The Card Game

The Card Game is the 23rd episode of Season 2 of The Cosby Show, also the 47th overall in the series. The episode was directed by Jay Sandrich and written by Matt Robinson. The episode originally aired in the United States on NBC on April 10, 1986.

Synopsis
Cliff's Pinochle partner cancels on him, so Cliff asks former Hillman professor to sit in and help finally beat his father and his buddy who cheat. Meanwhile, Theo buys his girl a ring.

Plot summary
Cliff's pinochle partner becomes ill and can't play in their monthly match against Russell and his partner, Homer. So Cliff teams up with his rather stuffy former English teacher, Professor Barnabas Foster, who proves to be a more than formidable pinochle player. Russell and his partner Homer try their usual cheating, unaware that Cliff's fine and upstanding partner has a few tricks of his own. Meanwhile, love is in the air when Theo sends away for a $19.95 "genuine" diamond ring for his new girlfriend, Tanya.

Trivia
For his work in this episode, Roscoe Lee Brown garnered an Emmy nomination for himself