The chips were placed on the table, and the game continued.
In the first round, Uncle Qiu spoke first.
There was no other way; in the same hand type, suit was paramount.
Spades were supreme, diamonds were at the bottom.
After a feigned glance at my cards, Uncle Qiu picked up a chip worth ten thousand and threw it into the pot, sneering, "Heh! Ten thousand, just to cast a line."
I knew what Uncle Qiu meant by "casting a line."
Casting a line was nothing more than waiting for the fish to bite.
The fifty thousand chip was the bait, and I was the fish.
Uncle Qiu, on the other hand, was the hook tied to the bait.
This old man had no intention of letting me walk away with a single chip!
If nothing unexpected happened, he would surely go all-in at the end, waiting for me, the fish, to bite his hook!
Little did he know, what Uncle Qiu was thinking... was exactly what I was planning to do!
I remained silent and chose to call.
Then, Lin Xinyu continued to deal.
The player with the higher card, which was Uncle Qiu, had the priority.
After revealing two cards on the table, Lin Xinyu first dealt one to Uncle Qiu, and then another to me.
[PS: Due to differences in gambling cultures across regions, I prioritize the gambling culture of the respective location. In some places, from the third to the fifth card in Stud, the players reveal their own cards.]
The card dealt to Uncle Qiu was a Spade Seven.
While not a high card, it was certainly not small.
Most importantly, the cards Uncle Qiu held so far... were a flush!
The risk of a hidden pair of Aces, or even three Aces, was silently removed, and a new crisis immediately descended!
According to incomplete statistics, in a 52-card Stud game, the probability of getting a flush is 0.196%.
That is less than zero point two percent.
Why did this probability, which didn't even reach zero point two percent, give me a sense of crisis?
The answer was simple: cheating!
Uncle Qiu was not a gambler or a degenerate, but a cheat!
For a cheat, the so-called 0.196% did not refer to all five cards, but to the three visible cards with the head and tail removed!
As long as the fourth card Lin Xinyu dealt, which was the last visible card, was also a Spade, I could be sure... Uncle Qiu would definitely choose to cheat!
Only three hand types could beat a flush.
A straight flush, four of a kind, or a full house.
It was obvious that among these three hand types, a straight flush... I had already lost the chance.
Because the visible card Lin Xinyu dealt me was a Ten of Hearts.
A Spade Ace, a Ten of Hearts, with the hidden card unknown.
Although the visible cards were good, they were still far inferior to Uncle Qiu's flush.
To be blunt, even if I spoke this round, I had already fallen into a disadvantage.
Four of a kind and full house, were they possible? Were they realistic?
With starting cards like Uncle Qiu's flush, if he just got any Spade card, he wouldn't even need to cheat... I would be blown to smithereens on the spot!
After dealing the cards, Lin Xinyu, as always, maintained a professional smile and said to me, "Ten of Hearts speaks!"
Hearing this, I feigned hesitation and thought for a while. I picked up a ten-thousand chip and threw it into the pot.
The hesitation was due to the worry that Uncle Qiu might actually get the last visible flush card, but it was mostly an act.
"Only ten thousand!?"
After curling his lips in disdain, Uncle Qiu said smugly, "I'll match your ten thousand, and then raise you fifty thousand!"
Without even looking at my cards, Uncle Qiu picked up a chip worth fifty thousand and threw it into the pot with great authority.
"A flush, with heaven, earth, and man all in alignment! Kid, what are you going to use to fight me?!"
As he spoke, Uncle Qiu's aura was particularly strong!
I ignored him and immediately threw in a chip worth fifty thousand.
True—plans are no match for changing circumstances!
At this moment, my mind was filled with whether or not to look at the first hidden card, and after looking, whether or not to cheat in advance.
Then, Lin Xinyu continued to reveal two cards from the deck and dealt them to us one by one...
Compared to other card games, Stud exposed too many cards face up!
Under these circumstances, it was very risky for a cheat to completely control and precisely guide the outcome of the game with their skills!
This was also why, upon seeing Uncle Qiu get a flush, I had already started considering whether or not to ignore the risk of overlapping cards and cheat in advance.
Fortunately, I held back in the end.
And luckily, that old coffin-dweller Uncle Qiu seemed to be happy a bit too early!
The moment the two cards were revealed by Lin Xinyu, I immediately saw Uncle Qiu's eyes freeze.
A Queen of Spades, a Four of Hearts.
Although there was a Spade card, unfortunately...
The former was mine, and the latter was his.
The expected flush did not continue, and Uncle Qiu's expression immediately turned grim.
Visible cards: Ace of Spades, Seven of Spades, Four of Hearts.
With the most intimidating flush broken, Uncle Qiu's hand instantly became a mixed bag.
My hand, which was originally at a disadvantage, directly turned into an advantage.
Visible cards: Ace of Spades, Ten of Hearts, Queen of Spades.
A straight.
At this moment, I knew that my chance... had finally arrived!
Fortunately, I had maintained my composure and did not look at that hidden card, otherwise... I would most likely have been forced to cheat and change cards due to Uncle Qiu's exposed flush.
Before all five cards were dealt, the risk of cheating and changing cards was not outside the table, but on the table.
Cheating and changing cards before the cards were fully dealt had a certain probability of overlap.
And once this situation occurred, there was no need to think about the consequences...
As I secretly felt fortunate, Lin Xinyu spoke.
"Queen of Spades speaks!"
After a slight pause, I threw a chip worth fifty thousand into the pot.
Did you try to fish me with a ten thousand chip just now?
Now, it's my turn to counter with a fifty thousand chip... to fish you!
Seeing the chips I threw into the pot, Uncle Qiu did not hesitate at all and chose to call.
For whatever reason, Uncle Qiu had to call.
Because stepping back meant there was no road behind him!
The critical moment of the final battle of Stud truly began at this point!
From now on, it would no longer be about fishing and counter-fishing, but a contest of skills, and... a clash of psychology!
For the last two hidden cards, Lin Xinyu first dealt them to me, and then to Uncle Qiu.
This time, I no longer stared intently at Uncle Qiu's hands, nor did I care whether he would change his methods and cheat.
The moment I received the last hidden card, I... made my move!