The Education of a Poker Player (High Stakes Classic)

Author: Herbert O. Yardley
Publisher: High Stakes
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FIVE-CARD DRAW, JACKS OR BETTER 23

and threw in his hand. "Imagine drawing one card with all that money at stake."

I tossed my hand in the discards and drew in the pot with trem bling hands. I got up and cashed in. I had more than my original stake of $250.

I was shivering with excitement, and I huddled around the fire which Dummy had lighted in the early hours as if the warmth of the stove would stop the shivers. It was too late to go to school so I sat down to watch the play. I had fallen asleep when I heard Monty's fist bang the table. Here he goes again, I thought, but when I looked, I saw him using his left hand to bet. He wasn't bluffing this time, I reflected.

As the play was recaptured later, Monty had used the same tactics on the drummer he had tried on me and then later on both me and the drummer-raising and standing pat. But now the circumstances were different. Monty was betting with his left hand.

It seems that the drummer had opened with the usual bet and Monty raised with the drummer staying and drawing three cards. Monty, as before, stood pat. The drummer made aces up and checked to trap Monty, for experience told him that Monty could not have a pat hand as often as he bet.

Much to my surprise Monty bet $500 on his pat hand.

"You can't have a pat hand all the time," the drummer said, grinning.

"You son-of-a-bitch, you'll never know unless you call," Monty cried back.

"I call," said the drummer. He was about out of chips.

"With what?" asked Monty.

"Ain't my credit good?"

"Not for five hundred."

"How much?"

Monty thought a moment. Then his face broke out in a mischievous grin. "How much are those ten trunks you carry around full of shoes worth?"