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players is, to gain the cards, and to have the point, which most commonly engages them to keep in that suit, of which they have the most cards, or that which is their strongest; for it is convenient to prefer, sometimes forty-one in one suit to forty-four in another, in which a quint is not made; sometimes, even having a quint, it is more advantageous to hold the forty-one, where if one card only is taken it may make it a quintmajor, gain the point, or the cards, which could not have been done by holding the forty-four, at least without an extraordinary take-in. Also endeavour, in laying out, to get a quatorze, that is, four aces, kings, queens, knaves, or tens, each of which counts for fourteen, and is therefore called a quatorze; the fourteen aces hinder the counting fourteen kings, &c. and by that authority you may count a lesser quatorze, as of tens, although your adversary may have fourteen kings, &c. because the stronger (viz. the aces) annuls the weaker and also, in the want of a lesser quatorze, you may count three aces, three kings, three queens, three knaves, or three tens. Three aces are better than three kings; and he who has them may by virtue thereof count his three tens, although the adversary may have three kings; in favour of a quatorze you count not only any lesser quatorze, but also all the threes which you have, except of nines, eights, and sevens. The same is to be observed in regard to the huitiémes, septiémes, sixièmes, quints, quarts, and tierces, to which the player must have regard in his discarding, so that what he takes in may make them for him.

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The Point being selected, the eldest hand declares what it is, and asks if it is good: if his

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adversary has not so many, he answers it is good; if he has just as many, he answers it is equal; and if he has more, he answers it is not good; for whoever has the point, whether eldest or youngest, counts it first; but if the points are equal, neither can count: it is the same when the players have equal tierces, quarts, quints, &c. and whoever should hold several other sequences, either of the same goodness or lesser, cannot

count one.

After the elder hand hath counted the point, he should examine if he hath not any tierce, quart, quint, &c. and then see if he hath any either quatorze, or three of aces, kings, &c. that he may reckon them, if his adversary doth not hinder him by having better.

The points, the tierces, quarts, quints, &c. are to be shewn on the table, that their value may be seen and reckoned; but you are not obliged to shew quatorzes, or three aces, kings, queens, knaves, or tens.

After that each hath examined his game, and the eldest, by the questions asked, seen every thing that is good in his hand, he begins to reckon. The carte blanche is first reckoned, then the point, next the sequences, and lastly the quatorzes, as well as threes of aces, kings, &c. after which he begins to play his cards, for each of which he counts one, except it is a nine or an inferior one.

After the elder hand hath led his first card, the younger shews his point, if it is good, also the sequences, quatorzes, or threes of aces, kings, &c. and having reckoned them all together, he takes the first trick if he can with the same suit, and counts one for it; if he cannot, the other turns the trick and continues; and when the

younger hand can take the trick, he then may lead which suit he pleases.

A good player is principally known from an indifferent one, by his manner, and it is not possible to play without knowing the strength of the game; that is to say, by your own hand you should know what your adversary may hold, and, what he must have discarded, and taking great notice what he hath shewn or reckoned. There are no trumps at piquet, but the highest card of the same suit takes the trick.

If the elder hand has the misfortune to have neither point, sequence, quatorze, or threes which are good, he must begin to count by playing that, card which he judges most proper, and continue, until his adversary has played a superior, to gain, the lead in his turn. This method must be continued till all the twelve cards are played, and he, who takes the last trick counts two. Then each player counts how many tricks he has taken, and he who hath the most reckons the cards; but, if they are equal, neither side can count any thing for the cards.

As soon as any deal is finished, each player, should mark how many points he hath made, and so proceed until the game is completed; and after every deal the cards must be shuffled and cut for the next: each player takes his turn, unless the game is concluded in one deal.

When you begin another game, the cards must be cut afresh for the deal, unless it is agreed upon, at first, that the deal shall go on.

TERMS USED AT PIQUET.

CAPOT is when either of the players makes every trick, for which he scores forty."

Cards signify the majority of tricks, which reckon for ten points.

Carte Blanche means a hand without a court card in the twelve dealt, which counts for ten, and takes place of every thing else.

Huitiéme, eight successive cards of the same suit, counts eighteen points.

Pique is when the elder hand has reckoned thirty in hand, and plays before the adversary has gained one; in which case, instead of thirty, it is called sixty, adding thereto as many points as are obtained above thirty.

Point, the greatest number on the cards of the same suit in hand, after having taken in, reckoned by their pips, scores for as many points as cards.

Quart, four cards in sequence of the same suit counts four points: there are five kinds of quarts, the first called quart-major, consists of ace, king, queen, and knave; the second, quart from a king, of king, queen, knave, and ten; the third, quart from a queen, of queen, knave, ten, nine; the fourth, quart from a knave, of knave, ten, nine, eight; the fifth, a basse-quart or quart-minor, of ten, nine, eight, and seven.

Quatorze, the four aces, kings, queens, knaves, or tens, scores fourteen points.

Quint means five cards of the same suit in sequence, and reckons fifteen points: there are four sorts of quints; a quint-major of ace, king, queen, knave, and ten, down to knave, ten, nine, eight, and seven, stiled a quint-minor.

Repique signifies when one of the players counts thirty or more in hand, before the adversary obtains one, then 'tis called ninety, reckoning as many points above ninety as were gained above thirty.

Sixieme or six cards of the same suit in sequence, reckons for sixteen points: there are three sorts of sixiémės, viz. sixiéme-major from the ace, sixiéme from the king, and sixièmeminor from the queen.

Septieme or seven of the same suit in sequence, counts for seventeen points, there are two septiémes, one from the ace, the other from the king.

Threes of aces, &c. down to tens, reckon three points.

Talon or Stock means the eight remaining cards after twelve are dealt to each player.

Tierce or sequence of three, reckons for three: there are six kinds of tierces, tierce-major, of ace, king, queen; down to nine, eight, seven, stiled tierce-minor.

MR. HOYLE'S GAME OF PIQUET.

1. PLAY by the stages of your game; that is, when behind your adversary, play a pushing game, otherwise you ought to make twenty-seven points elder-hand, and thirteen points youngerhand; and always compare your game with your adversary's, and discard accordingly.

2. Discard in expectation of winning the cards, which generally make twenty-two, or twentythree points difference; therefore don't discard for low quatorze, such as four queens, four knaves, or four tens, because in any of these cases the odds are three to one, elder-hand, and seventeen to three, younger-hand, that you do not succeed; for if you throw out an ace or a king, you run, the risk of losing above twenty points, in expec tation of winning fourteen.

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