The following is the method adopted for playing the game:—
The ace is the highest card, and deuce is the lowest.
After having cut and shuffled a pack of fifty-two cards in the ordinary way, the dealer gives six to each player. If there be but two players, he turns up the thirteenth card; but if four players, he turns up the twenty-fifth card, the suit to which the turn-up belongs being trumps. Should the turn-up be a knave, the dealer scores one point.
The elder hand then looks at his cards, and either holds it for play or begs, that is to say, that he must be allowed by the dealer to either score one point, or that all the players should have three more cards given to them, and that a new trump should be turned up.
When the latter plan is adopted, should the turn-up be of the same suit as the last, the dealer must go on giving three more cards until a change of trumps takes place.
The elder hand having decided on his hand, plays a card from any suit he likes, but must not beg more than once, unless a special agreement has been made that he should do so.
The dealer to this plays another card, which, if higher, wins the trick, the winner of it thus becoming the next leader, and so on throughout the six tricks. According to the modern method of playing, the trick need not be headed by one of the same suit; the highest card played wins it.
When the six tricks are played, the points are taken for High, Low, Jack, or Game. Jack counts one to the player who possesses it at the count-up, and not to the player who owned it originally. High and low each count one, the players to whom they were dealt deriving the benefit of them. The deal is taken in turns.
Should no player have either a court card or a ten, the elder hand scores the point for game. In the case of two players having equal points towards game, the elder hand of the two scores. If only one trump should be out, it counts both high and low to the player who first has it. The science of the game consists, as may easily be seen, in first winning the knave; second, making the tens; and third, in taking the adversary's best cards.
BLIND ALL FOURS.