--Mactaggart s _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_. He also refers to a game called Robin-a-Ree, much like Preest Cat, only in passing the burnt stick round the ring the following rhyme is said-- Robin-a-Ree, ye ll no dee wi me, Tho I birl ye roun three times and three; O Robin-a-Ree, O Robin-a-Ree, O dinna let Robin-a-Reerie dee. Robin-a-Ree occurs in an old song.--Mactaggart s _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_. In Cornwall it is known as Robin s a-light, and is played around the fire. A piece of stick is set on fire and whirled around rapidly in the hand of the first player, who says, Robin s a-light, and if he go out I will saddle your back. It is then passed to the next, who says the same thing, and so on. The person who lets the spark die out has to pay a forfeit.--Scilly (Courtney s West _Cornwall Glossary_). A rhyme at Lostwithiel is known as follows-- Jack s alive, and likely to live; If he die in my hand a pawn (forfeit) I ll give.
When the talon is exhausted, the thirteen cards in each hand should be known to both players if they have been observant, and the end game becomes a problem in double dummy. _=STAKES.=_ The game is usually played for so much a point, the player having won the majority of the tricks receiving the difference between the number of his tricks and those of his adversary. Each game is complete in one hand. In many respects the game resembles single-handed Hearts, except that in Hearts none of the cards drawn are shown. CHINESE WHIST. _=CARDS.=_ Chinese Whist is played with a full pack of fifty-two cards, which rank as at Whist, both for cutting and playing. _=MARKERS.=_ Ordinary whist markers are used for scoring the points.
=_ Ten cards are always given to each player, no matter how many are in the game. If there are more than three at the table, the double pack must be used, so as to leave cards enough for the stock. _=OBJECT OF THE GAME.=_ The aim of the player is to draw cards from the stock or discard pile until the pip value of the unmatched cards in his hand amounts to 15 or less. Sequences may run to any length, and four, five, or six of a kind is in order. The cards in hand that do not fit any combination of three or more are deadwood, and the object is to reduce this deadwood to less than fifteen. _=METHOD OF PLAYING.=_ Each player in turn to the left of the dealer draws a card from the stock or the discard pile and discards one in its place, face up. No player is allowed to lay down anything until he can show his whole hand, and then only when his deadwood is fifteen or less, and he is not obliged to lay down even then if he prefers to wait until he can reduce his deadwood still further. _=THE SHOW-DOWN.
The cards are then dealt afresh. This is a very harsh punishment for a very trifling and common error. The second method is the most popular, and probably the fairest, and is now the universal rule. If the false opener does not discover his mistake until he has drawn cards, his action is at least suspicious, and he should be compelled to put up the total amount in the pool, as in case three. In some localities such a player is barred from playing the next two jacks, but compelled to ante his share in each. _=Betting Jacks.=_ When a jack pot has been properly opened, and all have declared whether or not they will stay, and have drawn cards, the players proceed to bet on their hands. As there is no age in jack pots, the rule is for the opener to make the first bet; or, if he has been raised out before the draw, the player next on his left who still holds cards. The opener may decline to bet if he pleases; but if he does so, he must show his openers, and then abandon his hand. If no bet is made, the last player holding cards takes the pool without showing his hand.
[Illustration: 🂻 🃚 🂨 🂧 | 🂹 🃘 🂧 🃆 IN-BETWEEN STRAIGHT. OPEN-END STRAIGHT. ] It is 4½ to 1 against filling a four-card flush. It is 23 to 1 against filling a three-card flush. It is 95 to 1 against filling a two-card flush. It is 3 to 1 against improving a four-card straight flush which is open at both ends. The chances against getting the straight or the flush have been given; the odds against getting the straight flush are 24 to 1. The chance for getting a pair exists; but the pair would probably be worthless. It is 4 to 1 against improving a four-card straight flush open in the middle, or at one end only; the odds against getting the straight flush being 46 to 1. There are several minor or speculative draws which may be of interest.
These are fully covered by the following description of the game, all other matters, such as the correct card to lead and the manner of combining the hands, have been fully described in connection with auction. _=MAKING THE TRUMP.=_ This is the chief peculiarity in bridge. The trump is not turned up, but the suit is named by the dealer or his partner, after they have examined their cards. In order properly to understand the considerations which guide them in making the trump, one should first be familiar with the values attached to the tricks when certain suits are trumps. The first six tricks taken by one side do not count; but each trick above that number counts toward game according to the following table:-- When Spades are trumps, each trick counts 2 points. ” Clubs ” ” ” ” ” 4 ” ” Diamonds ” ” ” ” ” 6 ” ” Hearts ” ” ” ” ” 8 ” ” there is no trump, ” ” ” 12 ” Better to understand the importance of this variation in value, it should be noticed that the game is 30 points; so that if two partners won 3 by cards with no trump, or 4 by cards with hearts for trumps, they would win the game in one deal. On the other hand, if either of the black suits were trumps, they could not lose the game, even if a slam were made against them. It will thus be evident that two considerations influence the player whose privilege it is to make the trump: First, to win as much as possible, if he has the cards to do it. Second, to save himself, if he is weak; or the game, if it is in danger.
_=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. This count is often important toward the end of the hand. For instance: You know from the cards you hold, and those played, that your adversary must have in his hand the cards that will make a double bézique on the table into a triple bézique, which would give him 1500 points. If, on counting the stock, you find only six cards remain, and you have three certain winning trumps to lead, you can shut out his 1500 by exhausting the stock before he can win a trick. _=Irregular Announcements.=_ If a player announces a combination which he does not show; such as fours, when he has only three, which he may easily do by mistaking a Jack for a King, _his_ adversary can compel him not only to take down the score erroneously marked, but to lead or play one of the three Kings. A player may be called upon to lead or play cards from other erroneous declarations in the same manner; but if he has the right card or cards in his hand, he is permitted to amend his error, provided he has not drawn a card from the stock in the meantime. _=The Last Nine Tricks.
_=THE DECLARER’S PLAY.=_ The chief difference between the play of the Dummy and partner, and that of their adversaries, is that there is no occasion for the former to play on the probability of partner’s holding certain cards, because a glance will show whether he holds them or not. There is no hoping that he may have certain cards of re-entry, or strength in trumps, or that he will be able to stop an adverse suit, or anything of that sort, for the facts are exposed from the first. Instead of adapting his play to the slowly ascertained conditions of partner’s hand, the declarer should have it mapped out and determined upon before he plays a card. He may see two courses open to him; to draw the trumps and make a long suit, or to secure such discards as will give him a good cross-ruff. A rapid estimate of the probable results of each line of play, a glance at the score, and his mind should be made up. Several examples of this foresight will be found in the example hands. Another point of difference is, that the declarer should play false cards whenever possible. He has not a partner who, if he plays the King, might jump to the conclusion that he can trump a suit, or has not the Queen. The more thoroughly the adversaries are confused, the greater the advantage to the declarer, especially in the end game.
If any player has proposed for a partner, any of the others, in their proper turn, may accept him by simply saying “_=I accept=_.” By so doing, a player intimates that he has four probable tricks also, but in the plain suits, and that he is willing to try for eight tricks with the proposer for a partner. All the other calls are made by a single player with the intention of playing against the three others. Any player except the eldest hand having once said, “I pass,” cannot afterwards make or accept any proposal. The eldest hand, after passing once, can accept a proposal, but he cannot make one. It is the custom in some places, when no one will make a proposal of any sort, to turn down the trump, and play the hands without any trump suit, each man for himself, the winner of the last trick losing to each of the others the value of a solo. This is called a _=Grand=_. _=RANK OF THE PROPOSALS.=_ The various calls outrank one another in the order in which we have given them. If one player says, “I propose,” and another calls “Solo,” the solo call shuts out the proposal, even though it has been accepted by a second player.
With us it is certainly different. Cope (_Hampshire Glossary_) says that Nine Men s Morrice is a game played with counters. He does not describe it further. Atkinson (_Glossary of Cleveland Dialect_) says under Merls, the game of Merelles, or Nine Men s Morris. Toone (_Etymological Dictionary_) describes it as a game played on the green sward, holes being cut thereon, into which stones were placed by the players. Stead s _Holderness Glossary_ calls it Merrils, and describes it as a game played on a square board with eighteen pegs, nine on each side, called in many parts Nine Men s Morrice. See also _Sussex Arch. Collections_, xxv. 234, and a paper by Mr. J.
--Mactaggart s _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_. Patterson (_Antrim and Down Glossary_) mentions a game called Leap the Bullock, which he says is the same as Leap-frog. Dickinson s _Cumberland Glossary Supplement_, under Lowp, says it means a leap or jump either running or standing. The various kinds include Catskip --one hitch, or hop, and one jump; Hitch steppin --hop, step, and lowp; a hitch, a step, and a leap; Otho --two hitches, two steps, and a leap; Lang spang --two hitches, two steps, a hitch, a step, and a leap. See Accroshay, Knights, Leap-frog. Lubin [Music] --Hexham (Miss J. Barker). [Music] --Doncaster (Mr. C. Bell).
--Bocking, Essex (_Folk-lore Record_, iii. 169). V. Here we go gathering nuts away, Nuts away, nuts away, Here we go gathering nuts away, On a cold and frosty morning. [Then follow verses beginning--] Whose nuts shall we gather away? We ll gather [Minnie Brown s] nuts away. Whom shall we send to fetch them away? [And the final verse is--] We ll send [Johnny Cope] to fetch them away, Fetch them away, fetch them away, We ll send [Johnny Cope] to fetch them away, On a cold and frosty morning. --Newbury, Berks (Mrs. S. Batson). VI.
THE TRUMP CARD. 52. The dealer, when it is his turn to play to the first trick, should take the trump card into his hand; if left on the table after the first trick be turned and quitted, it is liable to be called; his partner may at any time remind him of the liability. 53. After the dealer has taken the trump card into his hand, it cannot be asked for; a player naming it at any time during the play of that hand is liable to have his highest or lowest trump called. 54. If the dealer take the trump card into his hand before it is his turn to play, he may be desired to lay it on the table; should he show a wrong card, this card may be called, as also a second, a third, etc., until the trump card be produced. 55. If the dealer declare himself unable to recollect the trump card, his highest or lowest trump may be called at any time during that hand, and unless it cause him to revoke, must be played; the call may be repeated, but not changed, _i.
_=Passt-mir-nicht tournées all lose double if they fail=_, but win the usual number of points if they succeed. _=Multipliers.=_ The foregoing are simply the standard counting values of these various games. In calculating the actual value of a player’s game, in order to see how much he may safely offer in the bidding, and how much he would win if successful in his undertaking, these standard values are multiplied as follows:-- Five classes of games are recognized, beginning with the lowest, in which the player gets the necessary 61 points, but does not make his adversaries schneider. This is simply called “game,” and as it must always be either won or lost, it is a constant factor. The value of the game is 1, and each better game is numbered in regular order, the five varieties being as follows: The Game, 1. Schneider, 2. Schwarz announced or Schwarz, 3. Schwarz after announcing Schneider, 4. Schwarz announced, 5.
Should a player revoke, and discover the error before the trick in which it occurs has been turned and quitted, he may amend his play, and the card played in error becomes an exposed card. Any who have played after him may withdraw their cards and substitute others, the cards first played not being exposed. 23. If the revoke is discovered during the play of the hand, the hand must be played out, and at the end the revoking player must pay all losses in that hand. Should the revoking player win the pool himself, he must pay to the pool thirteen counters and leave them for a Jack. Should he divide it, he must pay the other winner six counters, and leave up seven for a Jack. 24. Should two or more players revoke in the same hand, each must pay the entire losses in the hand, as if he were alone in error; so that if two should revoke, and a third win the pool, he would receive twenty-six counters, instead of thirteen. In Auction Hearts the revoking player must pay the amount of the bid in addition. 25.
Gainford Miss Eddleston. South Shields Miss Blair. ESSEX-- Bocking _Folk-lore Record_, vol. iii. pt. 2. Colchester Miss G. M. Francis. GLOUCESTERSHIRE { Holloway s _Dictionary_, _Midland { Garner_.
Mathews mentions it in 1813 as having occurred since the publication of his first edition in 1804, and Lord Peterborough, the unlucky gambler, for whose benefit the change was introduced, died in 1814. Another great change took place in America, where they played for the tricks alone, the honours not being counted at all. Turning the trump from the still pack was first tried by a Welsh baronet, and is mentioned by Southey in his “Letters of Espriella.” This custom was revived for a time by the Milwaukee Whist Club, and is still sometimes seen in Europe under the name of “Prussian Whist.” Altogether we can trace nineteen games which are clearly derived from whist. Duplicate, Drive, and Progressive whist are simply changes in the arrangement of the players and in the methods of scoring. Prussian whist introduces the cutting of the trump from the still pack. Dummy and Double-dummy are simply whist with a limited number of players, necessitating the exposure of one or more hands upon the table. The French game of Mort is dummy with a better system of scoring introduced. Favourite Whist simply changes the value of the tricks in scoring, according to the trump suit.
Should he touch a ball after the completion of any stroke, _i.e._, when the balls have become stationary, his scores from previous strokes shall hold good. 22. If the striker force any of the red or pool balls off the table, he shall be penalized in the value of the ball or balls so forced off. Should the ball or balls forced off the table be struck out of order, or of inferior value to the ball that should have been struck, the latter ball shall govern the penalty. Should he force his own ball off the table, he shall be penalized in the value of the ball aimed at, unless another ball of higher value be first struck, in which case such higher ball shall govern the penalty. 23. If a player refuse to continue the game when called upon to do so, or intentionally obstruct an opponent, or wilfully interfere with the running of the balls, he shall be penalized in the total value of all the balls remaining in play. 24.
v. Redhill Miss G. Hope. SUSSEX { Parish s _Dialect_, Holloway s { _Dictionary_, Toone s _Dictionary_. Hurstmonceux Miss Chase. Shipley, Horsham, West { Miss R. H. Busk (_Notes and Grinstead { Queries_). Ninfield Mr. C.
The rules governing declarations are as follows:-- The player making the declaration must have won the previous trick, and must make his announcement before drawing his card from the stock. When the stock is exhausted, so that no cards remain to be drawn, no announcements can be made. Only one declaration can be scored at a time, so that a trick must be won for every announcement made, or the combination cannot be scored. This rule does not prevent a player from making two or more announcements at the same time; but he can score only one of them. A player cannot make a lower declaration with cards which form part of a higher combination already shown in the same class. For instance:--Marriages and sequences belong to the same class. If a sequence has been declared, the player cannot take from it the King and Queen, and score for the marriage; neither can he add a new Queen to the King already used in the sequence, because the higher combination was scored first. The same rule applies to lower and higher béziques. But if the lower combination is first shown and scored--the marriage--the A 10 J may be added afterward, on winning another trick, and the sequence scored. This rule does not apply to cards belonging to combinations in different classes.
I have a pigeon in my pocket, It peeps out and in, And every time that I go round I give it a drop of gin. Drip it, drop it, drip it, drop it. --Settle, Yorkshire (Rev W. S. Sykes). XI. I sent a letter to my love, I thought I put it in my glove, But by the way I dropped it. I had a little dog said Bow, wow, wow! I had a little cat said Mew, mew, mew! It shan t bite you, It _shall_ bite _you_. --Bexley Heath (Miss Morris). XII.
The Scottish forms of the game bear on the theory of the game being grotesque. The fact of the players having both their arms extended at once, one behind and one in front of them, and the more frequent spinning round, suggest this. Then, too, there is the sudden sit down posture, when all feet in is required. In the version given by Halliwell there is more difficulty in the game, and possibly more fun. This version shows the game to be cumulative, each player having to go through an additional antic for each verse sung. This idea only needs to be carried a little further to cause the players to be ridiculous in their appearance. This version would be more difficult to perform, and they would be exhausted by the process, and the constant motion of every member of the body. Attention, too, might be drawn to the word Hinkumbooby occurring in Chambers s version. Newell (_Games_, p. 131) mentions that some sixty years ago the game was danced deliberately and decorously, as old fashion was, with slow rhythmical movement.
Down here with the hot Sun around us, it feels so good and so quiet. You can feel everything spinning and turning. It s nice and sharp and compact. It s sort of like sitting around home. Woodley grunted. He was not much given to flights of fantasy. Undeterred, Underhill went on, It must have been pretty good to have been an Ancient Man. I wonder why they burned up their world with war. They didn t have to planoform. They didn t have to go out to earn their livings among the stars.
=_ The general method of playing is identical with that of whist, with the following exceptions:-- When it is dummy’s turn to play, his partner selects the card. _=The Revoke.=_ For this dummy is not liable to any penalty, as his adversaries can see his cards. Even should the revoke be occasioned by dummy’s cards being disarranged, or one of them covered up, the adversaries should be as able to detect the error as the partner. Should dummy’s hand revoke, it cannot be remedied after the trick in which it occurs has been turned and quitted; and the game must proceed as if no revoke had occurred. All the penalties for a revoke may be enforced against dummy’s partner, should he renounce in error, and not correct it in time. There being no American laws for dummy, the English penalty of three tricks or three points may be enforced, and the revoking player cannot win the game that hand. _=Cards Played in Error.=_ Dummy’s partner is not liable to any penalty for cards dropped face upwards on the table, or two or more played at once, because it is obvious that Dummy cannot gain any advantage from such exposed cards. _=Leading out of Turn.
II. Here we come gathering nuts and May [Nuts and May, nuts and May], Here we come gathering nuts and May, On a cold and frosty morning. Pray who will you gather for nuts and May, Pray who will you gather for nuts and May, On a cold and frosty morning? We ll gather ---- for nuts and May, We ll gather ---- for nuts and May, On a cold and frosty morning. Pray who will you send to take her away, Pray who will you send to take her away, On a cold and frosty morning? We ll send ---- to take her away, We ll send ---- to take her away, On a cold and frosty morning. --Penzance (Mrs. Mabbott). III. Here we come gathering nuts in May, Nuts in May, nuts in May, Here we come gathering nuts in May, May, May, May. Who will you have for nuts in May, Nuts in May, nuts in May? Who will you have for nuts in May, May, May, May? [Bessie Stewart] for nuts in May, Nuts in May, nuts in May, [Bessie Stewart] for nuts in May, May, May, May. Very well, very well, so you may, So you may, so you may, Very well, very well, so you may, May, may, may.
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B. Gomme). XIV. I have a little dog and it lives in my pocket. It shan t bite you, &c. Now you re married I hope you ll enjoy First a girl and then a boy; Seven years gone, and two to come, So take her and kiss her and Send her off home. --Wolstanton, North Staffs. Potteries (Miss A. A. Keary).