The History of Concan
An old Mexican game often named as the forerunner of rummy and gin rummy.
From Mexico to the Rummy Family
Concan, or Conquian, was played in Mexico and the American Southwest in the 19th century with the Spanish-suited 40-card pack. Card game historians count it among the oldest games of the rummy type, in which players collect sets and runs.
Where the game itself came from is not certain. Some historians look to older Asian card games, others to Spanish ones; what is clear is that the idea of building and laying out melds spread from games like Concan into the many rummy games played today.
The Name and the Rules
The name is often connected with the Spanish phrase 'con quién' ('with whom?'), but that explanation is not proven. The game is also written Conquian or Coon Can in English sources.
Because the game was passed on by playing rather than by rule books, several versions exist. PaperGames keeps to a simple, playable one and explains it on the rules page.