Bezique is a game for two players. The piquet pack of thirty-two cards is
used, but in duplicate, two such packs of like pattern being shuffled
together.
The players cut for deal, the _highest_ card having the preference. The
rank of the cards in cutting (as also in play) is as under: ace, _ten_,
king, queen, knave, nine, eight, seven. Eight cards are dealt (by three,
two, and three) to each player; the seventeenth card being turned up by way
of trump, and placed between the two players. The remaining cards, known as
the "stock," are placed face downwards beside it. Should the turn-up card
be a seven, the dealer scores ten.
The non-dealer leads and the dealer plays to such lead any card he pleases.
If he play a higher card (according to the scale above given) of the same
suit, or a trump, he wins the trick; but he is not bound to do either, or
even to follow suit. Further, he is at liberty to trump, even though
holding a card of the suit led. If the two cards played are the same
(_e.g._ two nines of diamonds), the trick belongs to the leader. {13}
The winner of one trick leads to the next, but before doing so he marks any
points to which his hand may entitle him, leaving the cards so marked on
the table, and draws one card from the top of the stock. His opponent draws
a card in like manner, and so the game proceeds until the stock is
exhausted.
The holder of the seven of trumps is entitled to exchange it for the
turn-up card, at the same time scoring ten for it. The holder of the
duplicate seven of trumps scores ten for it, but gains no further benefit
thereby.
The game is usually 1000 up, but, as the score proceeds by tens or
multiples of ten, this number is pretty quickly reached.
At the earlier stage of the game, the player scores for the cards he holds
in his hand; certain cards or combinations of cards, duly "declared,"
entitling him to score so many points, as under:--
Points.
For the seven of trumps, turned up by the
dealer, or declared by either player 10