IV

SQUARES  (WITH ONE WHIST PACK)

DEAL four cards, placing them in a square, and, if there are not two or more consecutive ones of the same suit, cover them with four more cards and with further sets of four, until a sequence of at least two of the same suit is found exposed. You then take up that sequence and, putting them together with the lowest of the sequence on top and exposed, make it the first constituent of a second square, which you construct beside the first, by dealing three more cards to complete it. Now, if a sequence is again exposed, either among the cards of the second square, or by a combination of cards in both squares, you take up the sequence as before, and with it start the formation of a third and last square, which you place beside the second, making a row of three squares.

You have now twelve exposed cards, and may build from one to another of these, in downward sequences of the same suit, until no more moves can be made. Should a space in any of the squares be made, you may fill it from the pack, or by taking any exposed card from another heap in the same square. When building comes to a standstill you return to the first square and cover it with four fresh cards. Some fresh building may now be possible; but when it ends, and you are again blocked, you go to the second square and cover it as you did the first, with four more cards. At the next block, you deal four cards on the third square, and at the next you begin again on the first, and so on until the pack is exhausted. Note that sequences may be lifted bodily in the course of building, but that a vacant space may be only filled with one card at a time. If the game is successful, one square will be left at the end, composed of four packets, each containing the complete sequence of one suit, though it does not matter at what card the sequence begins. Sometimes four packets are formed in such a way that under one sequence is buried the crowning portion of another sequence, in which case the game is not won.

EXAMPLE.

The pack is exhausted. The hearts are easily finished, as a knave lies at the bottom of the 9 sequence. These three cards will go on the queen, and the 8 crowns the packet. The 5 of spades is a single card which completes the spades when placed on the 6. Under the queen of diamonds lie the king and ace, and that sequence can go on the 2, which heads a long sequence with the 9 at the bottom, so that the whole heap goes on the 10. There remain but the clubs. The most obvious thing is to put the 6 on the 7, and the 3 on the 4, which has the 5 under it. The 3, 4, 5 can then be moved on to the 6, completing the sequence. But when this has been done, you discover that the knave of diamonds is underneath the club packet; so that you are "chockered," as it is not enough to have your four packets, but each must stand clear and have its full complement of cards.