The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-08
ETHICS OF DRAW POKER.
A Veteran Sporting Mans Uncompii-
rncntnry View of the Came

"A veteran opOIGshS9
mcntnry View of the Came.
rs it possible for a. man TO learn to play
noSer?, was asked Of veteran sport the
other day.
.Of course it is he snorted. That
Is. it is possible for some people Inc
man with sporting blood in his velns
and without too much regard for ethics IN
his composition can learn to play poker.
This talk about everything being IN tae
cards YOU hold is all rot nave seen d
man lay down three aces to paar OF
deuces, and that certainly demonstrates
that there is more in playing poker tnan
the value of the hand. OF course. such
thing as that would not be possible
where the limit was about the size OF
the not. but then q good poker player
steers clear of any such sketcheS as
that. 1t places the sport on the same
level with the sucker. and there Is no
chance for man to display his skill "
knowledge of the game.
cit is easy enough to spot a sucker
he continued she can come into the
game with as much of a swagSer as the
can muster, but he will show his weak
ness inside of ten minutes. and then ne
will have more trouble on his handS tnaii
he can take care of in year de IS
slow about getting mis- ante to the cenue
of the table, and if the cards run agalns.
him he is always cursing his luck anu
making things generally unpleasant TOT
the players. If he gets a good mana ne
crows over his winnings until the others
get sore You can always tell whether ne
has a good hand or not, for he has never
learned the value of self control ana us
exultation is always evident lie never
has the slightest idea Of the percentage
he stands of winning, and Is always
coming i'm on short pairs. lat us Wnere
he loses. He can't wait for fortune 10
come to him. and he is always trying 10
Tull his luck He will chip away more
money in two hours than a good player
would DIN two days.
watch the contrast between the sucker
and the trained sport. Hhe latter comes
and sits sdown to the table quietly and
without any fuss. He skins his cards
carefully. and keeps an eye on every play
around the board. M zone ever mas to
ten him to ante, and he never holds a
spost-mertem to see what he might have
eot He NAV not make a move for half
an hour. but when he gets out on play
he will break some ones heart, either on
a bluff or with a hand that the devil him
self could not bea IT,
s.Is it right to cheat2 Well, you are,
ee1 ting too personal. Il wouldn't admit
chat I would do such a thing, but II there
is any crooked work going on am
going to nave SIlAIS III Lie pAoSSSNS
or know the reason why. This, talk about
"A sentlemen's game us all a dream. #
a man plays poker and keeps at it he
is going to be "a party to some thing
crooked, whether he plays at fashona-
Bile club or In a wine room at the back.
OF a saloon. For my own part X prefer
Ia NAV. in a hard game. where some
thing is liable to be pulled off, for 4
know that I have; to look out for myself
Humanity is reduced to aSmornl level
when 1t comes to gambling and while
some of these silk stockings mayEprate
about their honor and all that it Is only
their fear OF being found out that keeps
them from being as crooked as any long
shoreman, provided Of course, tn nat sthey
need the money. $3.50
:. A man can't have too squeam1sh a
regard for ethics or conscious II 81 IS
going to play poker.E1f I5see cheating go
Ing on 7 merely declare myself In. RI
see dirty card thrown or ca tchS q man man
holding out I think my proper course.
would be to hum gently to myself and
say. as If were grooming lullaby
T want a slice of rhat.I think will
have a. slice OF that. for the reason that
is too good tohpass up Then the man
who turned the trick would be pretty apt
to give me the win would geta livvy
for preserving the peace.
Now. Is admit s.hat could get up and
mako a great roar. Igcould slam my cards
: