Pit (game)

Pit
The box and cards for Pit
PublishersParker Brothers (Hasbro)
Years active1904–present
GenresTrading card game
Players3 to 8 players
Setup time1 to 2 minutes
Playing time1 to 10 minutes per round, any number of rounds
ChanceDealing cards, blind trades
SkillsHand management, Deal making

Pit is a fast-paced card game for three to eight players, designed to simulate open outcry bidding for commodities. The game first went on sale in 1904 by the American games company Parker Brothers, having been developed by the attributed clairvoyant Edgar Cayce.[1][2]

The inspirations were the Chicago Board of Trade (known as the Pit) and the US Corn Exchange. The game itself was likely based on the very successful game Gavitt's Stock Exchange, invented in 1903 by Harry E. Gavitt of Topeka, Kansas.

While the name Pit remains trademarked in many countries by Hasbro, versions of the game have been marketed under names, including Billionaire, Business, Cambio, Deluxe Pit, Quick 7, Zaster.[2]

  1. ^ Bro, Harmon (1997). A Seer out of Season. New York: St. Martin's. p. 305. ISBN 0-312-95988-5. citing article "The Pit: Copies of Game Invented by Bowling Green Man Received Here". Bowling Green Times Journal. 1904.
  2. ^ a b History of Pit at boardgamegeek.com. Accessed August 2007