The skill required in Piquet applies to the rejection of cards from the
original hand, and to the subsequent play, both of which offer excellent
scope for intelligence and judgment. It would be impossible, in the short
space at our disposal, to enter into all the complicated considerations
which influence this matter. These, therefore, must be studied in larger
works on the game.[33] The essay by Hoyle, printed in the modern editions
of his "Games," contains much useful instruction, though not very clearly
conveyed. The following are some hints taken from it:
In discarding, it is a great object to retain such cards as will be likely
to favour your winning "the {116} cards," _i.e._ making the majority of
tricks, which will generally make a difference of twenty-two or
twenty-three points to the score. Do not, therefore, throw out good
trick-making cards for the hope of getting high counting sequences or
quatorzes, the odds for which are considerably against you.
The next attention should be to your "point," which will induce you to keep
in that suit of which you have the most cards, or that which is your
strongest. Gaining the point generally makes ten difference in the score.
Good authorities attach even more importance to the point than to the
cards, because it scores earlier, and may save a pique or a repique.
Of course, you would retain a good sequence--good, that is, either in
respect to length or to rank of cards. A sequence of four is especially
valuable, because, if you happen to take in one card in addition to it, it
may add ten to your score. And even a sequence of three is not to be
despised, as that also invites useful increase from the take-in.
Of course, also, you would keep any quatorze if you have it, even if low,
as it would destroy three aces in the adversary's hand.
A trio should also be kept, if it can be done without detriment to the
cards or the point, as there is always a possibility of converting it into
a quatorze. (If you take in five cards, it is only three to one against
your doing so, _i.e._ you would probably succeed once in four times.)
But Hoyle gives a case to show caution in this respect. Suppose you have
ace, king, queen, and seven of hearts, and two other queens, and that it
was a question whether you should discard one of your queens or the seven
of hearts. If you discard {117} the latter, it is three to one against your
getting the queen quatorze; but if you discard the queen, it is five to two
that you will take in another heart, which would probably give you not only
the point, but also five certain tricks towards the "cards."
Suppose you, being elder hand, receive queen, ten, nine, eight, and seven
of clubs, knave, ten of diamonds; king, queen and knave of hearts; ace and
nine of spades, the natural impulse would be to retain the clubs intact for
the point and sequence, and discard from the other suits. But Hoyle
recommends you to _discard all the clubs_. It is true that if you took in
the knave of clubs it would be a good thing, but it is three to one against
it, whereas, if you keep the other suits intact, you will take in something
that will give you a better chance of scoring than you could have made by
the other course.
It may assist your discard to consider, by inference from your own hand,
what the adversary can or cannot possibly hold. For example, if you are
very short of a suit, he may have a long point or sequence in it. If you
have any honour or ten, he cannot hold a quatorze of that rank, but if you
are short of one, he may do so; also your holding a knave or ten, or some
other combinations, will prevent him from holding a quint in that suit, and
so on.
Beware how you unguard kings and queens. If, being elder hand, you reject a
guard to a king, it is probable that in taking five cards you may replace
it; but when you are younger hand, it is highly desirable to retain the
guard, and for this purpose it is considered further advisable to keep a
small card of a bad suit, that it may serve as a guard for a king if you
should take one in. {118}
In some positions you must regulate your discard according to the score.
Thus, if you only want a few points, it would be foolish to lay out with a
view to any large object; you would devote all your attention to what
counts first, namely, the point and sequences; success in which might carry
you out before your opponent could get in. On the other hand, if your
adversary is much in advance of you, you can probably only retrieve your
fortune by a large score, and you would discard with this view. To consider
the "cards," unless with a view to a capot, would be useless.
It is considered desirable for you, if elder hand, to take all five of your
cards, unless you have a chance of a great score, and there can be no
repique against you. The consideration is not only whether the cards will
benefit you, but also whether, if you leave them, they may not much more
benefit your adversary.
If the younger hand should have dealt to him a hand which will enable him
to make six tricks, Hoyle advises that he should not make such a discard as
will incur the risk of losing the "cards," unless he should be very
backward, and have a scheme for a great game.
In regard to the play of the hand, it is difficult to lay down rules, but
an acquaintance with Whist play will be a very useful general guide to the
student, showing him how to establish and bring in his suits, how to get
tenaces led up to, how to preserve guard to second-best cards, and so on.
The most essential thing is to secure the seventh trick, which scores the
"cards"; though, of course, every trick made is of importance to your
score, the last counting two. {119}
But the most important point in play is to discover and to take due
advantage of the contents of the adversary's hand. The compulsory calling
and showing of the various scoring elements give certain positive
indications; but many others may be obtained by a skilful player, by
inference from his own hand, and from the cards he may see of the stock,
and these indications may often be used to considerable advantage.
For this reason, there is an antagonistic exercise of skill in concealing
the contents of your hand from your adversary, in order to prevent his
drawing correct inferences. For example, a clever player will sometimes
refrain from claiming scoring-elements which he may hold, when he thinks
that by concealing them he may gain greater advantage in the play. This is
called "sinking."
With a bad hand great care is often necessary, by guarding second-best
cards, or otherwise, to gain a single trick and so save the capot, which
makes such a large score.
A more powerful aid to skill, both in discarding and playing, is to be
found in the study of the laws of probabilities, which are peculiarly
applicable at Piquet. Lengthy and elaborate statements of the chances will
be found in "Cavendish" and in the earlier editions of "Hoyle"; and are
well worth the attention of those who care to study the game fully.[34]
* * * * *
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