"Quatorzes" and "trios" are the next calls. "Quatorzes" are composed of four aces, four kings, four queens, four knaves, or four tens, in order of value ; "trios" of three of any of these. A quatorze, if good, reckons 14; a trio, if good, reckons three; one that is good establishes any smaller quatorzes or trios in his hand.
When the elder hand has done calling he leads a card. Before playing to this card, the younger hand reckons all that he has good, stating of what cards his claims are composed, or showing the cards claimed for. The elder hand leads any card he pleases: the younger plays to it. The younger hand must follow suit if able; otherwise he may play any card he thinks fit. It is not compulsory to win the trick. The leader counts one for each card led, whether it wins the trick or not. If the second player wins the trick he also counts one. The winner of the last trick counts an additional one for the last card. The tricks are left face up wards in front of the player who wins them. They may be exam ined by either player.
If each player wins six tricks the cards are "divided," and there is no further score. If one player wins more than six tricks he wins "the cards," and adds ten to his score. If one player wins every trick, he wins a capot, and scores 4o for the cards, instead of ten.
During the play of the hand, a player is entitled to be informed as to any cards his adversary holds which he has reckoned as good, or has declared to be equal. A player may require his ad versary to exhibit any such cards. But if a player, having played three cards of a sixieme, declared as a quint, is asked how many he has left, he need only reply "Two." During the progress of the hand each player repeats aloud the amount of his score for the time being. At the end of the hand the points scored are recorded by each player. If there is any difference in the written scores, a player's score of his own hand is deemed to be the correct one.
Pique.—If the elder hand scores, in hand and play, 3o or more, before the younger hand counts anything in that deal, he gains a pique, for which he scores 3o.
Repique.—If a player scores in hand alone 3o or more before his adversary reckons anything, he gains a repique, for which he adds 6o to his score. Equalities do not prevent piques or repiques. A player who has an equal point or sequence scores nothing for it. Therefore if, notwithstanding the equality, a player makes 3o, in hand and play, or in hand, by scores which reckon in order be fore anything his adversary can count, he gains a pique or a re pique.
The order in which the scores accrue is of importance. For the sake of convenience, the elder hand finishes his reckoning before the younger begins. The scores, however, whether made by the elder or younger hand are recordable in the following order : carte blanche; (2) point; (3) sequences; (4) quatorzes and trios; (5) points made in play; (6) the cards. This will often affect a pique or repique. Thus, a pique can only be made by the elder hand, as the one he reckons in play when he leads his first card counts before points subsequently made in play by the younger hand. The younger, therefore, cannot make 3o in hand and play before the elder scores one. But the one reckoned by the elder hand when he leads his first card does not prevent his being re piqued, because scores made in hand have precedence of points made in play. The elder leads his first card and counts for it be fore the younger reckons, simply as a convenient way of stating that he has nothing in hand which is good. Again, say A has a quint (good), a tierce, and a quatorze (good). He scores 32 in hand alone; but, if his point is not good, he does not gain a re pique, because the younger hand's point is recordable in order be fore the sequences and quatorze. Carte blanche, taking precedence of all other scores, saves piques and repiques. It also counts towards piques and repiques. A capot does not count towards a pique, as the capot is not made in play. It is added after the play of the hand is over. A player who reckons nothing that hand as a penalty is not piqued or repiqued if he holds any cards which, but for the penalty, would have reckoned before his adversary reached 3o. The game most commonly played now ("short game") con sists of 4 hands only, the last and first being doubled, and 'co points added for the game.
See "Cavendish," The Laws of Piquet and of Rubicon Piquet, adopted by the Portland Club, with a Treatise on the Game (1882), "Cavendish," Guide to Piquet (1898) ; R. F. Foster, Hoyle's Games (1928) . (W. DA.)