The dealer deals seven cards, face downwards, to each player. The next card (the widow) is placed face upwards in the centre of the table, and the rest of the pack (the stock) is placed face downwards on the poker table

THE PLAY

In turn, and beginning with the player on the left of the dealer, each player covers the widow either with a card of the same rank, of the same suit, or with an Ace, drawn from his hand. If he has no card in his hand to comply with the rule he draws a card from the stock and continues to draw one until he draws a card that permits him to cover the widow.

The card that covers the widow then becomes the widow for the next player, and so on, round the table in a clockwise direction.

When the stock is exhausted, the players play out the cards in their hands, and a player who cannot cover the widow misses his turn.

The hand comes to an end when a player has exhausted the cards in his hand. The remaining players expose their cards, which are scored against them, an Ace counting 15 points, a court card 10 points, and all other cards their pip value.

The deal passes round the table in a clockwise direction, and the game comes to an end when every player has dealt an equal number of times, by arrangement before the game begins.

E dealt the hands illustrated. A, therefore, leads first, and the play is:

A	B	C	D	E
♣ 6	♣ 2	♦ 2	♦ K	♠ A

As an Ace counts 15 points against a player who is left with it, E plays ♠ A rather tan one of the diamonds.

♠ 10

♠ 9

♠ J

♠ 8

As E has no spade no 8 and no Ace in his hand, he must draw from the stock, and continue to do so until he draws a playable playing card.

It can be seen that E was foolish to play his Ace first round. As no opponent can go out in less than seven rounds, E would have been wise to keep his Ace for six rounds at least. He would not then have found himself in such a bad position on the second round. Usually, an Ace should not be played if another choice is available.

Games for Five or More Players