Beginning with ante, or with the first player on the left of the dealer, each player may then exchange all or any number of the cards he holds for others from the remainder [35] of the pack. He must first throw on the table, face downwards, the number of cards he wishes to exchange (this is called "discarding"), and the dealer then gives him an equal number from the top of the pack. Before exchanging any of his cards, however, each player must make his stake equal to that of ante, or of the last player.
It is not compulsory for a player to exchange all or any of his cards; but he must exercise or relinquish the privilege of doing so when his turn comes, once for all; and he cannot afterwards modify his choice, nor take back any card or cards he may have discarded.
Whether he exchange any of his cards, or whether he retains the hand first dealt out to him, each player must make his stake equal to that of ante, or of the last player, so that when all players have been supplied with, or refused, new cards, the stakes are all equal, and are all placed in the pool.
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 threepence, and the limit at a shilling. The players cut for deal, and the deal falls to _A_.
(No. 1) C /¯¯¯¯\ D (No. 2) ( ) (Ante) B \____/ E (No. 3) A (Dealer)
_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 sixpence (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 sixpence.
_A_ (dealer) looks at his cards, elects to play, and stakes one shilling and sixpence (he must stake sixpence, but he raises the stakes by the maximum amount allowed).
_B_ (ante) looks at his cards, elects to play, and stakes one shilling and threepence, 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.