Cheers and fits of laughter permeated the walls on a recent Thursday at Tracey Jones’ house. It all began with the ringing of a bell, announcing the game of was about to start.
Dice were rolled about on three tables seated by a dozen women sipping Chardonnay and Merlot. Intermittent conversation ranged from kids to redoing the back yard.
This “bunko” group has been playing since 1996. There are still six original members playing today.
The dice game, also spelled “bunco” isn’t a new fad. According to the World Bunco Association based in Newport Beach, the game dates back to the late 1800s and was played by women, school children and couples. But in the past few decades, the game has grown in popularity for its social aspect and simplicity.
The game first began in England and was introduced to San Francisco during the Gold Rush era in 1855 by a crooked gambler. After the Civil War and into the turn of the century, bunko became more widespread with population growth and a recovering economy. In the Victorian era, it became a permanent staple as a traditional family or parlor game. After Prohibition, the groups declined but resurfaced in the suburbs with a second wave of population growth. While it stayed fairly stagnant from 1940 to 1980, it was in the early ’80s that the game increased in popularity yet again. The reason? There was a return to traditional family values, a sense of neighborhood and community and the desire and need for social interaction, according to the WBA.
Pleasanton players agree that the game is beloved for its social rewards.
“I love this group for the socialization,” said Janet Ward. “We get dinner, you get money, you have fun. It’s nice not to have to go out to restaurants sometimes. You can just come here.”
Nicknamed the “wine and cheese” group, the ladies meet once a month at a different person’s house. Three women are chosen to bring a theme dinner every third month and the host provides the candy, dessert or drinks.
The group was formed by moms whose children all were in Mrs. Marilyn Auser’s kindergarten class at Walnut Grove Elementary School. Their children are now at Amador Valley High School and about to head off to college.
“A lot of us were stay-at-home moms, so it’s a great way to get out and socialize and meet people,” said Wendy Flanagan.
“We have a hard time playing sometimes because we chat so much,” added Chris Baggett.
Another bunko group was started five years earlier, in 1991, by moms with children at Walnut Grove. Their children, too, are in high school now.
“My son calls it a ‘secret spy society of moms,'” said Mari Terhune.
“It’s been fun watching all of our kids grow up together,” said Teri Wendt, whose home was where the bunko night was held.
Called the “bunko babes,” the group hosts a bunko night once a month at a different person’s house.
Both groups also have members put in a dollar amount–$10 for the “wine and cheese” group and $5 for the “bunko babes.” The person who gets the most “bunkos” at the end of the night walks away with the winnings. But often, they play for a charitable cause.
“If someone from our group is going through a crisis or having a major milestone, we’ll donate our earnings to that cause,” said Flanagan of the “wine and cheese” group.
Ward added that the group donated money to her for her son’s heart surgery. Another time, they donated to a member who went on a missionary trip to Africa. They’ve also donated for weddings, death, even to those going through menopause.
The “bunko babes” also donate to special causes and usually split up the earnings at the end of the night so no one walks away a loser. When someone gets a “bunko” they proudly don a pirate hat.
When a member can’t make it to a bunko night, both groups will either institute a “ghost”–meaning another player substitutes, moving from chair to chair, or that seat becomes filled by an imaginary celebrity such as Antonio Banderas or Brad Pitt.
While the majority of bunko groups have female members, there is at least one co-ed bunko group in town. Vic Malatesta, who owns Vic’s All Star Kitchen in downtown Pleasanton, and his wife Terry, play in a couple’s group.
It all started 33 years ago when Terry was in her own all-female group. Some of the members branched out to form the couple’s group that the Malatestas began playing in just a couple years ago. The arrangement is perfect for the pair because Terry still plays in her women’s group, both play in the couple’s group and Vic also participates in a men’s poker group.
“They’ve watched their kids grow up and their grandkids grow up,” Vic Malatesta said of his wife’s bunko group. “It’s amazing.”
He said he looks forward to the couple’s group and his Friday poker nights because it’s a great way to catch up with old friends.
Having the right combination of personalities in a group is essential, he added. The Malatestas got into the couple’s group by filling in one time.
“When you get someone to fill in, the chemistry’s got to be just right. You have to vote on it,” he said. “It’s interesting to catch up on what’s happening. Now with even the couple’s group, everyone has grandchildren, so we’re talking about them and when you take a trip, everyone knows about it.”
Do you know the lingo?
BuncoRolling three of a kind with the current number round being rolled. If someone at the head table rolls a bunco, they immediately ring the bell to signal the end of that round.Round
A round is a full turn of the number currently being rolled. Noted on a scoring card each player receives, each set is broken into six rounds since there are six sides to a die.Set
The game is divided into four sets. One set equals six roundsHead table
The head table controls the pace of the game. The game is played with three tables and 12 players.Ghost
If there aren’t enough players, a ghost player can be substituted. The ghost moves from chair to chair like any player would. If they roll a bunco, their team gets the points and their teammate gets the bunco point.Roll-off
If the score is tied at the end of a round, there is a roll off. That is one complete turn around the table rolling the current number up. The team with the most points after the roll-off is the winner and moves up a table.Source: World Bunco Association
