cards he holds for
others from the remainder [35] of the pack. He must first throw on the
table, face downwards, the number of cards he wishes to exchange (this is
called "discarding"), and the dealer then gives him an equal number from
the top of the pack. Before exchanging any of his cards, however, each
player must make his stake equal to that of ante, or of the last player.

It is not compulsory for a player to exchange all or any of his cards;
but he must exercise or relinquish the privilege of doing so when his
turn comes, once for all; and he cannot afterwards modify his choice,
nor take back any card or cards he may have discarded.

Whether he exchange any of his cards, or whether he retains the hand first
dealt out to him, each player must make his stake equal to that of ante,
or of the last player, so that when all players have been supplied with,
or refused, new cards, the stakes are all equal, and are all placed in
the pool.

To give a practical illustration of this process, let us suppose that there
are five players taking part in the game, that the ante is fixed at
threepence, and the limit at a shilling. The players cut for deal, and the
deal falls to _A_.

____
(No. 1) C / \ D (No. 2)
( )
(Ante) B \____/ E (No. 3)
A
(Dealer)

_B_ then is ante, _C_ No. 1, etc.

_B_ (ante) stakes threepence.

[36]

_C_, who has the right to straddle the ante does not do so, so no other
player may.

_A_ then deals five rounds of one card each to each player, beginning
with _B_, and then puts the remainder of the pack on the table.

_C_ (No. 1) then looks at his cards, elects to play, and stakes
sixpence (double ante's stake).

_D_ (No. 2) looks at his cards, rejects them, throwing them face
downwards on the table, and retiring from the game until the next deal.

_E_ (No. 3) looks at his cards, elects to play, and stakes sixpence.

_A_ (dealer) looks at his cards, elects to play, and stakes one shilling
and sixpence (he must stake sixpence, but he raises the stakes by the
maximum amount allowed).

_B_ (ante) looks at his cards, elects to play, and stakes one shilling
and threepence, making his stake equal to _A's_. _B_ then discards two
of his cards, places them face downwards on the table, and receives from
_A_ two in their place.

_C_ (No. 1) adds a shilling to his stake, making it equal to _A's_ and
_B's_, and throws down all his car