Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-04
Poker on the Pacific Coast Has Many
Queer Wrinkles,
EASTERN MAN FOUND IT EXPENSIVE
The Joker is the Only Real Thing,
and Straights Don't Go.
ECCENTRIC JACK POTS



If you belong on this side Of the noun
tains-to make few little preliminary
inquiries of your fellow players as to the
kind of poker you're expected to mingle
with" said a well-known Senate committee
clerk who made his initial visit to che
slope last autumn. Because I neglected
to do this myself on several occasions
got into all sorts of embarrassing and ex-
pensive situations and all colors of poker
trouble all the way from Portland to San
Diego and the fellows with whom 1 did
little stunts at draw-all good people. solid
chaps to whom 1 had letters from friends
back this way-put me down as the worst
jay at the game of poker that ever crossed
the Rocky mountains. The folks out there
think we're all jays back here, anyhow.
If for no other reason than that we haven't
enough brains to pack up and migrate in
a body to the Pacific coast, but they COM
PLEASANTLY told me that was the worst Of
the species they'd ever seen, simply be-
cause 1 couldn't seem to get the hang of
the queer old game they call American
draw out in that country.
The game they dub poker out there isn't
poker at all, in my humble judgment. It's
a hybrid sort of affair. full Of fancy moves
that must have been chucked into the orig
inal game by early California vaqueros
with such a taste for establishment that
they had to tack gilt fringe onto their
pants and to encircle their hats with silver
cable and juggling bells. Whatever they
call 1t, it's not American draw poker by
big sight.
Play With the Joker.
1.-The kind of poker that was raised on
the real thing, the article of draw that we
play this side of the Alleghenies-
doesn't take any more account of the joker.
for instance. than it does of the card case.
but out in California they think a mans
plumb blind crazy If he registers a kick
n a
lief play old maid grab for corn-silk
cigarettes as play poker with the joker
mixed up in 1t, but out on the slope had
to take the game as 1t was dished up, and,
as between poker with joker and no poker
at all. 1. of course. accepted the lesser of
the two evils and played But got dump
ed on the game for about 1000 miles of
coast line, and that. too. by fellows who
didn't have to count themselves because
they were 81 many at the game. The trou-
BILE that I played the game of draw
that 1 was Thought up on and they played
their oross-bred game, and the result was
gust about as queer it would be to see
a base ball pitcher chucking up a Rugby
foot ball to cricket batsman with a fence
picket in his hands
tn not forget my first run-in with this
poker-joker idea 1t was a four-handed
game and l was the only eastern man in
the bunch. The other three fellows were
members Of the Native Sons organization.
which accounts for the weird brand of
poker they played. They played what was
taught EN- in their youth out there: didn't
know any better. and thought. and no doubt
still think that their game is right.
Looked Like a Winner.
II was banker and d!shed up the first
hand. 1t was 25-cent ante and s. limit 1
gave myself two good pairs. kings up on
tens. All of the other fellows stayed, and
the man on my right made it a couple more
dollars to draw cards. This let two of EN-
out of it. but thought my two pairs were
good enough for a 81 raise before the draw.
and so l stayed along. He drew one card,
and so. of course. did l. It was his bet.
and he came at me. double time. with the
limit. I'd caught another king and had
neat-looking full house as man needs
To have in any kind of a game
Five morn you" said l. and we shut
tied the limit back and forth until we each
had about so in the pot. Said to myself.
I've got you beat, old boy. for the per-
centage of the game Is against your holding
tours to my full hand. especially on the
first clatter out of the box. and even II
you've filled those two pairs of yours
which you probably haven't, for the per-
centage Is plumb against you-you certain
ly haven't got aces on top.
Now. that was ordinarily good poker
reasoning the kind Of reasoning that has
kept me necktie and peanut money ahead
of the game for a good many years. and l
gave him the raise back often he
hurled it at me.
But 1t Didn't Win.
Were getting out Of our depth and
finally I've got you manhandled, bat you
jumpers from the east never can feel the
bunch when you licked and so I'll
skate in my little yellow piece and call
YOU
we each had about $50 in the pot then.
IL spread out my three gentlemen topping
the tens, and was just about to make some
humorous crack about getting hoe to
scoop in my winnings on the first hand.
when he spread out his hand and raked in
he not "A han CT ed
of pair of aces up on pair of skies and
the Joker.
What the dickens are you doing there?'
I asked him when he raked in the pot.
Can't you see it's misdeal? 1 forgot to
take the joker out Of the deck
'Nisdeal nothing he said. still smiling
You had a good fistful all right. but aces
leat kings. you know, anywhere from Tuo-
iumne To Tucson
Yes said l. but you've only got aces
up. and I've got a full house. kings up and
as a misleal, anyhow for the joker's-'
Well. they all looked at me like they
thought ought to be in lunatic asylum.
'Msdeal? said my friend who had
swiped the pot. What the deuce are you
giving US. anyway? l caught the joker on
the draw. and 1t just filled my hand-three
aces ard pair of SKIES
You mean you call the joker an ace?'
asked. the thing just beginning to dawn
upon me.
The three fellows gazed upon me as il
TO ascertain whether I'd been taking too
many highballs
A Card of Great Power.
why. do you mean TO say asked the
nan l had played with. that you don't
know that poker the joker is any old
thing you choose to make it-that, when
You get 1t either the deal in the
draw. you can call IL anything you want
TO exc out a pair. flush. full house. or any
thing else? Tell you what. old man. you
need sleep. You've been doing too much
Sfg al nd