The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-07-27
ApThUR'S RULES FOR POKER.
A Curious aud Amusing Niemento OF
President Garfieti's Successor

\ small gam" Of poker was Onp OF the
iavOriIe paStimes of Chester \. Arthur.
When Collector OF the Port and the
leader OF the New York City Republicans,
he gathered about him Il circ e OF cordial
friends, vino to this day do not speak OF
the dead President save in the tendereSt
tones. On leisure evenings they met at
his hOSpitable home and INDUCED in
their host fuVOrlte amusement Some
III the circle were mere amateurs, and all
sorts OF ludicrous blunders occurred.
This man was shy and that one had
to be told when to ante, and Others were
iii II nuddie most of the time. the
host WAS a pretty good player in his way,
and, while urbanity itself, he neverthe-
| less WAS disturbed by the please
| Ice: hobs OF his visitors. He decided to
lay before them rules Tor their guidance,
and SO one evening when they appeared,
each one found copy OF this slip laid Oh
the table before him:
HOW TO PLAY POKER rROrITABLY.
|. Don't buy but half as many chips
at the start as the other players. The
expectation IL that You will win, and ii
YOU lose it is better that You borrow or
cove up.
:. Never ante up till some one tells
you to, and then say that YOU have,
and stick to il. which Will generally
p"roGnde some one else to come in"
twice. This rule, though an excellent
one, must be followed with discretion
Ii practised too often it is liable to pro-
dunr unpleasant feelings
). Toward the end OF the evenin ii
| is always better to cove up your ante
''for a minute than to put up, as the
winner OF the pot frt quently forgets to
charge up the debt, and none OF the
other players will remind him, as they
may wish to do the same thing.
l. When the credit system begins to
creep in as it generally does about the
middle OF the game, YOU should "owe
up, ii possible, and bet chiefly against
those who always put up" This is one
OF the most important rules. To win in
cash AID lose on credit is the great secret
OF successful poker playing.
>. In dealing always observe the
bottom card, which YOU eau easily do
before the cut. Then, by noticing how
thick q cut is made, you can tell whether
that card goes out. This may help you
in the draw.
s. Keep Il sharp eye on the discnrds
They may be of service if your draw is
not satisfactory.
!. When YOU are ''in luck watch
your opportunity. From time to time
put some OF your checks in your pocket
without being seen. This Will enable vou
to owe up ii luck turns. and will pre-
vent the Others from borrowing from
You.
.. hen any one wants to buy more
checks and You have. plenty, get him to
buy Of YOU, ii possible, in preference to
the bank. 1t enables You to conceal the
amount OF your winnings, and besides,
the bank, may not be able to pay up.
.. When You are ''chppny out for
drinks, Nc, put a cigar i'll your pocket
every once in il while. You are sure to
be so much ahead OF the game, and they
come IN very haudF even when YOU don t
smoke
10. Never permit any thing to make
you forget Tor IL moment that the whole
object o. the game Is to save Your own
money and secure somebody else's and
let everything You do, however trifing
tend t. this desirable end
Ii. When the game is over, ii You are
winner, deny it entirely or fix the figure
Is low Is possible: ii Won are loser. de-
clare that YOU have lost twice as much
as YOU really have. This rule never de-
parted from. The money lost a ii game
OF poker always 1oots 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 paper OF
an old member OF the Union League Club
the other day. and the memories OF
President Arthur's cordial good humor
and gentle kindness and pleasing wit
/ brought the moisture 10 his eyes Fl