The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-01-29
STUD-HORSE POKER.
The EVIL the Game is Working
Upon Our Young Men.

New York Mail and Exracss
Siud-horse poker Is dangerous because
it has the air of innocence and fair play.
Five cards are dealt, the same MS In
other poker, with this exception, that
all but one are exposed, and 1t is upon
the strength or weakness of this hidden
card that the players win or lose their
money, as the case may be. For in
stance, one player may have an ace in
sight, another king, and so on. Should
any one OF these pair the 'down card"
II would constitute the strongest hand.
The players can only judge from the
cards thrown around by the dealer as to
what pairs are out. The highest card
or pair In shight must do the betting.
This gives the player holding n strong
pair, one of the cards of which is ex-
posed the other hidden, u decided adj
vantage, as the others may not be play
ing him for pair. The tables form a
semi-circle, and are so arranged that
ten or a dozen men can play at one
time. The dealer with his chips sits in
the center, and requires each player
to "ante" one chip, which en-
titles him to draw two cards, the first
one of which Is dealt with face
down, the second being exposed. The
betting then begins and continues until
the cards are all drawn out. | his looks
like a very fair game, and probably
would be were 1t not for the "rake-oir'
or percentage and other little points
which are kept n secret among the favor
Its of the green cloth circle.
The percentage taken by the house
absorbs at least one-half, and is so great
that old and experienced gamblers will
not play their money against the game.
Where the greatest evil exists is in the
oheapness OF the gene. The chips in the
majority of the houses are sold at the
rate of two for five cents, the player
being rexuired to buy 80 cents worth Mt
time, or as many more as he likes.
Should luck run in his favor he may
make quite n good winning of
half dollar. In nine cases out OF ten 1t
goes the other way.
This, then, is where the fascination of
the game comes in. Each player i'm
AGNES that he can play the game better
than some one else, and that there is q
fortune In store for him Ii he only has
nerve and follows 1t up. Young men
who could not be induced to play their
money against other games at chance
are daily caught in the meshes at "stud
poker" and, once in, they find 1t hard
to extrlcate themselves.
"Fifty cents worth, just for amuse-
ment," says the smiling tempter, and
the half-dollar is exchanged for small
stack of worries; the cards are dealt. and
the beginner, at the end of several plays
finds that his capital has been increased
four-fold. Great game !" cries the nov
ice. mo good" growls the oapper, who
has been losing. "1ry again." suggests
the dealer, "perhaps you will have bet
ter luck next time" lie does try again
and the rule invariably is that either he
or the dealer has all the chips when the
game closes. These, then, are the re-
cruiting posts for the gambling houses
Let man once become victim to ''stud
poker" and 1t will clinoh him like the
old man Of the sea. The best friend that
can come to the rescue of these pOol
fellows Is the law. Ii Is the only thing
that can save them from utter ruin.
~ could have caught n poleoat thls
morning, If had had something to dis
with. IL ran into hole In the ground,
said Black.
"Why didn't you use your nose?'
asked Smith.
"What dig polccat out OF the frozeI
ground with my nose?'
NO" said Smith. ''Let II smell you
breath and 1t would have to come on
for fresh airl Then you might hav'
caught it'll Newman Independent.