As rain gently tapped on the window, young Tomáš looked around the room, searching for something fun to pass the time. Spotting a box of cards on the shelf, he eagerly grabbed them, the colorful illustrations catching his eye. "Dad," he asked with a spark of excitement, "Can we play this game?" His father, Petr, chuckled as he saw the familiar cards. "Ah, Pexeso! Do you know, my boy, that this game is a Czech invention? It originally came from the phrase 'pekelně se soustřed,' which means 'concentrate like hell.'" Tomáš' eyes widened with surprise. "Really?" Petr nodded. "Yes. You see, the objective of the game is to find matching pairs of cards. Each card has an illustration or image, and its pair has the same image. The cards are shuffled and placed face-down. Players take turns flipping over two cards, trying to find a matching pair. When you find one, you get to keep it and take another turn. The game continues until all pairs are found. The player with the most pairs wins." Tomáš shuffled the cards, intrigued. "So, how did it become popular?" Petr leaned back, reminiscing. "Well, the game became a huge hit in Czechoslovakia. It was created in 1965 and its simplicity, combined with the challenge of memory and concentration, appealed to all ages. Over time, Pexeso spread to other countries and became known as 'Pairs' or 'Memory'. Different versions appeared with varying themes – animals, landmarks, characters, you name it." Tomáš began arranging the cards in rows. "I can see why it's popular. It's fun and challenging!" "Indeed. It's not just about memory but also observation and strategy. And it brings people together – families, friends." Tomáš grinned. "I want to play now! Will you be my opponent?"