The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-06-19
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ARTHUR'S RULES FOR POKER.
A Curious and Amusing Momcnto OF Pres-
ident Garficld's Successor.

A small game of poker was one OF the
favoritc pastimes of Chester A. Arthur.
When Collector of the Port ana. the lead
or Of the Now York City Republicans, he
gathered about him a circle of cordial
friends, who to this day DO not speak of
the dead President save in the tendcrcSt
tones. On leisure evenings they met at
his hosptable home and INDUCED in then
hosts fayorite amusement Some in the
circle were mere amateurs, and all sorts
of ludicrous blunders occurred This
man was shy and that onG had to be told
when to ante, and others we're in mud
die most of the time. The host was Il
pretty good player in his way, and, while
urbanity itself, he nevertheless was dis
turbed by tho go-es.you-plcaae methods
of his visitors. He decided to lag before
them rules for their guidance. and SO one
evening when they appeared, each one
found copy of this slip laid on the table
before him:
Ipw rp Play rukER f&okrADLt
/. Don't buy but half as many chips
at the start us the other players. The ex-
pectation is that you will win, and ii you
lose it is better that YOU borrow Or cove"
up.
2. Never ante up till some one tells
YOU to, AND then say that you nare, and
stick TO it, which will generally pnrsuade
some one else to ''comc in twice. This
rule, though an excellent one, must be
followed with discretion. If practised
too often it is liable to produce unplcas-
ant feelings
3. Toward the end Of the evening it is
always better TO :!oEc2 PIP your anfc "for
a minute than to put up the debt, and
none Of the other players will remind him,
as they may wish TO do the same thing
!. When the credit system begins to
creep in rs it generally does about the
middle of the game, you should cove ups"
if possible, and bet chiefly against those
who always "put up" This is one Of The
most important rules. To win in cash
and lose on credit is the great secret Of
successful poker playing.
5. In dealing always observe the bot-
tom card, WHICH you Gan easily do before
the cut Then, by noticing how thick Il
cut Is made, you can tell whether that
card goes out. This may help YOU in the
draw
6. Keep a sharp eye On Tho discards
They may he Of service if your draw is
not satisfactory.
I, When YOU are Gil luck watch your
opportunity, From time TO time put some
of your checks in your pocket without
being seen. This will enable YOU to cove
up if luck turns, and will prevent the
others from borrowing from you.
s. When any one wants to buy more
checks and You have plenty, get him to
buy of YOU, if possible, in preference to
the bank. 1t enables you 20 conceal the
amount Of your winnings, and, besides,
the bank may not be able to pay up
.. When you are chipping CUT for
drinks, &c, put a cigar in your pocket
every once in while. You arc sure to
be so much ahead of the game, and they
come in very handy even when YOU dom
smoke.
forget for moment that the whole object
of the game is to save your own money
and secure somebody clsc's and let every
thing you do, however trifing, tend to
this desirable end
II. When the game is over, il you are
winner, deny it entirely. or tx the figure
as low as possible. If you are loser, de-
clare that YOU have lost twice AS much as
YOU really have. This rule is never de-
parted from. The money lost at game
of poker always foots up four times as
much as the money won.
The foregoing is printed from what is
said to he the only copy OF The rules in
existence. 1t was found in the papers of
~ OLD member of the Un;on League Club
the other day, and the memories Of prcsi-
deaf Arthur's cordial good humor and
gentle kindness and pleasing wit brought
the moisture to his eyes.
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