on his own account.

'During the war he speculated in "greenbacks," and lost all his
ill-gotten gains, and had to descend to his present position.'(90)

(90) _Ubi supra_.

AMERICAN GAMES:--DRAW POKER, OR BLUFF.

Draw Poker, or Bluff, is a favourite game with the Americans. It is
played by any number of persons, from four to seven; four, five, or six
players are preferred; seven are only engaged where a party of friends
consists of that number, and all require to be equally amused.

The deal is usually determined by fixing on a card, and dealing round,
face upwards, until such card appears. The dealer then places in the
pool an _Ante_, or certain agreed-upon sum, and proceeds to deal to each
person five cards. The player next to the dealer, before looking at
his cards, has the option of staking a certain sum. This is called the
'blind,' and makes him the elder hand, or last player; and when his
turn comes round he can, by giving up his first stake, withdraw from
the game, or, if he pleases, by making good any sum staked by a previous
player, raise the stakes to any sum he pleases, provided, of course,
that no limit has been fixed before sitting down. The privilege of
raising or doubling on the _blind_ may be exercised by any one round the
table, provided he has not looked at his cards. If no intervening player
has met the original _blind_, that is, staked double the sum, this must
be done by all who wish to play, and, of course, must be made good by
the last player. Each person then looks at his cards, and decides on
his plan of action. It should be understood that every one, except the
_blind_, may look at his cards in his turn before deciding if he will
meet the _blind_. Before speaking of the manner of drawing it will be
better to give the relative value of the hands, which will much simplify
the matter, and make it more easily understood. Thus: four aces are the
best cards that can be held; four kings next, and so on, down to four
twos; four cards of the same value beating anything except four of a
higher denomination.

The next best hand is called a _full_, and is made up thus:--three aces
and a pair of sixes; three nines and pair of twos; in fact, any three
cards of the same value and a pair constitute a full hand, and can only
be beaten by a full hand of a higher denomination or fours. The next
hand that takes precedence is a _flush_, or five cards of one colour;
after this comes _threes_, vis., three