nexion is at liberty to play it, but the others must, if possible, follow suit, unless one of them can answer the connexion, which should be done in preference.

No money can be drawn till the hands are finished; then the possessors of the connexions are to take first according to precedence, and those having the majority of tricks take last.

This easily-acquired game is very amusing, luck being the arbiter.

CASSINO.

"There are two kinds, sorts, .descriptions, species, manners, classes, natures, and qualities of Casino. As you love me, child, avoid that which contains but a single s."-Lady Chesterfield's Letters to her Daughter, by G. A. S.

THIS is a pleasant, simple game, when the stakes played for are not too high. It has the advantage of being a game that may be played by two, three, or four persons. But to understand the method of playing, it is necessary to recollect the

TERMS USED IN THE GAME.

Great Cassino, the ten of diamonds, one point.

Little Cassino, the two of spades, reckons for one point.

The Cards-when you have a greater share than your adversary, three points.

The Spades-when you have the majority of that suit, one point.

The Aces-each of which reckons for one point.

Lurched-when your adversary has won the game before you have gained six points.

THE MODE OF PLAYING CASSINO.

The following rules are given by Hoyle, and adopted by all his continuators :

The dealer and partners are determined by cutting, as at whist. The dealer gives four cards, one at a time, to each player; and either regularly, as he deals, or by one, two, three, or four at a time, lays four more, face upwards, upon the board, and, after the first cards are played, four others are to be dealt to each person, until the pack be concluded; but it is only in the first deal that any cards are to be turned up.

The deal is lost, if, in the first round, before any of the cards are turned up on the table a card is faced by the dealer; but if a card happen to be faced in the pack before any of the said four be turned up, then the deal must be begun again.

Each person plays one card at a time, with which he may not only take at once every card of the same denomination upon the table, but likewise all that will combine therewith; as, for instance, a ten takes not only every ten, but also nine and ace, eight and deuce, seven and three, six and four, or two fives; and if he clear the board before the conclusion of the game, he scores a point. Whenever a player cannot pair or sombire, he puts down a card.

The number of tricks must not be examined or counted before all the cards are played; nor may any trick but that last won be looked at, as every mistake must be challenged immediately.

After all the pack is dealt out, the player who obtains the last trick sweeps all the cards then remaining unmatched on the table.

It sometimes happens that the points are not set up, and that neither player wins anything in the deal; but the smaller number is subtracted from the larger, both in cards and points, and if they both prove equal, the game is recommenced, the deal being taken in rotation. When three persons play, the two lowest add their points together, and subtract from the highest; but if their two numbers added together amount to or exceed that of the third player, then neither

scores.

POPE JOAN.

"While some, their conscience to protect,
Leave Loo and Whist alone;

Others, not quite so strict, elect

To gamble with Pope Joan."

SMITH, the Cockney Poet.

THIS pleasant game is played by any number, from three to a dozen, who use the well-known round board, divided into compartments.

The eight of diamonds is first taken from the pack, and after settling the deal, shuffling, &c., the dealer dresses the board, by putting the counters or other stakes, one each to ace, king,

queen, knave, and game; two to matrimony, two to intrigue, and six to the nine of diamonds, styled pope. This dressing is, in some companies, at the individual expense of the dealer, though, in others, the players contribute each two counters. The cards are then dealt round equally to every player, one turned up for trump, and about six or eight left in the stock to form stops; as, for example, if the ten of spades be turned up, the nine consequently becomes a stop. The four kings and the seven of diamonds are always fixed stops, and the dealer is the only person permitted, in the course of the game, to refer occasionally to the stock for information what other cards are stops in their respective deals. If either Ace, King, Queen, or Knave happens to be the turned-up trump, the dealer may take from the board the counters deposited in those compartments; but if Pope be turned up, the dealer is entitled both to that and the game, besides a stake for every card dealt to each player. Unless the game be determined by Pope being turned up, the eldest hand begins by playing out as many cards as possible; first the stops, then Pope, if he have it, and afterwards the lowest card of his longest suit, particularly an ace, for that never can be led through. The other players follow, when they can, in sequence of the same suit, till a stop occurs, when the party having the stop becomes eldest hand, and leads accordingly; and so on, until some person parts with all his cards, by which he wins the pool (game), and becomes entitled, besides, to a counter for every card not played by the others. The holder of Pope, then in hand, is excused from paying. King and queen form

Matrimony; queen and knave make Intrigue, when in the same hand. But neither these, nor ace, king, queen, knave, nor pope, entitle the holder to the stakes deposited in their several compartments, unless played out. No claim can be allowed after the board be dressed for the succeeding deal. In all such cases the stakes remain for future determination. This game requires a little attention to recollect the stops made in the course of the play; as, for instance, if a player begin by laying down the eight of clubs, then the seven in another hand forms a stop, whenever that suit be led from any lower card; or the eldest hand may safely lay it down, in order to rid himself of his cards. Pope Joan is a capital round game for Christmas parties.

COMMERCE.

"Who'll trade, who'll trade ?"—Old Song.

THERE are several ways of playing this amusing round game. The simplest is as follows:

The deal having been determined, each player deposits an equal stake in the pool; the cards are then all given out, one at a time; the elder hand then exchanges a card with his left hand neighbour; the second with the third, the third with the fourth, and so on, till one obtains a hand consisting all of one suit, when he exclaims " my ship sails," and clears the pool.

Another plan is the following:

Each player deposits an equal stake in the