LOO

formerly Lanterloo (from French lanturlu, the refrain of a popular 17th-century song), game of cards of the Euchre (q.v.) family, invariably played for a stake. The players may number from five to about nine, each for himself. The pack of 52 cards is used. Popularity of the game faded in the 20th century. In the simplest form of the game, three cards are dealt to each player and the next is turned for trump. The player to the left of the dealer leads, and one-third of the pool goes to the winner of each trick. The pool is formed by antes before each deal and may be increased by payments for loo (failure to win a trick) and fines for irregularities.