5 Any number of marriages may be declared from the hand at one time , whenever a trick has been taken. 6 In exchanging the seven of trumps for the trump card, it is sometimes allowed to make a declaration at same time, the card exchanged not being used in the declaration. 7 A variation is occasionally made in using the queen of clubs and knave of hearts as “Bdzique" cards, when spades or di;unonds is trump. 8 In the last twelve tricks the player follows suit, as in Whist ; but having none of the suit led, he is at liberty to trump, or play any other card. g The game proceeds as in two-hand- CARDS 95 CARDS ed " B&rique.” The highest score made with the cards twice dealt out is the winner. BRAG, Single Brag. — The nines and knaves are called " Braggers,” from their being the best cards, — or “ Turners, ’’ because they are converti- ble into cards of any other value, so as to form pairs or pairs-royal, by the highest of which the game is decided. Thus three braggers in one hand can- not be beat, as they form a pair-royal of the best cards, and are better than a natural pair-royal of aces, &c. Two braggers and an ace, &c. are better than one bragger and two aces, &c. In the same manner, a pair formed by the assistance of a bragger is better than a natural p>air, or two cards, of like value. Thus nine and a king take precedence of two kings, but are inferior to two aces. A knave and a king are better than a nine and a king ; and if the pairs in two hands are equal, the higher value of the third card gives the preference ; if they are equal in every respect, the elder hand has the preference. The lowest pair-royal that can be formed, as three twos, is better than the highest pair, as two aces, &c. In some companies the knave of clubs and the nine of diamonds only are ad- mitted to be braggers or turners ; and it is sometimes agreed that natural pairs or pairs-royal are to precede artifical ones of the same value, or those formed by the assistance of the knave of clubs or nine of diamonds ; as thus, two kings to be considered better than a king with a nine or knave, but to yield to an ace and a nine or knave. Mode of Playing. — The cards having been shuffled and cut, a certain stake, is deposited by the dealer, who gives three cards to each of the com- pany. The elder hand, and the others after him, having examined their hands, either "piass,” which is signified by laying down their cards, or "brag,” in which case the dealer’s stake is to be answered by all who brag. On pruning down another stake, or bragging a second time, the person doing so, if he holds a pair, but not otherwise, may insist on seeing the next player’s hand, saying “ I’ll sight you,” in which case they examine each others cards, and the person having the worst hand of the two is obliged to lay it down, or " prass.” The players go on in this way till the braggers are reduced to two, who con- tinue bragging against each other (either an equal sum with the dealer's stake, or higher) till one "sights” the other, and whichever of the two has the best brag hand wins the whole of the stakes.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

5 Any number of marriages may be declared from the hand at one time , whenever a trick has been taken. 6 In exchanging the seven of trumps for the trump card, it is sometimes allowed to make a declaration at same time, the card exchanged not being used in the declaration. 7 A variation is occasionally made in using the queen of clubs and knave of hearts as "Bezique" cards, when spades or diamonds is trump. 89 In the last twelve tricks the player follows suit, as in Whist ; but having none of the suit led, he is at liberty to trump, or play any other card. The game proceeds as in two-handed "Bezique." The highest score made with the cards twice dealt out is the winner.. BRAG, Single Brag. — The nines and knaves are called " Braggers,” from their being the best cards, — or “ Turners, ’’ because they are convertible into cards of any other value, so as to form pairs or pairs-royal, by the highest of which the game is decided. Thus three braggers in one hand cannot be beat, as they form a pair-royal of the best cards, and are better than a natural pair-royal of aces, &c. Two braggers and an ace, &c. are better than one bragger and two aces, &c. In the same manner, a pair formed by the assistance of a bragger is better than a natural p>air, or two cards, of like value. Thus nine and a king take precedence of two kings, but are inferior to two aces. A knave and a king are better than a nine and a king ; and if the pairs in two hands are equal, the higher value of the third card gives the preference ; if they are equal in every respect, the elder hand has the preference. The lowest pair-royal that can be formed, as three twos, is better than the highest pair, as two aces, &c. In some companies the knave of clubs and the nine of diamonds only are admitted to be braggers or turners ; and it is sometimes agreed that natural pairs or pairs-royal are to precede artifical ones of the same value, or those formed by the assistance of the knave of clubs or nine of diamonds ; as thus, two kings to be considered better than a king with a nine or knave, but to yield to an ace and a nine or knave. Mode of Playing. — The cards having been shuffled and cut, a certain stake, is deposited by the dealer, who gives three cards to each of the company. The elder hand, and the others after him, having examined their hands, either "piass,” which is signified by laying down their cards, or "brag,” in which case the dealer’s stake is to be answered by all who brag. On pruning down another stake, or bragging a second time, the person doing so, if he holds a pair, but not otherwise, may insist on seeing the next player’s hand, saying “ I’ll sight you,” in which case they examine each others cards, and the person having the worst hand of the two is obliged to lay it down, or " prass.” The players go on in this way till the braggers are reduced to two, who continue bragging against each other (either an equal sum with the dealer's stake, or higher) till one "sights” the other, and whichever of the two has the best brag hand wins the whole of the stakes.

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