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In the game of
poker these dilemmas are solved by the fact that every club, group,
or even individual social game, has the right to make its own rules.
The rules can be and are made to conform to the temper and preferences
of the participants.
Nevertheless, it is not only desirable but almost essential that
such rules be written. Then, when any misunderstanding or question
arises, the players can consult the written rules and stick by them,
whatever they say, so that there can be no hard feelings. The poker
laws in the Appendix of this book are recommended for adoption by
any game or group of players. These laws follow those adopted by
principal clubs and gambling houses throughout the United States,
and especially from Nevada westward. There are several other admirable
codes of poker laws, and from a practical standpoint it does not
make a great deal of difference which code is adopted as long as
the players abide by some code.
Since a poker game is "every man for himself," poker players
are by nature rugged individualists. "Serious" players
seldom see why anyone else should be permitted to make laws for
them. They prefer to make their own, or at least to look over the
available prescriptions and select the ones they like best. There
is nothing wrong with this as long as every player in the game clearly
understands the procedure to cover each particular case, and as
long as the laws are written so that there can be no misunderstandings
about them.
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