The game, instead of being marked one, two, three, four, is called for the first stroke, fifteen; for the second, thirty; for the third, forty; and for the fourth, Game, unless the players get four strokes each; then, instead of calling it forty all, it is called Deuce, after which, as soon as any stroke is got, it is called Advantage; and in case the strokes become equal again, Deuce again; till one or the other gets two strokes following, to win the game. The odds at this game are very uncertain, on account of the chances: and various methods of giving odds have been used to render a match equal. A Bisque is the lowest odds given, (except choice of the sides,) and is the liberty of scoring a stroke whenever the player, who receives the advantage, chooses; for example, let a game be forty to thirty, he who is forty by taking the Bisque, becomes game. Fifteen is a stroke given at the beginning of a game. Half thirty, is fifteen given the first game, and thirty the second; and so on to the whole thirty, forty, &c. Half-court, is confining the player to play into the adversary's half-court, and is of great advantage to the adversary. Touch no Wall, is another great advantage given to the adversary. Round Service, is serving the ball round the pent-house. Barring the Hazards, is not reckoning the dedans, tambour, grill, or the last gallery, or the hazard-side, &c. The odds generally laid, making allowance for particular circumstances, are as follow: The first stroke being won between even players, that is, 15 love, the odds are, 7 to 4 4 1 Thirty love Forty love Thirty fifteen Forty fifteen Forty thirty The odds of a four game set, when the first game is won, are... When two games love Three games love When two games to one Three games to one The odds of a six game set, when the first game is won, are When two games love Three games love Four games love Five games love Three games to one When two games to one 21 Four games to one 2 Five games to one When three games to two Four games to two Five games to two .... When four games to three The odds of an advantage set, when the ... ANY number of persons may play. The person who takes the box and dice throws a main, that is to say, a chance for the company, which must be above four, and not exceed nine, otherwise it is no main, consequently he must keep throwing till he brings five, six, seven, eight or nine; this done he must throw his own chance, which may be any above three, and not exceeding ten; if he throws two aces or. trois-ace (commonly called crabs) he loses his stakes, let the company's chance, called the main, be what it will. If the main should be seven, and seven or eleven is thrown immediately after, it is what is called a nick, and the caster (the present player) wins out his stakes: also if eight be the main, and eight or twelve is thrown immediately after, it is also called a nick, and the caster wins his stakes. The caster throwing any other number for the main, such as is admitted, and bringing the same number directly afterwards, that is likewise termed a nick, and he then also wins whatever stakes he has made. Every three successive mains the caster wins he is to pay half a guinea to the box or furnisher of the dice. The meaning of a stake or bet at this game differs somewhat from any other. If a person chooses to lay some money with the thrower or caster, he must put his cash upon the table, within a circle which is described for that purpose; when he has done this, if the caster agrees to it, he knocks the box upon the table at the person's money with whom he intends to bet, or particularly mentions at whose money he throws, which is sufficient, and he is obliged to answer whatever sum is down, unless the staker calls to cover; in that case the caster is obliged to stake also, otherwise the bets would be void. It is optional in the person who bets with the thrower, to bar any throw which the caster may be going to cast, provided neither of the dice are seen; if one die should be discovered, the caster must throw the other to it, unless the throw is barred in proper time. The common odds, which are absolutely necessary to be understood before any body attempts to play or bet at this game, are as follow: if seven is thrown for a main, and four the chance, it is 2 to 1 against the person who throws; if six to four is thrown, 5 to 3: if five to four is thrown, 4 to 3: seven to nine, 3 to 2: seven to six, 3 to 2, barring the two trois; with the two trois, only 6 to 5: seven to five, 3 to 2: six to five an even bet, barring the doublets or the two trois: with the trois, 5 to 4: eight to five, an even bet barring the two fours: five to four with the two fours: nine to five, even: nine to four is 4 to 3: the nick of seven is 7 to 2, but often laid but 10 to 3, and 5 to 1 you do not nick six or eight. To illustrate these calculations still more clearly, the following table will be serviceable: 7 5 .. .. 3 { 2, barring the two trois. 2. even, barring the two trois. 25 4 with the two trois. even, barring the two fours. 5 { even, with the two fotos. 5 even. .. 4.. 3. against the Caster. The nick of seven is 7 to 2, often laid 10 to 3. The nick of six and eight is 5 to 1. It is necessary to be perfectly master of these odds, in order to play the prudent game, and to make use of them by way of insuring bets in what is called hedging, in case the chance happens to be unlikely; for by taking the odds a ready calculator secures himself, and often stands part of his bet to a certainty. For example, if seven is the main, and four the chance, and he has 57. depending on the main, by taking 67. to 37. he must either win 21. or 11.; and on the contrary, if he does not like his chance, by laying the odds against himself he must save in proportion to the bet he has made. CALCULATIONS ON HAZARD. WHEN either 6 or 3 is connected with 7, as main and chance, 'tis 6 to 5 in favour of 7, there |