--Belfast (W. H. Patterson). XV. Sieve my lady s oatmeal, Grind my lady s flour; Put it in a chestnut, Let it stand an hour. One may rush, two may rush; Come, my girls, walk under the bush. --Halliwell s _Nursery Rhymes_, Games, cclxxxviii. (_b_) The Berrington version of this game is played as follows:--Two girls face each other, holding each other by both hands. Two others face each other, holding both hands across the other two. They see-saw backwards and forwards, singing the lines (fig.
_ +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | | | ♖ | | | | ♚ | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | ♝ | | | | | ♟ | ♟ | ♟ | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | ♞ | | | | | | | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | | | | ♔ | | | | | ] The white Rook has just been moved down to the edge of the board, giving “check.” As the black King can move only one square at a time, he cannot get out of check by moving, because the only squares to which he could go would still leave him in check from the Rook. Neither the Knight nor the Bishop can interpose to shut out the Rook’s attack; neither of those pieces can capture the Rook; and the Pawns cannot move backward; so the black King is mated, and White wins the game. A mate may take place in the middle of the board, as shown in Diagram No. 9. [Illustration: _No. 9._ +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | | ♛ | ♚ | | | | | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | | | | | | ♕ | | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | | | | | ♔ | | | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | | ♜ | | | | | | | ] If the black Queen moves diagonally four squares, placing herself in front of the white King, and on the same horizontal file as the black Rook, it will be check-mate, because the white King cannot get out of one check into another by taking the Queen, which is protected by the Rook. For the same reason he cannot move, as the only squares open to him would leave him in check from the Queen, or move him into check from the black King. _=Stalemate.
This is apparently the fairest of all banking games, there being absolutely no percentage in favour of the banker except that the players have to do the guessing. The one who is willing to put up the largest amount of money to be played for is usually selected as the banker. He is provided with a large bowlful of beans, counters, buttons, small coins, or some objects of which a large number of similar size and shape can be easily obtained. An oblong card is placed in the centre of the table, and the players stake their money upon its corners or upon its edges. These corners are supposed to be numbered in rotation from 1 to 4, the figure 1 being on the right of the banker. A bet placed on any of the corners takes in the number it is placed upon and the next higher also; so that a bet upon the corner 1 would be upon the numbers 1 and 2; upon 2 it would be upon 2 and 3; and upon 4 it would be upon 4 and 1. [Illustration: +---------------+X |3 2| | | |4 1| +---------------+ ] In the illustration the bet would be upon 2 and 3. If the bet is placed upon the edge of the card, it takes in the next higher number only. [Illustration: +---------------+ |3 2| | |X |4 1| +---------------+ ] In the illustration the bet is upon the number 2, and no other. After all the bets have been placed, the banker takes a large handful of the beans or counters from the bowl, and places them on the table, counting them off rapidly into fours.
F. Foster. * Gist of Whist, by C.E. Coffin. x Howell’s Whist Openings, by E.C. Howell. Laws and Principles of Whist, by “Cavendish.” Modern Scientific Whist, by C.
Suppose a player has two spade Kings on the table, and shows double bézique. He of course marks the more valuable score, 500, and simply claims the marriages by saying: “With twenty and twenty to score.” On winning another trick he is not compelled to score the previous announcement if he has any other or better to make. He might have two more Queens, and would announce: “Sixty Queens, with twenty and twenty to score.” If he scores one of the announcements held over, he still carries on the other. When announcements are carried forward in this manner, it must be remembered that the cards must still be on the table when the time comes to score them. If one of them has been led or played, or the stock is exhausted before the player wins another trick, the score held over is lost. _=Time.=_ On account of the great number of combinations possible at Rubicon Bézique, it is very seldom that a player succeeds in scoring everything he holds. He is allowed to count the cards remaining in the talon, provided he does not disturb their order.
| |must go. | |45.| -- | -- | -- | |46.| -- | -- | -- | |47.| -- |Stamp your foot and | -- | | | |let her go. | | |48.| -- | -- | -- | |49.| -- | -- | -- | +---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+ +---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+ |No.| Enborne. | Cork.
Jack s Alive. A number of people sit in a row, or on chairs round a parlour. A lighted wooden spill or taper is handed to the first, who says-- Jack s alive, and likely to live; If he dies in your hand you ve a forfeit to give. The one in whose hand the light expires has to pay a forfeit. As the spill is getting burnt out the lines are said very quickly, as everybody is anxious not to have to pay the forfeit.--Addy s _Sheffield Glossary_. At Egan, in Derbyshire, a number of persons sit round a fire; one of them lights a stick, twirls it round, and says-- Little Nanny Cockerthaw, What if I should let her fa ? The others reply-- Nine sticks and nine stones Shall be laid on thy bare back bones If thou shouldst let fa Little Nanny Cockerthaw. If the ember or lighted stick goes out whilst any one is twirling it round, and whilst the lines are being said, he has to lie on the floor, when stones, chairs, or other articles of furniture are piled upon him.--S. O.
_=DECLARING TO PLAY.=_ Each player in turn, beginning with the eldest hand, may either play or pass. If he passes, he lays his cards face downward in front of him, and takes no further part in that deal unless a general rams is announced. If he plays, he engages himself to take at least one trick, or forfeit five counters to the pool. He may play with the hand originally dealt him, or he may risk getting a better by taking the widow in exchange. If he exchanges, his original hand is dead, and must not be seen by any player. If any player takes the widow, those following him must play the hand dealt them or pass out. In some clubs the eldest hand is obliged to play, either with his own hand or with the widow. If all pass except the pone, he must play against the dealer, either with the cards dealt him, or with the widow. If he declines to play, he must pay the dealer five counters, and the pool remains.
|night. | |27.|Suppose the man should|If the man should fall| -- | | |fall asleep. |asleep. | | |28.| -- | -- | -- | |29.| -- | -- |What has this poor | | | | |prisoner done? | |30.| -- | -- |Stole my watch and | | | | |broke my chain. | |31.| -- | -- | -- | |32.
In this way it may pass entirely round the table to the last player, who will then peg for it. At this game there is a great deal more in the play than in either hand or crib. The average hand and crib is the same as at six-card Cribbage, 7 for the hand and 5 for the crib, but the play for the partners will run to 8 or 10 holes. Either side should be at home with 48 to 50 on two deals; four individual hands of 7 each, four plays of five each, and one crib of 5. SEVEN-CARD CRIBBAGE. This form of the game for two players differs from the others only in the number of cards dealt to each player, which is seven. Two are laid out for the crib, and five kept for playing. There being six cards in each hand, with the starter, the counting combinations sometimes run into high figures, and it is therefore usual to play the game 121 or even 181 points up. * * * * * There are no authoritative _=LAWS=_ for Cribbage, but the foregoing descriptions contain all the regulations in force at the best clubs. TEXT BOOKS.