The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-02-07
DOES POKER MAKE
MEN CRUEL ::
4 4 1 Z 4 + 4 = 4 > : \ <5tt-
CNew York Telegraph


PIE CHARGE made against the
game Of draw poker that it is cruel
and tends to harden the nature OF
the one who plays it, is undoubtedly a
just charge. There is much truth in
the statement, yet it must be remem-
bered that it applies no more to draw
poker than 10 any other game or pur-
suit in which one mans gain depends
upon another mans loss. All forms Of
gambling, and very many forms Of le-
climate business. depend entirely for
their interest and profit on the losses
of other people. And it is this feature
that constitutes the cruelty Of all such
pursuits, and that tends to harden and
possibly to degrade the character OF
one who follows them. Draw poker is
neither better nor worse than any Of
them in this respect.
But the claim which draw poker has
TO consideration as an educational
agent. even after tile charge mentioned
is admitted. lies in the training which
the player gets while carrying on the
continuous struggle which the play
calls for. His mental analysis OF the
actions Of his antagonist is, Of Itself,
a thing likely to De Of vast benefit Ia
him in teaching him how to Judge Of
the behavior of other people in any
critical junctUre in life.
Take the case Of one certain play
which is a favOrite trick with a good
many of the holder players at the game
and il is easy to see the importance Of
this analysis. A close study OF the
trick is useful. not only as showing the
importance, but also as an illustration
or the extreme ferocity Of the game
itself.
The. case is this: B sits on the deal
er's left in seVcu-handed game OF
draw poker, with a goOd-sized Jackpot
on the table. Having the first say, he
leaves his cards living on the table and
passes blind, or without looking at his
hand. It is evident that he may, or
may not. have openers, but that he
refuses to open under the guns. either
because be does not care TO open and
possibly to be raised by some other
player, or because he wishes to be in
a position TO do the raising himself in
case someone else shall open Il.
It is perfectly evident that II ne one
shall open on that deal = VIII have
thrown away his opportunity 10 open.
provided he had openers. and has not
acquired any other advantage 10 COM
pensate him. II that should happen.
however. the pot viii be sweetened and
ne win have the deal. and. consequent
~, the best position. according TO the
old saying. Happy is the dealer in a
big jackpot.
But. to complete the study Of the sit
uatiOn. let IL be supposed that someone
else does open il after 3 has passed
blind Then if it passes around to 3
again without being raised, or. better
yet for him, without anyone staying
with the opener, b viii have secured
the chance for which he was playing.
His play now is TO look at his hand
and. without q trace Of hesitation IN
his manner. come in and raise heavily
To make the play effective the raise
must be so large as TO be really dis
proportionate TO the pot, especially If
there are any more players still to hear
from who might stay on a four flush,
a four straight OF even small pair.
His raise If sufficiently large. wiz Ger
tainly keen those players ont and viii
put the opener in q quandary.
The opener has 10 decide hetW cen two
propositions-either B has. in fact, a
strong hand which justifies & raise. or
he IS blufang. In considering the aues-
ton he remembers that = passed blind,
and therefore. it is entirely possible
that he may have the strong hand. and
he viii perceive at the same time that
he has secured the hest possible posi-
ton for q bluff, 50 that even If the play
be actually a bluff it IS a most effective
one.
Nine players ont Of ten who should
have -epenaa the pot and should be met
b. q play like this would lax down
their cards, uniess they held sonaet7iilss
at least better than two small pairs
Even II they strongly suspect = OF