The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-12
'XNTHERE POKER WENT
Wv BEYOND THE LIMIT
A Friendly Game That Left a
Trail Of DlshOnOr.

"it must have been a number Of years
ago. said the gray haired young looking
man n the club smoking room. 'bqcauss
! know that nobody In the party even
30 much - suggested playing bridge.
we always gathered. half = dossn Of
~. and always the same half dozen. IN
Fred's smoking room on Saturday night
and aat IN At what We reckoned the
GROWING enjoyment Of our week end.
We hadn't even begun To call Il by tho
name week end but for that whole seaaon
~ never missed gathering at Fred's place
on a single Saturday.
we made no pretension 10 belonging
h any fashionable ct, but We were all
Of us more than reasonably prosperous
that year. and since We all kept up our
ends in the way Of entertaining nom
time 10 time IN the city We knew and
felt that IL was no imposition on Fred
and his wife for ne 10 pay him our weekly
visit.
Knowing this a. We did. We realized
also that his sister Ethel was also well
satisfied with the arrangements, for
George. the only other bachelor besides
myself In the party, was her fanc4. VIII
and Harry and I'd were all married as
happily A. vas Fred. and my oelibacy
was the subject Of much joking.
The game We played was really
heavy. though - ! said. we were
ell particularly prosperous that year
and there was really no thought on the
part oI any u M that there was any
danger in IL. The checks ~ wrote In
settlement az the end Of each sitting
were cften in four figures, but the losers
one week were likely 20 be the winners
next time. and for one. though I was
hit hard several times during the sumner,
was never really Inconvenience, and
my impression IL that was not far from
even when the game broke up.
We played go limit at first. but before
tho lapse Of any great time We saw that
the limit. valuable a. Il nay be in some
games with some players. had no legiti
mate placs with M.
There had been an uneasy feeling Of
this sort for several sittings, bat Il came
10 a climax one night when Fred had
dealt and an unusual play followed
1t was a natural jack and there was
SIS in the pot before the deal Harry
passed and 20 did VIII. bit George. find-
ing a small straight, opened for the limit.
had a pair Of aces and trailed, while
I'd. thinking he saw so worth in the
play. put up HE money
aTT..o R.~..s-ke a 10 a.. A..l.r aaA ~
dropped. but Harry and viii. both q
whom had shown their weakness by
passing in the first place. both came
in. That 81 course closed the pot and
made SIS to play for. but Il left the opener
With no chance 10 push his hand
Harry having hrst say, called for one
card. and VIII took one George % course
stood pat, having no option. ] took
three. hut though caught my third ace !
realized that my hand was worthless
I'D had not bsttered and he too dropped
promptly but Harry. after his one card
draw. saw enough 10 call on and viii
raised Il the limit
-GeorRe Was too well trained % say
ANYTHING with Harry sull 10 hear
from. but he called the raise with a most
look. and Harry said III
have 20 zee what IL 10. 10 he put in his
SO He had filled a straight larger than
Georges. but Wills hand was a flush.
and he took in over sion on a hand that
vas barely worth coming In on in the frat
place.
We all saw the hardship 81 II, and
there was hardly q dissenting voice when
George said. q little impatiently. II Ne
are going 10 play poker lets play poker.
OF course that vas perfectly fair. and |
have no criticism, but IT'S plain enough
that II could have played nv hand ~ u
ought % have been played in the first
place the chances are that I'd have won
Il. Let's take on the limit Make u
table stakes Il you like. but let's give a
player the chanc" 10 protect his hand.
Well a. ! said there was no serious
objection. and after that we played table
stakes A. rule We wouid start with
SOD apiece In front of us. and u
goes without saying that we found the
game far more interesting
Prom that time on till the final break .
up that came near the end Of September .
that game was. ! think. without excep-
ton the very pleaaantest ! ever sat IN .
don't think I'm far out Of the way /
either. IN saying that Il was a. good hard I
BRO0KLVN AnyERTIsEMENTN.