Pope. This dressing is, in some
companies, at the individual expense of the dealer, though, the
players usually contribute two stakes each towards the pool. The cards
are then dealt round equally to every player, one turned up for trump,
and about six or eight left in the stock to form stops. For example,
if the ten of spades be turned up, the nine becomes a stop. The four
kings, and the seven of diamonds, are always fixed stops, and the
dealer is the only person permitted, in the course of the game, to
refer occasionally to the stock for information what other cards are
stops in their respective deals. If either ace, king, queen, or knave
happen to be the turned-up-trump, the dealer may take whatever is
deposited on that head; but when Pope be turned up, the dealer is
entitled both to that and the game, besides a stake for every card
dealt to each player. Unless the game be determined by Pope being
turned up, the eldest hand begins by playing out as many cards as
possible; first the stops, then Pope, if he have it, and afterwards
the lowest card of his longest suit--particularly an ace, for that
never can be led through. The other players follow, when they can, in
sequence of the same suit, till a stop occurs. The player having the
stop becomes eldest hand, and leads accordingly; and so on, until some
player parts with all his cards, by which he wins the pool (game), and
becomes entitled besides to a stake for every card not played by the
others, except from any one holding Pope, which excuses him from
paying. If Pope has been played, then the player having held it is not
excused. King and Queen form what is called matrimony; queen and
knave, when in the same hand, make intrigue; but neither these nor
ace, king, queen, knave, or pope, entitle the holder to the stakes
deposited thereon, unless played out; and no claim can be allowed
after the board be dressed for the succeeding deal. In all such cases
the stakes remain for future determination. Pope Joan needs only a
little attention to recollect what stops have been made in the course
of the play. For instance, if a player begin by laying down the eight
of clubs, then the seven in another hand forms a stop, whenever that
suit be led from any lower card; or the holder, when eldest, may
safely lay it down, in order to clear his hand.

[KNOWLEDGE TALKS LOWL