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This
is the original form of Draw Poker, but it began to lose popularity
with the introduction of Jackpots. Today it has gone out of
fashion in the U.S., though oddly enough, it still remains the
basic draw game in England, Australia and South Africa.
The game is played as follows: The player on the left of the
dealer, who is called the blind, before looking at his cards
puts up an ante of 1 chip. The player on his left, known as
the straddle, puts up an ante of 2 chips. The third player from
the dealer is first to act. He has the choice of opening for
4 chips-he cannot bet either more or less than this-or passing
out and throwing in his hand. If he passes out, the player on
his left has the same choice, opening for 4 chips or passing
out. If everyone passes before the blind, the blind is only
required to bet 3 chips on top of his 1-chip ante. If the blind
passes, the straddle collects the 1 chip from the blind and
his own 2-chip ante, and the deal passes for the next hand.
If someone opens, the game proceeds in the usual way, each subsequent
player having the choice of passing, staying or raising. When
it comes to the blind and straddle, who have already contributed
1 chip and 2 chips respectively, these chips are counted as
part of any bet they may now choose to make. For instance, if
an earlier player has already made the opening bet of 4 chips,
and no one has raised, the blind may stay for only a further
3 chips, and the straddle for only a further 2 chips.
The game is sometimes played with the straddle optional. If
the second player decides not to straddle, he becomes first
to act after looking at his cards. In this case, he can open
for twice the blind, i.e., 2 chips. Sometimes re-straddling
is allowed by the third player from the dealer, so that the
blinds become 1, 2, and 4 chips. In this case, the fourth player
becomes first to act. He must bet twice the re-straddle, i.e.,
8 chips, or pass.
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