Global InformationThunee information
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2018) |
| Origin | South Africa |
|---|---|
| Alternative names | Tani |
| Type | Trick-taking |
| Players | Preferably 2×2 (1×1 - 2 rounds dealt or 3×3 - each player is dealt 4 cards) |
| Skills | Tactics |
| Cards | 24 |
| Deck | French |
| Rank (high→low) | J 9 A 10 K Q |
| Play | Counter-clockwise |
| Playing time | 10 min. |
| Chance | Moderate |
Thunee is a popular trick-taking card game of the jack–nine family that originated in Durban, South Africa. It is believed that the game was developed by the first indentured Indian labourers. There are variations of the game found in India and Mauritius.[citation needed] The game is mostly confined to the former Indian townships, where it is very popular as a family game and in fund-raising tournaments, but to some extent it has spread to other South Africans and to Indians in other countries. The game Euchre is very closely related. The first thunee world championship was held in Pietermaritzburg in 2003.[1]
The game is part of the jack–nine card games family, which includes twenty-eight, and the much older card games of the Jass family which are German in origin. The game is named after the Tamil word for water.
Thunee is enjoyed by both young and older generation amongst the Indian community. Thunee is also enjoyed during porridge prayers and goat prayers among the indian communities.
- ^ Devchand, Tharuna (2010-10-11). "Work hard, play hard". The Witness.