Walter Gregor, from the Nairn game, which is known as The Gates of Babylon. Mr. Gregor writes as follows:-- This game may be played either by boys or girls. Two of the players join hands, and stand face to face, with their hands in front as if forming a gate. Each of these has a secret name. The other players form themselves into a line by clasping each other round the waist from behind. They go up to the two that form the gate, and the leader asks the first question, as in version No. 2. The dialogue then proceeds to the end. The two then lift their arms as high as they can, still joined, and the line of players passes through.
Foster, 1904. Bridge Developments, by Robertson and Wallaston, 1904. Advanced Bridge, by J.B. Elwell, 1904. Auction Bridge, by John Doe, 1904. Bridge that Wins, by A. Metcalfe, 1905. Foster’s Complete Bridge, by R.F.
In playing misères, it is better to begin with a singleton, or the lowest of a safe suit. An ace or King two or three times guarded is very safe for a misère, as it is very improbable that any player will be able to lead the suit more than twice; and if the bidder’s missing suit is led, the high card can be got rid of at once. In playing against a misère, discards are important, and the first should be from the shortest suit, and always the highest card of it. A suit in which the bidder is long should be continued, in order to give partners discards. More money is lost at Napoleon by playing imperfect misères than in any other way. _=Variations.=_ The foregoing description applies to the regular four-handed game; but there are several variations in common use. Better bids than “nap” are sometimes allowed, on the understanding that the bidder will pay double or treble stakes if he fails, but will receive only the usual amount if successful. For instance: One player bids _=Nap=_, and another holds what he considers a certainty for five tricks. In order not to lose such an opportunity the latter bids _=Wellington=_, which binds him to pay ten counters to each player if he fails.
VIII. Isabella, Isabella, Isabella, Farewell! Last night when I departed I left her broken-hearted; On the hill yonder there stands your young man. Fetch him here, love, fetch him here, love, Fetch him here, love, Farewell! Shut the gates, love, shut the gates, love, Shut the gates, love, Farewell! Open the gates, love, open the gates, love, Open the gates, love, Farewell! Go to church, love, go to church, love, Go to church, love, Farewell! Show your ring, love, show your ring, love, Show your ring, love, Farewell! --Hanbury, Staffs. (Miss E. Hollis). IX. The trees are uncovered, uncovered, uncovered, The trees are uncovered, Isabella, for me! Last night when we parted we were all broken-hearted, Isabella, Isabella, Isabella, for me! Then give me your hand, love, your hand, love, your hand, love, Then give me your hand, love, and a sweet kiss from you. --Earls Heaton (Herbert Hardy). X. When the trees are uncovered, Isabellow, for me.
Where shall the servant sleep? Sleep in the washing-tub. Where shall I wash the clothes? Wash them in the river. Suppose the clothes float away? Take a boat and go after them. Suppose the boat upsets? Then you will be drownded. --London (Miss Dendy). VI. Mother, come buy me a milking-can, Milking-can, milking-can, Mother, come buy me a milking-can, O mother o mine. Where can I have my money from, O daughter o mine? Sell my father s bedsteads. Where must your father sleep? Sleep in the pig-sty. Where must the pig sleep? Sleep in the washing-tub.
In leading up to such suits, your object should be to give your partner a finesse, if possible; and in calculating the probabilities of success it must be remembered that there are only two unknown hands, so that it is an equal chance that he holds either of two unknown cards. It is 3 to 1 against his holding both, or against his holding neither. Of three unknown cards, it is 7 to 1 against his holding all three, or none of them; or about an equal chance that he holds two of the three; or one only. If Dummy holds any of the weak suits just given, you holding nothing higher than the Ten, you should lead it. Suppose you have 10 9 6; Dummy having A 3 2. The K Q J may be distributed in eight different ways, in any of which your partner will pass your Ten if second hand does not cover. In four cases, second hand would cover with the King, and in one with the Queen and Jack. In the remaining three your partner’s hand would be benefited. If Dummy has King and one or two small cards, it is not so disadvantageous to lead up to the King as would at first appear; because it is forced out of his hand on the first round, unless declarer plays Ace, and it is usually good policy to force out Dummy’s cards of re-entry early in the hand. In leading from high-card combinations, the usual bridge leads should be followed; but exceptions must be made on the second round when certain cards are in Dummy’s hand.