Curse of Scotland excluded, making the 7, later called the "beer card", a "stop") but there is no direct relation with the 9. Gomme's book goes on to claim "At the game of Pope Joan, the nine of diamonds is Pope; therefore the nine of diamonds is the curse of Scotland". "The Spectator" review considered the claim "more cogent in form than in matter". A letter written in response to "The Spectator's" book review pointed out that the saying was established well before Culloden, and preferred the Pope Joan theory to other explanations. Other explanations given in the letter were: An 1864 book
Beer card Beer card In trick-taking card games like bridge, the beer card is the seven of diamonds (7) playing card when it is agreed that, if a player wins the last trick of a hand with the 7, his partner must buy him a beer. It is not considered as part of the rules of these games, but an optional and informal side-bet between players. This practice is likely originated from Danish Tarot or Skat in the middle of the 20th century. The requirements vary depending on whether the winner of the last trick is the declarer or a defender. In