VINGT-ET-UN, ( Er.. twenty one). A card game of French origin, played with a complete pack of cards and by any num ber of players. The cards have no rank, but, instead, have a counting value. all the court cards having an equal value of ten points each, and the ace reckoned as eleven or one at the option of the bolder. The question of who shall be dealer and banker is determined by dealing the pack to the players one at a time, the first player receiving an ace becoming the dealer. The object of the game is to secure as near 21 as possible in the total pip value of the cards held. Each player deposits an equal stake in the pool, after• which two cards are dealt, ono at a time, to each player. The cards all dealt, the dealer first examines his hand, and if he has exactly 21 (called a 'Natural') exposes it at once and claims the pool; or, if they are playing for stakes, the players pay him twice the amount of their stake. Should another player also have a Natural, it is declared a stand-off•. If, after examination, the dealer has not a Natural, each player in turn, beginning with the eldest hand, examines his hand to see how• nearly its total value approaches 21. If he has a Natural he
shows it immediately, and the dealer pays him double the amount staked, or he takes the pool or any other winning which may have been de termined upon beforehand. When none of the players has a Natural, each player in turn may draw another card or trust his fortunes to the two already in hand, which are not shown under any circumstances. If a player desires to draw a card, the dealer gives it to him face upward. and if the pips on the card drawn, added to those already in his hand. brings his total greater than 21, he is crere, and passes over to the dealer his stake. The only skill required in the game is for the player to know what hand to stand on, and what to draw to.
MacAo is another variety of vingt-et-un, in which but one card is dealt to each player ; the ace value is fixed at one, and court cards and tens count nothing. The number to be secured is 9 instead of 21,