When I was working at Prentice Hall, we had a core group of poker players that would converge once a month or so at Webber’s house. It was a great location for poker night – a few blocks from the office, and down the street from a pizzeria and an ATM. Plus, he lived in a duplex and the landlady was deaf.
We’d typically go with a dealer’s choice approach, and it was small-time stakes with quarter antes and dollar raise limits.
Except…
One game Gary was dealing, and he introduced a new game to us called Guts. Basically, it was three-card poker. Everybody antes a quarter, and you deal the three cards face down to each player.
Then the fun begins.
In order from the dealer, each player decides whether they want to compete for the pot. Once the players are identified, cards are flipped over. The winner takes the pot, and the losers match it.
So, let’s say we have six people at the table. Antes bring the pot to $1.50. Let’s say four people decide to go in. Winner takes $1.50, and the three losers kick $1.50 into the pot. The pot grows to $4.50 and we repeat. When only one person is in, they take the pot and the game is over. Got it?
So, fast forward a few months and Webber is throwing a party with a bunch of work friends. In the midst of the fun, a poker game breaks out so naturally I’m playing. The deal goes around a few times, and somebody decides to play Guts.
There are over a dozen people playing, so the pot quickly grows to about $75 or so. On the next deal, I get three of a kind – a great Guts hand. I’m in, of course. Greg decides he’s in too, the only other one. We flip our cards, I take the pot. Greg grumbles and tosses $75 onto the table.
Next deal, I get three of a kind. Again. I’m in.
Again, Greg is the only one in.
We flip our cards. “Dammit!”
Greg tosses another $75 onto the table.
Next deal.
I draw a nine.
I draw another nine.
I draw… “I’m in!”
Greg looks at me, curses, and tosses his cards. I take the pot.
What was that third card?
To quote Christopher Lee, “Can you keep a secret? So can I, my dear boy.”