The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-08-05
POINTS 0 POKER.

Given Gratis to Tom Lawson or Any otner Equally Unfortunate Millionaire.
 In his eloquent telegram to the Eagle yesterday Thomas W. Lawson of Bos-
 ton said: 'eThe one envy of my life are
 those who have mastered the noble
 science of poker" This, beside being
 almost English, is quite pathetic. To think that in this land of plenty there should be one, even one poor millionaire left thus to hunger, mayhap to starve,
 for pokerl Would that I were one of
 those who have mastered this noble
 science. How gladly would I open a might school for the enlightenment of such as might envy my superior ac-
 quirements.
 But there! This is wild dream of
 phiianthropic imagination. I am not
 master and doubt that ever shall
 be. am but humble pupil, sitting at the feet of learned professors Still,
 MT. Lawson is welcome to such know
 edge as may have acquired from care ful observation of these masters.
 First, then. let me inform him that he should never seem anxious to play poker. If he drops in at the cigar store where game is arranged for nearly every night he should let on that he had no thought of poker in his mind when he came there. Indeed, he should sit back and talk horse until somebody coaxes him to play. This makes 1t pos sible for him afterward to say: ''Well, I didn't want to win your money, but you dragged me in"
 As soon as the game is started he should begin talking about something else-horses, of courses, always pre- ferred. This enables him to ask who opened it, who's in, how much and so on, when he is reminded that it is lip to him. He should also bear in mind that this is a gentlemen's game and that haste is vulgar. Therefore he should I shuffle his hand three or four minutes before looking at 1t and then should l squeeze 1t down with the utmost deli l beration. This indicates that he is in | 1o hurry to win money and shows that | ne is really playing only for pastine. The same effect is produced If, after he las seen his hand, he sits and holds it | n utter silence until somebody says:
 Well, what do you do?n It is then well | or him to remark: If this deuce of learts were the ace of spades I'd open for the limit By this time the rest # the players usually begin to get a thinner of the hope that ultimately he will pass, so they throw their hands to he deck. Then 1t Is a good idea for him 9 slide in blue chip and add. Hold | n: Here's 2 pair didn't see. I open t."
 If perGilance he really does pass he hould never fall to reach over and grab he pack; for how can he hope ever to nswer the noble science of poker un- sss he reach time makes an autopsy to eternline what every player would ave got in the draw if he had opened and all had stayed?
 As soon as possible he should play ut all his red and white chips. If he ant do this fast enough in the ordi- ary course, of the game he shoud hange out every blue that happens to e thrown into the pot. The advantage having only blue chips before him is nat when he wants to bet a white he an go shy and maybe the other fellow i'll forget it or be too polite to men, ion so small a matter believe it wasl enjamin Franklin who said that 2 enny saved is a penny earned; and