ERY OR MISERE_.

This is the most common variation, and is the antithesis of Napoleon,
inasmuch as the caller must not make a single trick. The caller leads
off in the ordinary way--the suit led being trumps, as usual, unless it
is agreed, as is sometimes done, that there shall be no trumps in this
variation. The caller of misere must always follow suit, if he can, but
is not obliged to trump if he has none of the suit led. He must, however,
play the cards so as to avoid taking a trick. Should he be compelled to
win one of the tricks, or should his original lead remain unheaded by any
of the other players, then he fails in his declaration, and has to pay, but
if he avoids making a trick, the other players have to pay him. The usual
stake for "misery," either for winner or loser, is three; but any player
declaring he can make three tricks takes precedence, and plays accordingly.

_BUYING CARDS_.

After the cards have been distributed, _but before any declaration has
been made_, the dealer asks each player in turn, beginning with the player
on his left, whether he wishes to buy a card or cards. The player wishing
to purchase must first throw away the cards he desires to eject, [13] face
downwards, and must place in the pool the value of one trick for each card
he desires to receive from the dealer. The card or cards must be taken
from the top of the pack, and handed unexposed to the player.

_SPARE HAND_.

An extra hand is dealt, which each player in turn has the option of adding
to his own hand, selecting from the ten cards thus held five with which to
play, but he must then stand for Nap, and, if there is a pool or kitty, he
must put therein the value of two tricks if he fails to score, in addition
to paying each of the players the ordinary stake on losing five tricks.

_DOUBLE HEADER_.

If each player "passes," then the stakes for the next deal are doubled,
and remain so until the person declaring has won. In cases where this
variation is decided upon, it is usual to agree that the lowest call be
"three," so that the double header occurs at frequent intervals.

_WELLINGTON_.

If a player calls Napoleon, and another player on his left considers he can
also make five tricks, he may call "Wellington," in which case the stakes
are doubled, the caller winning 20 or losing 10. As this rule, however,
is regarded with disfavour by some, in consequence of its raising the limit
of a loss on any