DO THE SURE THINGS

The whole purpose of poker is to get into a position where you do have a sure thing and then use that sure thing to collect as much from your opponent or opponents as possible. In spite of this obvious fact, I recall numerous times I have been asked whether it is permissible to bet with a royal flush, etc. The answer is, of course it is all right. You will be betting on a sure thing, but remember, when you bet with a sure thing your opponent is by no means compelled to call you. When you check with a sure thing your opponent does not have to bet into it.

While this does not come under the head of how to conduct a poker game, I cannot go by this point without telling one of the many stories about a club which used to meet every Friday for an all-night poker session. Most of the members were very distinguished in the world of letters, and while the stakes were high, the game was relaxed and the humor scintillating.

One bright spring morning about eleven o'clock the membership, unshaven and bleary-eyed, staggered out into the street, and the first thing their eyes hit upon was a bright-faced boy accompanied by his governess. Columnist Frank Adams looked at the smiling boy and, turning to his companions, remarked, "Imagine keeping a child that age out until this hour!"