f the others treated of in this volume, it will be
found to be a good game; exciting, entertaining, and well deserving of
more extended popularity than it has lately enjoyed.

Commerce is usually played with the full pack of fifty-two cards, but if
the number of players does not exceed seven the smaller pack of thirty-two
may be used, the game being available for any number of players within the
range of the pack, say seven with the thirty-two cards, and twelve with
the fifty-two.

The cards count in the usual way, except that in reckoning the number
of pips upon them, which is sometimes necessary in the course of play,
the ace counts for eleven, and the court cards for ten each. There is no
particular suit or trumps recognised in the game, the object of the players
being to secure special combinations of the cards, technically termed
(_a_) Tricon, (_b_) Sequence, (_c_) Flush, (_d_) Pair, (_e_) Point, which
range in value in the order given. The holder of the best combination in
each [71] round is the winner, and he takes the pool or whatever other
stake may have been decided upon.

The five combinations just mentioned consist of the following:--

(_a_) _Tricon_.--Three cards of the same denominations as, for example,
three aces, three fives, three knaves, etc.

(_b_) _Sequence_.--Three following cards of the same suit, as, for
instance, ace, two, three; ten, knave, queen; queen, king, ace, etc.
Although the ace may be used at either end to form a sequence, it must not
be so used between a king and a two. King, ace, two, is not, therefore,
permissible as a sequence.

(_c_) _Flush_.--Three cards of the same suit, irrespective of value.

(_d_) _Pair_.--Two cards of the same denomination, the third one being
different.

(_e_) _Point_.--The total number of pips on the three cards, ace reckoning
for eleven, and either of the court cards for ten.

In case of a tie between two or more of the players in any round,
the following rules are observed:--

(_a_) With Tricons, the highest wins, aces being first in this respect;
then kings, queens, etc., down to twos.

(_b_) With Sequences, the highest wins; the ace, king, queen sequence
reckoning as the best, and the three, two, ace sequence as the lowest.

(_c_) With Flushes, the one making the best "point"--as already described
--wins.

(_d_) With Pairs, the highest wins. If two players are alike, then the
holder of the highest third card has the preference.