The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-01
TO SPLIT OR NOT TO SPLIT?
HERE rs An ABOUT THE ON
PROBLEM or the JACkPOT.
\ Point or the Game on which Poker
Players Can't shall Man he
Permitted 10 split Openers. ana II ~
How shall He Prove He Held Them?

Permitted 20 split Openers. ana n ~
How shall He Prove He Held Them ?
There Is probably no question about
which more disputes arise at the poker
table than that of splitting openers, IL j.
not a new question. and although players
have been submitting it for decision 10
various authorities during twenty years
each club and poker party still holds TO
its own ideas on the Subject no matter
how many decisions are given or what
they are.
In order to arrive at Il proper under
standing Of the problem and its difficulties
1t will be necessary briefly to review the
whole situation
The qualification for opening a jackpot
is stated by the laws to be a hand containing
jacks or better There il no dispute about
that point, such slight variations "a pro-
gressive openers, requiring queens on the
second deal, &c, being unimportant,
As every player at the table Ia required
10 contribute his share to the Jackpot
each is equally interested in II, and every
one at the table must be satisfied that his
interest Ia fairly lost; that Is, that the hand
that takes the pool shall have complied
with tho law, either by holding the proper
qualification or by beating or driving or
bluffing out some hand which did hold IT,
The only way in which players can DO
satisfied on this point is to see the opening
qualifications but, unfortunately there are
many circumstances OF the game in which
It is inconvenient or impotic for the player
TO show It until the hands are laid on the
table for the final call. Let us see how
these complications arise.
Take the simplest cases first The pot
Is opened No one comes in against the
opener, and he lays his five cards face
upward on the table. If ne has jacks or
better he takes the pot
Again: The pot is opened The opener
is raised. and perhaps some one raises tho
raiser, and the opener does not care TO stay
and draw cards. IA in the first case, he
lays his hand face upward on the table,
showing that the pot was egitimately
opened no matter who eventually wins it.
Now we come to the first complication
The pot is opened. others come in and the
dealer is ready to give cards for tho draw
The laws Of the game say that any player
may discard any or all OF his cards and ask
the dealer 10 replace them. restoring mia
hand to five.
Can the opener avail himself of this privi~
lege to the full meaning Of the law. or is he
restricted TO drawing certain nu--' a- Of
cards only?
II he Is restricted he may IT, . mat he
is placed al a disadvantage in having
the same scope and freedom that the other
players have. His contention is perfectly
just and IN order TO meet the difficulty
various rules have been devised Of which
more presently but first let Us see What
usually happens
If the opener draws one. two or three
cards no ono raises the slightest objection
at the time, it being taken for granted that
he will be able 10 show openers when called
upon 20 do go
Suppose he draws three cards and after
ward shows pair Of jacks or better II is
assumed that he drew 10 ibis pair OF open
ers but this is simply an assumption on
the part of tie other pavcr. Tor tiI-ir il
absolutely no proof thai he held u pair
before ho drew bis three Car3=. TIE pro-
sumption that he relG them Is 80 stsouc
that h. is never asked the question even bu'
ihe point "a be remarked L. shat there j. no
way Of proving it
thing occurs in the play and The same a.
sumption L. made tnat he held operer. all
the time It l. not proved II d. simply
taken for granted.
II he draws one card the circumstances
re main the same He may have drawn
only one or two cards 10 order 10 mask his
hand. 10 hold mp kicker or fer blur or
for no reason at an except 20 vary hi- game
a little IN j. no ones business why ho
drew one card or wo instead of three. AN
that the other players concern themselves
with II that he can show openers whom called
upon tp do So
Butslppose that after he draw h- cannot
show openers, The players immediately
Jump 10 the conclusion mat he never had
them They demand proof
Gf he says lr had openers and throw one
If them away 20 try for Aush ora -traigh
they shake their heads ard look doubtful.
They do not like "a accuse him Of cheating f
but IN order 10 prevent such thing occur
ring again they demand that the next llme
any one oi-cards any Tart Of his opening
qualification ha shall preserve the discard
% ls 20 prove that he bad Il before the .
draw.
But the proof 50 confidently demanded Is
1nlv presumptiYe. TIE fact that Il player
who has discarded jack st.ll has one ia his
land after 'hr draw is no positive violence .
hat he held both ~ them before the draw,
however probable II miy appear Ihay
lever ask foran proof that he held openers
Jri gnally if ne can show them after having
lrawn two or three cards. but they tnme-
iiately demand proof If lie cannot show
hem and are easily satisfied With proof
hat II only presumptiYe
There are severn ways cf legi-latinE
o secure this proof and these ways may
,e divided into two principal clnsse, those
n which the opener j. not allowed "a split
md those in which he must take certain
precautions to prove. actually or presume
lively. that he had openers bu- split them.
There is only one rule IN the tr-l class,
which l. very simple one The opener
Il a jackpot shall not be allowed 10 split
~ opening qualification under any cir
so that II shall be- certainty
hat he can show opcuert IN hi- hand Al
ny time or pay the penalty for false opcn-
NJ This undoubtedly trenches little
n the principle laid down ~ the laws that
ny PLAYER shall al scBrd and draw a. he
,leaecs; but IL j. insisted that If a player
Toes in with the distinct understanding
n advance that the privilege OF opening
arries with II the obligation Of holding his
'pener- intact there should be nothing
nfair IN H. II he j. NOT willing 10 keep
rs opener. he may refuse n open tho pot.
In the second class. N which The opener
s allowed TO split. there nrc several rules.
most Of them depending on the pre-er-
alton Of tho discard Some clubs insist
hat If player /. allowed 10 split at all
which thew think he should not be II isno
m hur no .uffn