3 to 6 players. An 18th century ancestor to modern Rummy Royale, Tripoly & Michigan Rummy. The name is from a Medieval myth that Pope John VIII was a woman. Easy to learn, but fast-moving enough for experienced card players.
The board is divided into eight "bowls." Players win chips out of the bowls as they play the ace and face cards of the trump suit. The first player to get rid of his cards wins the hand and the other player have to pay the winner one coin for card they have left in their hand.
Also includes the rules for Poch (4 to 8 players). A German game from the 1440's using a similar board. It is a cross between a game like Pope Joan and betting games like Poker. Both require a standard deck of cards (not included).
The fabric game board is silk-screen printed with heat-set ink and is machine washable. It measures 17" x17" and comes glass drops to use as chips, and a canvas drawn-string pouch for to store it
The color of the glass game pieces may vary.