Laugh and Lie Down

Laugh and Lie Down is first recorded in 1522, but until this century its rules were only described by Francis Willughby in his Book of Games circa 1660–1672.

The game is played with a standard 52-card pack of English pattern, French-suited cards. Aces are low.

The following rules are based on Willughby. The aim is to be the last player left holding cards in the hand.[2]

The game is for five players who cut for the first deal, lowest prevailing. Deal and play are clockwise. The dealer antes 3 chips to the pot and the remaining players 2 each. The dealer then deals 8 cards each, individually and face down. The remaining 12 cards are scattered randomly and face up on the table.

Players check their hands to identify any prials (three of a kind) or mournivals (four of a kind). They may immediately place down two cards from a prial or all four of a mournival.

Players now aim to capture cards in pairs, a pair being two of a kind e.g. two Kings. Each pair won is placed face up in front of the player. Eldest hand begins by playing a hand card to capture one or three table cards of the same rank. A pair may be played to capture a pair and a prial to capture a singleton. If a player holds a pair and another card of that rank is captured from the table, the player may lay down the pair immediately (even out of turn) since it cannot be won by matching with table cards.

Players unable to capture must throw their cards face up onto the table to add to the melee and drop out. When all bar one player have done this, play ends and the one left holding cards is the winner. His hand cards and all remaining table cards are added to his won pairs. He wins 5 chips from the pot. Players winning fewer than eight cards pay a chip to the pot for every card they fell short and those winning more than eight cards collect a chip for every card in excess of eight. This should clear the pot.

• Mason, George (1801). A Supplement to Johnson's English Dictionary. London: Roworth.
• Parlett, David (2008). The Penguin Book of Card Games, Penguin, London. ISBN 978-0-141-03787-5
• Willughby, Francis (c. 1665) A Volume of Plaies (ms. ca. 1665-70) published as Francis Willughby's Book of Games (2003).

• Laugh and Lie Down at pagat.com.
• Laugh and Lie Down at parlett.games.uk.