The game of Poker is better known in the United States than in England. Like many other games, it is so closely associated with betting that its reputation has consequently suffered in no slight degree.
There are several varieties of the game, known as Stud Poker, Straight Poker, Whiskey Poker, Twenty-deck Poker, and Draw Poker; but as the last is the game best known, it will, perhaps, be advisable to describe it first.
DRAW POKER.
A full pack of fifty-two cards are required, and any number of persons may play, though some players think it better that the number should not exceed six or seven.
Before dealing, each player is provided with a certain number of counters, which in America are styled chips. The dealer then places a stake in front of him. A single chip usually constitutes this stake, and is called the ante. Having concluded this preliminary part of the business, five cards are dealt to each player. As in Loo, all look at their hands, and declare in turn what they will do. The choice of three things is given them: They can throw up their hand, and go out of the game for that deal; keep their cards as they are; or they may change as many of their own cards as they like for the same number from the remainder of the pack on the table. In case any one should choose the latter alternative, no one must look at the rejected cards.
When the dealer's turn comes to make his choice, if he determine to play, he is bound to add an equal amount to what he had previously staked. This is called making good the ante; by so doing the dealer places himself on an equal footing with the other players.
Should he rather than raise his stake prefer to go out, the next player is requested to raise; but should he, like the dealer, also prefer to go out rather than raise, the next player is asked, and so on, until some player expresses himself willing to raise. This being the case, the next player has three alternatives: he must either go better, which means stake some larger amount; see the raise, which signifies staking an equal amount; or he must go out. The choice of these three alternatives is given to each player, until after full opportunity has been afforded to all of deciding, no one has gone better, but each of those remaining in has elected to see the raise, the stakes consequently remaining equal.
The person who now is requested to show his hand is the player seated next to him who last saw the raise, though if such player should not have a good hand to show, he may, if he likes, go out without showing his cards.
Perhaps to a greater extent in Poker than in any other card game, the great aim of a good player is to conceal his system of playing; therefore, although a player going out relinquishes all hold upon his stakes, he would rather do that than show an inferior hand.