Rotation of Play
In all the card games described in this book, the right to deal, the turn to bid, and the turn to play all rotate clockwise, that is, from each player to his left hand neighbor. True, many of the native games South American, Italian, Spanish, etc. if played in their home land, would rotate counter clockwise, or to the right. But, to reduce confusion, I have changed the rules of these games to agree with the American clockwise rotation of card games.
The Shuffle
Any player at the table has the right to shuffle the pack (and as a matter of common law this right remains even where special rules of a game designate one player responsible for shuffling). In most games, the dealer has the right to shuffle last, and this is the rule when no different provision is stated.
The Cut
Cutting is the act of dividing the pack into two packets and transposing the bottom packet to the top. custom is for the dealer to present the pack, after shuffling, to his right-hand neighbor, who lifts a packet from the top and sets it down beside the bottom packet. Dealer completes the cut by placing the bottom packet on top of the other. If that player, refuses to cut, any player may cut. If all the players refuse to cut, the dealer must cut the cards. He cannot refuse. At least five cards must be in one portion of the cut deck. However, in high stake games I recommend the use of the scarney poker cut described on page 433.
The Deal
In most games the first card dealt goes to the player at the dealer’s left, and the cards, as previously stated, are distributed in clockwise rotation. There is variance in the number of cards dealt at one time, so that this number is expressly stated in connection with every game. The rule may be “one at a time” for “two at a time” or more at a time, but the same number of cards is dealt to every player in any one round. Sometimes the quota varies from round to round: for example, the rule to “deal three-two” means to deal a round of two cards at a time. Unless otherwise noted, all cards must be dealt face down so that no player can see the face of the card dealt to another. The finding of a card face up in the pack is usually valid cause for declaring a misdeal.
Dealer is required generally to hold the entire deck in his hand while dealing. He may not deal from a cut portion. In some games, however, where multiple decks are used particularly banking card games dealer is permitted, after the deck has been cut, to take a portion of the deck from the top and deal from it. He then lifts the other portions as needed. It is customary for players to wait until the deal is completed before touching any of their cards. This permits all players including dealer to begin arranging cars at the same time. It also prevents any confusion in case there is a mistake in the deal.
Misleading
Most online poker games have rules governing misdeals. But, it is a universal rule that on demand of any player there must be a new deal by the same dealer if the customary or prescribed rules of shuffling, cutting, and dealing are breached in any way. Usually, the demand may no longer be made by a player who has looked at any of the cards dealt him, or by any player after the last card has been dealt (or the prescribed deal has been completed).
In addition, it is the principle of most misdealing poker rules that if the deal is an advantage, a misdealer loses the deal; if the deal is a disadvantage, the dealer must deal again in case of a misdeal