Playing Poker

Poker has long been one of America’s favourite pastimes. It was played on the Mississippi riverboats and in the saloons of the “Wild West”.

This is how you play draw poker *

First all the players put a little money in the centre of the table to start the game. Then the dealer (el que reparte ) gives five cards to each player. After looking at his cards, the player can exchange one, two or three of the cards that he doesn’t want. Then the players bet (apuestan) . The player to the left of the dealer begins. He can say, for example: “I bet two dollars”. And he puts two dollars in the centre of the table. The next player can do one of three things:

1- If he thinks his cards are not very good , he says, “I’m out” ( me retiro) , and gives the cards back to the dealer.
2- If he thinks his cards are fairly good , he says, “Ill see you” (las veo), and puts the same amount of money in the centre of the table that the first player put there.
3- If he thinks his cards are very good, he says “I’ll see your two dollars and raise you (for example) three “ (veo tus dos dólares y subo tres más) and puts five dollars in the centre of the table.

When all bets have been “seen” , the betting stops. Then the player who bet the most money shows his cards. If any of the other players have got better cards, he shows them. The best cards win all the money in the centre of the table.
Poker hands: here is the order  of what wins from the highest (Royal  Flush) to the lowest (One Pair).

The names of the cards are: Ace, two,three,four,five,six,seven,eight,nine,ten Jack,Queen,King.

The names of the suits (palos) are: Spades(picas),Hearts, Diamonds and Clubs (tréboles) .

*Se llama "Draw Poker" porque cada jugador puede "draw", robar ,entre una y cuatro cartas después de la primera ronda de apuestas,intentando mejorar su mano.