Morra (game)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Morra, also known as Odd or Even is a hand game. It is played to decide issues, much as two people might toss a coin, or for entertainment.

Contents 1 Rules 2 Variants 2.1 More fingers 2.2 Multiple players 2.3 Ones or Twos 2.4 Allowing Zero 3 Number analysis 4 History 5 Micatio/Micare 6 The rules of Morra 7 Pop Culture 8 See also 9 References

[edit] Rules

While there are many variations, the basic game of morra is played with two players. One of the players is designated the "odds" player, while the other is labeled "evens". Players hold one hand out in front of them and then count together to three (some people chant "Once, twice, thrice, SHOOT!" or even just "One, two, three, SHOOT!"). On three (or "shoot", whichever is agreed beforehand), both players hold out either one or two fingers. If the sum of fingers held out by both players is an even number (i.e. two or four) then the "evens" player wins. If the number of fingers sums to an odd number (i.e. three), the "odds" player is the winner. Since there are two possible ways to add up to three, both even and odd have a 50:50 chance of winning. Some variants of the game also make use of money, with the winner earning a number of dollars equal to the sum of fingers displayed.

[edit] Variants

The rules for Morra can be altered in several ways.

[edit] More fingers

One variant of the game is to allow players to hold out any number of fingers, with the winner still based of whether the resulting sum is odd or even. For example, if two players and they each throw out five fingers, the resulting summation is even, so the "evens" player is the winner.

[edit] Multiple players

The game can be expanded for a larger number of players by using modular arithmetic. For n players, each player is assigned a number from zero to n−1. On the count of three, each player holds out any number of fingers less than n, including zero. The person whose number is the remainder of the sum is chosen. In this variant it is common to arrange all players in a circle, assign someone to be player 'zero' and assign numbers to other players counting upwards in a direction (usually clockwise). With this arrangement, once players throw out their numbers, they leave their hands in place and close their fingers one at a time as counting moves around the circle. When no fingers are left, the final player counted is selected.

[edit] Ones or Twos

Ones and Twos is an elimination variant of the game, requiring more than two people. It is essentially a simplified version of rock, paper, scissors, with only two choices. The loser is the "odd man out", or the minority choice in the case of large groups. For example: if there are ten players, six happen to hold out two fingers, and four hold out one finger. The the four people holding one finger lose and are eliminated, while the remaining six players move on to play another round. In this variant, the last round (between two players) is usually decided in the traditional manner.

This version can be played with any number of people, and is usually faster and easier than dealing with three variable combinations, as it eliminates the need for round robin tournaments.

[edit] Allowing Zero

Some variants of morra allow players to hold out zero fingers. If the total number of fingers is also equal to zero, the game is usually counted as a draw and replayed.

[edit] Number analysis

Allowing a total of zero, no matter whether it's counted as even or odd, yields an unfair game. However many fingers each player is allowed to hold, the maximum total will be twice that figure - an even number - which makes the total number of "winnings" sums equal for both players. Adding zero as a possible total makes the number of possible outcomes odd, which means one player will have a better chance of winning than the other. For this reason, many players disallow a zero sum, requiring a do-over if both players show no fingers.

An interesting consequence of the expanded version of odds and evens (see above) is that the winner is significantly more random than playing consecutive games of rock, paper, scissors. Since any single player can change the result to any other player, a nonrandom result requires the simultaneous cooperation of all players. While unwitting cooperation based on manipulating human psychology can be achieved with successive games of rock, paper, scissors by skilled players, the difficulty of simultaneously predicting the throws of all other players in a single expanded game of odds and evens is much greater.

[edit] History

Morra was known to the ancient Romans and is popular around the world, especially in Italy. In the Bible, it may have been referred to as "casting lots". In ancient Rome, it was called micatio, and playing it was referred to as "micare digitis"; literally, "to flash with the fingers". As time passed, the name became Morra, a corruption of the verb "micare". The game was so common in ancient Rome that there was a proverb used to denote an honest person which made reference to it: "dignus est quicum in tenebris mices", literally, "he is a man with whom you could play micatio in the dark". Micatio became so common that it came to be used to settle disputes over the sale of merchandise in the Roman forum. This practice was eventually banned by Apronius, prefect of the city. More recently, the game was referenced in the story The Purloined Letter as odds and evens.

[edit] Micatio/Micare

There was another variety of the game in which the element of mere chance was somewhat corrected, limited by the quickness of sight and speed of the player, a calculation of probabilities, and a certain psychological flair. This was micatio--the still popular morra of southern Italy today. The two players "each raise the fingers of the right hand, varying each time the number raised and the number kept down and call aloud the total of the fingers raised by both," until one or the other wins the round by guessing right. From Cicero through the times of Petronius and Frontinus down to Saint Augustine, Latin tradition unanimously used to indicate a man of integrity by the phrase, "You could play micatio with him in the dark." (Carcopino, p. 251-252)

Today Morra can be found all over Italy, the Terule Province of Spain, Malta Also, the Game of MORRA described on the images in these Theban tombs. MK, Beni Hassan tomb 9. 26th dynasty tomb of Aba, no. 36. Morra played in Arab lands is called Mukharaja. Romans played Micatio. Greeks played this too! Still played in southern France, “la mourre” Played in CHINA and MONGOLIA, “hua quan”=“fist quarrel” This game, MORRA, grew from FINGER COUNTING. It is popular in South American and in North American communities known as “Little Italys” where Italians settled.

Morra, a game of concentration, but mostly chance, requires no accessories and is played in Italian communities by men and children alike. This game can be played by two persons who meet at a street corner or in competition with four player teams, who compete with the opposition one at a time. In team competition, two opponents face each other, sometimes as close as six inches. The players raise their right hands, extending some fingers while simultaneously shouting a number between two and ten. If the number called by one contestant corresponds to the total number of fingers extended by both players, a point is awarded to the correct caller. If the numbers thrown do not match the numbers shouted, no point is scored. Each team member plays four times and a match is comprised of eleven points.

[edit] The rules of Morra

1. Hands must be in clear view to players and referees
2. One challenger can not play after he sees what the other has shown
3. The point is won by the player who guesses right the sum of the fingers shown by them both
4. If the both players guess right, the point is not assigned and the game goes on
5. The set is won by the player who scores first 16 points in the first and the return game, a 21 in the deciding one
6. If both players tie the score when they miss a point to win, they play a 5 points tie-break
7. The match is won by who wins two of three sets
8. Players can not challenge referees' decisions
9. It is an individual game, but you can also play with a mate against two others, as they do in the Championships
10. In such a case, two challengers start the game and the one who wins the point has the lead till he loses it

[edit] Pop Culture

Morra has been featured in operas, ancient paintings, and even modern cinema. A good example of Morra within its modern cultural context can be seen at [1].

• On a popular television commercial featuring the US Olympic Women's Beach Volleyball team, two players use the game to decide who needs to jump into the freezing cold water to get the volleyball.
• On an episode of Seinfeld, Jerry and George play this game to decide who will get an apartment that they both want.
• On an episode of Salute Your Shorts, Michael and Sponge play this game to decide who has to chew an old piece of gum found on a public telephone in order to reach for a coin that fell into a grate.
• On an episode of Two and a Half Men, Alan and Charlie play this game to decide who has to talk to their mother on the phone.

[edit] See also

• Matching pennies

[edit] References

• Carcopino, Jerome. Daily Life in Ancient Rome.