Pat Hand.—An original hand not likely to be improved by drawing, such as a full, straight, or flush.
Pass.—“I pass,” is a term used in Draw Poker, to signify that a player throws up his hand and retires from the game.
Raising a Bet.—The same as going better.
Say.—When it is the turn of any player to declare what he will do, whether he will bet, or pass his hand.
In the fair game, the deal is of no special value and anybody may begin.
The dealer, beginning with the person at his left, throws around five cards to each player, giving one card at a time.
The dealer shuffles and makes up the pack himself, or it may be done by the player at his left, and the player at his right must cut.
To begin the pool, the player next to the dealer on his left, must put up money, which is called an “ante,” and then in succession, each player, passing around to the left, must after looking at his hand determine if he goes in or not; and each player deciding to play for the pool must put in twice the amount of the ante. Those who decline to play throw up their cards, face downward on the table, and per consequence in front of the next dealer.
When all who wish to play have gone in, the person putting up the ante can either give up all interest in the pool, thus forfeiting the ante which has been put up, or else can play like the others who have gone in, by “making good,” that is, putting, up in addition to the ante as much more as will make him equal in the stake to the rest.
The players must throw away their discarded cards before taking up or looking at those which they draw.