The compleat gamester, or, Instructions how to play at billiards, trucks, bowls, and chess together with all manner of usual and most gentile games either on cards or dice : to which is added the arts and mysteries of riding, racing, archery, and cock-fighting.

CHAP. XVII.

WIT and REASON, a Game so called.

VVIT and Reason is a Game which seems very easie at first to the Learner, but in his practice and observation shall find it otherwise. It is a Game something like one and thirty, and is plaid after this man∣ner.

Two playing together, the one hath all the red Cards, and the other hath the black: then they turn up cross or pile who shall lead; for the Leader hath a great advantage over the other, as shall be demonstrated.

You are not to play a ten first; for if you do you shall certainly lose; for one and thirty being the Game he that first comes to it wins; now should the Leader play a ten the follower will play another ten, that makes twenty; let the Leader then play any thing next the Follower will be sure to make it up one and thirty.

He that hath the Lead if he play a nine may certainly win the Game, if he look about him; ever remembring to get first to twenty, without spending two of one sort, as two Deuces, two Treys, two Quaters, &c. otherwise you will lose: As for example, you play a nine first, your Adversary plays a Deuce that makes eleven, you then play a nine again, and that makes twenty; thus you have plaid out both your nines, wherefore your Antago∣nist plays a Deuce, now you can play no Card but he wins; for if you play an eight (for you cannot come in with your ten) and you have never a nine, then he hath an Ace for one and thirty; so if you play a seven, which makes nine and twenty, he hath a Deuce remaining to make up one and thirty, and so you may observe in the rest of the Cards.

Take this for a general rule, that you have a very great advantage in fetch∣ing out by play any two of a number, as aforesaid; as two fives, two sixes, two sevens, &c. wherefore you must not play rashly, but with due conside∣ration

arithmetically grounded to make up a certain Game of one and thirty. To conclude, he that hath the art of playing well at one and thirty without Cards, that is by naming such a number at first, and prosecuting it by such ad∣dition of others, that your Adversary cannot think of any number but what shall be your Game; I say such a man is fittest to play at this Game called Wit and Reason.