Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-06
FOR THE WINTER EVENINGS.

The New Game Of "Desperation" ana
How 1t Should BE Played.
Desperation is not a progressive game.
says the Philadelphia Ledger. but can be
played by any number Of persons more than
one. Each player uses a deck OF cards. He
first counts off twenty-five and turns them
face up on the table at the right Of him.
These twenty-five cards are known as his
desperation" When the first game IL
begun one of the players assumes the part
Of the dealer. the person at his left counts
off five cards from his pack Of thirty-nve
and proceeds to play them. The first card
Of the five. II 1t be an ace. is placed in the
center Of the table; II Of any other value
1t is placed face up in front OF him. II the
next card be two spot 1t is placed on the
ace; II not, In front Of him-and so on till
the five cards are played. Each player can
only have one row OF five cards in front OF
him Al any time. The ace is then built up
the king makes book" and Is given a
chip or button. The one who gets nine
chips and who has disposed Of his "des-
peration' wins the game. Each player con-
places each ace in the center Of the table.
builds on it from mis- desperation" from the
cards in front of him or from those in his
hand, which are always held face down.
the object is to always get rid Of II, and II
often happens that several cards are played
from 1t one after the other. Each person
plays as long as he can build and until his
five cards are exhausted. II he overlooks a
card, and 1t Is to the advantage Of the next
player to have him play 1t. he can 50 order
him.
When each player has disposed Of his
thirty cards the dealer gathers up the
books" which have been placed in front OF
him. shuffies. and deals each player in his
turn Ave cards. This he continues until
some one has secured nine chips and dis
posed of his desperation" When two or
three persons compose the players IT fire.
quently happens that the thirty cards are
exhausted before book" has been made
in thar case each player In his turn moves
the cards from the FIVE rows in front
of him one to the other until ne exposes
a card he can play. He has only one move
but If he by that one move Is able to
play several cards he is entitled to do 30
The moving Of cards ceases as soon as a
book is made. the cards then being dealt
| book. The greater the number Of players
| the larger the number of cards the dealer
has to handle. When starting a new gam,
the person who sits next to the person who
played first in the preceding game is tn,
| starter, and the person at his right is tn,
| dealer. The game is a most interesting on,
| and oftentimes lasts an hour or two &C
| cording to the number Of persons playing
| In placing the five cards in a row as the,
| are laid down at the left Of the "despera
| tion," II Is advisable to keep the face card,
exposed, the kings being placed together
| the queens and Jacks likewise. This give
player an opportunity to I'LL out a book,
which he would be unable to do IL his fac
| cards were hidden. In laying a card dow
on another 1t must be placed so that tn,
| under card cannot be seen-that in tn.
event of moving the player cannot know
just which card will expose a desirable one