[28] As, for instance, where the player holds the seven and nine of trumps, the eight having been turned up; the seven and nine are then of equal value.

[29] Sometimes the preference is given to the elder hand, irrespective of the value of the cards.

[30] The words between brackets apply of course to three-card loo.

Sometimes the dealer is allowed, after dealing one card to each player, to deal three together for a miss, but the practice is irregular.

At five-card Loo the _ecarte_ method of dealing (first by threes, and then by twos, or _vice versa_) is sometimes adopted.

[31] For an instructive series of ill.u.s.trative hands at Napoleon, see the _Book of Card and Table Games_.

[32] A having made seven out of twelve.

[33] See in particular the excellent treatise on the game by "Cavendish,"

published by Messrs. De La Rue & Co.

[34] For the authorised Laws of the Game, in its modern form, see _The Book of Card and Table Games_, or the treatise of "Cavendish" before mentioned.

[35] As the game is sometimes played, the dealer, and not the Age, puts up the _ante_, but the contrary is the more usual practice.

[36] This being a compulsory stake on an unknown hand, it is prudent to make it as small as possible.

[37] The Age, as a rule, goes in, even with poor cards; if he pa.s.ses, he is bound to lose the half stake already put up, and it is, therefore, generally worth his while to risk the other half.

[38] Should B have already thrown up his cards, the privilege does _not_ pa.s.s to C. There is a maxim on this point, "The Age never pa.s.ses."

[39] Some players on a second round only allow the jack-pot to be opened by a pair of queens, or better; on a third, only by a pair of kings, or better; and on a fourth, only by a pair of aces, or better; but the practice is not recommended.

No player, even though holding the needful cards, is bound to open the jack-pot unless he pleases.

[40] Strictly speaking, each dealer in rotation should himself dress the board, but it will be found more convenient to depute some one player to do so throughout the game.

[41] By some players the dealer is allowed the privilege of looking at the extra cards (sometimes, but incorrectly, themselves spoken of as "the stops"), and to act as a kind of referee as to whether a given card is a stop or otherwise, but the practice is not recommended.

[42] The Misere is now introduced into Napoleon. See p. 96.

[43] For more minute information, and for a number of ill.u.s.trative hands, see _The Book of Card and Table Games_.

[44] The right to deal is usually decided by a preliminary deal of faced cards, the first ace, or first knave, as may be agreed, having the preference.

In some circles, after the cards are cut, the dealer is allowed to look at the bottom card, and if such card prove to be an ace or tenth card, he also looks at the top card. If the two form a "natural," he is ent.i.tled to receive double the _minimum_ stake all round.

This privilege is known as the _brulet_, from the fact that it is dependent on the nature of the bottom card, which is always, in the French phrase, _brule_ (literally, "burnt") _i.e._ thrown aside when reached in the course of the deal, and not dealt to any player.

The _brulet_ has never been recognised as an essential part of the game, and is now generally abandoned.

[45] Some players risk the maximum stake on a seven, but we question the expediency of doing so.

[46] This amount is the same as is paid for an ordinary Vingt-Un, _i.e._ one made with more than two cards. Sometimes, by agreement, a "natural"

receives double the amount of an ordinary.

[47] Many players habitually stand at fifteen, and if the dealer is a reckless player, with a tendency to overdraw, it may be good policy to stand upon an even smaller figure. "Cavendish" is in favour of standing, as a rule, on fifteen.

[48] p.r.o.nounced like _pony_.

[49] _Example._ A three, two sixes, and a knave are drawn. The two sixes draw again, and the lower plays with the three. Suppose, at the second draw, the two sixes draw a king and a queen, the queen plays with the three.

If at the second draw, a lower card than the three is drawn, the three still retains its privileges as original low, and has the deal and choice of cards and seats.

[50] _Example._ Three aces and a two are drawn. The three aces draw again.

The two is the original high, and plays with the highest of the next draw.

Suppose, at the second draw, two more twos and a king are drawn. The king plays with the original two, and the other pair of twos draw again for deal.

Suppose, instead, the second draw to consist of an ace and two knaves. The two knaves draw again, and the higher plays with the two.

[51] _Vide_ Law 26.

[52] _Vide_ Law 29.

[53] After the two packets have been re-united, Law 30 comes into operation.

[54] _Vide_ also Laws 36 and 41.

[55] _Vide_ also Law 28.

[56] The pack being perfect. _Vide_ Law 41.

[57] Except as provided in Law 36.

[58] It is not usual to call the trump card if left on the table.

[59] _Vide_ Law 75.

[60] _E.g._, If a single is scored by mistake for a double or treble, or _vice versa_.

[61] _Vide_ also Law 40.

[62] _Vide_ Law 81.

[63] The more complicated forms of the so-called "American" leads are not set out, as they never gained general acceptance.

[64] This penalty is not affected by a double.

[65] p.r.o.nounced _tray_, _kater_, _sank_, and _size_, respectively.

[66] This applies more particularly towards the close of the game. The leaving of a blot at the outset, when five out of six of the points in the adversary's table are still open, is a comparatively unimportant matter.

[67] This leaves a blot on the deuce point in your outer table, but this is a trifling disadvantage as compared with the gain of at once securing four points side by side. There are only three throws, six ace, cinque deuce, and quatre trois, that will enable the adversary to hit the blot; and your next throw will in all probability enable you to place it beyond the reach of danger, either by playing another man on the same point, or by transferring the solitary man to one of the points already made.