Glossary
BANK
The collection of money after dispensing 4-$25's, 4-$100's and 4-$500's to each player, used to receive payments from the losers or pay winners of each hand. The bank is never involved in the payment of side bets (Challenges and Doubles).
BANKER
The player designated to distribute the money to begin the game and to handle all bank transactions.
CHALLENGE
The call by any player (the dealer can only challenge on his last deal) that effectively says, "I have as good or better hand than you," and results in a side bet between the challenger and the player challenged for the difference of their scores. If there is no difference, the bet is a "push" (nobody wins/loses). Normally the player to the left of the dealer starts the challenge calls, but on the last deal for each dealer, the dealer starts.
DEALER
The player who deals the cards and names the hand. He plays first to start each hand except FanTan where, if he has no start card, he begins the play with a pass. To begin the game, the dealer is determined by a draw of the cards. Player drawing highest card is the first dealer, and then the deal moves clockwise.
DOUBLE
A call which can be made by a player who has been challenged. It effectively says to the challenger, "You have made a mistake, and I am doubling the money involved in your challenge."
HAND
The completion of one deal and play of the cards. The particular holding of any player is referred to as his "hand." The number of hands played in a regular game is 4 times the number of players.
HAND SELECTION
The hand designation is considered unalterable once the token is released in the middle of the table.
LAST CARD
The declaration by a player in FanTan when first holding only one card. The call must be made before the next play (which includes a pass) or that player must pay $10 to each of the other players.
NO TRUMP
The play of the hand when all four suits have equal value. The highest card played of the suit led always wins the trick.
OVER-TRUMP
The playing of a higher trump card than an opponent on a trick of which a non-trump card was led.
PASS
Call made when a player has finished his turn during the challenging process or when he is unable to play any of his cards in FanTan.
RENEGE
The failure to play a card of the suit led when one holds that suit, or passing (in FanTan) when able to play. One must always play a card of the suit led if he holds one. If he doesn't have a card in the suit led, then he can ruff or slough to improve his holding. The penalty for reneging is severe and results in a $100 fine to be paid to the discoverer and forfeiture of all gain beyond the point of the renege. No fine is imposed if the offender calls his error before anyone else discovers it. However, all gain beyond the point of the renege is still lost.
RUFF
The play of a trump card on a trick where a non-trump card was led and the person trumping has no cards in that suit.
SLOUGH
The play of any non-trump card to a trick when a player holds no cards in the suit led. Sloughing is a method of hand improvement that becomes more prevalent as the number of players increases.
SUIT PREFERENCE
The designation of a suit to be trump. This call is only made when playing Tricks.
TRICK
The round of play of one card by each player. There are as many tricks in a hand as cards dealt to each player.
TRUMP
Any card in a suit designated by the dealer to be higher ranking than the other three suits. This special trump power can only be utilized when a player has no cards in the suit led. In this instance, instead of sloughing, he can play any trump card, and if not over-trumped by another player, he wins the trick (even if an ace is played and he trumps it with the lowly 2). Trumps are powerful cards! A trump suit can be designated only when playing Tricks.