Here's why:
* Pass the time: Long voyages at sea could be incredibly boring. Card games provided a way to pass the time and entertain themselves.
* Social activity: Card games fostered camaraderie and social interaction among the crew.
* Gambling: While not always the primary motivation, card games often involved gambling, providing a bit of excitement and potentially a chance to win some money.
* Availability: Cards were relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain.
Some popular card games among sailors in the 1780s included:
* All Fours: A trick-taking game that was very popular in England and played with a standard 52-card deck.
* Cribbage: Another popular trick-taking game that involved scoring points based on combinations of cards.
* Whist: A strategic trick-taking game that was played with partners.
* Poker: While poker was not as common as some other card games in the 1780s, it was known and played by some sailors.
So, the next time you think of sailors in the 1780s, remember they probably had a deck of cards handy to help them through the long voyages and keep their spirits high!