Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-06-01
How Faro is Played.


i How Faro is Played.
A 'faro bank" requires an extensive
outfit, consisting of handsome rosewood
table, covered with fine green cloth,
rounding at the corners and usually elab-
orately carved. The table is about three
feet long by two feet wide. In the center
is raised board, also covered with green
cloth, two feet long by eighteen inches
wide; on this board are pasted the cards
of ''suit," commencing with the ace,
which is on the left of the dealer. and
running up to the king. These cards are
arranged side by side and ia the form of
a paralleloersm, with sufficient space be-
tween to allow the checks, which are is
sued by the banker for money 10 be
placed between two cards, if it is desired.
On the left side of the table, as it is faced
by the players, is small uncovered box
or tray, in which the checks are piled, and
underneath it is money drawer, in which
the cash is stored as it is taken in. Near
the check tray stands "cue-box," in
which all the cards are painted in minia-
ture, and opposite the cards are ivory
checks running on wires. The object of
this box is to enable the players to know
what cards have been drawn. As each
card is drawn from the dealing box il i
checked off by man in charge at the
cue-box, by passing one of the ivory
checks over the wire to the side of the box
opposite the card drawn. The table IL
generally placed near the wall, the dealer
sitting behind it, and the gas brackets
over his head light up the scene. His APP
paratus for playing consists of pack of
SO cards and box, sometimes made of
solid silver and sometimes plated, open or
top Ito show the face of the cards. and at
one side flor their reception The cards
are shufie I'd and pushed into the box from
behizd. In the box they rest on plate
set on springs in such a way that, a. the
cards are drawn out of the front of the
box, the plate is raised by the springs,
keeping the top card opposite the dpp-r
opening. After the cards have been placed
in the box. the players congregate around
the table and purchase their "chirS"
These are ivory checks representing d.
ferent amounts from 25 cents 10 $50. 40.
cording to the standing of the house The
banker sits at the right hand of the dealer,
and passes out the "chips" or .'check-" in
exchange for the money paid him.
At the end of the game such rs bsve
any left "pass in their checks" and re
eeive from the banker the amount IN cash
that their aggregate represents. All beiog
in readiness, the players make their bets
that is, they put as many checks as they
wish to bet on such card or cards of the
ones on the table (or "lay out'1 as they
may select. The dealing cards lie in the
box face upward the dealer draws off the
first card and lays it one sjde--it l. u dead
or soda" card, and neither win- or loser
The second is a losing card. GlsnciDg
around the board the dealer rakes in sn, d
checks as have been placed on the CORES
ponding card. The third is a winning
card. and be lays down upon the board a
number of checks equal TO the number set
upon it. The fourth card loses. the ffth
wins, and SO alternates until there are but
four cards, or "the last turn" left 10 the
box There are seventeen turns" in one
deal. The second, fourth, sixth, and 20 ON
through the even numbers win for tie
bank; the third, fifth, seventh, and The
rest of the odd numbers win for the play
ers; but player can bet on the side of
the bank, if he desires to, by ''copperirg'
his bet--that is, by placing number ~
checks upon card and crowning the pile
with button or checker, of which there
a number scattered around the board.
For instance, three aces have been
drawn from the box; two of them have
been won for the players, and one for the
bank. Upon the principle that chance il
evenly divided, it lie argued that the bank
must win on the fourth ace SO pl4yer
may choose to bet on the last ace In favor
of the bank, and if the card is drawn for
the bank it pays his bet, though it other
wise would have won his money. When
16 deals have been made, and there are
but four cards left in the box, the man in
charge of the "cue box" announces that
there is zone turn" left. In this there l.
but one chance for the player, as the frs,
and last cards are dead, and he must cor
rectly name the order in which the second
and third cards shall be drawn. In deal
ing this turn the banker pays 81 for every
81 bet upon the two cards. But the
players are not confined in their bets to
one card; they may bet upon several or
not as they choose, and one set OF checks
may be 50 placed as to bet upon two cards
at the same time.
A player desiring to bet upon the jack
cod the ace, places one check upon the
cntnef Oh the jack anu ic1s INC iceI VI his
checks lean towards the ace, which is di-
agonally opposite the jack. and If be
wishes to bet that the jack will be The
ning card and the ace winning card
he "coppers" the check resting on the
corner of the jack. A player may bet
that two cards eide by side, or opposite
will win, by placing his checks between
them, and he may bet upon four cards by
placing his checks in the center OF the TIA
BILE. midway between the cards selected.
To the uninitiated the game at fret is
of course, incomprehensible, but is easily.
too easily, learned, and the facility with
which grsenhorns throw down their
cbecks, "heel" aid "copper" their bets, il
only exceeded by the rapidity with which
those same checks are raksd in by the
bank.-N.r =. Tribune.