Poker Variant Embraces Whiskey
This American game that is thought to be the ancestor of all poker games was very much famous during the 1800's and 1900s. It is not well known anymore today, some may not be aware such game even existed. But it to continues to attract card players in Mexico; the name has become La Viuda. Sometimes the 'u' is taken out and its is called La Vida. It means widow and life respectively. To some it was called Whiskey Poker. The naming of the game may have followed suit from another famous poker variant Rummy Gin. In that game the inventor was into gin in this game players might have whiskey as their accompanying drink.
Players of this game could anywhere be from two to nine. The goal of each player is to get the best hand (composed of five cards) by trading with excess cards on the table. The dealer is chosen by way of cards. Each player is handed with a card, whoever gets the lowest value card becomes the first dealer. The upcoming dealer is the player positioned to the dealer's left. The left of the person becomes the next, so on and so forth.
Before the deck is distributed, each player hands over a bet. The game begins with the dealer giving each player five cards in one pile and an extra card face down on middle of table. Dealer circulate the cards to each player in turn starting with the person to his left, then to the window and lastly to herself or himself.
When the dealing of cards is done, players can opt to barter with the cards on the widow pile. Or one could keep the cards given to him. if a player chooses to swap with the widow cards, his or her cards are placed up on the table and the widow pile becomes his or her hand.
These cards that have been faced up and given up by a player becomes the new widow pile. Then the other players can trade in to individual cards on that new widow pile. Every card taken by a player is to be replaced with cards from his hand.
For those who insist to use their present cards in their hand, no more exchanging, players knock on the table. Once a player knocks, no more drawing of cards is allowed. Even before the revealing of the widow pile a player may knock. Knock when it is one's turn to pick.
If the dealer knocks and does not take up the widow, dealer spreads the cards of the widow pile face up on the table for players to see and draw. A player who does not wish to get a widow cards (not one is advantageous to his hand) and would like to draw on the next turn may pass. A player cannot pass in two consecutive turn.
The process of exchanging cards continues around the table until some player knocks. Then players expose their hand. The one who has the highest gets the pot. The ranking of cards is same with the standard rank of hands.