We have already mentioned that our reason for adopting the above title is to distinguish this method of playing the game of Snip-Snap-Snorum from the one just described, and it will be evident to those who study the two systems that we are quite justified in introducing a distinctive name for the one we are now about to deal with, which, as we have said, has little or nothing—­beyond former title and use of similar terms—­in common with the other.

The first dealer having been settled, and the pack shuffled, the cards are dealt out one at a time until the pack is exhausted. The object of the players is to get rid of their cards as speedily as possible, the one first out winning a coin or counter from each of the other players for every card remaining in their hands. The player on the dealer’s left-hand side has to play first, and he leads whichever card he chooses, placing it face upwards on the table in front of him, and saying “Snip”; the holder of the next highest card of the same suit (ace counting as lowest and king as highest) has to follow on, and says “Snap”; then the three next highest cards are played, the holders of them saying “Snorum,” “Hicockalorum” and “Jig” respectively, when playing them. The one who plays Jig has the next lead, and may follow on with whichever card he chooses. Ifeither of the cards played is a stop,—­that is to say, the succeeding card has been played out, or it is a king,—­then the player says “Jig” after announcing what card he plays, as, for [96] instance, “Snip-Jig,” “Snap-Jig,” and so on. The player of the stop has to lead the next card.

It will thus be seen that the object of the players should be to lead such cards as will bring the Jig into their own hand again whenever possible, as then another card has to be led, and a greater chance exists of clearing the hand. Todo this successfully, it is necessary to remember what cards are played during the progress of the game, so as to know which are stops, and then, if the stops are in hand, such cards should be played as would lead up to them. Itwill be well to bear in mind the following, which gives a list of the “Jigs” to the several cards of the pack:—

Similarly, if the two, three, or four is a stop, the ace, two or three may be played so as to lead up to them and thus secure the Jig.

When one of the party has exhausted his cards, he says “Out,” and then receives a coin or counter from each player for every card they have left, and he also wins the amount in the pool if one has been formed. This is possible in many ways: either by each player contributing to it equally, by calling upon the dealer to pay in, or by the infliction of fines or penalties for incorrect calls, etc.

It is hardly necessary to give further details of the method of playing the hands, the game being so similar to Pope Joan, Spin, and Newmarket, which are fully described elsewhere. Players will do well to refer to those games for further information in regard to this variation of Snip-Snap-Snorum. [97]