“Esfer out!” Was already popular when you still drove airship. In 1929, the crew of the “Graf Zeppelin” spent the time with the colorful number game on a trip to Spain. Since its market launch in 1925, millions of children and adults have experienced enjoyable players. And around 200,000 pieces a year still go over the counter. On the press day of this year’s Toy Fair Nuremberg, Ravensburger celebrated the 100th birthday of the card game classic.
There is a lot to tell on the occasion of a 100th birthday – together with the children’s football team of Post SV Nürnberg and football freestyle René Mathussek, Ravensburger presented the milestones and fun facts from 100 years of 911!. And of course a large cake that looked as much as the anniversary edition with black magnetic box in an elegant design and special playing cards could not be missing.
Nobody knows who invented it – why, yes!
Who out of 911! nobody knows. Not Rolf Hausser (died 2010), long -time managing director of the company of the same name and son of the company founder Otto Hausser. Why, on the other hand. Father Otto Hausser wanted to bring a card game onto the market “that the youngsters should stop from playing money like adults. The cards had to look completely different from” real playing cards “, and the game had to be easy to learn.” Simple and entertaining, probably that is exactly the secret of 911! So it was already in the telegram that Otto Hausser, founder of the game company of the same name, reached on May 17, 1929 from a literally cheerful sky: “House games on board are very entertaining. Graf Zeppelin”. A friend and occupation member of the “Count Zeppelin” had dropped it over the publisher’s place of residence in Ludwigsburg. Otto Hausser then added that telegram to his games – as an advertising -effective flyer, so to speak.
With the bankruptcy of the Hausser company, Elfer appeared out! First at FX Schmid, after taking over by Ravensburger, the first edition with the blue triangle came onto the market in 1999.
Anniversary edition with special cards and three new game variants
Elfran out! consists of 80 cards with the digits from 1 to 20 in four colors each. If you have a 911 hand, put it out. The players are now trying to get rid of their hand cards as soon as possible by putting them on the four different rows of numbers. If you can’t, follow up. Or block the teammates just to suddenly end. Anyone who was the first to put all the hand cards. In addition to the basic form, the instructions offer numerous game variants – it is not uncommon for players to play players but also simply according to their own house rules. The limited anniversary edition with a magnetic box and refined cards contain six special cards for three new game variants.
An entire stadium roars “Elfer out!”
The stadium was that of the 1st FC St. Pauli, and the 911 was none other than Jürgen Klopp. He wanted Bernd Hollerbach’s nasty and unsuspected horse kiss from the first leg “regulate in the old way”, i.e. reciprocate with a foul. The opportunity should come and he promoted Hollerbach and a bit the ball towards the stands. “I didn’t want to get a red card or something. But the whole stadium roared, 911! ‘ And the younger ones of us can probably remember the card game – I found very funny, “says Klopp under a sound laughing in Podcast “Ball you need is love”. It is still important to find out whether he has ever played it himself.
The 911! Family with iconic digits
Elfran out! is above all a German success story. Around 200,000 copies per year are still going through German counterparts. In the Netherlands, Belgium and France, Elevens says, in Switzerland also Onze & Cie and Fuori undici. In the Czech Republic, new there from 2025, “everywhere” (= Elevens) comes to the table. Several licenses have so far adorned the box, including the German national team, FC Bayern or Star Wars. There was also a board game. The 911! Family is currently completing 911! Extra, the junior and a PAW Patrol version. Elfran out! Is from 7 to 99 years. Wait … may out! Then play along at all? Especially now! The 99 is a very striking number and symbolizes that a game is suitable for the whole family across generations. Everyone is invited to play games. The over 99 years very special. Because playing is joy and keeps young! You can see that on the cards, the iconic digits have hardly changed the century.