Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-26

THE PITTSBURG ]
bered that the four cards are of absolutely
no value without the odd fifth which is to
be drawn, except so far as bluffng is con-
cerned. There is no earthly probability OF
q bobtail winning on its merits, conse-
quently the only chance of winning is Of i'm
proving the hand 1t is hardly worth while
to take the risk unless the pot is one of con-
siderable size.
Drawing to a straight with both ends
open is very good play, as the odds are only
about to 1 against its being made. But
drawing to an intermediate straight is TAX
ing a chance of in IL. A flush, according
to the calculus of probabilities, should on
one card draw be made 9 times out of Al.
The Betting and the Blufang.
After the discarding comes the betting
Primarily the bettor, or the player on whom
the duty of betting or "passing out" first
devolves, is the second to the dealers left,
c. He bets first or goes out, and each
player after him has the privilege of either
''seeing" what c has bet, raising it or pass
ing out. When in this way the turn of the
age is reached he may raise up to the limit
or simply s'see" the highest bet already
such that nobody can ''raise" him. His
seeing calls for ''show down" Of bands.
The form of betting known as blufhng
which, by some, is erroneously supposed to
SO characterize the game of draw poker as to
give it, actually, the name of 'bluff' in
some localities, is necessary part of the
game as best played. But it cannot be de-
MED that many poker players do get
through an evening without once resort1ng
to it. The fact that they pretend to
bluff, or bluff at blufing, has, however, the
desired result, in producing an erroneous
impression on the minds of their compan-
ions at table, producing such Impressions
being indeed a sine qua non to success. For
the player known never to bluff is never
''called" except on some hand shown by
experience to be probably superior to his.
Successful bluffs are almost impossible in
'jack pots"
A Delightful Episode.
The jack pot is delightful episode in
game of poker. But it must be permitted
to arise naturally and to dawn upon the
vision of the wearied traveller like an oasis
in the desert rather than be forced upon
him. ''Passing the buck" which is simply
the phrase applied to the circulation Of
buckhorn knife or any other such object
around the table, should never be employed
as means of artifcially producing jack
pots, since the jack pot is direct and
serious innovation on the regular routine of
the dealing, but in the drawing and betting
also.
A jack pot is pot played for when every
player around the table passes. This re-
quires the supposition that when all have
passed around to the ante man he also
passes Thereupon, it being his deal, he
takes the cards and deals as usual, but be-
fore so doing every player around the
board as one of the solemn ceremonials at
tending upon jack pots, is required to con-
tribute to the pot before the deal the amount
Of the ante or some other amount arbitrarily
fixed upon by the ante man, who exercises
very considerable authority in the matter.
The Opening of the Pot
The second distinguishing feature of the
jack pot is the fact that after the ante man
has so dealt and all around the table have
so contributed, the first bettor is called
upon not only to bet but to perform that
mysterious ceremony known as "opening
the pot" which he cannot do unless he
finds in his hand the equivalent of pair of
Jacks or better. If he finds that he has not
in his hand a pair of jacks or better he
passes and the next player in turn ex-
amines his hand for the openers. If he
loes not find them the privilege Of opening
he pot passes around the board, and if
Nobody can do SO the next player in turn
leals agein after every player present has
'fattened" the pot with either one chip or
In amount agreed upon.
The process of opening the pot must now
De gone through with again, and if the Sec
,nd time no player in his turn discovers
pair of jacks or better the pot must be
Igain fattened and the new deal made until
he mystical openers are finally discovered.
When the discovery has been made and
he. player finding in his hand pair of
acks OF more says. 81 will open the pot"
e is at once called upon TO bet, no matter
Fhat his position at the table may be, and
ii those who do not see his bet fall out and
ose their share of the pot.
1t is considered the best play te open a
ack pot for the limit if it is of any special
good hand and wishes to induce
else to come in he may make the
pen as light as he chooses. If, however,
lie finds in his hand openers only it is gen.
rally considered best for him to open for
he limit. The drawing and betting in
ack pots, outside of the opening bet, are ex-
city similar to those of the regular game
f poker. Any player other than the
pener who desires to come in may do so on
utting up the amount for which the pot
Tas opened, regardless OF the value of his
and.
The Showdown Must Be Made.
Of course, as the opener must have pair
jacks or more he must prove to the other
layers at the end of the pot that he did |
old such hand on the go in. For that
eason he must invariably show his hand at |
he termination of the pot, openers and all,
ice up on the table. And it is considered |
q excellent rule, by the way, to open a
Ick pot whenever you can.
The question of discards naturally arises
hen the opener has such a hand as this-a
air OF jacks and four hearts. Naturally it
ccurs to him, with big pot and a good
lany playing, that were be to discard the
ther jack and keep the four hearts with the
Ick at the head he may stand good chance
f drawing the fifth heart and getting a
ush. In such cases it is considered allow
ole for him to do so if he carefully puts the
iscarded jack on one side, where it remains
/ full view, and announces his intention of
lscarding one of his openers