SOLO.
Under the name of Solo, the Germans play a great many variations of card games, of which the following is the best known.
Cards. Solo is played with a pack of thirty-two cards, which rank A K Q J 10 9 8 7. One suit is always first preference, or colour, and the suit usually selected is clubs. Any suit may be made the trump, but whatever the suit, the club Queen, Spadilla, is always the best trump; the Seven of the trump suit, Manilla, is always the second-best trump; and the spade Queen, Basta, is always the third-best trump.
Players. Solo is played by four persons, who throw round the cards for the first club turned up to deal eight cards to each player; 3-2-3 at a time.
Objects. The object of the game is to secure the privilege of naming the trump suit, and of playing, either alone or with a partner, to make five tricks, solo, or eight tricks, tout. If a partner is required, he is selected by the player asking for a certain ace, but the holder of the ace remains unknown until the ace falls, although from the first he must assist the player who has asked for it. If a player asks for an ace while holding it himself, he of course plays without a partner, unknown to the others however, until he plays the ace asked for.
Bidding. The players bid against one another for the privilege of naming the trump suit, eldest hand having the first say. When no one will bid any higher, the player who has made the best offer names the game he wishes to play, with or without a partner.
Games. The rank of the various games, the amounts bid on them, and the payments made for them, are as follows:—
| Simple in suit, | 2; | in colour, | 4. |
| Forcée or Solo in suit, | 4; | in colour, | 8. |
| Tout in Suit, | 16; | in colour, | 32. |
Simple Game is to play for five tricks with a partner holding a designated ace. If the trump is clubs, (in colour,) it is worth double, 4 counters.
Solo is five tricks without a partner. With clubs trumps it pays double, 8 counters.
Tout is eight tricks, with or without a partner. If alone, the single player wins or loses all; if with a partner he must share his gains or losses.
Forcée is when no bid is made, and any player holds both Spadilla and Basta. He must play a Solo, or call for an ace. If he calls, the player holding the ace names the trump suit; but the suit so named must not be the suit of the called ace. Forcée in clubs is worth double, 8 counters.
Playing. The trump named, the eldest hand leads 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, and trumps win all other suits. The hands are abandoned as soon as the bidder takes five tricks, if he is playing anything but a tout. If he goes on he must win all eight tricks, or lose the value of a tout.
Payments. A solo player wins from or loses to each of his adversaries individually the amount of the game in counters. Two partners pay or receive each from one adversary.
HEART SOLO is a game for three players, in which the pack is reduced to twenty-four cards by deleting the Eight of hearts, and all the diamonds but the Seven. Diamonds are always colour, and there are only three trumps in that suit; Spadilla, Manilla, and Basta. The only play is for the Solo, and if no one will make a bid, the hands are played in colour, and the winner of the last trick loses the value of a Solo.