ations of the game will suggest themselves as you proceed;
but the above will suffice to show the plan and system of Solitaire.

136. Backgammon.

A game of mingled chance and skill, played on a board marked with
points, and generally to be found inside the box draughtboard. The
board has twenty-four points, coloured alternately red and blue; the
implements of play are fifteen draught-men on each side, and the
movements of the men are determined by the throw of two dice; each
player being provided with a dice box and dies. It is an elaborate
game to explain on paper, and would occupy too much space to be given
in detail in this work. Those, however, who desire to be fully
informed as to its various intricacies, may consult "Bohn's Handbook
of Games," or the cheaper and more concise treatise by Captain Crawley.

137. Dominoes.

This game is played by two or four persons, with twenty-eight pieces
of oblong ivory, plain at the back, but on the face divided by a black
line in the middle, and indented with spots, from one to a double-six,
which pieces are a double-blank, ace-black, double-ace, deuce-blank,
deuce-ace, double-deuce, trois-blank, trois-ace, trois-deuce,
double-trois, four-blank, four-ace, four-deuce, four-trois,
double-four, five-blank, five-ace, five-deuce, five-trois, five-four,
double-five, six-blank, six-ace, six-deuce, six-trois, six-four,
six-five, and double-six. Sometimes a double set is played with, of
which double-nine is the highest.

138. Method of Play.

At the commencement of the game the dominoes are well mixed together,
with their faces upon the table. Each player draws one, and if four
play, those who choose the two highest are partners against these who
take the two lowest. Drawing the latter also serves to determine who
is to lay down the first piece--a great advantage. Afterwards each
player takes seven pieces at random. The eldest hand having laid down
one, the next must pair him at either end of the piece he may choose,
according to the number of pips, or the blank in the compartment of
the piece; but whenever any one cannot match the part, either of the
domino last put down, or of that unpaired at the other end of the row,
then he says, "_Go_;" and the next is at liberty to play. Thus they
play alternately, either until one party has played all his pieces,
and thereby won the game, or till the game be _blo