yarborough

n. Games
A bridge or whist hand containing no honor cards.

[After Charles Anderson Worsley, Second Earl of Yarborough (1809-1897), said to have bet 1,000 to 1 that such a hand would not occur.]

(YAHR-bur-o)

noun
In a card game, a hand in which no card is above a nine.

Etymology
After Charles Anderson Worsley, 2nd Earl of Yarborough (1809-1897), who is said to have bet 1,000 to 1 against the occurrence of such a hand.

Usage
"Many players know the odds against holding a Yarborough -- a hand with no card above a nine -- are 1827 to 1. But though today's deal arose in Reno at the ACBL's Spring Championships, I doubt anyone could have quoted the odds against it: South and East both had Yarboroughs!" — Frank Stewart; On Bridge; Buffalo News (New York); Sep 30, 1998.

"You pass in sleep still wondering what the real odds for a Yarborough are and West raises to four spades." — Peter Gibbs; Chess; Birmingham Post (UK); Aug 25, 2001.

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a totally worthless hand in whist or bridge