Chance and Luck

The existence and still more the flourishing condition of such a game as poker, outside mere gambling-dens, is one of the most portentous phenomena of American civilization, though it is not in this aspect that I propose just now to consider it; for the art which chiefly avails to help the gambler in playing this game is nothing more nor less than that art of which the enemy of man is proverbially said to be the father. Poker has an advantage over whist in one respect. In whist skill will do somewhat; but it will not avail to make good cards yield to bad ones. In poker the case is otherwise. A man shall have not a point in his hand; yet by sheer bluffing -- in other words, by lying -- he shall cause such an idea to be formed of his hand, that every one else at the table will throw up his cards, and leave to the liar full possession of the stakes. Yet, as Lawrence in 'Guy Livingstone,' and Hawley Smart in half a dozen novels, describe with approval the success of daring swindles, so the enthusiastic poker-player will tell you with pride of achievements in bluffing which can only be viewed in one way by men of honor -- to wit, as barefaced lying.

The game of poker is sufficiently simple, though, as usual, the explanation given by those who play it is obscure in the extreme. To every one in the circle five cards are dealt in the usual way. The eldest hand -- i.e. the player next the dealer on the left -- stakes a sum, which must be doubled by all who intend to stay in; the eldest hand doubling his original stake if he decides to stay in, otherwise forfeiting it. When this is done all who stay in have staked an equal sum. Each player may (in his regular turn only) increase his stake, in which case all who wish to stay must 'see' him -- that is, raise their stake in the same degree, or go better -- that is, raise the stake further. When all are equally in, each of the players can throw out any of his cards, and draw as many more, to improve his hand. This done, the real business begins. In due rotation the players left in raise the stake, or follow in 'seeing' it -- that is, in bringing up their stakes to the increased value. This may go on, and generally does go on, till each has staked a large sum. If a sum is named which a player is unwilling to 'see,' he lays down his hand. If all the other players are unwilling to 'see' a bet, they all throw down their hands, and the bettor takes the pool without showing his hand. But when the bet goes round to the last player remaining in, and he does not wish to go better, he may simply 'see it' and 'call'; on which all playing must show their hands, and the best hand wins the pool.

On the rules which determine the value of the several hands depend whatever qualities the game of poker has as a game of skill. Just as in vingt-et-un, hazard, and like games, there are certain rules of probability which ought to guide the player (if he must gamble), so also in poker there are rules, though they very little affect the play of the average poker-player, while the really skilled professors of this cheerful game pay no attention to them whatever.