Chapter 63

sometimes become his adversary instead of his friend.

xi. When in doubt, play a trump. Play the game in its integrity, and recollect that Whist is full of inferences as well as facts.

80. Cribbage.

The game of Cribbage differs from all other games by its immense variety of chances. It is played with the full pack of cards, often by four persons, but it is a better game for two. There are also different modes of playing--with five, six, or eight cards; but the best games use those with five or six cards.

[NIGHT IS NOT DARK TO THE GOOD.]

81. Terms Used in Cribbage.

i. _Crib._--The crib is composed of the cards thrown out by each player, and the dealer is entitled to score whatever points are made by them.

ii. _Pairs_ are two similar cards, as two aces or two kings. Whether in hand or play they reckon for two points.

iii. _Pairs-Royal_ are three similar cards, and reckon for six points, whether in hand or play.

iv. _Double Pairs-Royal_ are four similar cards and reckon for twelve points, whether in hand or play. The points gained by pairs, pairs-royal, and double pairs-royal, in playing, are thus effected:--Your adversary having played a seven and you another, constitutes a pair, and entitles you to score two points; your antagonist then playing a third seven, makes a pair-royal, and he marks six; and your playing a fourth is a double pair-royal, and entitles you to twelve points.

v. _Fifteens_.--Every fifteen reckons for two points, whether in hand or play. In hand they are formed either by two cards--as a five and any tenth card, a six and a nine, a seven and an eight, or by three cards, as a two, a five, and an eight, two sixes and a three. If in play, such cards as together make fifteen are played, the player whose card completes that number, scores two points.

vi. _Sequences_ are three or four more successive cards, and reckon for an equal number of points, either in hand or play. In playing a sequence, it is of no consequence which card is thrown down first; as thus:--your adversary playing an ace, you a five, he a three, you a two, then he a four--he counts five for the sequence.

vii. _Flush_.--When, the cards are all of one suit, they reckon for as many points as there are cards. For a flush in the crib, the turned-up card must be of the same suit as those put out.

viii. _Nob_.--The knave of the suit turned up reckons for one point; if a knave be turned up, the dealer marks two.

ix. _End Hole_.--The point scored by the last player, if he make under thirty-one; if he make thirty-one exactly, he marks two.

x. _Last_.--Three points taken at the commencement of the game of five-card cribbage by the non-dealer.

[NOR IS DAY BRIGHT TO THE WICKED.]

82. The Accepted Laws of Cribbage.

i. The players cut for deal. The ace is lowest in cutting. In case of a tie, they cut again. The holder of the lowest card deals.