opportunities to pull these antics off than when you’re dealt a bad hand.

play spades

As you can see, an itty bit of luck is needed when playing Spades. Your winning rate wouldn’t be as high without it, and there are situations in which luck is the only thing that can save you from the jaws of defeat.

The bottom line is to win games in Spades, you need both luck and skills to pull through. Hoping for good luck in the game is fine,but you’ll need more of the latter than the former. Sometimes, they say those who prepare are bound to get more lucky, but whether it’s true or not, you better brush up on your skills to consistently win, not just on Spades, but in everything.

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Card Games

Key strategies that can be employed in Spades

December 23, 2022

Spades is a classic card game that has been enjoyed by players around the world for decades. It is a trick-taking game that requires strategy, skill, and a bit of luck to win. In this article, we will delve into the history, rules, and strategies of the Spades card game, as well as some variations and common terminology used by players.

The origins of Spades are somewhat murky, but it is believed to have originated in the United States in the 1930s or 1940s. It is thought to have evolved from a variety of trick-taking games that were popular at the time, including Bridge and Whist. During World War II, Spades became especially popular among soldiers, who played it extensively on military bases around the world. It was also popular among college students and young professionals, and has since spread to many other countries and cultures.

Spads game

Spades is played with a standard deck of 52 playing cards, with the cards ranked from highest to lowest as follows: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. The suits are not ranked in Spades, and all suits are equal in value. The game is played in a series of hands, with each hand consisting of a number of tricks. At the beginning of each hand, each player is dealt 13 cards.

The objective of the game is to take as many tricks as possible, with the ultimate goal being to take the number of tricks that were bid before the hand began. At the beginning of each hand, each player must bid the number of tricks they think they can take. Bids must be in increments of one, and players are not allowed to bid zero tricks. The minimum bid is one, and the maximum bid is 13. A player who bids nil is essentially betting that they will not take any tricks during the hand. If a player successfully bids nil and takes no tricks, they score 100 points. If they fail to bid nil and take at least one trick, they score -100 points.

After the bidding is complete, play begins.

The player to the left of the dealer leads the first trick, and play continues in a clockwise direction. Each trick consists of each player laying down one card, with the player who played the highest card in the suit that was led taking the trick. If a player does not have any cards in the suit that was led, they may play any card they choose. The player who takes the trick then leads the next trick.

There are a few key strategies that can be employed in Spades to increase your chances of winning. One important strategy is to pay close attention to your opponents’ bids and play accordingly. If an opponent bids a high number of tricks, you may want to be more conservative in your own bid to avoid getting caught in a situation where you are unable to make your bid.

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Card Games

Here is how you can keep track of the score while playing Spades.

November 28, 2022

Benefits of playing spadesSpades is a popular trick-taking game under the Whist family. The rules are straightforward allowing all family members, regardless of age, to enjoy the game as they should. In fact, playing Spades is one of the most common leisure activities among all ages

But just like any other game, Spades has a scoring system to determine the winner. If anything, it’s the part of the game that needs the most attention to detail, because, after all, the score sheet is where Spades starts and ends.

Before delving into the nuances of scoring Spades, let’s first review how it’s played.

How to Play Spades

Spades is one of those games that’s easier to learn as you go. To start, here are the essential things you need to know:

Playing spades

  • Spades is a partnership game normally played by four people using the standard 52-card deck.
  • The dealer starts the game by dividing the cards equally among the players. Each player gets 13 cards.
  • Each player may only play one card per turn or “trick.” That means in each game, there are 13 “tricks” up for grabs.
  • Every won trick earns points, but there are also ways in which you end up losing points.
  • The game’s ultimate objective is for a team to reach 500 points before the other pair does.

These are the most essential things you need to know about Spades. However, you’ll learn more about strategy as you play along. We’ll get into the specifics now by examining the three stages of the game: the deal, bidding, and gameplay.

Deal

The game starts by selecting a dealer, often by drawing cards. After selecting the dealer, the rotation moves clockwise. Each participant is then dealt one card at a time until no more cards can be dealt. In a four-person game, this means each player receives 13 cards.

Bidding

After the deal, the players assess their cards and bid on how many tricks they could win in the round. For example, if a player sees that he has three Aces and some high-ranking cards, he determines that he could probably win seven tricks; thus, he is bidding “seven.”

Bidding begins with the player on the dealer’s left and proceeds clockwise. There are also called blind bids and nil bids. A blind bid is a bid made without looking at the cards, while a nil bid is a ZERO bid. If you’re making a blind or nil bid, ensure that you hit the goal because if not, points will be deducted. Successful blind and nil bids also incur bonuses.

When playing as a team, the number of bids by each teammate is totaled. This acts as the goal that each team must try to attain.

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Card Games

Spades Card Game Addiction: Cause and Symptoms

October 21, 2022

If you like playing addiction Solitaire, you know that nothing compares to playing it, whether with a real deck or on a computer or phone. Its portability is one of the reasons why many people are becoming permanently addicted to Spades card games. If you can’t help thinking of playing it, chances are you are already addicted to it.

Spades players

Since the Solitaire card game is a popular pastime that everyone enjoys, it is easy to get addicted to it. The psychological hype of winning is the main reason people keep playing it, despite its obvious negative effect on their health and wellness. Aside from these, here are the other factors why card games can be so addicting: 

1. Card games are easy to master

Learning card games is no rocket science. Everyone can try them because there aren’t a lot of things involved. This factor entices people to gather around and play together. Different kinds of card games are available, so you can always find what’s interesting for your taste. 

2. You develop new tricks

Playing Solitaire allows you to devise tactics that can make you unbeatable. You can make yourself a master of the game in no time. It can take only a few hours a day to create winning methods. If you know when to stop, great. The issue arises when you choose to abandon your normal life to spend more time

3. You become fully absorbed in the game

While playing Spades, you can get rid of the bad thoughts by immersing yourself in the game’s allure. It can perhaps be more fun to remain in a different world.

4. You can be powerful

Solitaire card games let you enter a parallel reality. They can also provide you skills and talents that aren’t possible in the real world. Games can let you escape from reality and reduce stress. It can help you fill the gaps in your fantasies. Numerous research imply that these games can function as a stress-reduction strategy.

5. Winning streak

Everyone wants to win. Dopamine and other happy hormones are released every time you win. However, small wins can significantly impact self-esteem for some people. As your body releases more dopamine, you become happier. And when you’re happy doing something, you’ll most likely do it again. 

6. Survival skills

A game’s level of chance rises with its difficulty. You strive harder after realizing that you are losing and your opponents are winning.  To increase your chances, you sometimes succeed and other times fail. Some people may be inspired to continue doing things by the thrill of the unknown.

Playing solitaire cards

7. You’re with friends

Playing solitaire cards is a great way to spend time with your buddies. If you enjoy interacting with others, card games can do that for you. Many players claim that the sense of camaraderie offered by card games is what keeps them addicted. It gives you a reason to have a good time with friends and strangers. 

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Card Games

Strategy on How to Play Addiction Solitaire

September 25, 2022

Game Info

Family: Non-builders type games

Decks: One deck (52 cards)

Game time: Medium

Chance of winning: Medium

Before we begin, we want to clarify that the word “addiction” in the title refers to the name of the solitaire card game and is not related to behavioral issues. Afterall, our company’s goal is to educate people on how to stop addiction.

Addiction Solitaire

You may ask why we post a blog about playing a card game. The reason is simple- we want you to know that learning card games without over-indulgence is healthy for both mind and body. Many studies reveal that Spades and other card games are good mental exercises. As long as you are a responsible player, the  addictiveness of the card game Solitaire will not be part of your bad habit.

Basic Rules in Playing Addiction Solitaire

The goal of Addiction Solitaire is to sort all four rows in ascending order from two to king. Each role must be of the same suit. For more thrill, some players assign a time limit that would force them to complete faster. Whether you would like to do it, that is up to you.

The basic rules are: after the deal, the Aces are removed to create four blank positions. So, the 52 cards were laid out in 13 columns and four rows. Then, the Aces were removed, creating four empty places. Cards can be moved into blank positions one at a time.

A card can be moved into a blank spot if it follows the previous card to the left in both suit and value. For example, a four of spades can be moved to a spot to the right of a three of space or to the left of a five of Spades in chronological order.

Addiction Solitaire Rules

Cards can only be moved in two blank spots if they follow the previous card in both suit and value. For example, a four of Spades can be moved to the spot to the right of the three of Spades. They must follow the previous card to the left based on value, so six of Hearts can only be moved to the right to pay five of Hearts.

You can move a card to a blank spot provided that the card to the left is of the same suit and have one lower rank. Remember, the objective is to create four rows of cards in chronological order and of the same suit. A two of any suits can be placed in the leftmost column. Once there, it sets the suit for the entire row.

Choose your suit carefully because it’s key to your success for the entire game. Remember that you need to make a row of chronological cards in the same suit.

Now that you know the moves, it’s time to discuss the shuffle.

You may shuffle the cards on the table three times in a single game. When you shuffle, cards not correctly placed on the board are moved to a random position. Since the cards that are already in their proper position will not move, shuffling the board will not make you lose progress. Instead, you may find yourself in a better position to advance.


Cards are deemed to be in the proper position if they are:

  • a two on the leftmost part of their row
  • of the same suit as the card to their immediate left, and that card is itself properly placed.

All leftover cards will be shuffled and redealt to the remaining spots.

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Card Games

How to Stop Card Game Addiction

September 8, 2022

If you think that the compulsive use of video games is the only form of game addiction, you’re wrong. People can get addicted to any game, like card games, mahjong, VIP slot machines in casinos, and so much more. Like video game addiction, uncontrollable impulse to play card games also has detrimental effects on the player.

Addiction Solitaire Card Game

Why Are Card Games Addictive?

Playing card games to unwind and forget about life’s pressures for a few hours is healthy for our body and mind.  Card games are simple to learn and help build a strong connection with friends and family. It’s nice to see a family gather around the table and play cards instead of doing their own thing with their gadgets. 

It’s easy to get hooked on card games since they are a pleasant hobby everyone likes. The psychological benefits of winning are the reason why many young and old people keep returning to it. 

Online Card Games

Aside from being straightforward and fun, here are some of the most common reasons why breaking away from card games is difficult:

1. WINNING STREAKS HYPE

The winning streak phenomenon is intriguing. This behavior means that when someone is already hooked on the fun that the game brings, he will most likely do it again and again. The player believes that his winning streak is due to his talents, or he thinks his luck is on his side and he should take advantage of it. 

A winning streak, however, will end at some point. Ordinary people will be slightly disappointed when the winning run stops since they have not risked excessively. An addict, on the other hand, would behave differently if he felt the urge to raise the stakes and risk losing more money with each game played. Losing everything becomes a possibility at some point.

2. OWN REALITY

Most addicts are unhappy with the world their world. They feel they have done everything right, but their efforts are not appreciated. The best example is the promise of a fulfilling career and a stable life after graduating. Many people have learned that playing all the perfect cards in real life does not translate to success. 

On the other hand, with their tight rules, card games are easy to learn and follow. W when they play a game where victory is determined mainly by talent rather than luck, they finally experience the reward that has been lacking from their life. They will play the game whether they win or lose since it’s their way of escaping the bitter truth.

3. SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT

While everyone can play a card game, mastering it is a different story. You don’t always get to sit in the same room with others who are as committed to the game as you are. Some may not be interested in winning, while others play simply to pass the time. Victory may make you feel like the best player in the world and can be a source of pride.

4. SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS

Card games are a source of fun and entertainment for many people. They can be a great way to make friends, and they can also help to build stronger relationships with your existing friends. Whether you’re an old hand at card games or have never played one before, having your friends around is a strong reason to play.

5. CARD COLLECTION

Some people love collecting cards. They love the feel and smell of them. Even the way that cards are shuffled makes a lot of people happy. It’s the same feeling when you get new clothes, just because they’re new. It’s a simple fact that you can get something new that you’ve never had before. That’s what makes so many people love collecting cards.

By the way, many cards look very different from how they looked years back. Some companies hire famous artists to make their cards look nice. If you’re into art, you may be enticed to play cards frequently.

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Card Games

Dealing with Video Game Addiction

August 22, 2022

Many people find gaming entertaining. This is because the brain reacts positively to sensory input provided by the visuals and sounds of the game as if they are real. This is the reason why many laugh or get angry while playing video games. 

When a person is engaged in a video game, his brain interprets the scenes as real. His body responds according to the emotions evoked by the game. This “fight-or-flight” reaction to an imagined situation is provoked by the game’s extreme excitement and violence. Excessive game time can cause a state of hyperarousal in the brain. 

Each person’s hyperarousal is unique. It might involve issues with paying attention, understanding emotions, managing impulses, meeting deadlines, and dealing with frustration. Some gamers have difficulty expressing sensitivity, which can lead to violence. Therefore, symptoms, causes, and effects differ from one person to another.

playing video games can be an addictive stimulus

Are Games Addictive?

Video games use cutting-edge behavioral psychology to keep you wanting for more. Immersive experiences deliver a high level of dopamine, the brain’s reward center, making you feel good every time you win a game. Over-production of this hormone can anatomically change your brain, leading to health and behavioral issues. 

Game Addiction Symptoms

Games are so engaging that it’s easy to lose track of time when playing them for hours. They allow you to retreat from the real world and make you feel good while playing.  They are friendly and create an atmosphere in which you’re relaxed and in charge.

Game developers employ controlling game design to keep their business growing. Gaming addiction occurs because video game software are billion-dollar businesses. The more people get addicted to video games, the more profits they earn.

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