XI. Of the Contre, Vole, and Devole. Terms peculiar to the Game of Ombre. 70 Directions in particular Cafes To win the odd Trick on the Pinch ibid. THE COURT GAMESTER. T Of OMBRE, by THREE. HE Game of OMBRE Owes its Invention to the Spaniards*, and has in it a great deal of the Gravity peculiar to that Nation. It is called El Hombre, or, The MAN. It was fo named, as requiring Thought and Reflection, which are Qualities peculiar to Man; or, rather alluding to HIM who undertakes to play the Game against the rest of the Gamefters, and is called B It is an Improvement of a GAME called PRIMERO, formerly in great Vogue among the Spaniards. Primero is played with 6 Cards, Ombre with 9, that being the material Difference. As to the Terms, they are moftly the fame. He who holds Cinquo Primero (which is a Sequence of 5 of the beft Cards, and a good Trump) is fure to be fuccessful over his Adverfary. Hence the Game takes its Denomination. called, The MAN. To play it well, requires a great deal of Application; and let a Man be ever fo expert, he will be apt to fall into Miftakes, if he thinks of any thing elfe, or is disturbed by the Conversation of those that look on. Attention and Quietness are abfolutely neceffary, in order to play well. Therefore, if the Spectators are difcreet, they will be fatisfied with the Pleasure of feeing it played, without distracting the Gamefters. What I have faid, is not to persuade any who have a mind to learn it, that the Pleafure is not worth the Pains: On the contrary, it will be found the most delightful and entertaining of all Games, to those who have any thing in them of what we call the Spirit of Play. There are many Ways of playing at Ombre; it is fometimes played with Force Spadille, or Efpadille Force; fometimes by two Perfons, fometimes Three, fometimes Four, and fometimes Five; but the general Way is by THREE. Of this kind of Play we shall treat first, the reft we fhall explain in their Turns. The Number of the CARDS. TH HE Game is played with 40 Cards: You may buy Packs on purpose made up for this Game; otherwife you may take an |