Bezique nations, Binocles, meaning eyeglasses with this pronunciation, became the name for Bezique with minor rule variations, ultimately evolving into Pinochle. Two-handed Pinochle, two-handed Bezique and two-handed Binokel are almost identical, the main difference is that the last-named is played with two packs of 24, German-suited, cards, instead of two packs of 32, French-suited, ones. The former, together with Six-Pack Bezique and Rubicon Bezique, is still played in the United States. The game achieved its greatest popularity in Paris by 1860 and in England a few years later. Perhaps the most famous proponent of the game was Winston Churchill, an avid
The Card Players II The Card Players II The Card Players II (Slovenian: Kvartopirci II) is a painting by the 17th-century Dutch artist Almanach. It is painted in oil on canvas and has dimensions of 147 x 2855 cm. The painting is in the collection of the National Gallery of Slovenia in Ljubljana, which purchased it in 1995. The composition is closely related to the "Cheerful Company at Table" ("The Card Players I"), also in the National Gallery of Slovenia. The group are playing the Italian game of trappola. On the table is a rolled piece of tobacco. The painting shows the influence of