dealer has rather the advantage, supposing the cards to run' equal, and the players to be equally matched in skill. By attending to the above calculation any player may judge whether he is at home or not, and thereby play his game accordingly, either by making a push, when he is behind and holds good cards, or by endeavouring to baulk the opponent, when his hand proves indifferent.

IN FAVOUR OF THE DEALER.

EACH party being even 5 holes going up, is 6 to 4

at 10 holes each

15 each

20 each

25 each

12..11 7.. 4 6.. 4 11..10

In all situations of the game, till within 15 of the end, when the dealer is 5 points a head

But when within 15 of the end

10.. 1

And if the dealer want 6, and the adver-
sary 11
Should the dealer be 10 a head, it is 4 or 5.. 1
And near the end of the game, 10 or 12.. 1
When the dealer wants 16 and the antago-

nist 11

Q

21.:20

AGAINST THE DEALER.

BOTH players being even at 56 holes each, is 7 to 5

57

58

If the dealer want 20, and his oppo

7.. 4 3.. 2

5.. 4

pre

6.. 5

nent 17 When the dealer is 5 points behind, vious to turning the top of the board When he is 31 and the antagonist 36 When 36, and the adversary 41

EVEN BETTING.

When at 59 holes each player.

In all points of the game, till within 20 of the end, if the non-dealer be three a head.

The dealer wanting 14, and his antagonist 9
Ditto

11, Ditto

7

THREE OR FOUR-HAND CRIBBAGE differs only from the preceding, as the parties put out but one card each to the crib, and when 31, or as near as can be, have been made, then the next eldest hand leads, and the players go on again, in rotation, with any remaining cards, till all are played out before they proceed to show. For three-hand cribbage triangular boards are used.

A sort of three-hand cribbage is sometimes played, one person sitting out, not each game, but each deal, in rotation. In this the first dealer generally wins.

SIX-CARD CRIBBAGE varies from that played with five cards, as the players (always two only) commence on an equality, without scoring any points for last, retain four cards in hand, and all the cards are to be played out, as in three and four hand cribbage with five cards. At this game it is

of advantage to the last player to keep as close cards as possible, in hopes of coming in for 15, a sequence, or pair, besides the end hole, or 31. The first dealer is reckoned to have some trifling advantage, and each player may, on the average, expect to make 25 points in every two deals. The first non-dealer is considered to have a preference, when he gains 10 or more the first hand, and the dealer not making more than his average number.

EIGHT-CARD CRIBBAGE is played, but it is very

seldom.

These games of three and four-hand cribbage, and those of six or eight cards, are easier than that of five cards by two persons, and consequently are not near so much in vogue with professed gamesters.

Some ingenious people in London invented a game of chance they styled playing at cribbage by hackney coaches; that is, two persons seating themselves at a window in some great thoroughfare street, one was to take all the coaches from the right, the other from the left; the figures on the doors of the carriages were reckoned as cards in show, and every man or boy that happened to sit, stand, or hold at the back of any of them, was called a Noddy, and I scored for each.

THE GAME OF MATRIMONY.

MATRIMONY may be played by any number of

persons from five to fourteen.

This game

is com

posed of five chances, usually marked on a board or sheet of paper as follows:

N.B. The ace of diamonds turned up takes the whole pool, but when in hand ranks only as any other ace, and if not turned up, nor any ace in hand, then the king, or next superior card, wins the chance styled best.

The game is generally played with counters, and the dealer stakes what he pleases on each or any chance, the other players depositing each the same quantity, except one; that is, when the dealer stakes twelve, the rest of t company lay

down eleven each. After this, two cards are dealt round to every one, beginning on the left, then to each one other card turned up, and he who so happens to get the ace of diamonds sweeps all; should it not be turned up, then each player shows his hand, and should any person have matrimony, intrigue, &c., he takes the counters on that point when two or more happen to have a similar combination, the eldest hand has the preference, and should any chance not be gained, it stands over to the next deal.

THE GAME OF CASSINO.

CASSINO is generally played by four persons but occasionally by three or two; the points consist of eleven, and the lurch is six.

The points are thus calculated:

That party which obtains the great cassino (or ten of diamonds) reckons............2 points.

Ditto, little cassino (the deuce of spades). 1

The four aces one point each.....

The majority in spades..

The majority of cards...

.4

.1

...3

A sweep before the end of the game, when any player can match all on the board, reckons.....

............. 1

In some deals at this game it may so happen, that neither party wins any thing, as the points are not set up according to the tricks, &c., obtained, but the smaller number is constantly subtracted from the larger both in cards and points, and if they both prove equal, the game commences again and the deal goes on in rotation;