Lady Cadogan's Illustrated Games of Solitaire or Patience Part 11

THE HERRING-BONE

Two Entire Packs of Cards

RULES

I. The foundations follow suit.

II. The lowest (or twenty-eighth) card of the herring-bone is alone available until its removal releases the next one (_i.e._, the uppermost card of the fan above it), then the second card of the fan becomes the available one, then the third, then the single card above the fan just played, and so on, the removal of each card rendering the next one available.

III. All the cards in the side scenes and the four bars are available.

IV. Vacancies on the bars are refilled from cards of the herring-bone (Rule II), but vacancies on the side scenes may only be refilled from the pack or talon.

PLAY

Deal out twenty-eight cards, beginning from the top (see tableau), thus: Three at the top, placed fan shape, then a single card half covering the fan, then another fan half covering the single card, then another single card, and so on till you have seven fans and seven single cards: this is called the herring-bone, the last card being a single one and available. (Rule II.)

You next deal out eight cards, four on each side the herring-bone: these are called side scenes. Then place one card horizontally above and below each side scene: these are called bars. When these forty cards are placed, the next card dealt becomes the foundation, and is placed in one of the allotted s.p.a.ces, the other seven cards of similar value being placed as they appear on the tableau, or during the deal.

Four of the foundations ascend in sequence and four descend (Rule I), and it is best to place the ascending on the right side, the descending on the left.

When the tableau is complete, and the first foundation has been played, examine the whole and play from the herring-bone, bars, or side scenes any foundations or other suitable cards. Always choose, in preference, cards from the herring-bone or bars, as on the removal of the herring-bone the success of the game mainly depends, and if a bar is removed, the available card on the herring-bone replaces it, thus releasing the next. (Rules II and III.)

Having played and refilled all s.p.a.ces, proceed to deal out the entire pack, playing all suitable cards, and refilling s.p.a.ces; the unsuitable cards forming the talon. In forming the foundations, one card at a time may be exchanged from the ascending to the descending sequence, and _vice versa_.

The talon may be taken up, shuffled, and re-dealt twice.

_Note._--It is so exceedingly disadvantageous that there should be duplicate cards in the herring-bone, that in the German variety of this game the herring-bone is set out from a single pack before the two packs are shuffled.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE OLGA.]

THE OLGA

Four Piquet Packs

RULES

I. The foundations follow suit.

II. Each card in the flower-bed must be turned face upward as soon as the card immediately below it is removed. The card so turned is then available.

III. Cards on the flower-bed may be placed in descending sequence upon each other (and cards from the pack or talon may also be placed in sequence on the flower-bed), but must be so placed in alternate colors, _i.e._, a black eight upon a red nine, and so on.

PLAY

Deal out forty-nine cards in seven horizontal rows, each containing seven cards. This is called the flower-bed. In the first row the cards are placed face upward, in the second row face downward, and so on alternately, the seventh or last row being face upward. Should there not be s.p.a.ce, each row may half cover the preceding one. The foundations consist of sixteen aces, ascending in sequence through sevens to kings (Rule I). When the flower-bed has been dealt, if any aces appear in the lowest row, play them in their allotted s.p.a.ces, as also any deuces or other suitable cards, always turning the card above the one played, face upward. Available cards on the flower-bed (Rule II) may be placed in descending sequence on each other, but in alternate colors (Rule III). They may be transferred from one packet to another, and on doing this judiciously the success of the game depends.

Cards from the pack or talon may also be placed in sequence (Rule III) on those of the flower-bed. [You are not obliged to play cards on the foundations, if to place them on the flower-bed seems more advantageous.] Continue to deal out the entire pack, playing on foundations, placing and transferring on the flower-bed, the unsuitable cards forming the talon. If you succeed in removing an entire perpendicular row of cards, the s.p.a.ce at the top may be filled by any available card of the flower-bed (Rule II), and upon that card may be placed sequences (Rule III) as on the other rows.

[Ill.u.s.tration: CaeSAR.]

CaeSAR

Nine Cards from One Entire Pack

PLAY

Withdraw from one entire pack nine cards, composed of any suits, from ace to nine inclusive. Place these nine cards in three rows, each containing three cards. Endeavor, by changing their position, so to dispose them, that the number of pips in each row, counting the cards horizontally, perpendicularly, and diagonally, may make the sum of fifteen. The tableau shows only three fifteens, but if the cards are properly placed eight fifteens can be made.

[Ill.u.s.tration: RED AND BLACK.]

RED AND BLACK

Two Entire Packs of Cards

RULES

I. The foundations follow suit.

II. Cards may be placed on the Volunteers in descending sequence, but they must be of alternate colors. On the black four (see tableau) would be placed a red three, then a black deuce, and so on.

PLAY

Withdraw from the pack the eight aces, placing them in pairs of alternate colors in a horizontal line (see tableau). These are the foundations and ascend in sequence to kings (Rule I). Next deal out eight cards, placing them underneath the foundations. This row of cards is called the Volunteers. Examine the Volunteers and play any suitable cards on to the foundations, immediately filling each vacancy from the cards in hand. When no more can be played, proceed to form sequences in descending line with cards of the Volunteers, subject strictly to Rule II; then again play all that are suitable and proceed to deal out the cards till the pack is exhausted, playing cards on the foundations or placing them in sequence on the Volunteers, and always refilling vacancies. The unsuitable cards form the talon.