in your Partner's Hand, that he may either trump them, or play the best of that Suit on the Board.

You ought to have a strict Eye on what Cards are played out, that you may know by that Means either what to play, if you lead, or how to trump fecurely and advantageously.

At Ruff and Honours, by fome called Slam, you have in the Pack all the Duces, and the Reafon is, because 4 Perfons playing, having dealt 12 a-piece, there are 4 left for the Stock, the uppermoft whereof is turned up, and that is Trumps. He who hath the Ace of Trumps Ruffs, that is, he takes in those 4 Cards, and lays out 4; the 4 Honours are the Ace, King, Queen, and Knave; he who hath 3 Honours in his Hand, his Partner not having the Fourth, fets up 8 by Cards, that is, 2 Tricks; if he hath all 4, then 16, that is, 4 Tricks. It is all one, if the two Partners make them 3, or 4 between them, as if one had them. If the Honours are equally divided among the Gamefters of each Side, then they fay Honours are fplit. If either Side are at 8 Groats, he hath a Benefit of calling, Can ye? If he hath 2 Honours in his Hand, and if the other answers 1, the Game is up, which is 10 in all; but if he has more than 2 he fhews them, which is the fame Thing; but if he forgets to call,

A

after

after playing a Trick, he lofeth the Advantage of calling for that Deal.

All Cards are of Value as they are fuperior one to another, as a 10 wins a 9, if not Trumps; fo a Queen a Knave, in like Manner; but the least Trump will win the highest Card of any other Suit: Where, note, the Ace is the highest.

Some play at two-handed, or three-handed Whift. If three-handed, always two strive to fupprefs and keep down the rising Man. They deal to each 12 a-piece, and the Trump is the bottom Card. The Manner of crafty playing, the Number of the Game 10, Honours and Dignity of other Cards are all alike; and he that wins most Tricks is most forward to win the Set.

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RULES for playing.

ET the Leader begin with the best Suit in his Hand; Sequents of King, Queen, ánd Knave, or Queen, Knave, and Ten are fure Leads, and always gain the Tenace either to yourself or Partner in other Suits; the highest of the Sequents, unless you have Five, fhould lead: But if you have 5 of the fame Suit, play the lowest (except it be in Trumps, which requires you to play the highest) in order to get the Ace or King out of the Hands

of

of your Partner or Adversary, which will make Way for your Suit.

II. Suppose you hold Five fmall Trumps, and no good Card of any other Sort, what must be done? Why, trump about, which as it will make your Partner the last Player, will likewise give him the Tenace.

N. B. The Tenace in any Suit, fuppofes that the laft Player has the First and Third best Cards, and by that Means can catch the Adversary when that Suit is led. Thus, if you have Ace and Queen of any Suit, which if your Partner leads, thefe Two Tricks must be yours; and fo of any other Tenace in Cards of lefs Note.

III. Suppose you hold King, Queen, Ten, and Three fmall Trumps, with One good Suit befides, play your King of Trumps, which, probably, will bring out the Knave at the second Round; and do not wait to finess the Ten, for fear your strong Suit should be trumped.

N. B. To fineffe, is to try to gain an Advantage by Art; as thus; when a Card is played, and you have the best and third best of that Suit, you think proper to put your Third best upon that Lead, and run the Hazard of your Adverfary's having the Second beft, which if he has not, and it is 2 to I against him, you are then fure of a Trick.

IV. If you have Ace and King of two

Suits, with but Two fmall Trumps, and a Deficiency in the Fourth Suit, make directly as many Tricks as you can; but you are not to force your Partner, in Cafe he refuses either of your Suits, because that may too much weaken his Game.

V. It is not always the best Play, to return your Partner's Lead; that is, fuppofing you have good Suits to play, unless upon the Pinch of a Game. By good Suits you are to understand Sequents of King, Queen, and Knave; or Queen, Knave, and Ten.

. VI. If you hold One good Suit, with an Ace, King, and Four Imall Trumps, you muft play three Rounds of Trumps, to prevent your strong Suits being trumped.

VII. Suppose your Adverfary and you have each of you got Five Tricks, and by your own Hand you can get 2 Tricks more, make fure of those 2, and run no Hazard in order to score 2 that Deal; for if you should happen to lofe the odd Trick, you play 2 to 1 against yourself. However, this Rule is not to be fo ftrictly obferved, when there appears a Likelihood either of faving your Lurch or winning the Game; when either of these happens to be the Cafe, make no Scruple of rifquing the odd Trick.

VIII. A Queen, Knave, and Three small Trumps, with one good Suit in your Hand, lead the Board with a small Trump.

IX. If you have a good Profpect of win

ning the Game, don't be afraid of rifquing a Trick or Two, because the Advantage your Adversary has by a new Deal, is more than equivalent to the Point or Two, which you hazard by that Deal.

X. Put the Cafe that you have King, Queen, and Four fmall Trumps, with One good Suit befides, trump about with the King, because you will have Three Rounds of Trumps when the Lead comes into your Hand again.

XI. Suppose your Adversary is 6 or 7 Love, and it is your Turn to lead, in order to put the Game upon an Equality, you should rifque a Trick or Two. We will suppose then, that you have the Queen or Knave and 1 Trump more, and in your other Suits no good Cards, play out your Queen or Knave of Trumps, by which your Partner's Game will be ftrengthened, if he should happen to be ftrong in Trumps; but fhould he be weak, you can't hurt him.

XII. When you hold Queen, Knave, Nine, and Two fmall Trumps, with a strong Suit besides, trump out the Queen, which at the fecond Round may bring out the Ten, and don't wait to finefs the Nine, but trump about a fecond Time.

XIII. If you have fcor'd up 4, you must then play for an odd Trick, by which Means you will poffefs One-half of your Interest in

the