Speculation is a form of "mild domestic

gambling Gambling (also known as betting or gaming) is the wagering of something of Value (economics), value ("the stakes") on a Event (probability theory), random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where instances of strategy (ga ...

game A game is a structured form of play, usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports or games) or art (su ...

" that appeared in the late 18th century and was popular during the 19th century, but then disappeared. Rules first appear in the 1800 English edition of ''Hoyle's Games Improved''.Jones (1800), pp. iv. It is mentioned at times by Jane Austen, in ''

Mansfield Park ''Mansfield Park'' is the third published novel by Jane Austen, first published in 1814 by Thomas Egerton. A second edition was published in 1816 by John Murray, still within Austen's lifetime. The novel did not receive any public reviews unt ...

'' for example, and by

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

Rules

Object

To hold the highest

trump Trump most commonly refers to: * Donald Trump (born 1946), 45th president of the United States (2017–2021) * Trump (card games), any playing card given an ad-hoc high rank Trump may also refer to: Businesses and organizations * Donald J. T ...

card when all cards in play have been revealed.

Cards

A 52-card English pattern pack is used with cards ranking in their natural order,

Ace An ace is a playing card, die or domino with a single pip. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol (a heart, diamond, spade, or club) located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the ca ...

s high.

Set-up

The dealer antes six chips. The other players each ante four. The dealer gives each player three cards, face down. One additional card is placed face up. This card determines the trump suit, and the card belongs to the dealer.

Play

If the trump determining card was an Ace, the dealer wins immediately. Otherwise, the dealer may choose to keep it or to sell it to another player. Play passes to the left. If the trump-determining card was purchased, play passes to the left of the purchaser. Each player in his turn reveals a card. If the card is the highest current trump, he may keep the card or attempt to sell it to the highest bidder. The holder of the current high trump does not take a turn revealing his cards unless all other cards have been revealed. If no trump is revealed in the round, the pot carries over to the next round.

Variations

# Anyone at any time may offer to buy any number of face down cards from another player. Cards purchased in this fashion are placed face down at the bottom of the purchaser's stack. # Anyone who reveals a Jack or a Five adds a chip to the pot. # An extra hand is dealt. If, at the end of the round, the extra hand is shown to hold the high trump card, the pot carries over to the next round.

In literature

The game is mentioned in several books, both from the period and in later historical novels: :''

'' and '' The Watsons'' - by Jane Austen :''

Nicholas Nickleby ''Nicholas Nickleby'' or ''The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby'' (or also ''The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Containing a Faithful Account of the Fortunes, Misfortunes, Uprisings, Downfallings, and Complete Career of the ...

'' - by

:''The Emancipator's Wife'' - by

Barbara Hambly Barbara Hambly (born August 28, 1951) is an American novelist and screenwriter within the genres of fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and historical fiction. She is the author of the bestselling Benjamin January mystery series featuring a fre ...

:'' The Thirteen Gun Salute'' - by

Patrick O'Brian Patrick O'Brian, CBE (12 December 1914 – 2 January 2000), born Richard Patrick Russ, was an English novelist and translator, best known for his Aubrey–Maturin series of sea novels set in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, and cen ...

:''

Throne of Jade ''Throne of Jade'' is the second novel in the ''Temeraire (series), Temeraire'' alternate history/fantasy series written by American author Naomi Novik. It was published by Del Rey Books, Del Rey first in the United States on April 25, 2006, and ...

'' - by

Naomi Novik Naomi Novik (born April 30, 1973) is an American author of speculative fiction. She is known for the ''Temeraire'' series (2006–2016), an alternate history of the Napoleonic Wars involving dragons, and her ''Scholomance'' fantasy series (20 ...

:''

False Colours ''False Colours'' is a Regency romance novel by Georgette Heyer. Set in 1817,See http://www.georgette-heyer.com/chron.html it concerns a young man temporarily impersonating his missing twin brother. Plot summary Kit Fancot returns home to En ...

'', ''

The Quiet Gentleman ''The Quiet Gentleman'' is a Regency novel by Georgette Heyer, published at the start of 1951 by William Heinemann Ltd. Set in the spring of 1816, after the Battle of Waterloo, it is the story of the return home from the wars of the Seventh Earl ...

'' and ''

A Civil Contract ''A Civil Contract'' is a Regency romance novel by Georgette Heyer, first published in 1961. Set in 1814–1815,See http://www.georgette-heyer.com/chron.html it is also a historical novel and follows the general pattern of storytelling of Heyer' ...

'' - by

Georgette Heyer Georgette Heyer (; 16 August 1902 – 4 July 1974) was an English novelist and short-story writer, in both the Regency romance and detective fiction genres. Her writing career began in 1921, when she turned a story for her younger brothe ...

References

Bibliography

* Jones, Charles, ed. (1800). ''Hoyle's Games Improved. London: Ritchie. * ''Hoyle's Games'' (London, 1847)

External links

Parlett's Historic Card Games: Speculation
{{Historical card games 18th-century gambling games British gambling games Banking games