The number of players is limited only by the number of cards, but in practice it is found better to limit each table to five, or at most six, players.
The cards have the same values as at Whist, i.e. ace is the highest in each suit; then follow king, queen, knave, ten, etc., down to two.
In “sequences,” however, the ace is the lowest card, and the king the highest.
The suit of hearts, ceteris paribus, takes precedence of other suits.
Before beginning play, it is customary and advisable to agree upon a sum (technically called the “limit” or “rise”) which shall be the maximum stake permitted to be made by a player at one time; or, in other words, which shall be the greatest sum by which he may increase the stake at any one time.
The “limit,” of course, does not refer to the total amount of a player’s stakes, and it is understood that a player may stake less than the limit at any time, but not more.
After being seated, the players cut for the deal, and the player who cuts the lowest card deals first. If two or more players cut equal lowest cards, these players must cut again for the deal. [32]
The duty of dealing in each game after the first, devolves upon the player to the left of the previous dealer.
Before beginning play, every player has a right to shuffle the pack; the dealer has a right to the last shuffle. After being shuffled, the pack must be cut by the player to the right of the dealer.
The player to the left of the dealer then stakes a certain fixed sum (generally small in comparison with the limit) which is called the “ante.” This initial stake must in every game be laid by the player to the left of the dealer, before the cards are dealt. He is, in fact, identified with this initial stake, and is known as “ante” throughout the game.