I’ve played a bit of
Yahtzee in the past few
weeks, and during one game over Thanksgiving weekend, someone asked what the name “Yahtzee” even means. We guessed that
it had something to do with yachts, and indeed, my aunt researched it and sent me an email explaining that the game has
a connection to travel that dates back to when it originated in 1954. A wealthy Canadian couple invented the game to
play aboard their yacht and called it the “Yacht Game.” Two years later, game manufacturer Edwin S. Lowe bought the
rights and changed the name to Yahtzee. I’d love to know how long it took him to brainstorm that name?! According to
Wikipedia, Yahtzee is very similar to the traditional Puerto Rican
game Generala played with five dice and categories like poker hands and triples or quads. Yahtzee is a legend among
classic games, and will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. Start planning your Yahtzee parties! Now you the
history of how
Yahtzee came to be. Your life is complete. You can thank me later — I’m off to catch a plane. You know, come to
think of it, the last time I flew I played travel chess —
maybe this time it will be travel Yahtzee? I wouldn’t mind actually…