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Regency Card Games
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SpeculationPreliminaries
One deck of 52 playing cards. Everyone starts with the same number of chips and at the start of each deal antes one to a pot. Deal three cards face down on the table in front of each player in a stack, then turn the next card of the pack to establish a trump suit. (Not that there is any trick-play. Trump, in this game, means the only suit that counts for winning.)
Object
To be in possession of the highest trump when all cards in play have been exposed. For this purpose cards rank from high to low AKQJ1098765432.
Play
The trump turn-up belongs by right to the dealer, so if it is an Ace the dealer wins without further play. If it is not an Ace, but is high enough to interest anyone else, they may offer to buy it from the dealer, and the dealer may haggle about it, or auction it, or keep it, as preferred.
Each in turn, starting with the player to the dealer's left - or, if the turn-up was sold, to the purchaser's left - turns up the top card of his or her own stack. This continues in rotation, but omitting the player who currently possesses the highest trump. If and when a trump is turned that is higher than the one previously showing, the player who turned it may offer it for sale at any mutually agreeable price, or refuse to sell it. Either way, play continues from the left of, and subsequently omitting, the possessor of the highest trump.
Furthermore, anyone at any time may offer to buy not necessarily the best visible trump, but any face-down card or cards belonging to another player. The purchaser may not look at their faces, but must place them face down at the bottom of his or her stack and turn them up in the normal course of play. (The time to indulge in this piece of speculation is when you currently own the highest trump and want to prevent someone else from turning a higher.)
End
The game ends when all cards have been revealed, or when somebody turns the Ace, and whoever has the highest trump wins the pot.
**Optional extras.
1. Anyone turning up a Five or a Jack adds a chip to the pot. (Possibly an Irish addition.)
2. A spare hand is dealt and revealed at the end of play. If it contains a higher trump than the apparent winner's, the pot remains untaken and is added to that of the next deal.
CommercePreliminaries
One deck of 52 playing cards, aces high, 3 - 12 players. Each player contributes to the pot. The dealer deals 3 cards to each player.
Object
The players goal in each round is to collect the strongest of three Commerce hands possible. The hands are a
1. A Tricon, which is three of a kind.
2. A Sequence, which is a three card straight flush (three cards of the same suit in order)
3. A Flush, where the cards are of the same suit and their points are added together. If equal, a 3 card flush beats a 2 card one. If still equal, the tied player nearest in turn after the dealer wins.
Three Aces would be the highest tricon. Three twos would be the lowest.
The highest sequence is Ace-King-Queen while four-three-two is the lowest.
In point the Aces are highest followed by the face cards and the 10. Three Aces is the highest and three Twos is the lowest. Ace-King-Queen is the highest sequence whereas Four-Three-Two is the lowest sequence. In a point the Aces count as 11 and the face cards all count as 10.
Play
The dealer deals three cards, face down, to each player and an additional three cards, face up in the center of the table. This face up pile is known as the "widow" hand. Play starts with the player to the right of the dealer. This player may exchange any one of their cards with one of the cards from the widow hand. Play continues to the right. Each player during their turn may exchange one card with the widow. Players may also opt to pass, but forfeits their right to swap cards again during the round.
When a player acquires a Commerce hand they knock on the table and stop playing. This is known as a stand. The remaining players continue playing until a second player "stands". Once this occurs the round is over.
During a round a player does not necessarily need to stand when they get a Commerce hand especially if the hand is weak and they believe another player may have a stronger hand that could beat them. This allows the player to stay in the round and try to strengthen their hand. At the same time other players are also able to build their hands. It's a gamble to do this, but may benefit the player.
End
At the time of the second players stand, play ends and the players all show each other their cards. The player with the best hand is the winner of the round and takes the pot. The player to the right of the dealer is now the new dealer and the next round begins. There is no limit to the number of rounds played. In the end the player with the most counters from the pot is declared the winner.
*Alternate playing rules, with no ‘widow hand’
The player to the left of the dealer bids to buy or trade. To buy, she gives a chip to the dealer for a card from the deck and discards a card which is placed at the bottom of the deck. To trade, she offers to pass a card to the player on her left in exchange for one given to her. If the player agrees to trade, the exchange is made without looking at the cards being received. No chip is paid. If a player does not buy or trade on the first opportunity, she cannot do it during the remaining play of the hand. If she buys or trades, she may buy or trade on a later turn. Trading can only occur to the left. Play continues with each in turn having the opportunity to buy or trade until a player “knocks.” A player knocks when she is content with her hand. All hands must then be shown and the winner determined.
LooPreliminaries
Up to 16 can play, but Crawley recommends five, six or seven. The cards are 52, ranking AKQJ1098765432 in each suit. Everyone starts with an equal number of chips or counters.
Whoever cuts the lowest card (Ace low) deals first. The turn to deal and play passes always to the left. The dealer stakes three to the pool. A three-chip pool is a 'single'. When it contains more, left over from the previous deal, it is a 'double'. Deal to each player, and to a spare hand called 'Miss', three cards one at a time. Stack the rest face down and turn the next for trump.
Object
To win at least one trick. A player who takes part and wins none is 'looed', and has to increase the pool.
Play
Each player in turn announces whether they will play or throw their hand in. Anyone offering to play may exchange their hand for the Miss, sight unseen, but may not then drop out or change it back. Only the first player to claim this privilege, starting from the dealer's left-hand neighbour, may exercise it.
If all pass, the dealer wins the pool.
If one exchanges and the others all pass, the exchanger wins the pool.
If just one player before the dealer plays, and does so without exchanging, the dealer may not pass but has a choice of play. He may either play for himself (with or without exchanging), or elect to 'defend Miss'. In this case he still plays, but neither wins nor loses anything. Only the other player wins from or loses to the pool, according to the result.
Eldest hand (dealer's left-hand neighbour) leads to the first trick, and must lead the trump Ace if held, or the trump King if the turn-up is an Ace. If not, he must still lead a trump if he has more than one, and it must be his highest if he is playing against only one opponent. You must follow suit and head the trick* the trick if you can; if unable to follow you must trump and overtrump if you can; and only otherwise may you discard as you please. The trick is taken by the highest card of the suit led, or by the highest trump if any are played. The winner of each trick leads to the next, and must lead a trump if held. Each trick taken earns its winner one third of the pool. A player who is looed pays three to the pool, which is then carried forward as a 'double'.
(* To head the trick is to play a higher card of the suit led than any so far played to it. Combined with the requirement to trump if unable to follow suit, this means in effect that you must always seek to win the trick if you legally can.)
*Optional rules
When the pool is a single, nobody may pass. In Unlimited Loo, one who is looed pays the amount the pool contained at the start of that deal.
without people to play with (sigh) I can only "do a patience"
They sound really fun, I'll have to try and convince my quarantine buddies to try them! I've always enjoyed reading the scenes with card games, I tried Prudence's method from The Masqueraders, but I'm really bad at being expressionless or innocently naive :)
In this card game:Players ante up and are dealt three cards each.
A trump suit is determined by the face-up card.
Players reveal cards sequentially, skipping turns if they hold the highest revealed trump.
Regency card games? That's a fascinating topic! I’ve always thought the card games from that era had this unique charm. You know, like stepping into a Jane Austen novel or something.One game that immediately comes to mind is solitaire https://freecardgames.io/solitaire/ . I know it's got that timeless appeal, and it’s something you can play alone, which is perfect when you just want some downtime. Imagine people back then, sitting by a cozy fire, quietly dealing out cards and enjoying the simple pleasure of the game.
Solitaire is such a classic; I can picture someone in Regency attire, shuffling a deck and losing themselves in the game. It's one of those pastimes that transcends generations. It's easy to learn but can get pretty challenging, which keeps it interesting. Plus, there are so many variations! Klondike, Spider, FreeCell – you can mix it up depending on your mood.
Mod
Preliminaries
Up to 16 can play, but Crawley recommends five, six or seven. The cards are 52, ranking AKQJ1098765432 in each suit. Everyone starts with an equal number of chips or counters.
Wh..."
Yes, but what is 'holding Pam' which apparently (IIRR) enables one to save one's groats? (According to The Unknown Ajax)
Mod
One game that ..."
Apparently Patience (which is the English name for what the Americans call Solitaire) was new at the time - GH has one of her characters, probably Judith Taverner, playing it as something she's just been introduced to.
Jenny wrote: "Yes, but what is 'holding Pam' which apparently (IIRR) enables one to save one's groats? (According to The Unknown Ajax)."According to a note on "The Rape of the Lock" in my Norton Anthology, "Pam" refers to the jack of clubs, which is the "paramount trump" in Loo. It's only mentioned glancingly in the poem, though, because that's not the card game the characters are playing!
Jane Austen's Card Games - 11 Classic Card Games and 3 Supper Menus from the Novels and Letters of Jane AustenI haven't read it but it sounds like a useful resource.
Alex wrote: "In this card game:Players ante up and are dealt three cards each.
A trump suit is determined by the face-up card.
Players reveal cards sequentially, skipping turns if they hold the highest reveale..."
Sounds a bit like the card game crazy eights I usedx to play when i was younger.
Banrohem0 wrote: "Regency card games? That's a fascinating topic! I’ve always thought the card games from that era had this unique charm. You know, like stepping into a Jane Austen novel or something.One game that ..."
And there are many different versions of solitaire, too. I wonder id they knew them back then?
Info found at https://www.parlettgames.uk/histocs/