Our love of playing cards was formed in rural Wisconsin, where we would pass the long dark winter nights playing Rummy, Crazy Eights, Dirty Clubs, Sheepshead, Hearts, 500, Tripoley, or any of several other card games. We didn't actually gamble, but plenty of other people did. They still do, of course, and not just on cards. Some of the crazy northwoods stories are true: those farmers, millworkers, hunters and fisherman will bet on almost anything. One of our favorite (true) legends is when they bet on what date a parked car will fall through the ice of a frozen lake and sink in the Spring.
Your New Regular Game
Certain things seem to go good together, and for some of you that's cards and gambling. Add to that America's favorite pastime, America's favorite refreshments, some walkin' around money, and a few of your stupidest buddies and you've got the perfect excuse to spend about three hours in the basement on a Friday night.
While there is no officially sanctioned way to bet on Kardball, we offer the following as a starting point.
Each at-bat is one complete hand for betting purposes. Players wishing to participate will place an ante before the first pitch. After looking at the batter's cards, player(s) on the offense can start an opening round, betting on a hit before any cards are played. Player(s) on the defense, seeing the Pitcher's cards, can match or raise, betting on an out.
If the pitch results in a hit, the offense collects the pot and the cycle begins again for the next batter. If the batter makes an out, the defense collects the pot. If the pitch results in a strike, another round of betting ensues before the next pitch. If the batter stays for all three strikes, there will have been three rounds of wagering before the bet is settled on the third pitch. As is customary, a player may withdraw (fold) at some point, but his cards remain in play for Kardball purposes.
Taking the Other Side
While "betting on almost anything" is where we started this discussion, we suggest you not allow the defense to bet on a hit (nor the offense to bet on an out). By doing so, you tempt players to distort their Kardball game play, and that is illegal, unethical, unsportsmanlike and unbecoming of Kardball, which is grounds for being banned from the sport! (Does that seem harsh to you?)
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