NPPF Comm3: Misc notes (5)

[Otto]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jasper Fidget" <fakename at verizon.net>
To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2003 6:46 PM
Subject: NPPF Comm3: Misc notes (5)

> p. 122
> "under an enclosed poplar two soldiers on a stone bench were playing
> lansquenet."
>
> "A gambling card-game of German origin" (OED), but also: "a member of a
> class of mercenary soldiers in the German and other Continental armies in
> the 16th and 17th cents" (OED), so these soldiers may also have been
> playing soldier.
>
> Jasper Fidget

Landsknecht

This is a game for two or more players. One player must act as the
Banker/Dealer and must be able to cover all bets. Normally the Dealer passes
on the deal when the game is over, but a Dealer can start the game under the
agreement that he will remain the Dealer throughout. As in most wagering
game, players may agree to use credit if someone runs out of cash. Any deck
will do, but its probably best with a standard 52 card deck.

All players ante some agreed to amount into the game.

DEAL:
The Dealer deals the two "Hand Cards" face up on the table. One card is
dealt to himself face up, and one "Réjoussance" card is then dealt face up
for all the players or each player receives his own Réjoussance card
(variation of the game). If any of these cards are the same face value, then
the Dealer wins the antes in the pot and a new game is started. If you are
playing the variation where each player has his own Réjoussance card, then
the players cards may match each other, but not the Hand cards.

WAGER:
The players then wager on the Réjoussance card for the group, or their own
card if playing that variation.

PLAY:
One at a time, the Dealer draws a card from the top of the deck.

- Cards that match the Hand Cards are laid beside them. If each Hand card is
matched, then the hand is over. All bets are returned and cards are shuffled
and redealt by the Dealer (the game is not over).

- Cards that have no match are laid beside the Réjoussance card and the
players can wager on those cards as well.

- If a card matches the Réjoussance card or one of the subsequent cards, the
Dealer wins all bets laid on the particular card. Whenever the Dealer wins a
bet, the Réjoussance card or subsequent card is removed from play.

- If a Card matches the Dealers card, the dealer loses, matches all bets on
the table and the game is over.

The game is also over if all the wagers have been lost or the cards are all
played.

According to The Merry Gamester, by Walter Nelson, the first mention of this
game was in 1534.