The game of Nain Jaune or Yellow Dwarf (French: Le jeu du nain jaune, pronounced [nɛ̃ ʒon]), also formerly called Lindor,[a] is an "attractive and unique traditional French card game" using a board comprising five compartments or boxes.

It is a reasoned game of chance because it combines the hazards of card distribution with the strategy of building suits.

"[4] The name goes back to a fairy tale by French noblewoman Baroness d'Aulnoy, published in 1698.

Le Nain Jaune (the yellow dwarf) is a cruel story about an ugly, jealous and evil villain.

This name referred to Nicolas Ferry, nicknamed Baby, a dwarf, protected by Stanislas of Poland, Duke of Lorraine.

It is related that Ferry became violent and cruel as he grew older and earned the nickname of "the yellow dwarf" after the villain in the fairy tale.

At that time, in 1789, a French games compendium published rules for Nain Jaune – now also called Lindor – that were significantly different.

The game fell into oblivion again after the days of the Second French Empire (1852–1870), but returned to fashion during the inter-war years.

These rules only allow three or five players and are more challenging, requiring cards to be built in suit sequences.

The 1760 version was played by 3 or 5 players using a full French-suited pack and 5 additional cards – the ♥K, ♠Q, ♣J, ♦10 and ♦7 or nain, the 'Dwarf' – which were placed face up on the table as a staking tableau.

In turn, the other players continue to lay off as many cards as they can to the same suit sequence or say "pass" if unable.

A player who forgets to announce a hoc, forfeits the stake that would have been won and it remains in situ.

If the winner managed to shed all cards without any of the other players being able to play at least one – this is an Opera – and the losers pay double.

[9] Rules for the easier, modern version of the game were first published in 1789 under the name of "Lindor or Nain Jaune" and are still used today.

[7][6] The later game uses a bespoke board with five removable compartments or "boxes" decorated with imagery and the pictures of the 5 honour cards.

In the centre is an image of a dwarf holding in his hand the ♦7 and, in each of the four corners, is depicted one of the other honours: the ♥K, the ♠Q, the ♣J and the ♦10.

[8] Key differences from the original game include:[6] The game is less intricate and challenging and appears to have been designed to be speeded up with restrictions on the number of deals and players removed and the stakes greatly raised to increase its gambling potential.