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[alrelax]

In case you ever wondered why the face cards are slang named 'Monkeys', it is because back in Europe the royalty playing the game of baccarat would rightfully call for a 'Monarch Card' which of course the same as today possessed Kings and Queens on them, etc.

When the Asians started playing this game (long after the Europeans invented it) their attempted pronunciation of the word 'Monarch' came out as 'Monkey'.  The only sketchy part of the history is, if it  actually happened in Europe or Asia.

Regardless, that is how the face cards and eventually the 10 Pip cards became named in slang as "MONKEY".

And, as Paul Harvey used to say, "And now you know the rest of the story"!

[alrelax]

Don't know where you play 21, you will never say, but most of the larger gaming jurisdictions it is very widely said by all, even the few blacks playing, 'Monkey", some do say face card or color tv or something else, but the clear majority are saying, 'monkey'.

[marvin]

my first time to hear this.  here in singapore we call it "picture"

[Drewm]

Lol... I'm Asian and I never he's red the story before.... But interesting... In Midwest here we call it monkey or picture as well

[alrelax]

Where in the Midwest do you play? 

[MarkTeruya]

Has to be an American thing?  Never heard a 10 being called "Monkey" in Europe, Singapore or Down-under, occasionally I've used it myself, only because I've read about it on the web, others players laugh and know I'm calling for a 10.

[alrelax]

Has to be an American thing?  Never heard a 10 being called "Monkey" in Europe, Singapore or Down-under, occasionally I've used it myself, only because I've read about it on the web, others players laugh and know I'm calling for a 10.

In the USA 100% just about all over. 

[MarkTeruya]

Is it even considered "politically correct" in 2016? 

[alrelax]

Is it even considered "politically correct" in 2016? 

People yell and scream for it, whites, Asians, the few blacks playing, etc., etc.  I used to have a little solid gold monkey (about 1 inch by 1/2 inch or so) I would pull out of my pocket and place up on the table when I was at table max or something like that and of course the 3rd card would decide if we won, and if we needed a monkey to win I would pull it out. 

I used to play with another person a lot and his wife would have this stuffed monkey in her purse and she would do the same thing once in a while.