These words are said while drawing on a table with the forefinger of the _left_ hand an imaginary face, making eyes, nose, and mouth when saying the words. The fun is caused through those players who are unacquainted with the game drawing the imaginary face with the right hand instead of the left. Another formula is to touch each finger of the right hand with the forefinger of the left hand, saying to each finger in succession, Big Tom, Little Tom, Tommy, Tom, Tom. The secret in this case is to say, Look here! before commencing the formula. It is the business of those players who know the game to say the words in such a way that the uninitiated imagine the saying of the words correctly with particular accents on particular words to be where the difficulty lies. If this is well done, it diverts suspicion from the real object of these games.--A. B. Gomme. Marbles Brand considers that marbles had their origin in bowls, and received their name from the substance of which the bowls were formerly made.
He wanted his stiletto. He needed it. He was sorry he had ever quit carrying it. A couple seconds of reflection told him I was too tough for him. He went for his partner, his face darkening with rage now that his heart could get some blood to it. He had his hands out, for Rose s throat, I guess. For my dough it took guts to put fingers that close to all those teeth. But he never got a chance to try it. An ashtray, one of those things with a shot-loaded cloth bag under it, flew off a desk, smacked him in the back of the head, and dropped to the floor with a thump. It wasn t a hard blow, but an upsetting one.
1._ BLACK. +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | ♜ | ♞ | ♝ | ♛ | ♚ | ♝ | ♞ | ♜ | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | ♚ | ♚ | ♚ | ♚ | ♚ | ♚ | ♚ | ♚ | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | | | | | | | | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | | | | | | | | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | | | | | | | | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | | | | | | | | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | ♙ | ♙ | ♙ | ♙ | ♙ | ♙ | ♙ | ♙ | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | ♖ | ♘ | ♗ | ♕ | ♔ | ♗ | ♘ | ♖ | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ WHITE. ] It will be observed that the two Queens are opposite each other, and that each Queen stands upon a square of the same colour as herself. For irregularities in setting up the men, see the Laws of Chess. The _=players=_ are designated by the colour of the men with which they play, Black or White, and White always has the first move. In a series of games each player alternately takes the white men with the first move. It is usual to draw for the first game, one player concealing in each hand a pawn of a different colour, and offering the choice of hands to his adversary. Whichever colour the chosen hand contains is the one the chooser must take for the first game. The duplicate pieces of each colour are distinguished by their position with regard to the King or Queen; those on the King’s side being called the King’s Bishop, the King’s Knight, and the King’s Rook.
This steeplechase continues till the followers are all tired out.--Keith (Rev. W. Gregor). This is a very general game among schoolboys, but in Hereford it was a town custom occurring once in seven years on 11th October (_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 75). Fool, Fool, come to School This game is played under the name of Foolie, Foolie at Duthil, Strathspey. The players are placed in a row, either standing or sitting. Two are chosen, the one as Namer and the other as Foolie. Foolie withdraws, if not out of sight, at least out of range of hearing.
| -- | -- | -- | | 35.|Bells will ring and | -- |The bells will ring, | | |birds sing. | |birds will sing. | | 36.| -- | -- | -- | | 37.|We ll all clap hands | -- |We ll clap hands | | |together. | |together. | | 38.| -- |With princes for his | -- | | | |thegan. | | | 39.
|A-dis, a-dis, a-dass. |A dish, a dish, | | | | |a dish. | | 4.| -- | -- | -- | | 5.| -- | -- | -- | | 6.|Come all ye pretty |Come my pretty fair |Come all ye pretty | | |maids. |maid. |maids. | | 7.|And dance along with |And walk along with |And dance along with | | |us.
_=Gambit=_ is a term used in Italian wrestling, and means that the adversary is given an apparent advantage at the start, in order more successfully to trip him up later on. There are a great many chess openings, all of which have been analysed as far as the tenth move, including every possible variation on the way. The student who wishes to study them in detail should procure Freeborough’s “Chess Openings,” or Cook’s “Synopsis.” In these works, if either side has an advantage before the tenth move, it is indicated by a plus sign; if the position is equal, it is so marked. In studying openings, the student should be careful always to play with the winning side next him; that is, never study how to play a losing game. If the variation ends with a plus sign, showing a win for the white, play it over with the white men next you. In selecting openings for general use in play, if it is one for the white men, take those openings that have the greatest number of variations ending in favour of white. The Ruy Lopez is a very good opening for beginners, and the Evans’ Gambit may be studied later. The French Defence and the Petroff are good openings for Black. The theory of opening is to mobilise your forces for the attack in the fewest possible moves.
Three Queens and a pair of deuces will beat three Jacks and a pair of aces. In straights, the highest card of the sequence wins; not necessarily the highest card in the hand, for a player may have a sequence of A 2 3 4 5, which is only five high, and would be beaten by a sequence of 2 3 4 5 6. The ace must either begin or end a sequence, for a player is not allowed to call such a combination as Q K A 2 3 a straight. It was evidently the intention of those who invented Poker that the hands most difficult to obtain should be the best, and should outrank hands that occurred more frequently. A glance at the table of odds will show that this principle has been carried out as far as the various denominations of hands go; but when we come to the members of the groups the principle is violated. In hands not containing a pair, for instance, ace high will beat Jack high, but it is much more common to hold ace high than Jack high. The exact proportion is 503 to 127. A hand of five cards only seven high but not containing a pair, is rarer than a flush; the proportion being 408 to 510. When we come to two pairs, we find the same inversion of probability and value. A player will hold “aces up,” that is, a pair of aces and another pair inferior to aces, twelve times as often as he will hold “threes up.
--Belfast, Ireland (W. H. Patterson). II. London Bridge is broken down, Dance o er my lady lee, London Bridge is broken down, With a gay lady. How shall we build it up again? Dance o er my lady lee, How shall we build it up again? With a gay lady. Silver and gold will be stole away, Dance o er my lady lee, Silver and gold will be stole away, With a gay lady. Build it up with iron and steel, Dance o er my lady lee, Build it up with iron and steel, With a gay lady. Iron and steel will bend and bow, Dance o er my lady lee, Iron and steel will bend and bow, With a gay lady. Build it up with wood and clay, Dance o er my lady lee, Build it up with wood and clay, With a gay lady.
Baddin is the name given to it in Holland s _Cheshire Glossary_. Another name is Doddart (Brockett, _North Country Words_). (_c_) An old custom in vogue in bygone days was Rotherham Fair, or what was called Whipping Toms, which took place in the Newarkes every Shrove Tuesday. So soon as the pancake bell rang men and boys assembled with sticks having a knob or hook at the end. A wooden ball was thrown down, and two parties engaged in striving which could get the ball by striking it with their sticks to one end of the Newarke first--those who did so were the victors. This game was called Shinney, or Hockey. About one o clock the Whipping Toms appeared on the scene of action. These were three men clad in blue smock frocks, with very long waggon whips, who were accompanied by three men with small bells. They commenced driving the men and boys out of the Newarkes. It was very dangerous sometimes; they would lash the whip in such a manner round the legs of those they were pursuing as to throw them down, which produced laughter and shouting.
A player getting two small pairs on the first throw may put either or both of them back in the box again if he chooses. In throwing for drinks or cigars, it is usual to throw _=horse and horse=_; that is, if several persons are in the game the highest man on each round goes out, ties shake it off immediately, one hand each. After it gets down to two men, they shake for the best two out of three hands, and if each wins a hand they are horse and horse, and throw a third to decide it. The last person to throw on each round follows his lead, throwing the first hand on the next round. TEN PINS WITH DICE. Any number can play, and the score sheet is ruled off for ten frames, just as in ten pins. Only two dice are used, and they are rolled from a box. Sixes count nothing, and are “off the alley.” Each player has three balls or rolls, and he can leave either one or both dice at the end of any throw. If he leaves one he picks up the other and throws it again, but he must abide by the figures appearing on the two dice at the end of his third throw.
May). Birds, Beasts, and Fishes B × × × × × × × h = Bullfinch E × × × × × × t = Elephant S × × × × × × × h = Swordfish This is a slate game, and two or more children play. One writes the initial and final letters of a bird s, beast s, or fish s name, making crosses (×) instead of the intermediate letters of the word, stating whether the name is that of bird, beast, or fish. The other players must guess in turn what the name is. The first one who succeeds takes for himself the same number of marks as there are crosses in the word, and then writes the name of anything he chooses in the same manner. If the players are unsuccessful in guessing the name, the writer takes the number to his own score and writes another. The game is won when one player gains a certain number of marks previously decided upon as game. --Barnes (A. B. Gomme).
The same customs as at whist prevail with regard to outside betting. The Vivant must pay or receive double, as he has to settle with each adversary. If four play, the one sitting out has nothing to do with the stakes; but he may make outside wagers on the result of the game. _=THE METHOD OF PLAYING=_ is practically the same as at whist, with the following exceptions:-- When it is the turn of Mort to play, Vivant selects the card for him. _=The Revoke.=_ The rules governing this are the same as those already given for English Dummy. Mort is not liable to penalty under any circumstances. If any other player revokes, his opponents may take three points from the score of his side; or add three points to their score; or take three of his tricks. The penalty cannot be divided; but if two or more revokes are made by the same side, the penalty for each may be enforced in a different manner. For instance: If the score is 3 to 2 in favor of the adversaries, Vivant may take three points from their score for one revoke, and add three to his own score for the other.
Brûler, F., to burn a card. Bûche, F., cards that count for nothing, such as the tens and court cards in Baccara; equivalent to the G. Ladons, or Fehlkarten. Bucking the Tiger, playing against the bank at Faro. Bumblepuppy, playing Whist in ignorance or defiance of conventionality. Bumper, a rubber of eight points at English Whist. Burnt Cards, cards which are turned face upward on the bottom of the pack, usually in banking games. Calling for Trumps, the ask for trumps.
E. Twemlow). I. Have you seen the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man, Have you seen the muffin man that lives in Drury Lane O? Yes, I ve seen the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man; Yes, I ve seen the muffin man who lives in Drury Lane O. --Earls Heaton, Yorks. (H. Hardy). II. O, have you seen the muffin man, The muffin man, the muffin man; O, have you seen the muffin man Who lives in Drury Lane O? --N. W.
--Dorsetshire (_Folk-lore Journal_, vii. 234). Miss Peacock says that a game called Hop-frog over the Dog is played at Stixwould, Lincolnshire, in the same way as Leap-frog. See Curcuddie, Cutch-a-cutchoo, Harie Hutcheon, Hirtschin Hairy. Hop-score Game of Hop-scotch. --Hunter s _Glossary of Hallamshire_. Hop-scotch A game, the object of which is to eject a stone, slate, or dump out of a form linearly marked on the ground in different directions, by hopping without touching any of the lines.--Halliwell s _Dictionary_. In the plan (fig. 8) the players first lay the stone on the back of the hand, and _walk_ through the plan, stepping into each division, throw it up and catch it.
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.=_ If the King is not in check, but cannot move without going into check, and there is no other piece for the player to move, it is called a stale-mate, and the game is drawn. In Diagram No. 10, for instance, [Illustration: _No. 10._ +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | | | | | | | | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | | | | | | ♟ | | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | | | | | | ♗ | | ♟ | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | | | | | | | ♜ | ♟ | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | | | | | | | | ♚ | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | | | | | | ♙ | ♟ | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | | | | | | | ♔ | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | | | | | | | | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ ] the black King cannot move without going into check from the Pawn or the King; none of the black Pawns can move, and Black cannot move the Rook without putting his own King in check, (from the Bishop,) which is not allowed. _=Perpetual Check.=_ If a piece gives check to the adverse King, and the King moves away, the check may be repeated, and the King must move again, or interpose a piece, or capture the checking piece. If the position is such that no matter how often the King moves or is covered he cannot get out of check, and no matter how much the opposing pieces move they cannot check-mate him, the game is drawn by perpetual check.
The _=Laws=_ vary so little from those used in the regular game of Boston that it is not necessary to give an additional code, either for Fontainbleau or for French Boston, which follows. FRENCH BOSTON. _=CARDS.=_ French Boston is played with a full pack of fifty-two cards, which rank as at Whist, both for cutting and playing; except that the diamond Jack is always the best trump unless diamonds are turned up, in which case the heart Jack becomes the best trump, and the diamond Jack ranks next below the diamond Queen. _=COUNTERS=_ are used as in Boston, their value being a matter of agreement before play begins. _=THE POOL=_ is made up by the dealer’s contributing ten counters for the first eight rounds, and twenty for the last two. It is increased from time to time by penalties, and is won or lost by the players, just as in Boston. There is no limit to the pool. If any player objects to dividing it at the end of the game, it must be played for until some player wins it. _=PLAYERS.
A is the player, and is also Vorhand, with the lead for the first trick. Hearts are trumps. A TOURNÉ +---+-------+-------+-------+-----+ | | A | B | C | A | | | | | |wins.| +---+-------+-------+-------+-----+ | 1 | _♣J_ | ♡7 | J♢ | 4 | | 2 | ♡Q | _♡A_ | ♡8 | - | | 3 | _K♢_ | 9♢ | Q♢ | 7 | | 4 | ♡J | _J♠_ | A♠ | - | | 5 | _♡10_ | ♡9 | 7♠ | 10 | | 6 | _A♢_ | ♣7 | 8♢ | 11 | | 7 | 7♢ | K♠ | _10♢_ | - | | 8 | ♣K | _♣10_ | ♣9 | - | | 9 | _♡K_ | Q♠ | 8♠ | 7 | |10 | _♣A_ | ♣Q | ♣8 | 14 | +---+-------+-------+-------+ + | ♠10 and ♠9 in the Scat. | 10 | +---------------------------+-----+ | A wins 63 | +---------------------------------+ The manner in which A exhausts the trumps, and makes both his Ace and King of diamonds, should be carefully studied. At trick 8, if he put on the ace of clubs, B might have the 8, and he would lose both his King and the Queen on the Ten, giving him only 60 points. It must be remembered that A knows every card out against him, because he has seen the skat cards. A wins his 12 points; a heart Tourné with one. _=A SOLO.=_ Vorhand has refused a bid of 18, and announces spade Solo with the following cards:-- [Illustration: 🂫 🂡 🂪 🂩 🂨 🂱 🂺 🃑 🃈 🃇 ] A SOLO.
After a person has taken in one or more hearts, his object will be to _=load=_ the others; that is, to see that they get some hearts also; or it may be to see that a given player takes at least one heart; or that no one but himself takes any. The manner in which a person must vary his play in accordance with these different objects will be discussed when we come to the suggestions for good play. In the meantime, it is necessary to bear in mind only the general principle that the object of the game is to avoid winning any tricks that contain hearts. _=METHOD OF PLAYING.=_ The cards dealt, the player to the left of the dealer begins by leading any card he pleases, and the others must follow suit if they can. The highest card played, if of the suit led, wins the trick. There is no trump suit. If a player has none of the suit led, he may discard anything he pleases. The winner of the trick takes it in and leads for the next trick, and so on until all the cards have been played. The tricks themselves have no value as such, and need not be kept separate.
Little misère. _=Petite misère=_. Eight tricks solo in any suit. _=Grand independence=_. Grand misère. _=Grand misère=_, or _=misère sans ecart=_. Misère with four aces. _=Misère des quatre as=_. Nine tricks in any suit. _=Neuf=_.
Come all ye young men, with your wicked ways, Sow all your wild oats in your youthful days, That we may live happy, that we may live happy, That we may live happy when we grow old. The day is far spent, the night s coming on, Give us your arm, and we ll joggle along, That we may live happy, &c., &c. --Cornwall (_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 57). (_b_) There must be an odd number of players at this game. They form into couples, each standing behind the other, making a ring, the girls inside, one boy standing alone in the middle. As they go round they sing the verse. At the end each boy leaves hold of his partner s arm and catches the arm of the girl in front, the one who is standing in the centre trying in the confusion to get into a place. If he succeeds, the child left out has to be the one in the centre the next time.