M ATE of points is the winner of the match and the measure of his

by G. Capellen victory is the difference between the two total scores.

slightly modified by Jaffer Batica
Foreplaceing and Overmate. “Foreplacing” of cards is an
Number of Players. Two important part of the game, but I have postponed introducing it
The Deck. The deck consists of 20 cards in four suits. KING is until the beginner has had a chance to familiarize himself with
the highest card and is followed by QUEEN, ROOK, the basic play. Advanced players can make use of foreplacing
BISHOP, and KNIGHT (abbr. “N”) in order of rank. to reap the largest possible score from a particular hand.
PENTAGONS form the highest suit, followed by SQUARES, Foreplacing allows the players, at the start of each
TRIANGLES, and CIRCLES. In the “Single Mate” deck, individual game, to remove a card from their hand and place it
there is one each of the five ranks. In the optional “Double face down on the table before them. The foreplaced card,
Mate” deck, the BISHOPS are removed and replaced by the whose identity is not revealed, does not enter into the play of
extra card of that suit ( N , R , Q , and K ). See reference that individual game. The contestant who will lead to the first
cards for further details. move announces whether he wishes to foreplace a card, after
which the opponent has a similar choice.
The Play. One player, whom we will call X, is chosen to deal If one or both of the players foreplaces a card, the
the first hand. He shuffles the cards and deals ten to each, in multiplying number of a move is increased by 1. Thus, in this
groups of five at a time. case, a mate given in the seventh move with a ROOK scores
X, the dealer, leads any card he wishes. , the dealer, 8x4=32 points.
leads any card he wishes. Y, the opponent, must then play a If both players foreplace a card, there will be a
card of the same suit ( , , , or ). If he has more than one maximum of only nine moves in the game. However, if one
card of that suit, he may play whichever he chooses. If he player foreplaces a card while the other does not, one player
lacks a card of the suit led, he must play a card of the same will have nine cards while the other has ten. The rule in this
rank (such as KING on KING, QUEEN on QUEEN, etc.) The case is that, if the game proceeds that far, the player with only
cards, as they are played, are kept face up in front of each nine cards uses his ninth played card also as his tenth. A mate
player instead of being played to the center of the table. given in the tenth move in these circumstances is known as an
The two cards, one from each player, constitute the “overmate” and scores double. Thus, an overmate given with a
first “move” (in keeping with the fact that M ATE has more in KING scores 11x11x2=242 points (which is the maximum
common with board games of skill than with card games, this possible mate).
term is used rather than “trick”). The player who played the
higher card, or the higher suit when rank is followed, leads for Variations. The following rules can be added to the basic
the second move. W hen playing with the Double Mate Deck it game for a change of pace. The particular variation to be used
is possible for two identical cards to be played on a move. In must, of course, be agreed on in advance by the players.
this case the first to be played is considered the higher. 1. MATE with Free Move. Once during an individual game
Play continues in this manner until a player leads a either player X or player Y (whoever uses it first) may,
card that his opponent cannot follow, either in suit or rank. even though he has a card of the same suit led, answer the
The player leading the card has given “mate” to his opponent, lead with a card of the same rank.
and play stops. If all ten moves can be played without a mate, 2. MATE with ROOK privilege. W hen a ROOK is led the
it is a “draw.” opponent must follow with another ROOK if he has one.
If not, he follows with a card of the same suit. ROOK
Scoring. For purposes of scoring a mate, each card is AND BISHOP Privilege is the same as ROOK Privilege
considered to have a value as follows: KING=11, except that the same rule apples to BISHOPS as well as
QUEEN=10, ROOK=4, BISHOP=3, KNIGHT=7 (this is also ROOKS.
shown on the cards). The value of the mating card is 3. MATE with Free Move and ROOK (or ROOK and
multiplied by the number of the move in which the mate is BISHOP) Privilege. This is a combination of variation 1
given. For example, if a player gives mate with a BISHOP in and variation 2. If the Free Move is taken in answer to the
the first move he scores 3x1=3 points, while if he gives mate play of a ROOK (or BISHOP), it allows the player to
with a KING in the tenth move, he scores 11x10=110 points. follow in suit even though he has another ROOK (or
In case of a draw neither player scores. BISHOP) which he could play.

Rounds and Matches. After the first game has been played and For samples of play, see included reference card.
scored, the cards are picked up and, without being shuffled,
exchanged between the players. Y, who now has the cards X Adapted from A Gamut of Games by Sid Sackson [Random
previously held, leads any card he wishes to start the second House, 1969].
game. Two games constitute a “round” and, since each player
has the opportunity to play each hand, the luck of the deal is
eliminated.
After the first round, Y gathers the cards, shuffles
them, and deals out new hands. A second round is now played
in a similar manner to the first. Two rounds constitute a
“match.” The player who has scored the greater total number
R Q K
4 10 11
4 10 11
R Q K
N N B
7 7 3
7 7 3
N N B
R Q K
4 10 11
4 10 11
R Q K
B Q N
3 10 7
3 10 7
B Q N
R Q K
4 10 11
4 10 11
R Q K
R N B
4 7 3
4 7 3
R N B
 K Q R

11 10 4
11 10 4

K Q R

N K B

7 11 3
7 11 3

N K B
EXAMPLE OF PLAY
The Single Mate Deck is used and
is dealt out as follows:

X Y
N
N
N
N

N
N
N
N

K ,Q ,R B ,N
K ,Q ,R ,B N
K ,B ,N Q ,R
K ,Q ,R ,B ,N
B
B
R
R

B
B
N
R

The underlined card is the card that was led.

Move X Y
R
R
R
Q

R
R
R
Q

Foreplaced K —
1. B R
2. K K
Q
Q
Q
K

3. B N
Q
Q
Q
Q

4. Q Q
SINGLE MATE REFERENCE
DOUBLE MATE REFERENCE

5. Q B
6. R N
K
K
K
K

K
K
K
K

7. N N
8. K —
X wins 9x11=99 points
CARDS RANK LEFT TO RIGHT AND TOP TO BOTTOM
CARDS RANK LEFT TO RIGHT AND TOP TO BOTTOM