#897 Making a Poker Face

Playing cards suddenly became all the rage.

The farm residents would gather around a deck during breaks from work or in the quiet of the night, their laughter and chatter filling the air.

Amidst this new pastime, one group stood out conspicuously.

“Platy and the others are playing poker...?!”

Before I knew it, my wife, Platy, was engrossed in a game, surrounded by players at the table.

What are they up to? I peered closer, and sure enough, it was poker.

The five cards in her hand, the intense focus on their combinations—it just had to be the game.

Naturally, poker isn’t a solo game. Four individuals have gathered at the table:

First, there’s my wife, Platy. 

Then, her mother, the former mermaid queen, Mahi. 

The current mermaid queen, Puffer.

And Platy’s sister, Angel.

Given Platy is Lady Mahi’s eldest, this is practically a gathering of the mermaid royal family’s women. 

Have they all come from the Mermaid Kingdom just to play cards?

The atmosphere is so dignified you’d think it’s a royal summit, not a card game.

While the husbands bonded over a game of Daifugo like middle school boys, their wives delved into the sophisticated world of poker. 

It’s like having a slice of Las Vegas right here.

“…I raise,” Platy declares, tossing more coins into the pot with a finesse that seems too practiced.

“Oh, throwing down the gauntlet, are we? You must have some good cards, Platy.”

“You think you can bluff your way through this? It’s not like your mom has only ever had to get through easy battles, you know?”

“I raise by ten cards!!!” Angel blurts out, recklessly upping the stakes.

What is this? A tense showdown straight out of a Chicago mafioso movie? 

The air is thick with suspense over a simple card flip. How did my wife and her relatives manage to create such a dramatic scene?!

“Then I call,” Platy announces... “Four Queens!”

“What the—?! It wasn’t a bluff?!”

Platy confidently rakes in all the coins, her triumph undeniable.

“Gyaaaaaah! I’m out of coins! Big Sis, lend me some!” 

“No way. Earn your keep in the mines.”

And just like that, Angel is ousted from the game, having gambled away her stash too rashly.

“Oh? Dear? Is the fathers’ meeting over?”

“Yeah… it turned into a political discussion about cooperation among humans, demons, and mermaids, thanks to Ritheseus barging in…!”

Naturally, I was the odd one out.

The kids are under the watchful eye of Discus and the others—the new generation of witches— meaning both moms and dads are off the parenting hook for the day.

Initially, the plan was for the dads to bond, but with the turn of events, I found myself observing the moms’ poker night...

“What a serious game they’ve gotten into…!” 

Poker, of all things, seems to be the most grown-up card game there is.

To explain briefly, poker is a game of matching card patterns… That’s the gist of it. 

In this game, players are dealt five cards from a standard deck of 54, the goal being to assemble these cards into a hand that follows certain patterns or rules.

The rarity of the hand determines the winner and loser. 

During the game, players are allowed a single opportunity to randomly exchange cards from their hand, thereby increasing the chances of forming a valuable combination.

However, if that were all there was to it—dealing the cards, swapping them out, and revealing the hidden cards—the game would be over too quickly. 

To add depth and extend the excitement beyond a single round, an element of gambling is essential.

The enduring popularity of poker, reigning supreme as the king of card games within casinos, might very well be attributed to its classic status.

By staking money... where victory means a grand sweep and defeat leaves you with nothing, such elements introduce a dynamic of risk and reward. 

It’s this interplay that compels players to dive into further rounds in an attempt to recoup losses or to gamble their winnings for even higher stakes.

It’s no longer about a single game. 

The flow of money among the players creates a cumulative contest over several rounds, giving rise to a dynamic gameplay experience.

Moreover, the act of increasing the bet adds a layer of strategy: “Does this mean you’re that confident?” → “Do you have a strong hand?” This introduces a psychological element to the game, elevating it to an engaging activity that even adults find themselves addicted to.

Indeed, when money is on the line, the excitement of the game reaches a whole new level. 

Such is the gambler’s creed.

Thus, poker has become synonymous with card gambling, to the extent that the term “poker face” has become widely recognized and used in everyday language.

“...So, who’s winning now?”

“Can’t you tell? The difference is overwhelming.”

Nah, I can.

Even from an outsider’s perspective, it’s crystal clear she’s on a winning streak.

Platy, that is.

At her chest, a mountain of coins is piled high, likely amassed from the others. 

It’s worth mentioning that these coins aren’t actual currency but rather game tokens devoid of monetary value, though they’re put to good use as in-game currency.

However, given their perfect, tempting size for little hands, there’s a rule against letting children near them due to the risk of choking.

Thus, the poker tournaments became an exclusive affair for the madams. 

It seems that just earlier, Lady Luck was grinning at Platy, favoring her with a strong hand. 

There’s no caprice like that of the goddess of gamble.

“Nghhh…!” 

And then, there’s Puffer, groaning in frustration, perhaps due to the current situation.

It’s been a while since she last dropped by.

Moreover, there’s Lady Mahi...

“Platy dear, it’s nice to see you so pleased with yourself, but it’s exactly in moments like these that you might get tripped up. I had no idea my eldest daughter was the type to get so carried away by the situation.”

“Mom, I never knew you were the type to make such sore loser remarks, either.”

“Kgh!”

Platy, don’t.

Don’t provoke your mother like that!

“That stupid Angel lost all her coins in no time. Do you intend to repeat her mistake? I wouldn’t mind lending you some coins if you just kneel and beg here, Mom, Puffer. Of course, at a very reasonable interest rate.”

“Arghhhhhhhhhh! To think I’d be looked down upon by Platy! Fine then! I’ll bet all my remaining coinsssss!!!”

Puffer took the bait, hook, line, and sinker.

With the straightforwardness of a bull charging at a red cloth, she put forward all the coins she had.

She’s the type who gets heated up over a bet, huh?

“Puffer dear, calm down. It’s clear that this is Platy’s trap.”

“But Mother-in-law! If I back down after being mocked to that extent, the dignity of the Mermaid Queen will be compromised!”

In an unfavorable situation, the former and current mermaid queens conspire together.

Yet, it seems as though the tide of the contest is in Platy’s favor.

Her expression is oozing with the confidence of someone who believes defeat is impossible.

As if everything in this world is going her way. As if she’s certain she will never fall from the throne of victory.

Can a human really be so full of confidence?

“...Enough, I get it. I’ll bet everything, too. Teaching that arrogant girl a lesson about life’s harshness is also a mother’s duty.”

“Bravo, Mother, the stage for a grand wager is set! This will prove once and for all that I am greater than any mermaid queen or dowager!!!”

This has turned into a battle staked entirely on pride.

However, I’m intrigued by Platy’s unnaturally grand confidence and keep my eyes fixed on her.

Suspicious? Understandably. After all, we’re a couple that’s been together for many years.

“All right, I’ll deal the cards now.”

Platy declares as she shuffles the deck.

So, players deal the cards themselves, huh...? With no dealer around, I suppose that’s to be expected.

...Hmm?

“Here’s for mom— for my sister-in-law— and for me—”

“Hold on a moment.”

I stopped Platy’s hand as she was dealing.

“Hmm? What’s wrong, Dear?”

“Did you just try to deal the top card but actually took the second one from the top instead?”

I know what that is.

That’s cheating, you know?

It’s called a “second deal,” a pretty well-known trick among cheats.

Was she trying to ensure she got favorable cards through this scheme?

“Youuuuuu...! Were you cheating?!”

“I’m so disappointed in you, Platy! I didn’t raise you to be such a cheat!!!”

Puffer and Lady Mahi are completely taken aback, having not noticed the deceit.

Given that playing cards have only just become popular in this world, it’s no surprise the concept of cheating hasn’t quite developed yet.

In this context, does Platy’s adeptness at cheating mark her as a genius?

Albeit, a genius in a rather dubious sense.

In any case, it seems I must keep a tight rein on Platy’s misdirected talents.

==========

this chapter made some subtle references to Kaiji, a manga revolving around gambling