Fig. 1. |
In addition, a board with ten cavities cut therein for the purpose of placing the knobs as drawn, is required. [109]
A Loto card, on which are inscribed, in the manner shown in the diagram, numbers ranging from 1 to 90—five numbers on each line, is represented in fig 1. The units are arranged in the first column, the tens in the second, the twenties in the third, and so on.
The number of these cards supplied in a Loto box varies, but the general number is twenty-four, although sometimes there are only eighteen. With twenty-four cards, each number appears in four different cards.
There are several different methods of playing this game, of which we will give the two principal ones. The first method makes it a game of chance and skill, or rather quickness in reading figures; and the second, purely a game of luck.
First Method.—Before commencing the game, a dealer has to be chosen, and his duties consist of shuffling the cards and dealing to each player one or more cards. The dealer is unable to join in the game, and is obliged to stand out.
Each player should stake a certain sum, which should be reserved for the winner; and a certain number of counters of no value, but merely to be used for covering the numbers as called, should be placed in the pool.
Sometimes each player contributes a certain number of counters to the pool, then each saves out of his stake the number of counters he has on his card or cards; and the winner obtains the money for his fifteen counters on his card, and receives in addition all the pool which remains.
In order to render the game still more interesting, the contributions to the pool should be so arranged that it is capable of being divided into four parts. Then a fourth part of the pool is won by the player who first succeeds in covering one horizontal row; another fourth part of the [110] pool is won by the player who first succeeds in covering two horizontal rows, and the remaining half is reserved for the winner who first covers the whole of his card.
The dealer then, having deposited the 90 knobs in a bag, draws them forth rapidly, one by one, and calls out the number which appears or the knob in a clear tone.