Saudi Entertainment – Let’s Play Balut

Saudi Entertainment – Let’s Play Balut: "

Although the game balut originated in India it is now hands down the most popular card game played in Saudi Arabia. While played predominantly among men, women are also known to enjoy themselves playing this game too. Balut requires four players which pair up as partners of two. For those of you who have either played “500” or “gin” there are some similarities in that one makes bids and has suits. For some reason balut also seems to stir up strong emotions among the players and the partners themselves. Balut games can get started and go for all night long or in some cases even all weekend long. It is typical for young Saudi men to go to a favorite estrahah and end up playing balut all weekend long…unless there is a favorite soccer match showing on tv. However it is not only the young Saudi men who enjoy weekends of balut. The senior Saudi men enjoy it just as much. Many Saudi men who have retired will regularly get together with other retirees for heated Balut matches.

Here is one video (Arabic) which illustrates not only how much Saudi men may enjoy playing Balut but also how heated these games can also be!