Speculation is a game at which any number of persons may play. The
stakes are made with counters or nuts, and the value of the stakes is
settled by the company. The highest trump in each deal wins the pool.
When the dealer has been chosen, he puts, say, six counters in the
pool and every other player puts four; three cards are given to each
person, though they must be dealt one at a time; another card is then
turned up, and called the trump card. The cards must be left upon the
table, but the player on the left-hand side of the dealer turns up
his top card so that all may see it. If it is a trump card, that is to
say, if it is of the same suit as the card the dealer turned up, the
owner may either keep his card or sell it, and the other players bid
for it in turn. Of course, the owner sells it for the highest price he
can get.
The next player then turns up his card, keeps it or sells it, and so
the game goes on until all the cards have been shown and disposed of,
and then the player who holds the highest trump either in his own hand
or among the cards he has bought, takes the pool, and there is another
deal.
Should none of the other players have a trump card in his hand, and
the turn-up card not having been purchased by another player, the
dealer takes the pool.
If any one look at his cards out of turn, he can be made to turn all
three up, so that the whole company can see them.
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