ECARTE, a game at cards, probably first played early in the present century in Paris, though it appears to have grown out of an old game called la triomphe, or French ruff. It is usually played by two persons, though sometimes by three, the third player taking the place of the loser in the first game, and the pool not being taken except by the winner of two games in succession. In French ecarte, bystanders are permitted to advise, and the player losing leaves the table, his adviser taking his place. If, however, the loser is playing la ehouette (i.e., taking all bets offered), he need not retire on losing. The small cards are removed from a pack, and the player cutting highest deals. He gives five cards, by two and three at a time, to his opponent and himself, and turns up the eleventh card for trumps. The trump card, if a king, counts one for the dealer. His adversary, if satisfied with his hand, plays; if not satisfied, proposes, and the dealer can accept or refuse. Should he accept, each may discard, face downward, as manycards as he may choose, receiving fresh ones from the cards yet undealt, these being given first to the non-dealer, till his hand is complete. A second proposal and a third may be
made, and so on till the player is satisfied; but if the dealer refuse, the hand must be played without discarding. The king of trumps scores one if in either hand. The non dealer being satisfied with 'his hand, leads; the dealer follows; and the trick is taken by the highest card, or the trump. The king is the highest. The winner of a trick leads to the next. The second player must follow suit, and must win the trick if he can. The game is scored by the king, as explained, and the majority of tricks. Three tricks score one for the point; all five tricks won by one player score two for the vole. When the non-dealer does not propose, or his proposal is refused, and he fails to gain three tricks, the dealer scores two, but no more even though he win the vole. The game is five up.