To give a practical illustration of this process, let us suppose that there are five players taking part in the game, that the ante is fixed at 3 tokens, and the limit at 12 tokens.  The players cut for deal, and the deal falls to A.

Player A (Dealer) 
Player B (Ante) 
Player C (No. 1)
Player D (No. 2)
Player E (No. 3)
 

B then is ante, C No. 1, etc.

B (ante) stakes 3 tokens.

C, who has the right to straddle the ante does not do so, so no other player may.

A then deals five rounds of one card each to each player, beginning with B, and then puts the remainder of the pack on the table.

C (No. 1) then looks at his cards, elects to play, and stakes 6 tokens (double ante’s stake).

D (No. 2) looks at his cards, rejects them, throwing them face downwards on the table, and retiring from the game until the next deal.

E (No. 3) looks at his cards, elects to play, and stakes 6 tokens.

A (dealer) looks at his cards, elects to play, and stakes 18 tokens (he must stake 6 tokens, but he raises the stakes by the maximum amount allowed).

B (ante) looks at his cards, elects to play, and stakes 15 tokens, making his stake equal to A’s. B then discards two of his cards, places them face downwards on the table, and receives from A two in their place.

C (No. 1) adds 12 tokens to his stake, making it equal to A’s and B’s, and throws down all his cards, receiving five new ones in their place.

E (No. 3), rather than increase his stake to 18 tokens, relinquishes his hand, throwing down his cards, and losing the 6 tokens he has already staked.

A (dealer), who has already staked 18 tokens, throws down one card and takes another in its place from the top of the pack.

There are now three players, A, B, and C, each of whom has staked 18 tokens on his hand, and there is a sum of 60 tokens, including E’s first stake in the pool.

No. 1 then begins play by betting a sum not exceeding the limit.  He may, if he choose, stand, decline to bet until the next round, or he may throw his cards face downwards on the table and retire from the game, losing the money he has already staked.  The turn then passes to No. 2.  Let us suppose, in the first place, that he does bet.

The next player on his left must then;
(a) Make his stake equal to that of No. 1, in which case he is said to call No. 1, and he has the right to see No. 1’s hand when the game is over, or;
(b) Make his stake greater than that of No. 1 by a sum not exceeding the limit, in which case he is said to raise No. 1; or
(c) Resign the game, place his cards face downwards on the table, and lose the sum he has already staked.
Each player in succession has a similar choice.  He must;
(a) Call the preceding player; or
(b) Raise the preceding player; or
(c) Resign his stake and the game.
If No. 1 had stood, i.e. not bet when it was first his turn to play, he would have to do so when the turn came round to him again, or else relinquish his cards and his stake.

When all the stakes are equal, each player throws his cards face upwards on the table, and the player with the best hand takes the pool and all the stakes.

It will be seen thus that there is no play of the cards in Poker, as in most other card games.  The best hand exposed wins the game and takes the stakes; and the play of the game consists in estimating the probable value of the opponents’ hands as compared with the player’s own hand. 

To resume our illustration.

C begins play by betting 6 tokens.

A also bets 6 tokens, making his stake equal to C’s, and by doing so is said to call C.

B bets 18 tokens, i.e. raises C 12 tokens.  He makes his stake equal to C’s and A’s, and has exercised his right to increase it by a sum not exceeding the limit.

C, whose turn it now is again, adds 24 tokens to his stake, raising B a 12 tokens.

A will not stake more, so relinquishes the game and his stake, placing his cards face downwards on the table.

B adds 12 tokens to his stake, making it equal to C’s, and C is therefore compelled to show his hand.  It happens to be better than B’s, so C claims B’s stake (30 tokens) and the pool (66 tokens); and the game is over.