matched in skill. By attending to these calculations 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 at 5 holes going up, is 10 holes each 15 each... 6 to 4 12 to 11 7 to 4 When the dealer wants 3, and his opponent 4, it is 5 to 4. In all situations of the game, till within 15 of the end, when the dealer is 5 points a-head, it is 3 to 1. But when within 15 of the end, it is 8 to 1. And if the dealer want 6, and the adversary 11, it is 10 to 1. Should the dealer be 10 a-head, it is 4 or 5 to 1. And near the end of the game, 10 or 12 to 1. When the dealer wants 16, and the antagonist 11, it is 21 to 20. AGAINST THE DEALER. Both players being even at 56 holes each, it is.... 57 each.. 58 each 7 to 5 7 to 4 to 2 If the dealer want 20, and his opponent 17, it is 5 to 4. When the dealer is 5 points behind, previous to turning the top of the board, it is 6 to 5. When he is 31, and the antagonist 36, it is 6 to 4. When 36, and the adversary 41, it is 7 to 4. 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 11, 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 fourhand 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 1 scored for each. DOMINO. DOMINO is played by two or four persons with twenty-eight pieces of oblong ivory, plain at the back, but on the face divided by a black line in the middle, and indented with spots from one to a double six which pieces are, a double-blank; ace-blank; double-ace; deuce-blank; deuce-ace; double-deuce; trois-blank; trois-ace; trois-deuce; double-trois; four-blank; four-ace; four-deuce; four-trois; double-four; five-blank; five-ace; fivedeuce; five-trois; five-four; double-five; sixblank; six-ace; six-deuce; six-trois; six-four; six-five; and double-six. Sometimes a double set is played with, of which double-twelve is the highest. At the commencement of the game, the cards (as they are called) are shuffled with their faces on the table. Each person draws one, and if four play, those who choose the two highest are partners against those who take the two lowest : drawing the latter also serves to determine who is to lay down the first piece, which is reckoned a great advantage. Afterwards, each player takes seven pieces at random. The eldest-hand having laid down one, the next must pair him at either end of the piece he may choose, according to the number of pips, or being a blank in the compartment of the piece; but whenever any one cannot match the part not paired, either of the card last put down, or of that unpaired at the other end of the row, then he says Go; and the next is at liberty to play. Thus they play alternately, either till one party has wholly discarded, and thereby wins the game, or till the game is blocked; that is, when neither party can play by matching the pieces where unpaired at either end; then they win who have the smallest number of pips on the pieces remaining in their possession. It is to the advantage of every player to dispossess himself as early as possible of the heavy pieces, such as doublesixes, fives, fours, &c. Sometimes, when two persons play, they take each only seven pieces, and agree to play or draw; i. e. when one cannot come in, or pair with the pieces on the board at the end unmatched, he is to draw from the fourteen pieces in stock, till he finds one to suit. This game requires strict attention, and nothing but practice will make perfect. POPE, OR POPE JOAN. POPE, a game somewhat similar to that of Matrimony, already stated at page 79, is played by a numerous party, who generally use a board painted for the purpose, which may be purchased at most turners' or toy-shops. The eight of diamonds must first be taken from the pack, and after settling the deal, shuffling, &c. the dealer dresses the board by putting fish, counters, or other stakes, one each to ace, king, queen, knave, and game, two to matrimony, two to intrigue, and six to the nine of diamonds, styled pope. This dressing is, in some companies, at the individual expense of the dealer, though in others the players contribute two stakes a-piece towards it. The cards are next to be dealt round equally to every player, one turned up for trump, and about six or eight left in the stock to form stops; as for example, if the ten of spades be turned up, the nine consequently becomes a stop; the four kings and the seven of diamonds are always fixed stops, and the dealer is the only person permitted in the course of the game to refer occasionally to the stock for information what other cards are stops in the deal. If the trump turned up should be an ace, a king, a queen, or a knave, the dealer takes whatever is deposited on such card in the board; but when pope is turned up, he is entitled both to that and the game, besides a stake for every card dealt to each player. Unless the game be thus determined by pope being turned up, the eldest-hand begins by playing out as many cards as possible; first the stops, then pope, if he have it, and afterwards the lowest card of his longest suit, particularly an ace, for that never |