Background

Poker - Ricardo's Style

In 1870's Texas, the game of choice is poker. Poker uses a standard 52-card deck, containing 13 cards in each of 4 suits. The cards (in rank order from lowest to highest) are: 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10(T)-Jack(J)-Queen(Q)-King(K)-Ace(A). The suits are clubs (♣), spades (♠), diamonds (♦), and hearts(♥). The object of the game is to obtain cards randomly and form the highest legal poker hand. The poker hands (in rank order from lowest to highest) are listed as follows (with "x" denoting a card not helping):

• High Card - The rank of the highest rank card in your hand. Example: Axxxx
• Pair - Two cards of the same rank in hand. Example: 88xxx
• Two Pair - A pair of pairs. Example: JJ44x
• Three of a Kind - Three cards of the same rank. Example: 555xx
• Straight - A 5-card run of cards of "touching" rank. Example: 23456 or TJQKA. Note: A2 do not touch.
• Flush - All cards of hand in one suit. Example: 9-7-5-4-2 all of Diamonds
• Full House - Both Three of a Kind and a Pair in the same hand. Example: 333QQ
• Four of a Kind - Four cards of the same rank. Example: KKKKx
• Straight Flush - Both a Straight and a Flush in the same hand. Example: 6789T all of Clubs
• Five of a Kind - Five cards of the same rank (only possible with wild cards). Example: 66666 where 1 (or more) is wild.

How to play "Draw" Poker

Everyone puts ante into the Pot and 5 cards are dealt face down to each player. A round of betting occurs. Each player can discard up to 3 cards (4 if your last card is an ace or wild card, this rule is set by the players) and replace them with new cards from the deck. There is another round of betting, and hands are revealed. The highest hand wins the pot.
Lowball is a variation on Draw Poker where the object is to get the worst hand possible.

How to play "Stud" Poker

7-Card Stud - The initial deal is 2 cards face down and 1 card face up to each player. The first betting round starts with the highest hand showing or (for the first round) the high card. Another card is dealt face up, followed by another betting round. This is repeated until there are 4 cards face up. Then a final card is dealt face down and a final betting round held. The ranking of the hands are the same as regular poker, except using the 5 best cards out of the 7 you are dealt.

5-Card Stud - There is a variation on "Stud" poker called 5-card. This varies in how it is dealt: 2 down, 3 up, or 1 down, 4 up, or 1 down, 3 up, 1 down at the dealer's choice (before the first card is dealt). There is betting between each round.

Poker Etiquette

A single poker hand is played according to the following sequence:

The Dealer announces the current game (including any wild cards), and leads ante into the Pot.
The Players ante into the Pot to indicate their participation in the current game.
The Dealer deals out the current game, and players bet as appropriate.
The current game is resolved, and the winner is declared, taking the contents of the Pot.
Only the Winner May Remove Items From The Pot.
The Dealer passes the cards to the left, who continues at step 1.

Usually the host (not necessarily a player) sets the betting and seating conventions, if there are any. Six is usually the largest number that can play any given hand. The dealer sets the game and the variations of it. After a game has been played, deal passes to the player on the left. The gaming table is usually considered "neutral territory" and drawing a weapon while there is considered bad form.

"Sandbagging," or raising a bet after you have checked (not bet when you had the opportunity to), is also considered bad form. It has been known to lead to people drawing weapons while at the table... Calling someone's bet, though, is always acceptable.

"Breaking" bets are generally considered bad form. If someone places an unusually high bet that can't be matched, other players are usually given the opportunity to find a "backer" to cover part or all of the bet. This isn't true in a game with limited bets and raises, but is always true in open "high stakes" betting. How much time is at the discretion of the other players; it often depends on how much the bet is.

Legends have grown up around what's been won and lost at the poker table. Some have certainly lost the shirt off their back, the horse under their saddle, the deed to a gold mine, and even things of greater value. You can put up almost anything of value for a bet, as long as the other players agree to it. Since the War started, the stories have become even more fantastic, with tales of people wagering spouses, lives, or even their very souls. How someone would collect upon such a bet is a matter of conjecture, but the tales claim that some gamblers have their ways.

If you see something really strange being bet at the table, trust that it can actually be bet. If you are watching, know that Something is Going On. If you are playing, know that Something Really Strange is Going On, and you may be a part of it. You can always fold and cut your losses. Or you can call the bet and take your chances that luck is on your side. Who knows what you might win...