HAND No. 149.

NOTES.-Trick 1. A having five trumps, properly leads one. 2. The Club suit seems stronger. 3. We think A should have passed the ten. It is difficult to suppose that Z has the Queen, and X certainly has it not. 9. Unless Z can get X in for his suit he cannot win the game.

HAND No. 150. NOTES.—Trick 4. Ought not A to have played the Kv? The underplay wins the game. Unless X is a very erratic player he cannot well have finessed in his partner's original lead of trump. Suppose the best combination-Ace, Q, 10, 9; surely he would not finesse the nine. HAND No. 151

SOLUTIONS.-A. B., Herr Zukertort, Crab, right; G. J., St. John's Wood, Cardiff, 2; G. J. (amended), Brighton, Cardiff, wrong.

DEFINITION OF A GENTLEMAN.--Chillingley Gordon, in every private sense of the word, was a gentleman. If he had staked his whole fortune on a rubber at Whist, and an undetected glance at his adversary's hand would have made the difference between loss and gain, he would have turned away his head, and said, "Hold up your cards.”—Lord Lytton.

PIQUET.

Up to the time of going to Press the proposed new laws have not reached us, we are therefore bound to wait another month before commenting upon the new code. The laws will be published early in the month, with Cavendish's views of Piquet, reprinted from the Field. The notes that have thus far appeared have not favourably impressed us with Cavendish's knowledge of the game. There is too much affectation of knowledge, and too much padding and pedantry to please us. Cavendish thinks that he has exhausted the subject because he has referred to all the literature printed on the game in France, forgetting altogether that Vienna is the headquarters of Piquet, and forgetting also that a catalogue of scientific works does not make a scientific man. There is the usual quantity of fable interspersed with the history, and after all we do not much care about the history of Piquet; and when Cavendish tells us that Piquet au Cent is thus called because the game is played 101 up, we confess to a feeling of doubt whether we should take Cavendish's French literally, or whether we are to assume that he is attempting to practise on our credulity. He seems too grim a giant to indulge in such puerile amusements, but how else to understand why a game called 100 is so called because it is played 101 no fellah can understand. Piquet players are neither archeologists nor market gardeners. We care for the game as it is, and we do not care much how the game has been brought to its present perfection. It may be that, like Topsey, it "growed, "but how it was reared, or what manure caused it to grow to so fine a specimen, we care not. If we had to cultivate a new cabbage we should be obliged to Cavendish if he would tell us how the seed was produced? and how it was brought to maturity? but as we do not want to know anything of the sort, we do not stop to inquire into the truth of his allegations.

We do not doubt the laws will be treated in a very different manner, but we trust that the Committees of Clubs will not take for granted that the code is a good code because it is prepared apparently under the best auspices. The Whist Code was adopted by the Whist playing community very hastily, and, so far as we know, few of the Whist players are now satisfied with it. A communicated paragraph has gone the round of the papers, in which the following appears: "If the Piquet Code is as well considered as the Whist Code a great boon will be conferred on Piquet players." We venture to think that if the Piquet Code is not much better prepared than the Whist Code, that we shall be very much better without it. Rumour says that the game is to be made 101 instead of 100, and that the cards led if below the 10 are not to count, and that the point if it consist of a final of 4, or less than 4, as 34, 44, 54, 64 is to count for one card less than the number of cards in hand. In other words the rules that, by tradition, we learn were in vogue in "Hoyle's" time are to be revived. We trust this is not the case. At present we are the Piquet law makers for the world. Every country has followed our rules and laws except in these three points. These rules are ignored, except at the Portland,' 'County,' and one or two other Clubs in England, and it would be as absurd now to try to revive these rules, as it was for Canute to try to prevent the waves from advancing by his command. The game would be more difficult if these rules were adopted; but men do not care to make games more difficult, and they do not care to go from the beaten track. We do not doubt that long Whist was a more scientific game than short Whist. We are aware that for the last twenty years every man has said short Whist is the better game of the two (and constant reiteration is truth), but the subject has never been seriously argued (except by Deschapelles), and for our part if we had to take sides we should prefer the unpopular one. Of course we know the stock arguments on the subject, and as they have never been answered, the advocates of the shorts have had their own way. The game of long Whist is more exciting when the two sides are each at the point of five, therefore, it has been assumed, that if we start at five all the game will be more interesting. The argument would be equally telling if we started at nine all. Although we are prepared to admit that at the point of five all, different qualities come into play, such as attention to the score, it does not follow that the qualities necessary to play well at long Whist were not higher qualities than those brought to bear in playing to the score, and as these higher qualifications come into operation every game, and the other qualifications, viz., playing for the score, come into operation in some games, we should be inclined to argue that the greater included the lesser, and that Long Whist would carry the day; but the fact is, Short, Whist was introduced for the purpose of gambling, and in any game the gambling element will gain the mastery. So, again, Whist was a better game, and a more scientific game, before the introduction of the Blue Peter. We would gladly get rid of this excrescence, as all good Whist players would; but, as we are practical, we are bound to recognise what is, and not strive for the impossible, nor sit down like children and cry for the moon. Besides, men travel. They play one day in France, and another in Italy, and then in Vienna. We believe the English are the laughing-stock of the world as Piquet players, but we have still this point in our favour, that Hoyle's laws are everywhere acknowledged. But Hoyle's laws do not contain any of the points to which we have referred. He is silent as to the number that makes game, and he says nothing as to the other two rules. It is true that in Jones' Edition of Hoyle, published in 1779 we find the rule as to not counting a card below the ten, and it is true that Bohn's laws, which have been in existence 30 years, say that 101 was formerly the game, but then it adds that 101 is abolished, and that 100 reigns in its stead. Bohn's laws have practically guided all the Piquet players below the age of 50, and we apprehend that it is the men below that age that improve all games. We are quite aware that these laws are very

imperfect, and that the additions to Hoyle's laws are in some respects supposed to be wrong, but this is one of the reasons why we require a revision. Who was the compiler of the much-abused Bohn's laws we cannot at this moment say, because we have not by us the whole of the editions of Hoyle; but, in an edition of his games, published in 1814, by Charles Jones, every word that is in Bohn's laws is given verbatim. If they are not Hoyle's laws, they, at any rate, have the benefit of age, and they were not invented by the author of Bohn's article, as some writers would have us believe. The system of counting three cards when you have four appears in no English book of authority. We shall be much disappointed if these obsolete rules are not done away with, and our rules are not made in conformity with those in force on the Continent and in America.

We are aware that Cavendish is of opinion that playing games of 100 or 101 up requires greater skill than playing rubicon games, but this view arises from the belief that playing to the score is everything; and exactly the same argument that induces him to believe that short Whist is better than long, induces him also to believe games of 100 are better than rubicon games. As we do not believe in the logic that he uses, so we cannot arrive at the same conclusions. Playing to the score is something, but playing to the score is not all. If it be not too late, we would ask the Committee to reconsider these points. If the new laws are to be of value, they must be universal. The Committee should raise themselves above the prejudices of clubs and cliques. Two out of four of the Committee have played in every country in Europe, and we believe that nowhere could they have seen, out of their own circle, these objectionable rules. They are not only Piquet players, they are men of the world and politicians, and as politicians they know there is no going back. Coaches were pleasant and fast conveyances in their day, but who would go from London to Edinburgh in a coach now. By placing themselves in antagonism to the spirit of the age they abandon their position as leaders, and the Piquet players become a rabble, instead of an army with skilful leaders.

PIQUET DISCARDS.

MEM. When we give the state of the score, games are being played; when we give the result, rubicon games are being played.

14. The Hand.-H Ace, Q, 10, 9, 7; C Ace, Kv; D 10, 9, 7; S 10. 7.

The Discard.—D 10, 9, 7; S 10, 7.

SCORE 22 TO 80.

15. --The Hand.-C Kg, Q, 10, 9, 8; D Kg, Q;
H Ace, Kv, 7; S Q, 10.

The Discard.-H Ace, Kv, 7; D Kg; S 10.
Took in C Kv, 7; HQ; S 9, 8.

Made point, Quint and Quatorze.

SCORE 46 TO 4.

GAMES PLAYED EVEN.-RUBICON.

16. The Hand.-C Kg, Q, Kv, 10; H Ace, Kv,
9; S Kv, 8; D Kv, 10, 8

The Discard. -H Ace, 9; S 8; D 10, 8.
Made 114 to 5.

17. The Hand.-H Ace, Kg, Kv, 10, 9; C Ace,
9; D Kv, 10, 9, 7 ; S 9.

The Discard.-C 9; D 10, 9, 7 ; S 9.
Made 37 to 14.

18. The Hand.-C Ace, Kg, 10, 7;

S 10, 7; D Ace, Q, Kv, 10.

The Discard.-C Ace, Kg, 7; H 9; S 7.
Made 116 to 5.

YOUNGER HANDS.

C Kg, 8; S Kg, 10, 9.

The Discard.—S Kg, 10, 9.

Made 20 to 29. Made the cards against 14 Aces.

22.

H 10, 9;

The Hand. -C Kv, 9, 7; H Kg, Q 9, 7;
D 9, 7; S Kv, 10, 9.

The Discard.-C Kv, 9, 7.

Made 6 to 59, and was capotted.

23.-C Ace, Kg, Kv, 10, 9; H Ace, Q, 8;

D Kg, 10, 9; S 10.

The Discard. -H Q, 8; S 10.

Made 70 to 13.

24. The Hand.-C Ace, Kg, 8; H Ace, Q, 10;
S Kg, Q, 9, 8; D 10, 8.

The Discard.-C 8; D 10, 8.
Made 24 to 18.

ANGLES AT BILLIARDS..

No. II.

SECTION 8.-STRENGTH OF STROKE.

THE strength of the stroke, which is measured by the distance the white would travel without striking any other ball, may vary, of course, from that just necessary to cause the white to reach the red, to a force sufficient to carry it five times the length of the table, notwithstanding the loss of speed caused by the imperfect elasticity of the cushions. It is clearly impossible to examine all these strengths, and different players use different expressions, which are perfectly understood by each other. We shall find it most convenient to take five typical strengths, which shall be accurately described, and refer the others to these. We shall call a strokeVery Gentle. When it has strength sufficient to carry the white from balk to the top cushion. Gentle. When strong enough to bring the white back, from the top cushion, to the centre spot. Medium. Strength sufficient to bring the white to the centre spot, after striking the top, and then the bottom cushion.

Strong.

Very Strong.

When the white reaches the centre spot, after striking the top, the bottom, and the top cushion a second time.

When, after striking top and bottom cushion alternately each twice, the white finally stops on the centre spot.

In every case in which we use one of these terms the strength of the stroke named as above shall be exactly what is described, with one exception. In long hazards, without follow, we shall call it a gentle stroke if played towards one of the top pockets from balk, when white has just strength enough to reach the pocket after striking red, although a stroke somewhat stronger would really be required to make up for the force transferred to red. SECTION 9.-MANNER OF THE STROKE.

While strength has always been amply considered by Billiard players, the manner of the stroke has never hitherto received the attention it deserves. Players have either been ignorant of the fact, or have thought it unimportant, that strength may be given in different ways, with a very great variation of the effect on the white. In every stroke not true centre, the momentum communicated to the white from the cue is divided between the two motions-direct and rotatory-and the proportion between these two motions depends on the manner of the stroke. Momentum is a product of two factors, weight and velocity. In Billiards the momentum which sets white in motion is the algebraic sum of the products of the cue, the arm, and often part of the shoulder, each very small part multiplied by its own velocity, considered separately. But the same momentum will be obtained if the weight in motion is diminished, provided the velocity is increased so that the product remains constant. In the case of great weight, and low velocity, making up the momentum, the direct motion of white is a maximum, and the rotation is a minimum. In the contrary case of the smallest possible weight, and velocity increased sufficiently to preserve the momentum, the rotatory motion is a maximum, and the direct a minimum, for the same part of white aimed at. At Billiards it would be inconvenient to change the cue, and fortunately this is unnecessary, for the weight may be diminished, sufficiently for most purposes, by allowing no part of the body to be in motion, at the moment of striking, except the hand, from the wrist outwards. The moving weight is thus diminished to that of the cue and the hand, and the stroke has the appearance of a sharp jerk from the wrist. We shall therefore call this a sharp stroke, to distinguish it from the ordinary swing from the shoulder. The knack of playing sharp strokes is more easily acquired if, in striking, the upper part of the arm is kept well back, the elbow at the side, and the cue so grasped that the back of the hand is uppermost, and the thumb down. Beginners usually err in their way of holding the cue, which they keep slung in the tips of the fingers. In this way they have very little power of altering the manner of the stroke.

SECTION 10.--DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BALLS.

When the white is struck true centre, it has, on leaving the cue, a direct motion only, and therefore begins its course by sliding along the cloth of the table. But we have seen (Section 3) that the friction of the cloth acts strongly upon a sliding ball. The effect is to retard more and more the lowest point of the ball which is in contact with the cloth, and thus to convert the sliding into a rolling motion. That is-part of the direct motion is converted into a rotatory one, about a horizontal axis. If the white is struck above its centre, the friction of the table co-operates with the intention of the player. A rolling motion begins at once, and when it is so regulated that the white makes one rotation round its axis while it is advancing the length of its circumference, the friction of the table has no tendency to alter the nature of the motion and very little to retard it. When the white is struck with side, the rotation offers great resistance to any alteration of its axis, and at the same time diminishes the friction of the table, as far as it tends to retard the direct movement of the ball. For this reason, if the side is great, the white must travel a considerable distance before it acquires any rolling motion. In some cases the axis of rotation changes gradually, from a perpendicular to a horizontal direction, through every degree of obliquity, but usually the side stops before rolling commences. From this action of the friction of the cloth on a sliding ball, it follows, that if we wish to produce the effect of colli

sion without any rotatory motion in white, we must strike lower and sharper the further the white and the red balls are apart, and at a distance of seven or eight feet the most expert players find it difficult to so far counteract the effects of friction as to retain screw on their ball. When the stroke has been so played that at the actual distance there is no motion in white but a direct one, it is called a dead stroke. This is of great importance in Billiards, and we shall frequently have occasion to speak of its effects. It will now be easily understood that any stroke below the centre of white, begins by giving it a back rotation so that after white has travelled a greater or less distance, according to the strength and sharpness employed, it acts as if it had been struck a close ball, true centre, and that beyond this distance the effect of its impact on red is that of a gentle follow. When the stroke is played for this latter object, it is called a drag, and is of use in distant strokes that are to be played gently, neutralising, to a great degree, any imperfection in the spherical form of the ball, or any failure of true level on the table. It is only while the ball retains its back rotation, that a low stroke is called a screw.

SECTION 11-DIVISION OF THE OBJECT BALL.

Fig 2

A

T

S

R

E

In describing the angle at which the red is struck by white, Billiard players make only the following distinctions, which will be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawing, (Fig. 2) in which R represents the centre of a horizontal section of the red ball, and R U the diameter in this section which is perpendicular to the line of direction. If the white advance along the line W R directly towards the centre of red, the stroke is called a straight one. If the line of direction coincides with W 2 T the stroke is called half ball. The position of white in the half ball stroke, at the moment of contact, is shown in the figure by the circle whose centre is at B. BRE is the common diameter. The common tangent is not shown, for the sake of not confusing the lines, but as we use the term (see Section 2), is the line through B, perpendicular to B R. It will be evident that the player whose eye is at a considerable distance from the balls in the direction of the line T W2 will be able to see half only of red at the moment of contact, the other half being covered by white. It is for this reason it is called half ball stroke. If the line of direction is that marked W'S, it is called a threequarter ball, for a similar reason. being the point of bisection of R T. In this case AR D is the common diameter. If on the line R U, TU is made equal to R S, and the line of direction is W3 U, the stroke is called a quarter ball and the common diameter is C R. We have shown in the figure the position of the white in the three-quarter ball, by the circle whose centre is A, and the quarter ball by the circle whose centre is C, for these positions are important as the ones almost

S

B

FA

solely referred to by players. If the red is struck at a greater angle than a quarter ball, it is usually called a fine stroke; if at a less angle than three-quarter ball, a full stroke; and any stroke whose line of direction is between W1S and W3 U is called three-quarter, half, or quarter, according to whether it is nearer to W1S, W2 T or W3 U. We shall require however to be more precise in our terms, and therefore when we use these expres

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