Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-11-09
THE HIST Table.
Din-.ent Ways Of Counting in Whist-En-
gli>h and American Games.

A few weeks ago correspondent
asked: How many correct ways are
there of counting in whist?' The
answer is: Two There is the
English game and the American game.
In the former, called short whist. five
points constitute the game and honorS
are counted; in the latter, which people
in this country are endeayoring TO call
standard whist seven points make
the game and honors are not reckOned.
The rules for the former game do not
al all apply ts the latter. but in general
Cavendsh's laws are adapted 10 each.
For in both games Cavendlsh is the
authority on 1.-THE order of leads" but
MANY of his detailed rules are of no use
to us. who neither count hOnors nor
gamble Most of the clubs in this
country. especially in the East. have
adopted the American game. probably
because in the English game there is
lively betting and as L consequence in
cessant conversation. 10 the best
PLAYERS among us these traits are
highly disagreeable We play the
game on its merits: Engl shmen play
for the excitement of betting. Ac-
cording TO Cavcndish, when a change
point game to that of five points. the
new game was found to be SO lively.
and money changed hands with such
( increased rapidity. that these gentle
men and their friends. all of them
members of the leading clubs Of the day.
confined to play it" DR. Pole. although
( admitting good PLAYERS generally like
to plav for stakes high enough 10 de-
fine well the interest taken in the
game" vet is quick 10 add that the
idea of gain. which IS the essent a. fea
ture of gambling. en- @rs As little into
the mind of whist as of a chess player. :"
The latter statement, however, is too
vapid. The first and second quotations
are plainly contradictory.
We do not care 10 define the intere t
of the game with money stakes. We
plav the game for the game itself
Like chess. It is confined to the interest
which our minds take in it. In doing
away W tn hOnorS il takes away the OPP
portunitv of winning by quick chance.
Then. too. by making the game to con-
Z sist of seven points instead uf hye.
every trick has to be taken bv one side
If a whole game is played in one hand.
With these changes We re IA re- less
than a quarter of the rules that our
brethren across the water use. and We
get along, from the nature of the game.
with far less disputes than they have 10
settle In fact. more than third of
their rules have been enacted to punish
aud prevent fraud.
There are two OF three other WAYS II
counting practced to limited extent
both in this country and IN England.
One is the ten point game i'll which
donors are counted. This is used very
little, especially with US. Another is
the five-po;nt game, without h"nors.
which resembles greatly the English
game. 1t is played in America some,
but is a poor game. A third game is
that in which a party plays for a GER
tain length of time OF a definite number
Of hands. These last three mentioned
are not strictly correct. being in use in
none of the first class clubs. Single
and double dummy whist are PLAYED
with cards exposed, and is used little,
axcept in problems. Gt0GS.
- >---a-.----~----