THREE UP.

The points in the game of all-fours are sometimes reduced to three, to enable the gambler to strip his victim much sooner than he might otherwise be able to do ; it being a well known fact that the habitual gamester generally prefers short games. When this game is so rendered, it is called "three up;" at which each player receives but three cards, and a trump is turned. It is just like five up in every other respect; and the person who makes three points first is out, and wins the game. There is great room in this game for the gambler to exercise his tricks. Every cheat that is practised in all-fours can be practised in this game.

Variation.—A and B may be playing; A steals out seven cards, as follows : he takes the ace, king, queen, jack, five, and six (as we will suppose) of hearts, and a five of spades. He then puts down the six of hearts, back up; this is meant for the trump. On this he places next the five of hearts, then the ace, then the five of spades, then the queen, then king, then jack. A has these cards stocked in this manner, and when it is B's deal, A will take the pack to cut and has a right to shuffle them; in doing which, he palms those seven cards on the top; then cuts and slips the cut on top again, and hands the card to B to deal. A gets the king and two fives, while B gets the ace, jack, and queen. A will then beg, and at the same time say to B, "If you will give me one, I will make three;" B thinks this almost impossible, as he supposes that his ace, queen, and jack are good for high, jack, and game. He will be apt to bet that he will make it. And if he should bet, as he would be likely to do, A will play his five of spades, B will play his jack, and leads his ace. A plays his five of hearts; B leads his queen, and A takes it with his king, and makes low, gift, and game. B having given him one, and his five being low, he has king and queen, which makes him five for game. B has ace and jack, which makes him five also: but as he dealt (the dealer losing all tie games), A makes three times, and wins.

Another.—A and B are at play; A is one, and B is two points. A deals, and gives B three aces; that is. the ace of spades, hearts, and diamonds, and clubs will be trumps. B begs, well knowing that some one of the suits of which he has the ace will be the next trump. He will then feel sure of winning, as his ace will be high. He will be very apt to say, "It matters not what is trumps; I shall go out." A will say, "If you will bet me three to one, I will bet you do not go out." And as B considers that A is ignorant of what he holds, he will feel safe in betting him; which if he does, A will run them, and turn up for trump the jack of clubs, which makes him, also, two. Now, as clubs was first trumps, he must still run further, and A turns another jack, which wins him the game, as high is of no avail when the dealer has but one to make, and turns jack. This trick is done by stocking and palming, and is well understood by all the gamblers.

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