# Flinch: Oldest game in the book? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 23, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flinch-oldest-game-in-the-book/593725 "2011-08-23T00:24:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flinch-oldest-game-in-the-book/593725/1 "2011-08-23T00:24:02Z")
Wife was at the grocery store. Two brothers took turns punching the other’s arm. “Did that hurt?” “No.” As games go you need nothing besides a couple idiotic 6- or 7-year-old boys. “Idiotic” pretty much defines 6- or 7-year-old boys. “They were East Indian. It’s universal.” So, might Flinch be the first game? The one that was created the moment a guy had a little brother? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flinch-oldest-game-in-the-book/593725/2 "2011-08-23T03:18:28Z")
It far predates humanity. What do you think bighorn sheep are playing when they batter each others’ skulls? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flinch-oldest-game-in-the-book/593725/3 "2011-08-23T04:00:39Z")
The title made me think of this old game I saw my aunts and uncles playing in the 50’s: [Flinch\_(card\_game)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flinch_(card_game)) and I wondered how it could be the “oldest game in the book.” There was also Rook and Touring that had special decks, along with Canasta and Pinochle that used regular cards.