Card Sharks by Liz Maverick Page A

breasts to show off less cleavage. “Let’s cover things up.”
    â€œIf we sold skin-care products or Tupperware lunch boxes, we’d be in great shape,” Marianne muttered.
    The host kid came back and handed both Marianne and Bijoux gigantic glasses of orange juice, which they awkwardly held as they stood in the middle of the living room.
    â€œSo, uh . . . do you want to play?”
    â€œYou know, maybe we should get go—” Bijoux started to say.
    â€œWill you teach us how?” Marianne interrupted. “We don’t really know how to play.”
    The boys actually looked pleased. And a little relieved tohave a purpose. The host kid cleared his throat. “Well, no-limit Texas Hold ’Em is the best poker game, I guess. You want us to teach you that?”
    â€œYes,” Marianne said. “Please do.”
    â€œOkay, hold on a sec.” The boys huddled. Then in a flurry of hand gestures they roh-sham-bo’d amongst themselves and the winner of the winnowing process stepped forward. “I guess I’m gonna teach you,” he said shyly.
    The boys assembled around the table, taking extra care to make sure that Marianne and Bijoux were properly settled in their seats. The roh-sham-boh winner sat at the head of the table between the two girls, and in his best teacher’s voice began to explain the game. “The basic rules for no-limit Texas Hold ’Em are as follows. The first thing to know is that there is an automatic ante system called ‘the blinds.’ This system keeps the action in the game up by forcing two people from the group to ante up even before the cards are dealt. Everyone gets two cards. You evaluate your cards and decide if you want to keep playing. Whoever doesn’t fold right away plays in the first betting round . . . any questions so far?”
    Bijoux’s hand whipped up in the air. “Do you have big brothers who play poker?”
    â€œYeah,” said the host kid. “That’s my brother.” He pointed to a photo sitting on the living room mantel. His brother was quite the looker.
    Bijoux and Marianne looked at each other. “Do you think they would play with us next time they have a game?” Bijoux asked.
    The kid looked at his pals, then looked at Bijoux’s cleavage. “Yeah, I think they would play with you.” He gazed up at her. “But you should really learn how to play first.”
    Bijoux glanced at the big-brother picture, one more time. “I absolutely agree. Let’s continue.”
    â€œOkay, well, the dealer deals three community cards faceup in the middle of the table. These are known as ‘the flop.’ ” He dealt out some sample cards. “If you haven’t folded before, you look at your two cards plus the three community cards and see if you think you can beat the best five cards everyone else could be holding. But you gotta remember that there are going to be two more community cards coming.”
    Marianne stared at her two cards, looked at the flop, then reached over and looked at the cards Bijoux would have been holding if they’d actually been playing. “I’m with you. Go on.”
    â€œIf you like your stuff, you stay in for the second betting round, and if you don’t like your stuff, you muck your cards.”
    â€œMuck your cards?” Bijoux asked.
    â€œFold ’em,” Marianne said authoritatively.
    The kid nodded. “And so the best five out of seven total cards wins. And that’s it. It’s really simple.”
    Marianne stared at the youngster. It had to be if grade-schoolers or whatever were playing it.
    Bijoux scanned her cards and dropped them limply on the table. “Math. Marianne, you are going to be so good at this.”
    Marianne smiled back at her. “Keep going.”
    â€œOkay . . . so the dealer deals the fourth community card down on the table. It’s