BÉZIQUE.

Before describing the game of Bézique, which, under the name of Penuchle, is greatly in favour among the Germans, it will perhaps be advisable to give a list of the technical terms employed in it.

Single Bézique.—The queen of spades and knave of diamonds, which count 40.

Double Bézique.—Two queens of spades and two knaves of diamonds, which count 500.

Brisques.—The aces and tens in the tricks taken count 10 each.

Common Marriage.—The king and queen of any suit but trumps, which count 20.

Bézique Pack.—The same as the Euchre, Piquet, or Écarté pack, composed of thirty-two cards, all under the sevens, except the aces, being discarded.

Quint Major.—Same as sequence.

Royal Marriage.—The king and queen of trumps, which count 40.

Sequence.—Ace, king, queen, knave, and ten of trumps, which count 250.

Stock.-The number of packs of cards corresponding with the number of players, shuffled together, and ready to be dealt.

Talon.—The cards remaining after the dealer has distributed eight to each player.

Declaration.—Showing and scoring any combinations, such as those mentioned above.

Four acescount100
Four kings„80
Four queens„60
Four knaves„40

Seven of trumps, when turned or played, counts 10.

Exchanging or playing the seven of trumps counts 10.

The last trick counts 10.

This game is most commonly played by two persons with two packs of cards; but there must be a pack for every person playing, so that if four play four packs must be used, from which, as has been said, all cards under seven have been taken out excepting aces. After shuffling and cutting, the dealer gives three cards to his adversary and three to himself, then he gives two, then three again, until both players are supplied with eight cards each. The remainder of the pack, which is called the talon, are left on the table, and the top card of it is turned up for the trump. Should the turn-up happen to be a seven, the dealer is thereby entitled to score ten to himself. After a trick has been made, the holder of a seven of trumps can, if so inclined, exchange it for the trump card, and for the exchange he scores ten.

The value of the cards in making the tricks is as follows: ace (which takes all other cards), ten, king, queen, knave, nine, eight, seven. Trumps are of no special value until the last eight tricks are in the hands of both players.

The player who wins the first trick takes the top card from the talon, thus completing his original number of eight. The person also who has lost the trick does the same; and so on, until all the cards in the talon are exhausted. As in other card games, the winner of a trick is entitled to the next lead.

When cards of the same value are played at the same round, the first that was turned up wins the trick, unless, of course, it should be trumped or beaten by a card higher in value. When a player wishes to declare, he must do so immediately after taking a trick, and before supplying himself with a new card from the talon; and such cards as form a combination, after being declared, should be placed on the table, face upwards; being of the same value as if in the hand, they may be played away as they are needed. When the talon is exhausted, the combinations that have been made are taken into the owner's hand, and the last eight cards belonging to both players are disposed of the same way as in Whist, the second player following suit, and heading the trick, if he can possibly do so, either by trumping or playing a higher card. After Bézique has been declared, the cards forming that combination cannot be employed to form any other. It is wise, therefore, to keep back the queen and knave to help to form other combinations before declaring Bézique, especially when diamonds or spades happen to be trumps. In that case the queen may assist in making a royal marriage, a sequence, or one of four queens, while the knave may help to form a sequence or one of four knaves, both being also used afterwards in the declaration of Bézique. All kings and queens are better kept in hand until they can be married; consequently, should the player be uncertain whether to throw away an ace or a king, if practicable, let it be the former. Although four aces count more than four kings, the declaration of four aces is not an easy matter to accomplish, while it is very probable that an opportunity may arise for marrying a king, when the pair may be thrown into the adversary's tricks. The aces and tens of trumps are better reserved for the last eight tricks, and a player should try to get the lead by taking the trick previous to exhausting the talon. The adversary will thus be obliged to part with his aces and tens by playing them on the cards that are led. The leader, if strong in trumps, may thus secure all the tricks, and may also earn the privilege of making the last declaration.

BÉZIQUE WITHOUT A TRUMP.

This is very much like the ordinary game, the difference being that the trump card is decided, not by the last turned up after the deal, but by the first marriage that is declared. The seven of trumps also does not count ten points.

The Béziques, four kings, four queens, &c., are counted the same as in Bézique when the trump is turned, and can be declared before the trump is determined. It is the same with the other cards which constitute combinations; their value is the same as in the proper game of Bézique.