The Traditional Game of Faro
History & Rules of the King of Old West Saloon Games
Compiled and edited by Mark Howard AKA: The Evil Swede
Introduction:
Faro (also commonly spelled "Pharo") is an old card game that is not much played today, as casinos tend to favor games where the odds are more clearly in favor of the house.
In an honest faro game, the player's chances are just a little short of even, and are much better than most games found at contemporary casinos.
Contrary to what you may have been told faro is simple to learn and easy to play.
Invented in Europe in the 1700's and introduced to America in 1803, by all accounts, faro was the most popular and celebrated saloon gambling game in the Old West, from 1825 through 1915.
By 1925, it had all but vanished, in favor of craps and roulette; other "banking" games that have enticing pay-outs but actually give a much greater "edge" to the house.
