The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-06-12
The Game of Baccarat.

Although the game of baccara, or bac-
carat, has been introduced in this coun
try in modified form, it is comparatively
unknown here. 1t is played with the Or
binary playing cards, and is very simple
in its details and frcer from complications
than most games at cards. Any number
of players may participate, and as many
packs of cards may be used rs necessary,
the number being increased to correspond
with the number of players. One mem
Der of the party is selected to act as
banker He deals out the cards from q
box similar to cigar box, after they have
been shutilcd The face cards each count
ten, and the others according to the num-
Der of their spots. After the bets hayc
been made the banker deals two cards to
each of the players, including himself,
but the other players must receive their
cards before the banker is served.
The aim of the players is to make the
numbers 9, 10, 2S, OR as nearly those US
possible, as s, Is and %. Any player is
at liberty either to "stand" or to be ''con
tent" with the two cards first dealt, or TO
call for more, at the risk of exceeding
20, when his stake Is forfeited to the
dealer If, after the first distribution of
two cards to each, any player has u
"natural"-that is, a sum making 0, Or
next in value, l9-he declares it wins,
and the banker pays all who hold super
Tor hands to his own, and claims from
those holding inferior hands. The play
ers stake their money separately, there
being, in fact, as many separate games in
progress as there are players, and the
spectators may wager their money on any
one of them, all Of which must be accept
ed by the banker.
The great difficulty to an ordinarily
prudent baccarat player is to know when
to leave off. Even the strongest-mindcd
can scarcely trust thoir judgment in this
respect, SO it may be readily imagined
what sort Of chance any vacillating
player has of being successful at the
game.
There are certain matters in connection
with the Tranby Croft baccarat affair that
are worth considering. Sir William is
alleged to have resortcd to form of
cheating known as ''pousscttc" -that is,
adding to the stake when the banker has
lost and decreasing it when he has won.
Now, had the table been better conduct
ed, it would have been impossible for this
to have. occurred. Prior to the banker
making start he states the amount in
tho bank-for example, ESQ. ANY one
sitting down at the table has the right to
call the whole of the bark, selecting the
left Or the right on which to pick up the
cards. If the bank is not called, then
the banker proceeds to deal to e25 a side,
or as much Of it as may be "marked" or
callcd-the former meaning that the
money is placed on the table; the latter,
that the banker has accepted the bet
without the money being staked. The
latter course, however, is quite the ex-
ception, the ready coin being invariably
planked. Previous to the banker dealing
the cards it is the duty of two croupiers,
one on the right and the other on the
left, to count up the stakes deposited on
either side, and then make up the bank.
Thus the banker knows to the smallest
coin the exact amount of his liabilities.
Had the game been properly played at
.iranby Creft no one attempting the
"poussette" would have stood an earthly
chance OF either increasing or decreas-
ing his stake