u3a

Birkdale & Ainsdale

Games

Status:	Active, open to new members
Leader:	Freda Smithies
When:	Weekly on Tuesday afternoons 2:00 pm
Venue:	St Peter's Church Hall
Cost:	£3.00 The charge includes refreshments and maybe a chocolate biscit

The Next Games Meeting Is:

Tue,10th,Nov 2026

2:00 pm

Games

Tue,17th,Nov 2026

2:00 pm

Games

Other Meeting Dates Listed Further Down

We have taught each other to play most of our games.

If you have a favorite game we would love you to bring it along and join us.

We all have our favorites but regularly play in groups of 3, 4, 6 and sometimes 8 all at one table it gets a bit raucous with lots of laughter and boisterous activity.

We seem to have a lot of number games there are also dedicated Scrabble & Rummikub Groups see list below

MEXICAN TRAINS

Our first game was Mexican Train, introduced by group founder Freda. Played with 91 double-12 dominoes, the aim is to build trains from a central station and play all your tiles

I't's a game that is easy to master The object of the game is to play all the tiles from your hand onto one or more chains, or trains, emanating from a central hub or "station". The game's name comes from a special optional train that belongs to all players.

Some of the games we regularly play

SKIJO

I remember when we first played skyjo at one of our group members home, it has stuck with us since we liked it so much we started to play skyjo action but have reverted back to this simpler version as Jean prefers this version.

FIVE CROWNS

One of our newest games that has become a favourite introduced to two of our group when out line dancing (thanks Debbie). A Rummy style game with a twist & an extra suit.

RUMMIKUB

We play rummikub now and again and sometimes make up the numbers in the rummikub group in fact two of our games group joined u3a to play rummikub and now play allsorts of games.

TRIOMINOES

Another favourite game of 3 sided dominoes

OTHER GAMES WE PLAY BUT LESS OFTEN

We also play Skyjo Action, Sequence, Canaster, Mhing, Mahjong and Mini Bridge. There are dedicated Scrabble and Rummikub groups too.

A few of our group had a taster session and some lessons at the local bridge club. We decided it was too intense and would require more dedication than we were willing to give. We did learn to play MINI BRIDGE which we enjoyed and will play again.

One of the newest members of our games group is also a bridge player but they like the social side of our games afternoon so are here to stay.

Have an idea for a new game? We’d love to hear it—UNO is on our list!

Birkdale and Ainsdale u3a Games group dates of future meetings: