Penalties.—Should the number of tricks declared not be made, the penalty is reckoned thus: For a declaration of, say “Spades,” other suit, or “without trumps,” 400 points for every trick under the number declared; a declaration of “Two” of any suit, 800 points; for “Three,” 1200 points for every trick, and so on. Thus, if the declaration was “Five” of a suit, or “without trumps,” and only 9 tricks were made, or 2 short, the penalty would be 4000 to be scored to the opponents. Penalties, honours, aces, &c., are scored above the line, and do not count towards game, but are scored as points. The total number of points scored by the losers during the game, and also the rubber, must be deducted from the winners’ score, the balance, if any, credited to the winners; or it may happen that the winners of a rubber may lose in points. Should the game be for stakes, so much per point should be calculated.

Illustrative “Vint” Hand.

A.’s Hand.C.’s Hand.
Ace, 10, 7♠King, Qn, 5, 4♠
10, 5♥Ace, Kg, Kv, 7, 4♥
King, 7♣5, 3♣
Ace, Kg, Q, 8, 7, 2♦9, 5♦
B.’s Hand.D.’s Hand.
9, 3, 2♠Knave, 8, 6♠
3, 2♥Queen, 9, 8, 6♥
Ace, Knv, 9, 6, 2♣Queen, 10, 8, 4♣
Knave, 6, 3♦10, 4♦

A. and B. are partners. A. is the dealer, and begins declaring

A.—“Diamonds.”C.—“Pass.”
C.—“Hearts.”B.—“Pass.”
B.—“Two clubs.”D.—“Pass.”
D.—“Two hearts.”A.—“Four diamonds.”
A.—“Three spades.”C.—“Pass.”
C.—“Pass.”B.—“Pass.”
B.—“Three diamonds.” D.—“Pass.”
D.—“Pass.”A.—“Pass.”
A.—“Four clubs.”

A. and B. have to make 10 tricks, with diamonds as trumps. C. leads.

A. and B. make 10 tricks, scored thus:

CD.AB.3 aces150
4 honours320
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114380