The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-12-18
A Russian Gambling Game.

Stukolko, or Stookolker-I am un-
certain. (says writer in To day. as
to The orthogrsphy-is a wicked
little gambling game of Russian
origin, and of the Unlimited Loo
variety. 1t can be played for coins
of the realm, but unless one is
millionaire, it is better to negotiate
with counters at about three pence
dozen. 1t can be played by four
or any higher number of players, FIVE
or six making very good game. A
pool is started by each person put
ting in a chip, or counter, when,
should the collective amount not be
divisible by hree, the dealer pays in
the difference. As in every deal,
there are three tricks, this enables
THE PooL TO BE APPoRTIoNED
into exactly one-third for each trick
The dealer serves out the cards
round the table one by one until
each person has three, and the next
card is then turned up to determine
the trump suit. On the original
deal, and on every occasion after a
deal in which there was nobody
looed-which would happen if every
person who played took a trick
there is "must;" that is, everybody
must play. The player to the left
OF the dealer leads any card he
pleases, and all have to follow suit,
or, If unable to follow suit, to play
trump. 1t must be understood that
every player at the table who holds
trump, and cannot follow suit,
must give his trump, regardless of
whether he has to play under a pre-
ceding trump or not. The highest
card of the led suit wins the trick if
not trumped; in trumps, or trump
ing off, the highest played trump
wins.
THE WINNER OF A TRICK
leads out to the next. Every player
who is looed Calls to make tricky
must pay into the new pool an
amount equal to the whole OF the
current pool. Thus, should the
pool consist OF eighteen counters,
each trick would be six counters,
and each loo eighteen counters.
Should two persons be looed on that
round, the price Of each loo on the
next would be thirty-six counters,
so that it will be readily seen that
ones risks may occasionally assume
extravaganza proportions.
A pool having been formed by the
"must," the second round is played
under somewhat different condi
tions. Each deal passes regularly
to the left, and every player, after
seeing his cards, has now the option
Of declaring whether he will play
them, or throw them in and stand
out. II he plays, he intimates as
much by giving
DoUBLE-TAP ON THE TABLE
with his knuckles. This is the
Stukolko. II he passes, he throws
his cards face downwards in center
of the table. The dealer, when
there is no "must," has, however, a
double option. He can turn up the
trump card, and then decide to play
or not in the usual way, or he can
declare to play "blind;" i.e., before
turning up the trump card, or see
ing his own hand, In the latter
event he does not expose the trump
card at all, but looks at it privately
before looking al his oDn cards, and
announces it suit for trumps, and
this card he can afterwards ex-
change for one from his hand. When
all the players have decided whether
they will play or not,
THOSE REMAINING IN
can exchange any or all of their
cards for others from the top OF the
balance OF the pack the dealer serv.
inc them ont tn each nlavar in