Somewhere in my travels, some thirty odd years ago, I vaguely remember playing this game whilst waiting for an ancient mode of transport. I cannot even remember who showed me how to play but because the rules are so simple, they have stuck in my mind.

This is a game for 2 players who have an uncertain amount of time to pass before the expected event is upon them.

A dealer is chosen, using whatever means both players consider fair. There are no trumps or tricks or melds and the game can last a mere few minutes or, if the Gods wish it, it can last for half a life time. The game's duration is totally dependant on the run of the cards, as is the name of the winner.

The cards are shuffled, cut and dealt in the normal manner so that each player has 26 cards. The alternative to dealing is to make an accurate cut so that each player has half the pack. If the cut is not strictly accurate, then it doesn't really matter. Each player holds his stack of cards in his hand face down.

The non-dealer plays the top card from his stack, face up onto the table. The opponent plays his top card, face up on top of the other card. Play continues alternately, until either, an Ace or a picture card is played. When an Ace or picture card is played, the next player must play consecutively, either one, two, three or four cards.

How many cards are played is dependant on which card was played previously. That is, he plays four cards to an Ace, 3 cards to a King, 2 cards to a Queen and 1 card to a Jack. If in playing a series of cards a player plays either an Ace or a picture card, he stops playing his cards and his opponent plays.

Play continues thus until one player does not play an Ace or a picture card to his opponents Ace or picture card. His opponent wins the stack and collects the cards and places them face down to the bottom of the stack of cards in his hand and leads to the next sortie.

The winner, eventually, is the player who wins all the cards or has the most cards in his hand when the train arrives, or the donkey cart trundles forth, or they both get fed up of playing or the expected momentous occasion arrives.