The player, having the corresponding number on his cards or cards, who first answers to the number called, covers the number on the card or cards with one of the counters in the pool, which should be so placed on the table as to be available for the use of all the players.
The player who first succeeds in covering all the numbers on his card or cards wins the game.
The Second Method.—Every player should draw two cards, and deposit a stake previously agreed upon; and if the party is not too numerous, then any may take four or six cards, laying down a double or treble stake accordingly; and when the players are more than twelve, then some are only to have one card, paying half a stake, and likewise should the players not take all the cards among them, the remainder of the pack is to be laid aside until some other persons join the set. From the cards not taken, players may exchange one or more of those drawn, or they may change with one another; similar exchanges, if the company consent, may also be made previous to each drawing, and likewise prior to replenishing the pool. Cards may be thrown up, or additional ones drawn from those put by; stakes being paid proportionably.
The stakes are to be put together in a pool, placed in the middle of the table, and also on the table there should be a quantity of counters sufficient for the number of cards taken; upon the counters a value is to be fixed adequate to the stakes first deposited, from the whole of which a sum [111] must be reserved, enough to pay, at the conclusion of the game, all the counters laid upon the table.
Then, after counting the 90 knobs, so as to be certain they are right, the eldest hand shall first shake them well together in the bag, and afterwards draw out ten successively, not only declaring the number of each as drawn, but also placing the same conspicuously on the board.
As soon as a number is declared, each player having that number on one or more of his cards, is to take up counters, sufficient to lay one upon that number every time it occurs, and so on until the ten knobs are drawn. When only part of the pack is taken, and a number drawn happens not to be upon any player’s card, then the players may put away that knob till some person takes a card on which it is printed.
When ten knobs are drawn out, every player examining the cards separately, and having only one counter upon any horizontal line, wins for that no more than the said counter, which is styled gaining by abstract; where two counters are on the same horizontal line of a separate card, the player gains an ambo, and becomes entitled to five counters besides the two; when three are upon the same line, the player obtains a terne, and is to receive 25 additional counters; if four are on the same line, that is called a quaterne winning 100 counters additional; when five occur on the same line, that makes a quinterne, gaining 250 additional counters, and the player is entitled to payment out of the pool for all the above-mentioned acquisitions previous to another drawing. Instead of giving counters, payment for the same may at once be made from the stock in the pool.
The knobs are then to be returned, and the bag given to the next player in rotation, who is to shake the same, and draw, etc., as before stated. [112]
Whenever the pool is exhausted, the players must contribute again, according to the number of cards taken; and when it is resolved to finish the game, they agree among themselves to have only a fixed number of drawings more.
At the last drawing each player proceeds as heretofore directed, but the drawing concludes when no more counters are left on the table. The players then, beginning with the eldest hand, are to be paid out of the pool, as far as the money will go; and when that is expended, the others remain unpaid, which is styled a Bankruptcy; lastly, the players should re-unite the counters obtained from the pool with those that were on their cards, and receive payment for them out of the fund reserved at the commencement of the game.