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a gambling house in New Orleans； and afterwards plied his trade
on the Mississippi for some years； then he went into Mexico； and
finally to New York； where he opened a house on his own account。
‘During the war he speculated in 〃greenbacks；〃 and lost all his
ill…gotten gains； and had to descend to his present
position。'＇90＇
＇90＇ _Ubi supra_。
AMERICAN GAMES：DRAW POKER； OR BLUFF。
Draw Poker； or Bluff； is a favourite game with the Americans。 It
is played by any number of persons； from four to seven； four；
five； or six players are preferred； seven are only engaged
where a party of friends consists of that number； and all
require to be equally amused。
The deal is usually determined by fixing on a card； and dealing
round； face upwards； until such card appears。 The dealer then
places in the pool an _Ante_； or certain agreed…upon sum； and
proceeds to deal to each person five cards。 The player next to
the dealer； before looking at his cards； has the option of
staking a certain sum。 This is called the ‘blind；' and makes him
the elder hand； or last player； and when his turn comes round he
can； by giving up his first stake； withdraw from the game； or； if
he pleases； by making good any sum staked by a previous player；
raise the stakes to any sum he pleases； provided； of course； that
no limit has been fixed before sitting down。 The privilege of
raising or doubling on the _blind_ may be exercised by any one
round the table； provided he has not looked at his cards。 If no
intervening player has met the original _blind_； that is； staked
double the sum； this must be done by all who wish to play； and；
of course； must be made good by the last player。 Each person
then looks at his cards； and decides on his plan of action。 It
should be understood that every one； except the _blind_； may
look at his cards in his turn before deciding if he will
meet the _blind_。 Before speaking of the manner of drawing it
will be better to give the relative value of the hands； which
will much simplify the matter； and make it more easily
understood。 Thus： four aces are the best cards that can be held；
four kings next； and so on； down to four twos； four cards of the
same value beating anything except four of a higher denomination。
The next best hand is called a _full_； and is made up thus：
three aces and a pair of sixes； three nines and pair of twos； in
fact； any three cards of the same value and a pair constitute a
full hand； and can only be beaten by a full hand of a higher
denomination or fours。 The next hand that takes precedence is a
_flush_； or five cards of one colour； after this comes _threes_；
vis。； three cards all of the same value； say； three aces； kings；
queens； and so on； downwards （the two remaining； being odd ones；
are of no value）。 The next is a sequence； as five following
cards； for instance； nine。 eight； seven； six； five； it is not
necessary they should all be of one colour； as this； of course；
would constitute a _flush_。 Next come two pairs； say； two knaves
and two fives； and； last of all； is a single pair of cards。
Having explained the value of the hands； let us show how you
endeavour to get them。 The bets having been made； and the
_blind_ made good or abandoned； or given up； the dealer proceeds
to ask each player in his turn how many cards he wants； and here
begins the first study of the game_TO KNOW WHAT TO THROW AWAY_
in order to get in others to make the hand better if possible。
Your hand may； of course； be so utterly bad as to make it
necessary to throw away the whole five and draw five new ones；
this is not very likely； as few players will put a stake in the
pool unless； on looking first at his cards； he has seen
something； say a pair； to start with。 We will suppose he has
this； and； of course； he throws away three cards； and draws three
in place of them。 To describe the proper way to fill up a hand
is impossible； we can but give an instance here and there to show
the varying interest which attaches to the game；thus； you may
have threes in the original hand dealt； some players will throw
away the two odd cards and draw two more； to try and make the
hand fours； or； at least； a full； while a player knowing that his
is not a very good hand； will endeavour to _DECEIVE_ the rest by
standing out； that is； not taking any fresh cards； of course
all round the table make remarks as to what he can possibly have。
It is usually taken to be a sequence； as this requires no
drawing； if originally dealt。 The same remark applies to a
_flush；_ two pairs or four to a flush； of course； require one
card to make them into good hands； a player being only entitled
to draw once； and the hands being made good； the real and
exciting part of the game begins。 Each one endeavours to keep
his real position a secret from his neighbours。 Some put on a
look of calm indifference； and try to seem self…possessed； some
will grin and talk all sorts of nonsense； some will utter sly
bits of _badinage；_ while others will study intently their cards；
or gaze at the ceilingall which is done merely to distract
attention； or to conceal the feelings； as the chance of success
or failure be for or against； and then begins the betting or
gambling part of the game。 The player next the _blind_ is the
first to declare his bet； in which； of course； he is entirely
governed by circumstances。 Some； being the first to bet； and
having a very good card indeed； will ‘bet small；' in hopes that
some one else will see it； and ‘go better；' that is； bet more； so
that when it comes round to his turn again he may see all
previous bets； and bet as much higher as he thinks proper； for it
must be borne in mind that a player's first bet does not preclude
him from coming in again if his first bet has been raised upon by
any player round the table in his turn； but if once the original
bet goes round and comes to the _blind_； or last player； without
any one going better； the game is closed； and it becomes a _show
of hands_； to see who takes the pool and all the bets。 This does
not often happen； as there is usually some one round the table to
raise it； but my informant has seen it occur； and has been highly
amused at watching the countenance of the expectant _small
better_ at having to show a fine hand for a mere trifle。 Some
players will； in order to conceal their method of play；
occasionally throw their cards among the waste ones and abandon
their stakes； this is not often done； but it sometimes happens
where the stakes have been small； or the player has been _trying
a bluff_； and has found some one whom he could not _bluff off_。
The foregoing is a concise account of the game； as played in
America； where it is of universal interest； and exercises great
fascination。 It is often played by parties of friends who
meet regularly for the purpose； and instances can be found where
fortunes have been lost in a night。
The game of Poker