POKER 283 Any number of persons may play. If a pack of fifty-two cards is played with, from five to seven players makes the best game. Sometimes an ecarte pack of thirty-two cards is used, when three or four makes the best game. There are numerous varieties of poker. Draw poker, with fifty- two cards, is the most common. The dealer being determined (see Laws), he puts up a sum, previously agreed on (called the ante), gene rally one chip or counter, and deals five cards to each player. Then each in rotation from the dealer s left looks at his cards, and either throws up his hand (called going out of the game}, when he stakes nothing, or chips, i.e., puts up twice the amount of the ante (say two counters). The dealer finally looks at his hand and either goes out of the game or makes good his ante by putting up another counter. The dealer then asks those in rotation who have chipped whether they will fill their hands (i.e., whether they will exchange any cards for an equivalent number from the top of the pack) or play the hand dealt. When the hands are filled, the players to the left of the dealer have the say in rotation. Each player says whether he will (1) go <mt of the game (forfeiting what he has already staked) ; or (2) raise, i.e., put up a sum in addition to that already staked. As soon as any one raises, the next in rotation to say must either (1) go out of the game; or (2) see the raise, i.e., put up an equal amount ; or (3) go letter, i.e., increase the raise. This continues round and round, each succeeding player being obliged either to see the stake made by the previous one, or to go better, or go out of the game. Eventually the raising comes to an end, because either every player but one goes out of the game (when all the stakes are taken by the player who remains in, without showing his cards), or the players left in all see the last raise, no one going better. When all the stakes are thus equal, it becomes a call. The last to stake, who makes his raise equal to that of each of the others, sees them, i.e., the player to his left has to show his hand, or rather such part of it as he claims to compete with. The next to the left, then similarly shows his hand, if it can beat the one first shown ; if not, he throws up ; and so on all round ; the holder of the best hand takes the pool, and the next dealer deals. Hands thrown up, either on a refusal to chip to fill, or on being beaten, and cards discarded when filling, are placed face down in the middle of the table, and no one is allowed to look at them. It is usual to limit the raise to prevent very high chip ping. The modern usage is to play talle stakes ; i.e., each player puts up such an amount as he pleases at the com mencement of each deal, and he cannot be raised more than he has on the table ; but he has the option of making good from his pocket a previous raise which exceeds his table stake. Value, of the Hands. 1. A straight flush (sequence of five cards of the same suit). 2. Fours (four cards of the same rank, with one other card). 3. A full (three cards of the same rank, with a pair). 4. A flush (five cards of the same suit, not in sequence). 5. A straight (sequence of five cards, not all of the same suit). 6. Triplets (three cards of the same rank, with two other cards not a pair). 7. Two pairs (with one other card not of the same rank with either pair). 8. One pair (with three other cards of different ranks). 9. Highest card. An ace may either begin or end a straight, e.g., ace, king, queen, knave, ten ; or, five, four, three, two, ace. By agreement an ace may be made not to rank in se quence with the two. In no case can ace occupy an inter mediate position in a straight, and when an e"carte pack is used, ace is not in a straight with the seven. A higher straight flush, or straight, wins of a lower one ; the cards rank as at whist, except that ace may be highest or lowest. In combinations other than straights ace is highest. High fours win of low ones; of two fulls the one that contains the highest triplet wins ; of two flushes the one that contains the highest card wins, if equal the next highest, and so on ; a straight beats triplets (this is sometimes disputed, but calculation shows a straight is the less frequent hand) ; of two triplets, the highest wins ; of two two-pair hands, the highest pair wins, if both pairs are equal, the highest card ; of two hands each containing a pair the highest pair wins, if equal the highest remain ing card wins ; of hands containing none of the above the highest card wins, if equal the next highest, and so on. In case of an absolute tie between the best hands they divide the pool. Variations in the Mode of Playing. -^Sometimes the ante may be raised by any one who chips to fill his hand, when succeeding players must make good the raise, or go better, or go out of the game. This is a mere excuse for higher play. The player to the dealer s left (the age] is generally allowed to pass the first round after the hands are filled, and to come in again. If he passes he says " my age." Also, sometimes the age puts up the ante instead of the dealer. These useless complications, which only have the effect of making the first player the last player, are better omitted. The age is sometimes allowed to go Hind, i.e., to raise the ante before he sees his cards. The next player may double the blind, i.e., raise to double what the age staked ; the next may straddle the blind, i.e., double again ; the next may double the straddle, and so on. Only the age can start a blind, and any one who refuses to double or straddle prevents a further raise ; but he must make good the pre vious stake or go out. The player to the left of the last straddler has the first say ; i.e., on looking at his hand and before filling, he declares whether he will make good or go out. Going blind, like raising the ante, is a mere pretext for higher play. Some players do not consider straights in the game, and omit them. This makes four aces, or four kings and an ace, invincible ; and it is open to the objection that if those cards are held the player is backing a certainty. Hints to Players. 1. The dealer should generally go in, as half his stake is already up. 2. When drawing to fill a hand, it should be done off-hand and without hesita tion. If in doubt, it is better to go out of the game at once. A player may loose by going in, but can never loose by going out. 3. In filling to a pair it is generally right to draw three cards, unless drawing to a low pair, with a king or ace in hand. 4. In filling to two pairs, to a four, or to a straight or flush which wants one card, exchange one. It is not advisable to chip to fill to a straight or flush wanting more than one card ; a draw to a straight or flush is usually a dear purchase. With a four the hand cannot be improved by drawing ; but one card should be taken that the value of the hand may be concealed. 5. In filling to triplets one card only should be drawn, or triplets are at once declared ; but, 6. Players should vary their mode of discarding to mystify the opponents, and should be sometimes cautious, some times bold. 7. A good poker face is essential; the coun tenance should not betray the nature of the hand. Talk ing without regard to facts (poker talk) is allowed, and is considered fair ; but the best players put their cards face downwards on the table and leave them there, and neither move nor speak until it is their turn to say. 8. Bluffing
(i.e., raising high on poor cards), in hopes of inducing the