The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-08-22

4HoS1 were plS 6diilSS hSh SoN' -
was. a common occurrence to be $4,000
to $4,000 winner er loser.
This particular game lasted for a
little over three years. Sometimes we
would play once a week, sometimes three
times, and sometimes not so often. We
never h9d such a think as a poker debt
unpaid in those days-very different now,
I'm told. Every mans word was good
for a million.
Lets just look in on the game. Say,
a jack pot is opsned for S600-two men
stay-$1s00 now in the pot, the third
man comss in and raises it $40, 900; 1884,
900 now in the pot All drop except my
self, the opener and the fellow who
raises-the opener stays-$10,O0O more
$44 1000 In all We draw cards-the first
man one, the second man two. I bet a
white chip-$100-the second elevates me
$50 900. Talk about brain work, light
ming calculators and that sort of thing !!
You haven't got a week to consider this
matter and talk it over with a friend
and lawyer.
rs he bluffing? Can his threes beat
mine? Is he trying to steal the pot? Is
he nervous because he's afraid M is
beaten, if I call? Or is he nervous fear
ing 1 will not call ard SO will not get my
additional $4,000?
"a cold SILVER goes around the room,
when that $25,O coo bet is made-$69, 900 now
in the pot. There is a sigh or two-but
not a weird spoken aloud. The silence
becomes oppressive ana the ticking of the
watches become more and more distinct
Finally 1 say: I see that and raise you
$50, 000r
"Now the scane of action is changed
the guessing goes to the other maa.
After squeezing his cards, little medita-
ton, he says: That's good, 1 guess but
I had three queens all the way.
II rake down the $4,000 and the $780,
900 1 Just pushed in.
He felt relieved when ] leaned over
and showed him three aces Neither of
us had better:d. He naturally thought
after ! drew ONE card that 1 had two
pairs or tllrees. but never played me for
three aces or any big threes.
Nov he played me for two big pairs,
probably aces up, thought might call,
but never Thought I had three bigger
than queens all the time Deception or
cunning on my part in the draw-whfch?
or both?
Study Yourself in Poker
I'm poker playing a man must study
himself more than the others. 1t is a
comparatively easy matter to size up
others, but it is not half so easy to size
up yourself and know just what you will
do under emergencies and unexpected
plays. A man must be slow to get into O.
pot. but once in, de must play it out. 1t
has always been my policy to raise and
seldom call. When once you get off from
the post and get a start in pot, it's like
a horse race-don't stop or call, keep 60
ing and betting for all you're worth.
II never knew of any cheating after the
first year or two in California. Placer
vile, you know, used to be called Hang
Town. They strung up some fellows
there for cheating, and the town
than went by that name for years. Gen.
orally If a man was caught cheating,
though, he never lived tong enough to get
hung.
'In the early days we had scales, where
we played poker, just as much in evil
dence ais cards, for in settling up we had
to weigh the dust
81 know a story of a man, prominent
now, who lost all the money he had ex-
ed as if it contained about $500.
"This he had been forced to bet several
times and he Invariably won when he bet
it. Long years afterward the man grew
into prominence and in his cups one time
admitted that there was nothing in that
sack at the time except brass filings, and
that he was wondering every time he
bet it If he could get out of the country
alive if he lost his bluff.
about the first poker story know of
happened in the early days of California.
Senator Sharon and IN Englishman were
on a steamboat together Time hung
heavily and the Englishman said he
was very fond of euchre-would teach the
senator two-handsd euchre. They played
for awhile, when the Englishman said:
bloomin' good poker hand
Senator Sharon's Bluff
"Bah Jove! don't you know, I've a
Senator sharon said, $50 have l..
Would you like to bet it?' said the
EngEshmlan.
".I would, said the senator, If you will
let me take up another queen and dis
card a card
"ATl right, I've no objections said the
Engnshman, and he fondly and avari-
ciously hooked ali his four kings and knew
he had a cinch.
'"They bet N the money they had. The
Englislrman put up his watch and dia-
mond rings and pin against 1,400 of the
senator's. Then he said:
"I really have to take your money,
old chap, don't you know-really I've got
you bea.en--four kings--don't You know.
Really. too bad
"eBut I've got four aces said the sen-
ator laying down his hand-four aces and
one queen.
"Af- er two or three moments In deep
reflection and meda a ton, the Englshman
said:
II wish you'd tell me what bloody,
bloomin' business you wanted with that
queen! don't you know?'
Women are good poker players-the
best in the world, barring Cinnamon.
I've played with ladies. Mrs. Sharon was
mood r,nlya,. fpla yar netffr q ~ M, SAN