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meet regularly for the purpose； and instances can be found where
fortunes have been lost in a night。
The game of Pokers differs from the one just described； in so far
that the players receive only the original five cards dealt
without drawing fresh ones； and must either play or refuse on
them。 In this game； as there are more cards； as many as ten
persons can play。
LANSQUENET。＇91＇
Lansquenet is much played by the Americans； and is one of the
most exciting games in vogue。
The dealer or banker stakes a certain sum； and this must be met
by the nearest to the dealer first； and so on。 When the stake is
met； the dealer turns up two cards； one to the right；the latter
for himself； the former for the table or the players。 He then
keeps on turning up the cards until either of the cards is
matched； which constitutes the winning；as； for instance；
suppose the five of diamonds is his card； then should the five of
any other suit turn up； he wins。 If he loses； then the next
player on the left becomes banker and proceeds in the same
way。
＇91＇ This name is derived from the German ‘_landsknecht_'
（‘valet of the fief'）； applied to a mercenary soldier。
When the dealer's card turns up； he may take the stake and pass
the bank； or he may allow the stake to remain； whereat of course
it becomes doubled if met。 He can continue thus as long as the
cards turn up in his favourhaving the option at any moment of
giving up the bank and retiring for that time。 If he does that；
the player to whom he passes the bank has the option of
continuing it at the same amount at which it was left。 The pool
may be made up by contributions of all the players in certain
proportions。 The terms used respecting the standing of the stake
are； ‘I'll see' （_a moi le tout）_ and _Je tiens_。 When
_jumelle_ （twins）； or the turning up of similar cards on both
sides； occurs； then the dealer takes half the stake。
Sometimes there is a run of several consecutive winnings； but on
one occasion； on board one of the Cunard steamers； a banker at
the game turned up in his own favour I think no less than
eighteen times。 The original stake was only six…pence； but had
each stake been met as won； the final doubling would have
amounted to the immense sum of L3；236 16_s_。！ This will
appear by the following scheme：
L s。 d。 L s。 d。
1st turn up 0 0 6 10th turn up 12 16 0
2nd ；； 0 1 0 11th ；； 25 12 0
3rd ；； 0 2 0 12th ；； 51 4 0
4th ；； 0 4 0 13th ；； 102 8 0
5th ；； 0 8 0 14th ；； 204 16 0
6th ；； 0 16 0 15th ；； 409 12 0
7th ；； 1 12 0 16th ；； 819 4 0
8th ；； 3 4 0 17th ；； 1；618 8 0
9th ；； 6 8 0 18th ；； 3；236 16 0
In fair play； as this is represented to have been； such a long
sequence of matches must be considered very remarkable； although
six or seven is not unfrequent。
Unfortunately； however； there is a very easy means by which card
sharpers manage the thing to perfection。 They prepare beforehand
a series of a dozen cards arranged as follows：
1st Queen 6th Nine
2nd Queen 7th Nine
3rd Ten 8th Ace
4th Seven 9th Eight
5th Ten 10th Ace
Series thus arranged are placed in side pockets outside the
waistcoat； just under the left breast。 When the sharper becomes
banker he leans negligently over the table； and in this position
his fingers are as close as possible to the prepared cards；
termed _portees_。 At the proper moment he seizes the cards
and places them on the pack。 The trick is rendered very easy by
the fact that the card…sharper has his coat buttoned at the top；
so that the lower part of it lies open and permits the
introduction of the hand； which is completely masked。
Some sharpers are skilful enough to take up some of the matches
already dealt； which they place in their _costieres_； or side…
pockets above described； in readiness for their next operation；
others keep them skilfully hidden in their hand； to lay them； at
the convenient moment； upon the pack of cards。 By this means；
the pack is not augmented。＇92＇
＇92＇ Robert Houdin； ‘Les Tricheries des Grecs devoilees。'
In France the stakes commence at 5 francs； and it may be easily
imagined how soon vast sums of money may change hands if the
players are determined and reckless。
EUCHRE。
This is also a game much played in the States。 I suppose it is a
Yankee invention； named by one of their learned professors； from
the Greek （eucheir）； meaning ‘well in the hand '
or ‘strong'a very appropriate designation of the game； which is
as follows：
In this game all the cards are excluded up to the sixes；seven
being the lowest in the Euchre pack。 Five cards are dealt out；
after the usual shuffling and cutting； with a turn…up； or trump。
The dealer has the privilege of discarding one of his cards and
taking up the trumpnot showing； however； the one he discards。
The Knave is the best card in the gamea peculiar Yankee
‘notion。' The Knave of trumps is called the Right Bower； and the
other Knave of the _same colour_ is the Left Bower。 Hence it
appears that the nautical propensity of this great people is
therein represented‘bower' being in fact a sheet anchor。 If
both are held； it is evident that the _point_ of the deal is
decidedsince it results from taking three tricks out of the
five； for； of course； the trump card appropriated by the dealer
will； most probably； secure a trick； and the two Knaves must
necessarily make two。 The game may be five or seven points； as
agreed upon。 Euchre is rapid and decisive； and； therefore；
eminently American。
FLY LOO。
Some of the games played by the Americans are peculiar to
themselves。 For instance； vast sums of money change hands over
Fly Loo； or the attraction existing between lumps of sugar and
adventurous flies！ This game is not without its excitement。 The
gamblers sit round a table； each with a lump of sugar before him；
and the player upon whose lump a fly first perches carries off
the poolwhich is sometimes enormous。
They tell an anecdote of a 'cute Yankee； who won invariably and
immensely at the game。 There seemed to be a sort of magical or
mesmeric attraction for the flies to his lump。 At length it was
ascertained that he touched the lump with his finger； after
having smeared it with something that naturally and irresistibly
attracts flies whenever they can get at it。 I am told that this
game is also played in England； if so； the parties must insist
upon fresh lumps of sugar； and prevent all touching。
The reader will probably askwhat next will gamblers think
of betting on？ But I can tell of a still more curious source of
gambling infatua