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Always recollect what number of car is each person called in, and play accordingly.

Elder Hand.

If you are elder hand, and have only one or two low trumps (especially if you have but one) lead a trump. For if you should lead from a suit that is not trumps, it is almost certain that it will be trumped by somebody; in which case, the winner will (according to an invari able rule, "as soon as you are safe, play for the good,") lead a trump; and whoever wins that trick will lead another trump, which will bring out both of yours; and as they are low, it is impossible that they should win either of the tricks. Whereas, if you begin by leading trump, you not only loo a greater number, (which is particularly in your favour, as you will deal next,) but you bring out the trumps sooner, and by that means have a much better chance of getting safe on some other suit that may be led, of which probably you hold the best card, and which might otherwise be trumped. It is also generally understood, that a person has a good hand when he leads a trump; consequently the other players will not be so likely to endeavour to loo him.

If you have no trump, lead from a suit in which you have no high card; unless there should be but two or three playing, in which case lead your best card.

If you have ace and king, call pam be civil, and lead the ace, after which lead your king, and if you hava another trump left lead that.

If you have pam and king, lead pam; after which lead the king, as the ace, you being safe, will not be played upon it.

If you have a safe hand, always lead a trump.

If you have the ace of trumps, and not the king or pam, do not lead your ace.

If you have pam and no other trump, do not lead pam. If you have pam and another trump, lead pam; after which, lead your other trump.

General Rules for Playing.

As soon as you are safe, play for the good of the loo. If you are safe, lead a trump, if you have one; otherwise, lead your best card.

If a trump be led, and you have ace and king, say pam be civil, and play your ace; after which lead your king.

If a trump be led, and you have pam and another trump, play pam; after which lead your trump.

If a trump be led, and you have pam and no other trump, do not play pam.

If the ace has been played in a previous trick, and you have king and queen remaining, lead or play your king, calling pam be civil.

If the ace, king, or queen be led or played, without calling pam be civil, put on pam, whether you have ano. ther trump or not.

After winning a trick, if you have the best trump in, always lead or play that trump; whether pam be out

or not.

Always endeavour to prevent any one that is not safe, from winning a trick, especially if you are last player. It is a general rule, never to take a winner's lift, unless all are safe. That is, if you are last player, and the trick belongs to one who is safe, you ought not to waste your valuable cards by taking it. Or if a winner lead

or play a card which you know to be the best in, except what you hold in your own hand, you ought to pass the trick. This rule, however, is not to be observed, if you think that by taking such a trick you can loo a greater number than by passing it.

If you have pam and queen, with no other trump, and the ace or king be led or played with the call pam be civil, play pam notwithstanding; after which, lead your queen, as the king will not be played on your queen, if the holder have any other trump.

You will do the same, if a person who is safe lead the king, whether the ace be out or not.

You will do the same, if you nave pam and king only, and one who is safe should lead or play the ace.

If you have the ace, or the king, or the queen, with only one or two low trumps, and are not safe, be cautious of playing your high card while the higher ones are in; especially ao not lead it, nor play it the second hand.

THE GAME OF BRAG.

THIS game is played with an entire pack of cards, which rank as at Whist, except the knaves and nines, which are called braggers, and rank the same as any cards they may be held with. Thus, an ace and two knaves or nines, or one of each, are called three acès; a deuce and two braggers three deuces; a king and one bragger, two kings, and so on. The number of players is usually from four to eight. The cards are cast round for the deal, and the first bragger deals first, and afterward in succession to the left. The person on the left of the dealer then puts into the pool any sum he pleases, which is called the ante. If the next player chooses, he may put in double the sum, the third may double again, and so each in his turn; but this must be done before the deal commences. The ante being paid, three cards are dealt to each player, one by one. Each player, in rotation, having examined his hand, decides whether he will go in, if he does, he puts into the pool the amount of the ante; if he does not go in, he throws up his cards, unexposed, and waits for the next deal. The dealer then gives to each player who goes in, as many cards from the pack as he discards from his hand, which completes the deal 'The eldest hand, that is, the first ́ on the left of the dealer who goes in, then begins the play. He must either brag, pass eldest, or bolt; if, on examin ing his cards, he dares to brag, he must put into the pool any sum he pleases, (not less than the whole ante) naming the amount; or, he may say, "Ipass," retaining his cards, and becoming youngest hand; or if his cards are bad, he may bolt, that is, throw up his cards, and forfeit his interest in the pool for that deal. If he bolts, the next player becomes eldest, and has the same right, and so on until some one brags. None but eldest hand can pass. If the elder hand pass, the next player must brag or bolt. After any player has bragged, the rest

must either go it, (by putting into the pool the amount bragged, saying, "Igoit.") or bolt; the youngest hand, that is, the last who goes the brag, may call a sight or return the brag; if he calls a sight, the cards must be shown in rotation, the player who calls showing last, and the best hand shown wins the pool; if he returns the brag, he must put up such sum over the last brag as he chooses, and the game goes round again, each player who does not bolt, must put up the amount bragged; be who last goes any brag, has the right to call a sight, or return the brag; and thus the game continues, until a sight is called, or some player brags so high that all the others bolt, when the last bragger wins the pool, be his hand what it may. The game is then continued by a new deal.

The best hand in this game is a pair royal, that is, three cards of one kind, three aces being better than three kings, and so on; the next is a pair, two aces, two kings, &c.; and then the highest single card. A natural pair royal, which is formed without the aid of braggers, is better than one of the same rank formed with them; thus, three aces are better than two aces and one bragger; three deuces are better than two deuces and one bragger; and pairs are governed by the same rule. The knaves and nines are of equal rank, except that two knaves and a nine, or knave and two nines, are three knaves. If two hands of equal strength are shown, the eldest wins. A table is annexed, in which the hands are ranked according to their value. It should be noted, that two aces and a king are no better than two aces and a deuce, as no card is of any value unless it makes a pair or a pair royal. You should understand this thoroughly before you begin to play, in order to know in what manner to discard and take in, in forming your hand.

TABLE, SHOWING THE RANK OF THE
DIFFERENT HANDS

3 aces,

Pairs Royal.

2 aces and 1 bragger, 1 ace and 2 braggers, 3 kings,

2 kings and 1 bragger, 1 king and 2 braggers, 3 queens,

2 queens and 1 bragger, 1 queen and 2 braggers, 3 knaves,

2 knaves and 1 nine,
I knave and 2 nines,
3 tens,

2 tens and 1 bragger,
1 ten and 2 braggers,
3 nines,
3 eights,

2 eights and 1 bragger,
1 eight and 2 braggers,

Pairs.

Pairs Royal.

3 sevens,

2 sevens and 1 bragger,
1 seven and 2 braggers,
3 sixes,

2 sixes and 1 bragger,
1 six and 2 braggers,
3 fives,

2 fives and 1 bragger,
1 five and 2 braggers,
3 fours,

2 fours and 1 bragger,
1 four and 2 braggers,
3 threes,

2 threes and 1 bragger,
1 three and 2 braggers,
3 deuces,

2 deuces and I bragger,
1 deuce and 2 braggers.

Pairs.

1 king and 1 bragger,

2 aces,
ace and 1 bragger,

2 queens,

2 kings,

1 queen and 1 bragger, &c.

Of doubling and raising the Ante..

If the ante is doubled, the eldest hand having looked at the cards first dealt him, must either make good (i. e. put in as much as will make his ante equal to the last double) or bolt. All who go in, must pay the same amount. All the players having either gone in or bolted, the last doubler has a right to draw half his stake, and throw up his hand.

After the first three cards are dealt, but before taking in, the eldest hand having seen his cards, may raise the ante, (unless it has been doubled.) by putting in any sum he pleases; and all who go in must pay the amount of the whole ante.

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