(slang) a liberal handicap (an advantage
given a weaker opponent). The
term comes originally from the
card game called cassino; in this
game, a player may
grant his opponent an advantage before
play is begun; granting "cards and spades" would be giving one's opponent a considerable number of
points in
advance. Used figuratively in this lecture.
—3rd South African published appr gls (14.4.92)