(e) With Point a tie is very rare; but if equality does [72] occur, then the holder of the first highest card different from the opponent’s wins.
The deal is an advantage, and on that account it is best, when a finish is desired, to conclude the game just before the first dealer’s turn comes round again, as then all the players will have had an equal number of deals. Should it be found necessary, however, to conclude before the original dealer’s turn, play may be discontinued after the completion of any deal, although such a course is somewhat unfair to the intervening players.
There is only one stake recognised in the game, so that it is simply necessary to decide what shall be regarded as the value of a counter, or what coin shall constitute the limit.
The amount of the stake having been settled, the dealer is decided upon in the same manner as described in connection with the game of “Nap” (see page 9). Each of the players then pays the amount of the stake into the pool, the dealer also contributing on account of his deal, so that he has to pay double.
The pack having been shuffled by the dealer, and cut by the player on his right-hand side, three cards are distributed to each player, face downwards and unexposed. The cards may be dealt either singly or all three at a time, at the option of the dealer. The players having looked at their cards, the dealer first addresses the one on his left-hand side, and asks if he will trade; and he must either do so or stand on the cards dealt him.
If he decides to stand on the cards he has received, he turns his hand face upwards on the table, and all the other players do the same, when the holder of the best hand takes the amount in the pool, and also receives the amount of a stake from the dealer, who is thus penalised for the [73] advantage that accrues to him from selling cards to those who wish to trade for ready money, the amount he receives on that account becoming his own property, subject to the payment mentioned. Should the player who declares to stand be beaten by any of the others, he has to pay an additional stake to the holders of the better hands.
If the player decides to trade, he may either do so for “ready money” or by “barter.” If for ready money, he continues operations with the dealer; if by barter, with the next player in order round the table, who, in turn, must exchange a card, unless he has a hand sufficiently strong to stand upon, in which case he at once declares it.
If the player trades for ready money, he throws out a card from his hand, pays a stake to the dealer, and receives the top card from the pack; his rejected card being placed at the bottom of the pack without being exposed.
If the player decides to barter, he turns to the player on his left-hand side and offers a card, which must be exchanged for one of those in the next player’s hand, unless that player considers his cards sufficiently strong to stand upon, in which case the winner is decided by the method just described.
If the player has traded, either for ready money or barter, and has secured a hand strong enough, he at once stands, and exposes his cards; if not, the dealer passes or to the next player, and acts in a similar manner, going round and round the table until one of the players decides to stand, when the hands are exposed and the round settled.