LIFT SMOKE

LIFT SMOKE is a simple English game. It can be played for stakes by each player putting an amount into a kitty before each deal.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS

The game is for four to six players, six perhaps being the best. Each poker player plays for himself.

CARDS

The full pack of 52 cards is used. The cards rank from Ace (high) to 2 (low). One player picks up the cards and deals them round face up the first player to be dealt a Jack becomes the first dealer. Thereafter the winner of each game deals for the next.

The dealer deals the cards one at a time in a clockwise direction to each player beginning with the player on his left. Each player receives the same number of cards as there are players in the game, i.e. with six players each player receives six cards.

The last card dealt to the dealer is turned face up to establish the trump suit. The cards No-Trumps dealt are placed in the centre of the table to form a stock.

THE PLAY

When all players have seen the trump suit, the dealer takes his cards into his hand, and the trick-taking phase of the poker game begins. The player to the left of the dealer leads to the first trick, leading any card he likes.

Subsequent players must follow suit if able, and if unable may trump or discard. The trick is won by the highest trump, or failing a trumpy by the highest card in the suit led.

When a trick is won, it is placed face down to one side, and the winner of the trick takes into his hand the top card of the stock. No other player takes a card, so the hands are now unequal. The winner of a trick leads to the next.

Each time a player fails to win a trick, his hand will diminish by one card. When a player is reduced to no cards, he drops out of the game. The last player remaining wins the game and if there is a kitty he takes it.

If the last card is taken from the stock while two or more online poker players still have cards, the winner is the player who takes the next trick.