COMMERCE  , the name of a card-

game . Any number can play with an ordinary pack . There are several variations of the game, but the following is a common one . Each player receives three cards, and three more are turned up as a " pool." The first player may exchange one or two of his cards for one or two of the exposed cards, putting his own, face upwards, in their place . His object is to " make his hand " (see below), but if he changes all three cards at once he cannot change again . The next player can do likewise, and so on . Usually there are as many rounds as there are players, and a fresh card is added to the pool at the beginning of each . If a player passes once he cannot ex-change afterwards . When the rounds are finished the hands are shown, the holder of the best either receiving a stake from 19th century . all the others, or, supposing each has started with three " lives," taking one life from the lowest . The hands, in order of merit, are: (i.) Tricon—three similar cards, three aces ranking above three kings, and so on . (ii.) Sequence—three cards of the same suit in consecutive order; the highest sequence is the best .

(iii.) Flush—three cards of the same suit, the highest " point " wins, i.e. the highest number of pips,

ace counting eleven and court-cards ten . (iv.) Pair—two similar cards, the highest pair winning . (v.) Point—the largest number of pips winning, as in " flush," but there is no restriction as to suit . Sometimes " pair " and " point " are not recognized . A popular variation of Commerce is Pounce Commerce . In this, if a player has already three similar cards, e.g. three nines, and the fourth nine comes into the pool, he says " Pounce!" and takes it, thus obtaining a hand of four, which is higher than any hand of three: whenever a pounce occurs, a new card is turned up from the pack .