Apparently named after a key location in the American War of Independence, it is probably a French game which was devised in France in the 1770s,[2] combining the 52-card pack and logical ranking system of partnership Whist with a range of solo and alliance bids borrowed from Quadrille.

If all pass without announcing, then the hand must be played, and the player who takes the fewest tricks wins the pool.

The adversaries merely play to make the announcer lose, and therefore cannot, even if successful, win the pool, which stands over to the next hand.

The lowest bid is a Demande, equivalent to Ask-Leave, to win five tricks solo.

To this, any other player may call je soutiens (I support), thereby allying themselves with the bidder in a contract to win at least eight tricks between them.

In either way, there is an extra bonus for winning all thirteen tricks formerly called la vole, but now le chelem, from English "Slam".

The cards are never shuffled; one of the packs is dealt, and the other cut alternately to determine the trump, which governs the game.

Should either of them fail to make the number of tricks he bids for, he must pay to each competitor a forfeit regulated by a card of prices, which must he prepared beforehand.

This variation differs slightly from Boston De Fontainebleau, with Diamonds, not Hearts as the preferred suit.