Game Journal

Whiskey Poker – The dealer gives five cards, face down, to each player and an extra hand (“widow”) of five cards in the middle of the table. He must deal to each player in turn around to the left, one card at a time, then the widow, then himself last. Each player, beginning at the dealer’s left, has the option of exchanging his hand for the widow, or keeping it as it is. If he takes up the widow, he places his five cards face-up on the table and they become the new widow. Each player in turn has the option of taking up all or one card of the new widow and replacing it with cards from his own hand. If a player wishes to play his original hand, he signals by knocking on the table, but he cannot draw and knock at the same time.

The process of exchanging cards continues around the table until some player knocks. A knock means that this player will show his present hand when it is his turn next around the table, and that thus each player has only one more chance to exchange cards. No player may draw after he has once knocked. A player may knock before the widow is exposed, if he wishes to.

If no one takes the widow until it comes around to the dealer, and no one has knocked, the dealer must either take up the widow for himself, or turn it face-up on the table. Even if the dealer knocks, and does not take up the widow, he must spread it on the table for each player to see and draw once more. If any player, other than the dealer, knocks before the widow Is exposed, the widow does not have to be exposed unless some player wishes to exchange his hand for it.

After the knock and the final round of draws, all hands are shown to the table. The highest takes the pot, If a pot has been made by an ante from all. The lowest pays the forfeit agreed upon beforehand. Some players prefer to have a round of betting before the showdown.

The Wild Widow – This game is similar to Draw Poker except that, after four cards have been dealt to each player, the next card is dealt face-up In the centre of the table and it remains there during the game. The fifth cards are then dealt to players to complete their hands. The three other cards of the same denomination as the centre card are wild. Thus, if an eight is in the centre, the three other eights are wild.

Spit in the Ocean – Only four cards are dealt to each player. The next card in the pack is turned face-up in the centre of the table and is considered as the fifth card in each player’s hand. This card is wild, and the others of the same denomination are also wild throughout the game. After a betting interval, there is a draw as in any Draw Poker game except that each player draws to a four-card hand, then a final betting interval and a showdown.