Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-12-29
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INTERNATIONAL POKER.
An Englishman's Two Pairs Were
Good Because They We're Two
Pairs of Kings.

OOlAGOuG SuSkcoUcu IuthC d SciuC VI
poker might finish the evening in an
appropriate manner" said the major.
"and l intimated my willingness to lose
three or four hours for the good Of the
party.
Then some one else suggested that
the game might be played at my quar-
tiers. To this l made no objection and
not long afterwards we were sitting at
a round table ready for business.
There were five OF us, and l keDt
the bank. There were several nation
alities represented in the quintet. On
my left sat a Scotchman, who, naturally
being a cautious man, said he did not
know much about the game. Everybody
smiled pleasantly, and the other old
hands made up their minds to play
close to the breast bone. On my right
sat an American.
He did not say anything about the
character Of his play. being aware that
nothing he could say upon that point
would have any effect nppn the rest OF
us. Next TO him sat an Englishman.
Having taken chips to the value OF TO,
he said, 4 would like little informa-
ton before We begin
Thinking that he considered this
the proper thing TO say, nobody re-
sponded as We prepared to cut for
deal.
But I'm not joking said John
Bull. I really never played the game
in my life
The rest of us looked at him, and
saw he was in earnest.
If that's the case, old man. said,
you had better not come into the game,
because there are two or three warm
people sitting at this table
But | want to come in he said, for
a man must learn poker sooner or later,
and I'd like 10 begin tonight. Just
mark the value of the hands on piece
of paper and I'll soon pick the game
up
II did not like the idea of playing
with a man who really knew nothing
OF the game. particularly at my own
rooms. and | intimated as much. He
persisted. however, and as five players
makean enjoyable game, said no more.
The American who sat on John Bulls
right marked the value of the hands on
a sheet of paper and passed it around.
1t was all right and the Eng!ishman
took possession of it and proceeded to
learn it by heart.
THE limit was put at five Shillings
and the game began. For an hour
very little money changed hands and
although John Bull showed a marked,
might almost say a reprehensible, pro-
clivity for coming in every hand he
held his own. Toward the finish OF The
second hour. John Bull and were gain
ing perceptibly. and the other players
were occasionally dropping ejaculations
about their bad luck. the curious way
in which the cards run, and so forth
"In the middle Of the third hour
there was an intermission Of FIVE min
uteS for refreshments.
AN intermission in poker is not like
any other kind of intermission. The
only difference between it and the us
unal mode of play Is that Won ocCupy
one hand with food and drink and con-
tinue to play with the other. The be-
inner, however, looks at the refresh
ments at odd moments, whereas the old
hand keeps his eyes on the cards.
Finally the remains of the frugal
feast were removed and we went at it
again with fresh vigor. During the
evening the hands had been moderate
~ good, but nobody had held anything
startling. Finally, after we had been
playing for nearly four hours, picked
mp hand that seemed to promise well.
il the others held anythin at all decent.
It was my turn to deal There was n
raise all round before the draw.
Everybody drew three cards. I
drew three to pair of Jacks. and in the
draw ! got two more jacks and an ace
The combination struck me as wealth
producing
1T was the turn of the American.
who sat on John Bulls right. to bet.
He said something and threw down his
cards. John Bull at once showed him
his hand The American. who is
known to his friends as the Sylph, be-
cause he weighs trile over eighteen
stone looked at the cards in a casual
way and whispered something. John
Bull Immediately bet the limit, shil-
lings.
1T is a small game. of course. but
at il you can drop ego with great ia
cility in the course of three or four
hOUTs. The American on my right
dropped out raised John Bull the
limit. The Scotchman dropped out.
This left only John Bull and myself in
the game. l felt sorry for this, as l
did not care to take his money. He
seemed to be in no way anxious about
the result and Immediately raised me
back Every raise added half sover-
eign to the pot, which gradually began
to assume pleasing proportions.
After faur or five raises l thought
the thing had gone far enough, as John
Bull was a beginner and we were play
ing at my rooms. so l said: I'll go a
bit slow. old man. RemC~SAar, this is
your first experience at poker
That's all right he said, and
threw another half sovereign in the
pot
"Of course there was nothing for me
10 do but raise him back. At first l
thought be had full house. but when
he continued to raise so cheerfully
concluded he had small tours. Final
". the American on my right looked
at my hand. Then he looked at John
Rull's cards. Then he whispered some
thing to the other American. The
Sylph' had laid himself down on
lounge.
After we had raised each other ten
or fifteen times John Bull bought
fresh lot of chips. did not hand them
over without a remonstrance.
i said: Don't forget that / have
played poker before this and this is
your first game
"The American, who was lying on
the lounge. tried to bite off a laugh