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THE GAME OF QUINZE.

THIS is a French game. It is usually played by only two persons, and is much admired for its simplicity and fairness; as it depends entirely upon chance, is soon decided, and does not require that attention which most other games on the cards do; it is, therefore, particularly calculated for those who love to sport upon an equal chance.

It is called Quinze from fifteen being the game; which must be made as follows:

1. The cards must be shuffled by the two players, and when they have cut for deal, which fails to the lot of him who cuts the lowest, the dealer has the liberty at this, as well as at all other games, to shuffle them again.

2. When this is done, the adversary cuts them; after which the dealer gives one card to his opponent, and one to himself.

3. Should the dealer's adversary not approve of his card, he is entitled to have as many cards given to him, one after the other, as will make fifteen, or come nearest to that number; which are usually given from the top of the pack; for example: If he should have a deuce, and draws a five, which amount to seven, he must go on, in expectation of coming nearer to fifteen. If he draws an eight, which will make just fifteen, he, as being eldest hand, is sure of winning the game. But if he overdraw himself, and make more than fifteen, he loses, unless the dealer should happen to do the same; which circumstance constitutes a draw game, and the stakes are consequently doubled. In this manner they persevere, until one of them has won the game, by standing and being nearest to fifteen.

4. At the end of each game, the cards are packed and shuffled, and the players again cut for deal.

5. The advantage is invariably on the side of the elder hand.

THE GAME OF VINGT.UN.

THE Game of Vingt-un, or twenty-one, resembles the game of Quinze. It may be played by two or more persons, and as the deal is advantageous, and often continues for a considerable time with the same person, it is customary to determine it at the commencement by the first ace turned up, or in any other mode that may be agreed upon.

The cards are all dealt out in succession, unless a natural vingt-un occurs; and in the meantime the pone, or youngest hand, should collect those that have been played, and shuffle them together, in order that they may be ready for the dealer against the period when he shall have distributed the whole pack.

In the first place the dealer is to give two cards, by one at a time, to each player, including himself. He is then to ask every person in rotation, beginning with the eldest hand on the left, whether he stands or wishes to have another card; which, if required, must be given from off the top of the pack, and afterward another, or more if desired, till the points of the additional card or cards, added to those dealt, exceed or make twenty-one exactly, or such a number less than twenty-one as may be judged proper to stand upon.

But when the points exceed twenty one, then the cards of that individual player are to be thrown up directly, and the stake paid to the dealer, who also is in turn entitled to draw additional cards, and on taking a vingt-un is to receive double stakes from all who stand the game, excepting such other players as may chance to have twenty-one; between whom it is thereby a drawn game.

When any adversary has a vingt-un, and the dealer has not, in that case, the opponent so having twenty-one wins double stakes from him.

In the other cases, excepting where a natural vingt-un happens, the dealer pays single stakes to all whose num

bers under twenty-one are higher than his own, and receives from those who have lower numbers. But nothing is paid or received by those who happen to have similar numbers with the dealer; and when the dealer draws more than twenty one, he is to pay to all who have not thrown up their cards.

Whenever twenty-one is dealt in the first instance, it is styled a natural vingt-un, and should be declared immediately. It entitles the possessor to deal, and also to double stakes from all players, unless there shall be more than one natural vingt-un. In this case the younger hand or hands so having the same, are excused from paying to the eldest; who takes the deal of course.

An ace may be reckoned either as eleven, or as one. The court cards are counted as ten, and the rest of the pack according to their points.

The odds of this game depend merely upon the average quantity of cards likely to come under, or to exceed twenty-one. For example: If those in hand make fourteen exactly, it is seven to six that the one next drawn does not make the number of points above twenty-one: but if the points be fifteen, it is seven to six against that hand. Yet it would not therefore, in all cases, be prudent to stand at fifteen; for as the ace may be calculated both ways, it is rather above an even wager that the adversary's two first cards amount to more than fourteen.

A natural vingt-un may be expected once in seven coups when two, and twice in seven times, when four persons play; and so on in proportion to the number of players.

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THE GAME OF LANSQUENET.

THE Game of Lansquenet may be played by almost any number of persons, although only one pack of cards is used at a time; that is to say, during the deal.

The dealer, who, some think, has an advantage, commences by shuffling the cards, and having them cut by any one of the party. He then deals out two cards on his left hand, turning them up, then one for himself, and a fourth, which he places in the middle of the table for the company, which is called the rejouissence card. Upon this card, any, or all the company, excepting the dealer, may put their money, which the dealer is obliged to answer by staking a sum equal to the whole that is put upon it by different persons. He continues dealing, and turning the cards up, one by one, till two of a sort appear; for instance, two aces, two deuces, &c. which, in order to separate, and that no person may mistake for single cards, he places on each side of his own card; aud as often as two, three, or the fourth card of a sort come up, he always places them, as before mentioned, on each side of his own. Any single card the company has a right to take and put their mo ney upon, unless the dealer's own card happens to he double, which often occurs by this card being the same as one of the two hand cards which he first of all dealt out on his left hand. Thus he continues dealing till he brings either their cards or his own. As long as his own card remains undrawn he wins; and whichever card comes up first loses. If he draws or deals out the two cards on his left, which are called the hand cards, be fore his own, he is entitled to deal again: the advantage of which is no other than his being exempted from losing when he draws a similar card to his own, immediately after he has turned up one for himself.

This game is often played more simply without the rejouissance card; giving every person round the table a card to put their money upon. Sometimes it is played by dealing only two cards, one for the dealer, and another for the company.

It should likewise be observed, that the sum to be. placed upon any card, or number of cards, is sometimes liunited, above which tite dealer is not obliged to answer,

THE GAME OF PHARO

THE Game of Pharo, or Faro, is very similar to Basset, a game formerly much in vogue. It may be played by any number of persons; and each player, or punter, as he is termed, is furnished with a suit of cards denominated a livret, and four other cards which are called figures; viz. the first is a plain card, with a blue cross, and is called the little figure, and designates the ace, deuce, and three. The second is a yellow card, and answers for the four, five, and six. The third is a plain card, with a black lozenge in the centre; and designates the seven, eight, nine, and ten. The fourth is a red card, and answers for the king, queen, and krave.

The game may be played without these figures, as every punter has a suit of cards: but they are convenient for those who wish to punt, or stake upon seven cards at a time.

The money placed on the cards by the punter is answered by a banker, who limits the sums to be played for according to the magnitude of his bank. At public tables, the banker, according to the number of punters, has two, three, or more assistants called croupiers, whose business it is to watch the games of the several punters.

Terms used in the Game of Pharo.

Banker, the person who keeps the table.
Couche, or Enjeu, the stake.

Coup, any two cards dealt alternately to the right or left.

Croupier, an assistant to the dealer.

Doublet, is when the punter's card is turned up twice in the same coup; in which case the bank wins half the stake. A single parolet must be taken down, but if there are several, only one retires.

Hockley, signifies the last card but one, the chance of

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