The Penguin Book of Card Games: Everything You Need to Know to Play Over 250 Games (47 page)

able to fol ow suit, in which case the highest heart wins the trick

and the Joker. It counts 5 against.

Omnibus Hearts

Basic Hearts, except that J (or T) reduces the penalty score of the

player who captures it by 10 points. Taking al 15 counters scores

36 for a grand slam; taking al but J scores 26 for a smal slam.

Pink Lady

Basic Hearts, except that both Q and Q count 13 against.

Spot Hearts

The penalty value of each heart is that of its denomination,

counting 2 to 10 at face value, J-Q-K 10 each, Ace 11, total 95, or

108 if Q is also a penalty.

Widow Hearts

Any form of Hearts in which a few undealt cards are left face down

and go to the winner of the last trick – or, in Heartset e, the first.

Related to Hearts…

Polignac

(3-6p, 32c) A French game, probably commemorating Prince

Auguste de Polignac, head of the last Bourbon ministry in the

1820s, and not the Mme de Polignac who lost a fortune at cards

under Louis XVI. Cards rank KQJAT987 in each suit, but omit the

two black Sevens if the number of players is other than four. Deal

them around evenly in batches of two or three. The aim is to avoid

capturing Jacks, and especial y J, known as Polignac. Eldest leads.

Players must fol ow suit if possible, otherwise may play any card.

The trick is taken by the highest card of the suit led, and the winner

of each trick leads to the next. There are no trumps. Score 2

penalties for taking Polignac, and 1 for each other Jack. The first to

reach 10 penalties is guil otined. Or, at least, loses.

Variant 1 A bid of capot made before the first lead is an

undertaking to win every trick. If successful, al but the bidder score

5 penalties; if not, it is 5 to the bidder.

Variant 2 If you prefer to rank cards AKQJT987, it is Queens that

count 1 against, with 2 for the Q.

Slobberhannes

(3-6p, 32c), or ‘Slippery Jack’ (Hannes = Johannes = John =

Jack), is the German equivalent of Polignac. Which came first is a

moot point. Cards rank KQJAT987 in each suit, but omit the two

moot point. Cards rank KQJAT987 in each suit, but omit the two