In this case five cards are dealt to each player, the card next following
being turned up by way of trump. There are, therefore, five tricks to be
contended for, and the contributions to the pool are made divisible by
_five_ accordingly. There is, in this case, no miss, but each player
(beginning with elder hand) may discard as many cards as he pleases, the
dealer replacing them with a like number from the remainder of the pack. It
is at the option of each player either to play or to pass, but having once
drawn cards he is bound to play. The discarded cards are thrown face
downwards in the centre of the table.
There is in this case a variation, in the fact that the knave of clubs,
known as Pam, is made a sort of {90} paramount trump, taking precedence
even of the ace of the trump suit. The rules as to leading, following suit,
and heading the trick, are the same as at the three-card game. If, however,
the ace of trumps be led, and the holder pronounces the formula "Pam, be
civil," the holder of the latter card is bound to pass the trick, if he can
do so without a revoke.
Special value is in this game given to a flush, _i.e._ five cards of the
same suit, or (which are regarded as equivalent) four cards of the same
suit and Pam. The holder of such hand at once turns up his cards, and
"looes the board," _i.e._, wins every trick as of right, without playing
his hand, even though stronger individual cards were in the hands of other
players. No one is in this case allowed to throw up his cards, and all save
the holder of the flush are looed. Should more than one player hold a
flush, a flush in trumps has priority over one in a plain suit. As between
two flushes in trumps, or two in plain suits, that consisting of the better
cards wins.[29] The holder of the losing flush, or of Pam, if in the hand
of one of the losers, is exempt from payment. In other respects the game
resembles three-card loo.
Some players at either game maintain what is termed "club law," meaning
that whenever a club is turned up by way of trump, every one is bound to
play. In such case there is no miss or drawing of cards.
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