> Could anyone be so kind as to enlighten me regarding the game
> being played by the gods in the Afterword as written by the
> estimable John M. Ford? I am not knowledgeable regarding games of
> chance, and my sister in her ever growing desire to play games
> with her rather lovely new decks of playing cards has decided she
> wishes to play it. She attempted to start a game using the
> description in the book, but soon found her understanding of it
> rather lacking. If someone could enlighten us on the name of the
> game, and even where to find the rules (I am, of course, assuming
> it is a real card game) we would be most appreciative.
"Hold 'em", if I remember correctly (I haven't played in a long time).
You start out with two cards face down, and then 3 cards are played face up
in the center of the table. These three cards are called "the flop" ("the
fall", in the afterword).
Each person attempts to make the best possible hand using the 2 cards in
their hand and the three on the table.
You make a bet, and then another card is played face up for everyone's
consideration.
This continues, alternating betting/dropping out, until a total of 5 cards
have been played face-up on the table, at which point everyone who is left
reveals their two cards and what kind of hand they made using them and three
of the five on the table.
The version in the Afterword appears to use more than 4 suits; I am
intrigued to know how much of a difference that would make. Flushes would
be rarer, I'd think.
Bryan