Russian Bank
Russian Bank Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Rank of Cards
King is high and Ace is low both in cutting and in play.
Object of the Game
To play and dispose of all of one's cards.
The Deal
Each player shuffles his pack and exchanges it with his opponent.
The Layout
Each player places in a perpendicular column at his right hand, face upwards, four cards drawn from top of his face-down pack. These two columns are known as the Tableaux, and the space between them as the Center. He then counts off thirteen cards, face downwards, and places them in a pile at the right of his Tableau; this pile is known as the Hassock. The remainder of the pack is placed face downward immediately in front of the player and is known as the Stock.
Layout diagrams
[Diagram, printed caption: "Tableaux as Dealt"]
[Diagram, printed caption: "First Players Rearrangement of Tableaux Before Playing" (from Hassock or Stock)]
Cutting for First Play
Each player cuts his Stock, low winning. Ties re-cut.
The Play
Before turning any cards of the Hassock or the Stock the player makes as many plays as possible by removing any Aces from the Tableaux to the Center and by building thereon in ascending sequence in suit, to Kings, with available cards from the Tableaux, and by building descending sequence, in alternate suit, that is, red on black or vice versa, on other cards in the Tableaux.
The top card of the Hassock is then turned and used to build up on Ace foundations, or down on the Tableaux cards, or to refill vacant spaces in the Tableaux, and this continues so long as any cards are available. When no more cards are available, the top card of the Hassock is placed face upwards upon it.
The top card of the Stock is then turned and plays as above mentioned are made. When a card from the Stock becomes unavailable it is placed face upwards on the right of the Stock. This pile is known as the Mat.
Plays may also be made on opponent's Hassock or Mat, building either up or down, in suit, and should be made as often as possible, as the greater number of cards of which he has to dispose, the less chance he has of winning.
It is occasionally, however, more advantageous to play on the Tableaux than on opponent's Hassock or Mat.
All plays are discretionary except on the Center. When a player fails to make such first play his opponent may call Stop, whereupon the player is debarred from further play. The misplayed card, if it has left the player's hand, remains as played; if it has not been relinquished, it must be replaced face-up on the Mat, if taken from the Stock; or on the Hassock, if taken from it. Stop should not be called until the player shows plainly an intention to play elsewhere than on the Center.
When all available plays have been made, the opponent plays the top card of his Hassock or his Stock and proceeds as described for the first player.
If during the play from the Stock the exposed card on the Hassock becomes available, it may be played and the top card of the Hassock turned up and also used if available.
When the Stock is exhausted, the Mat is turned over and becomes again the Stock and a new Mat is formed. The last card in the Stock, if unavailable, must be left face upward on the Mat, so as to give opponent an opportunity to play upon it; if available, the Mat is again turned and the play proceeds as before.
When the player has but one card remaining, it must remain face upward until he has an opportunity to play it.
When the play becomes blocked and neither player is able to dispose of all his cards, no score can be made; it is a draw game and the cards should be re-shuffled and re-dealt.
When a player succeeds in disposing of all his cards he wins the game and his opponent pays two points for each card remaining on the Hassock and one point for each card remaining on the Stock and Mat, or in similar ratio as may be mutually arranged.
Laws
(A) Aces are played on Center as they appear in the play.
(B) Plays to Center in ascending sequence in suit must take precedence over all others; a player failing to make first such play may be Stopped by his opponent.
(C) Providing a sufficient number of spaces exist, piles of two or more cards in the Tableaux may be re-arranged, in descending sequence in alternate suits.
(D) Exposed cards on the Hassock or the Stock or cards in the Tableaux may be played at any opportunity; those on the Mat cannot be used at any time.
(E) While a card turned face-up from the Stock remains in the player's hand or is laid face-up on the top of the Stock, the player is still in order and may take a reasonable time studying the exposed cards and available moves and making the play, but the instant this card is laid face-up on the Mat his turn or play is finished and his opponent may take advantage of any moves or plays that the former has overlooked.
(F) Plays from the Center to the Tableaux or elsewhere cannot be made.
Notes
Spaces in the Tableaux are valuable as they enable a player to dispose of cards that will not play elsewhere. Spaces are obtained by removing cards to one of next higher denomination and opposite color.
It is advantageous to dispose of the Hassock pile as soon as possible; therefore, spaces in the Tableaux should be filled from the Hassock rather than from the Stock, but this is not obligatory.
When a player overlooks an opportunity to gain a space in the Tableaux there is no penalty attached other than his opponent may take advantage of the oversight when it becomes his turn to play.
Available Cards. Those which are not "Covered" or "Blocked" by other cards; that is, not forbidden to be used by the particular rules of the game.
Sequence. The regular succession of ascending from Ace to King or descending from King to Ace.
Variation
The game may also be played by building only in suits on the Tableaux as well as on the Center. This makes a more difficult and, in the opinion of many players, a more enjoyable game.