How to Play Trente et Quarante
Description
A French casino banking game from the 17th century. Two rows of cards are dealt to totals between 31 and 40 — bet on which row wins. Simple odds, elegant format.
Objective
Bet on which of two dealt rows ends up closest to 31.
Setup
Any number of players betting against the house, using several decks shuffled together.
Aces count as 1, number cards at face value, and face cards as 10.
Rules
Before dealing, place a bet on Red, Black, Colour, or Inverse.
The dealer lays out a Black row and a Red row, one card at a time, dealing each row until its total passes 30.
Whichever row ends closest to 31 without going too far past it wins.
Colour bets pay out if the first card of the winning row matches that row's own color; Inverse bets pay out if it doesn't.
Winning
Red and Black bets pay out if that row wins.
A tie at 31 in both rows is a special case, typically splitting the stake rather than resolving cleanly either way.