This page serves as a starting point for The International L’hombre/Rocambor Association.
The name is still up for debate, as is the exact purpose of the association. In the following, I’ll try to line up some things that I hope, we can agree on in connection with what this “association” is all about.
Our beloved card game, that has different names in different parts of the world, is with certainty around 400 years old and probably a lot older. Few card games, if any at all, can claim a legacy that goes so far back in history. So in my view, we have an obligation to keep this foundational game alive.
It is still played in different parts of the world. In Denmark it is called L’hombre from the Spanish word for man, hombre. In Peru/Bolivia it is called Rocambor. The origin of that name is a bit of a mystery. One theory I’ve heard is that it is a corruption/adaptation of the French phrase: “roi comme bord” (king at the edge/side). This relates to the positioning of the king card or possibly a player’s position during the game.
Anyway, the proud history of the game is certainly an important matter for the association.
But even more important is to keep the game alive and kicking. This we can do by teaching our fellow countrymen to play the game, and this is traditionally done by sitting side by side and playing with real, physical cards. However, to play with association-card-friends from other countries presents a geographical challenge. This can be overcome by using an online system, so this could also be a focus point for the association. I’ll list some points that I think the association should try to occupy itself with. And it would be really helpful, if you would contribute to this with ideas and corrections as much as you can.
- It should not cost any money to join the association, at least not for the time being. But there is a concept of membership.
Membership is for individuals, not organizations. These can have a affiliation status, but will not count as real members. - It would be helpful if, on “joining” the association, the person in question could supply his/her name, maybe a small portrait-picture and maybe a small biography. And preferrably also something about how the game is played in his/her country, if at all.
- The association should have statutes, and they should be up for debate in a yearly “general assembly.”
- The association should have a presence on the internet in the form of a homepage and possibly a Facebook group. But also the aforementioned online playing system will be a part of this presence.
- The association should try to gather as much material about the game as possible. It could be in written form or as photographs, videos, or maybe audio. This shall be primarily for educational and teaching purposes – but also for fun.
- The association shall try to have an “evangelist” side, meaning, that we shall try to preach/teach the game to others.
- The association should try to arrange playing sessions, online as well as in physical form, if possible.
- Maybe the association should join “The International Playing-Card Society” and try to use this as a point for dissemination.
- The association should try to develop the online version of the game.
- The association should try to make the game known in as many countries and regions as possible. So if we humans ever go back to the moon or even to Mars, we should make sure that the travelers have a deck of L’hombre- or Rocambor-cards with them.. 🙂
- The association should, besides promoting the game, have the purpose of bringing people from all over the world and all walks of life together. Learning about our different cultures, societies, history, and more. Talking and laughing together, hopefully.
- But hovering above all this is our noble game: L’hombre/Rocambor
This whole idea has come about because I got to know Juan during the Covid crisis. It’s a long story that you can get another time. But we hope that you will join Juan and me in this undertaking. Please reach out to me (Hans Otto) or Juan by email, phone, carrier pigeon, or other means of communication… 🙂
Juan-Jose Rebaza
jjrebaza@yahoo.com
Hans Otto Lunde
hans.otto@kloppenborglun.de