fall of the cards

So, after abandoning the dice, his habit became North American baccarat, which still involved only chance and the fall of the cards, a lack of control which Marigny knew all too well in his own life.

His thoughts, seemingly, were far from being on the fall of the cards.

Vanulm played phlegmatically, cautiously, but with hesitancy and much painstaking effort; Palmer fidgeted in his chair, drummed on the table with his nervous fingers, and occasionally swore under his breath; Gordon played incisively, unhesitatingly, almost mechanically, much as if he had placed every card in the pack, knew already what the final result would be, and regarded the actual fall of the cards as a necessary but scarcely interesting detail of the game.

Rules should be considered second to circumstances and to the fall of the cards.

When the fall of the cards reveals an unusual situation, unusual means must be adopted to meet it; and here your reason and common sense must come to your aid.