Of one thing every player may rest assured, and that is that Poker cannot be played by mathematical formulas. Beyond the most elementary calculations of the chances in favour of certain events the theory of probabilities is of no assistance. It is not necessary to call in a mathematician to prove that a player who habitually discards a pair of aces to draw to three cards of a suit will lose by the operation in the long run. Nor will any amount of calculation convince some players that they are wasting their money to stay in a jack pot in order to draw to a pair of tens, although such is the fact. The various positions occupied by the player at the poker table may be briefly examined, and some general suggestions offered for his guidance in each of them. In the first place he should look out for his counters. It is always best for each player to place the amount of his ante or his bet immediately in front of him, so that there need be no dispute as to who is up, or who is shy. Above all it should be insisted that any player who has once put counters in the pool, and taken his hand from them, should not again take them down. _=The Age=_ is the most valuable position at the table, but it is seldom fully taken advantage of. The age should never look at his hand until it is his turn to make good his blind.
Fig. 2.] See Dump, Green Grass, Hot Cockles. Doddart A game played in a large level field with a bent stick called doddart. Two parties, headed by two captains, endeavour to drive a wooden ball to their respective boundaries (Halliwell s _Dictionary_). Brockett (_North Country Words_) adds to this that the captains are entitled to choose their followers by alternate votes. A piece of globular wood called an orr or coit is thrown down in the middle of the field and driven to one of two opposite hedges--the alley, hail-goal, or boundary. The same game as Clubby, Hockey, Shinney, Shinneyhaw. Doncaster Cherries One boy kneels, holding a long rope, the other end of which is held by another boy; the other players stand round about with handkerchiefs in hands, knotted. The one who holds the rope-end and standing cries out-- Doncaster cherries, ripe and sound; Touch em or taste em-- Down, you dogs! --Earls Heaton, Yorkshire (H.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10| 11| 12| 13 --------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---- Five | 10| 20| 30| 40| 50| | | | | | | | Six | 15| 25| 35| 45| 55| 65| | | | | | | Seven | 20| 30| 40| 50| 60| 70| 80| | | | | | Eight | 25| 35| 45| 55| 70| 85|100|115| | | | | Nine | 35| 45| 55| 65| 80| 95|110|125|140| | | | Ten | 45| 55| 70| 80| 95|110|125|140|155|170| | | Eleven | 70| 80| 95|110|125|140|155|170|185|200|220| | Twelve |120|130|145|160|180|200|220|240|260|280|300|320| Thirteen|180|200|220|240|260|280|300|320|340|360|390|420|450 --------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---- If a misère is bid, the caller wins from, or loses to each adversary according to the following table, there being no over-tricks:-- Little Misère, 20 white counters. Grand Misère, 40 white counters. Little Spread, 80 white counters. Grand Spread, 160 white counters. It may be observed that each of these is twice the amount of the next lower. When misère partout is played, the person winning the largest number of tricks is the only loser, and he must pay each of the other players the difference between the number of his tricks and theirs in red counters. The number of red counters lost will always be found to be three times the number of tricks taken, minus the number of tricks not taken. For instance: A wins 4 tricks, three times which is 12; from which he deducts 9, the number he did not take, and finds his loss to be 3 red counters. Again; A wins 7 tricks; three times which is 21; minus 6 tricks not taken, a net loss of 15. No matter in what proportion the other tricks may be divided between the three other players, this total payment will always be found correct.
Folk-lore Society Publications, 1878-1892. BEDFORDSHIRE-- Luton Mrs. Ashdown. Roxton Miss Lumley. BERKSHIRE Lowsley s _Glossary_. Enborne Miss Kimber. Fernham, Longcot Miss I. Barclay. Newbury Mrs. S.
Each boy in turn is then summoned by another who acts as doorkeeper, and asked to guess which lady he imagines has chosen him for her partner. Should he guess rightly he is allowed to take his seat by the lady who has chosen him, while the other girls loudly clap hands. Should he guess wrongly he is hissed, and sent out of the room by the doorkeeper.--Cork, Ireland (Miss Keane). At Long Eaton in Nottinghamshire Miss Youngman records a similar game to this, with a rhyme that is probably taken from a popular song or ballad. The successful candidate for the girl s choice claims a kiss, but if unsuccessful he is beaten out of the room with knotted handkerchiefs. Hitch Jamie; Hitch Jamie, Stride and Loup The boyish play of Hop, Step, and Jump. --Atkinson s _Cleveland Glossary_. Brockett (_North Country Words_) calls this Hitch. See Half-Hammer, Hick, Step, and Jump.
=_ Every player has the right to shuffle the cards, the dealer last. The dealer must present the pack to the pone to be cut. At least four cards must be left in each packet. If a card is exposed in cutting, the pack must be reshuffled, and cut again. If the dealer reshuffles the pack after it has been properly cut, he loses his deal. Beginning on his left, the dealer must give to each player in rotation three cards at a time for three rounds. No trump is turned. The deal passes to the left. There must be a new deal by the same dealer if any card is found faced in the pack; or if the pack is proved incorrect or imperfect; but any previous cutting or scores made with the imperfect pack stand good. The adversaries may demand a new deal if any card is exposed during the deal, provided they have not touched a card.
A third mounts on the crossed arms, and clasps the carriers round their necks, while they move on saying-- King, King Cairy (carry) London lairy, Milk an bread, In the King s chairie. This game is played at Keith, without the words. The words are used at Fochabers.--Rev. W. Gregor. Jamieson says, Lothian children, while carrying one of their number in this manner, repeat the following rhyme-- Lend me a pin to stick i my thumb, To carry the lady to London town. He says this method of carrying is often used as a substitute for a chair in conveying adult persons from one place to another, especially when infirm. In other counties it is called Queen s Cushion and Queen s Chair, also Cat s Carriage. Brockett (_North Country Words_) says, King s Cushion, a sort of seat made by two persons crossing their hands, in which to place a third.
BLUE ” BROWN. PINK ” BLUE. SPOT-WHITE ” PINK. SPOT-RED ” SPOT-WHITE. SPOT-YELLOW ” SPOT-RED. SPOT-GREEN ” SPOT-YELLOW. SPOT-BROWN ” SPOT-GREEN. SPOT-BLUE ” SPOT-BROWN, and WHITE ” SPOT-BLUE. _=1.=_ When coloured balls are used, the players must play progressively, as the colours are placed on the pool marking-board, the top colour being No.