ds, receiving five new ones in their
place.

_E_ (No. 3), rather than increase his stake to one shilling and sixpence,
relinquishes his hand, throwing down his cards, and losing the sixpence
he has already staked.

_A_ (dealer), who has already staked one shilling and sixpence, throws
down one card and takes another in its place from the top of the pack.

There are now three players, _A_, _B_, and _C_, each of whom has staked one
shilling and sixpence on his hand, and there is a sum of five shillings,
including _E's_ first stake in the pool.

No. 1 then begins play by betting a sum not exceeding [37] the limit.
He may, if he choose, "stand," decline to bet until the next round, or he
may throw his cards face downwards on the table and retire from the game,
losing the money he has already staked. The turn then passes to No. 2.
Let us suppose, in the first place, that he does bet.

The next player on his left must then--

(_a_) Make his stake equal to that of No. 1, in which case he is said
to "call" No. 1, and he has the right to see No. 1's hand when the game
is over, or--

(_b_) Make his stake greater than that of No. 1 by a sum not exceeding
the limit, in which case he is said to "raise" No. 1; or--

(_c_) Resign the game, place his cards face downwards on the table,
and lose the sum he has already staked.

Each player in succession has a similar choice. He must--

(_a_) Call the preceding player; or

(_b_) Raise the preceding player; or

(_c_) Resign his stake and the game.

If No. 1 had "stood," _i.e._ not bet when it was first his turn to play,
he would have to do so when the turn came round to him again,
or else relinquish his cards and his stake.

When all the stakes are equal, each player throws his cards face upwards
on the table, and the player with the best hand takes the pool and all
the stakes.

It will be seen thus that there is no play of the cards in Poker, as
in most other card games. The best hand exposed wins the game and takes
the stakes; and the play of the game consists in estimating the probable
value of the opponents' hands as compared with the player's own hand.

[38]

To resume our illustration (page 36).

_C_ begins play by betting sixpence.

_A_ also bets sixpence, making his stake equal to _C's_, and by doing
so is said to call _C_.

_B_ bets one shilling and sixpence, _i.e._ raises _C_ a shilling.
He makes his stake equal to _C's_ and _A's_, and has exercised hi