The elder hand is under no obligation to make any exchange at all. This process ends and play begins either at the point that the elder hand chooses not to propose, or the dealer refuses to accept, or the stock of remaining cards runs out. If the proposal was accepted, then the elder hand can make another proposal, if desired, and can go on making proposals as long as the dealer accepts them. Once cards have been discarded, they are no longer used, nor looked at.

If the dealer accepts then the elder hand must propose a discard and the dealer should deal the same number of fresh cards from the pack following which the dealer must then also make an exchange of at least one card. The dealer must then decide whether or not to accept.

To make an exchange, the elder hand must make a proposal to the dealer of a specific number of cards. This involves discarding cards in order to improve their hand with fresh cards from the remaining pack. The elder hand (the player opposite the dealer) is then entitled, if that player so desires, to begin the exchange-a crucial part of the game. If this card is a king, the dealer can immediately mark an extra point for himself. The eleventh card is dealt face up to determine the trump suit. The players cut to determine the dealer, who deals five cards each in packets of two and three, or three and two, either to whim or some agreement. Note that the ace ranks between ten and knave, making the king the highest card.

It is described as 'an elegant two-player derivative of Triomphe quite fun to play' and a 'classic that should be known to all educated card players.' Play The suit of Spades from a French pack, ranking as in ÉcartéĪll cards from two to six are removed from a 52-card pack, to produce the Piquet pack of thirty-two cards, which rank from the lowest 7, 8, 9, 10, ace, knave, queen, to king high. Écarté was popular in the 19th century, but is now rarely played.

It is a trick-taking game, similar to whist, but with a special and eponymous discarding phase the word écarté meaning 'discarded'. Écarté is an old French casino game for two players that is still played today.

French card game played in casinos