w ■£'r GV 1017 .B3 S7 Copy 1 7 7 ijLtU^L^^ ^^^'<'^'"' '^ tfittv^ AND Tim Ptei® / K- ii^. Hi^^J^z:^^^ (.'-\irV lilted, 1878. V 'V^. r^^- ^ Bassino. The Game of Bassino, invented by a gen- tleman of culture to while away the tedium of hours of enforced idleness, was found to accomplish that agreeable duty so well, that he deemed it best to let the public share in the pleasure it has aflbrded him ; and in pur- suance of that design he has secured Letters Patent for it, and it is now presented to the public in perfected form. Two distinct yet related games can be played upon the Bassino Board, — ^the Game of Bassino, with twelve men, or the Game of Bowls, (Ten Pins,) with ten men, — by simply making a slight change, as indicated upon the Table, in the arrangement of the men. As the Game of Bowls is generally well under- stood, but few dii'ections are necessary to be given ; but the Game of Bassino, being ncAV, 6 requires to be explained somewhat elabo- rately. The Bassino Board has a table, properly marked, and a cushioned inclined plane. The table is at the end of the board where the player sits, and is marked with triangularly placed dots, on which the men are arranged. At the extreme end of the board, bett\^een two pockets, but connected wilih the table' by a bridge, is a raised triangular table, called the Castle, on which the King stands, w^hile Bas- sixp stands upon the bridge, and Little Bas- siNO is placed at the point of the triangle far- thest from the player. The remaining' points, or dots, upon the main triangle are occupied by the table men, teix in number. The men are thus properly arranged for playing Bassino. (The position of the men, or pins, being im- mediately before the player, enables him to have perfect command of his game; without requiring the assistance of another person to set up his men, as in other similar games, and enables him to produce effects not possible where no returning ball forms the desirable feature of the shot. For playing ''solitaire^' there v^ nothing that can equal it. If an an- tagonist is not to be obtained, you can play alone with almost equal pleasure.) There are three Balls used, and three shots constitute a play, or turn. The Balls, placed upon the pads on either side of the table, whence they must always be started, are driven up the inclined plane by a Mace, and while the balls must be sent up to the top cushion, the Mace must not be pushed above the line across the inclined plane. For the convenience of players, there is a Paper Block furnished, on the sheets of which are suitable checks and spaces mled off for wiiting the initials of the players and scoring the shots. The larger checks are for marking the real counts made, — the smaller for noting "Spares," &c. llrtrttoMi FOR PLAYING, AND TERMS USED IN, THE GAME OF BASSINO. This game may be played by one person, or by two or three ; or four may make it a partner game. The rules, given further mi, should be closely adhere^d to. First see that your board stands even, and that your men are accurately placed. Hold your mace firmly, but not with a rigid grip, and drive the ball fairly, and with considera- ble force, against the upper end cushion, that its speed in returning may be somew^hat accel- erated. Avoid hitting the men wdth your mace, and do not attempt to catch a returning ball with the mace. A little practice will give you command of the angles, and by using them you will make the most effective shots. Ten plays constitute a game. Each player is entitled to use three balls in a j^lay ; but the 9 game is much shortened by making double counts, in playing spares, as directed further on. Always score as soon as your play, or count, is determined. Marks and Scores. — Mark your spares and strikes in small space upon the Book Block, and score your play, when completed, in the larger checks. I31PERFECT Shot. — Where the first ball is not driven to the cushion at the top of the in- clined plane. This shot may be withdrawn — and the men must be reset. Foul. — All imperfect shots, after the first. These must be counted as shots made in the play, but the men knocked down must be reset, and not counted in the play. Perfect Shot. — Where all the proper con- ditions are observed. Full. — Where all the table men are over- thrown. The score is 10. Bassino Full. — When you also knock down the Bassino. The score is 15. King Full. — When you also get the King. The score is 25. (Fulls are so counted when all three of the balls are used in the play, and the table men and B., or both B. and K. are overthrown. 10 Spare. — Where all the table men are over- thrown with first two balls. Your count is 10 ; but do not score it. Mark a cross (x) in the space above the check, and when you play your next turn, add the number got with your first ball to the 10, and then score in the check corresponding to the former play, but count the number got with this shot in the play you are now making. Or, if you desire, you may use the spare ball in trying to get Bassino, or the King, or both. If you get Bas- sino, your score is 15 ; if you get the King, score 20, or score 25 if you get both. This . uses up your spare. Bassino Spare. — To get Bassino also. — Count the Bassino as 5, making 15 in all, and play your spare as before directed. Or you may use your spare in trying to get a King Shot ; but whether you succeed or not, your spare is no longer available. King Spare. — To get the King also. Your number is now 25, and to that add what you make with your spare, and score as before. Strike. — Where all the table men are over- thrown with the first ball. Your count is 10, and you have two spares, or two extra shots, which use as before directed ; using both, if you desire, for Bassino and the King. If you get Bassino with the first ball you may mark 11 , Bx, or you may usq the spare for a King Shot, and then score. Bassixo Strike. — To get Bassino, also, with first ball. Yom* mark should be Bxx, or you may use the two spares for a King Shot. King Strike. — To get the King, also, with first ball. Your count for the shot is 25, but your mark should be Kxx. You cannot now try for a King Shot, for the King is over- thrown, and your score must be determined by the first two shots in the next play. King Shot. — To use your Bassino Spare, or one or both your Bassino Strike balls and overthrow the King. A King Shot counts 30 ; but in order to make it fairly, you must first remove all men and balls from the pockets. — This shot is somewhat difficult to make, but a good player will succeed twice in three shots. It is recommended always to try the angles for this shot. Forfeit. — When you fail to overthi-ow the Little Bassino. In this event you count no- thing in the play, but must cany forward the amount of last real score to the check coitcs- ponding to yom- play. Rebate. — To miss Little Bassino, and make a Muff in one play. You then lose all the ta- ble men you have got, which, vdth. 5 for Bas sino, or 10 for the King, or io for both, if 12 either or both have been overthrown, must be deducted from your previous sco]*e, or made good as the game progresses, if your pre- vious score is not sufficient. Muff. — A perfect shot that fails to count. SCORING. It seems impossible that, with the foregoing- directions, a person should not understand sco- ring the game of Bassino ; but to make it as plain as possible we subjoin a synopsis of a series of plays, in which all the shots possi- ble are supposed to be made: — First Play — Shot 3 balls ; got 5 men, and made a muff, — scored 5. Second- — 2 balls ; 10 table pins — marked a spare (x). Third— First ball 8 table men ; added 8 to the 10 got with first twn balls of second play, making that play 18, to which I added 5 got in first play, and scored 23 in second' check. Second ball, got two remaining table men and Bassino. Marked Bx in space above third check. Fourth — First ball, got Bassino strike, (15) ; scored 38 in third check, and still had 15 and 13 two spares toward fourth piay. Used one spare to get a King shot ; missed. Now marked Bx in fomlh s]>ace. Fifth— First ball King strike. Scored (25, 15 and 38)~78 in fourth check, marked Kxx in fifth check. Sixth — First two balls, missed little Bassi- uo but got all the others, scored 102 in fifth check ; made a muif with thu'd ball. Lost 24 ; scored 78 in sixth check Seventh^ — Bassino strike. Used first spare for King shot and got it. Shot third ball ; got 10 ; scored 133. (After a King Shot, a re- maining spare may be immediately played, and the score completed, or the spare may be car- ried as Bx to next sj^ace.) Eighth — King strike. Scored 158 in sev- enth check, and marked Kxx in eighth space. Ninth — First ball, strike ; second, got Bassi- no. Now scored 173 in eighth check, and made a King shot. Scored 218 in ninth check. Tenth — Shot all three balls, but missed Lit tie Bassino. Camed 218 to tenth check. The foregoing plays are subject to almost unlimited variations. We might go on and 14 fill page after page with examples ; but enough have probably been recorded to give the learn- er a clear idea of the method. After scoring a few games, he will find it an easy thing to keep his count correct. Always remember that spares, or strikes count upon the play you have made, for this reason : you were entitled to the product of THREE shots in that play ; and that they also invariably count forward to an equal amount. This you mil more clearly understand as you progress, and you will also learn that, by this method of counting, it is possible to score 750 as the product of only twelve shots ; and that you could not get more if you made thirty dis- tinct shots. You will also learn that it is pos- sible for you to be minus several hundi'ed at the close of a game. It is this seeming intri- cacy, or mvolvedness in marking and scoring the plays that makes the Game of Bassino so intensely interesting. This is also excellent training for the mind of the young, making them quick and sharp in difficult computa- tions. For Bassino educates, in a certain de- gree, beneficially, those w^ho play it. 15 As an amusement, for one or many, the Game of Bassino stand pre-eminent above all others. Xo fireside, no parlor, no situation can be dull where it is being played. It at- tracts the young, and by its intense excitement keeps them from seeking the hmtful pleasures away from home. Men of business can un- bend at the Bassino board, and find healthful relaxation in the play, and be all the sharper therefor when they again take up the burden of life's cares. 16 Bowls. Many persons may desire to play a gatne less difficult to score than Bassino. For these the Bassiiio Board can be used in the game of Bowls, or Ten Pins, by simply leaving off the Bassino and King. The method of playing, marking and scoring is the same as on the common Bowling Alleys, except that the men are overthrown with returning balls, — one of the^ chief merits of this arrangement of the game. The same rules for making the shots govern in this game as in Bassino. It is not necessary that we describe the Game of Ten Pins ; it is so common that every person can easily become familiar with it. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 029 712 923 5