While it is difficult to make a living as a gambler, choosing the right game for your strengths helps a lot. There are two games, one variant of poker and the other a type of chess, where I have never lost.
The poker game is High Chicago; you play regular stud poker but the pot is split equally between the best poker hand and the highest Spade held in the hand (not face up on the table). The first time I ever heard of it, I was dealt the King of Spades and could see the Ace face up on the table. I have loved the game ever since.
The chess variant I think is called Kriegspiel. It requires three chess boards and an experienced referee. The players sit facing away from each other with the referee’s board between them. Each time a player moves a piece, the referee moves that piece on his board — or he notifies the player that he has just made an illegal move. He does not say why the move was illegal, it is up to the player to determine why. The referee also notifies a player if his King has been put in check, adding “on the horizontal, vertical, long diagonal, short diagonal, or knight check” as required. While it sounds chaotic, I found that by mid-game I would have located almost all my opponents pieces exactly where they were.
The secret to my success was the same in both games. I played each one only three times and won by luck.
“My baby always tells me, ‘You should bet that the dice won’t pass.’ Ever since I been doing that I’ve got a raggedy yas-yas-yas.”—Peetie Wheatstraw, “Crapshooting Blues.”
Rat, take Cartoon-Boy to Vegas. Use him as collateral. Lose on purpose. Let the Mobsters take him out to the desert…. You know what happens then. Better bettors.
BE THIS GUY almost 3 years ago
When a flush helps you with Good Housekeeping.
BasilBruce almost 3 years ago
Is that published in Las Vegas, where they have a lot of playboys and hustlers?
Renatus Profuturus Frigeridus Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Better bettor houses and gardens.
tudza Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Let introduce our new character, Snake Eyes.
Concretionist almost 3 years ago
Ugh.
Ratkin almost 3 years ago
Stephen looks like a one-armed pundit.
Imagine almost 3 years ago
If Stephan were a wombat he would have crapped out dice (cubes).
baddawg1989 almost 3 years ago
Security, please escort Mr. Pastis to the back room to have a little ‘chat’ with the casino owner…
iggyman almost 3 years ago
Bet you 10 to 1 this is the worst pun you will hear today!
deojaideep aka Courage almost 3 years ago
This one requires something bigger and harder than a baseball bat, a cricket bat perhaps!!
Gent almost 3 years ago
Wanna bet?
Sanspareil almost 3 years ago
It’s good that Pastis didn’t refer to the small garden statues magazine.
“Better Gnomes and gardens”
mikeywilly almost 3 years ago
WHY do Rat, Pig, and Goat keep readng his garbage lines? Revolt, guys, and make him recite his unpunny lines.VIVA LA REVOLUTION, OLE, OLE, OILY!
AndreasMartin almost 3 years ago
Bettor snafu than story.
Walrus Gumbo Premium Member almost 3 years ago
That pun needs to be Royally Flushed!
lpvzer almost 3 years ago
HAHA
Doug K almost 3 years ago
For those deciding between gambling or poetry: For Bettor or Verse
Major Matt Mason Premium Member almost 3 years ago
I’m just going to sit here gripping my temples and quietly moaning for a bit… ;)
jaydogg187 almost 3 years ago
Sorry, but this one’s a bust.
Ellis97 almost 3 years ago
Sound like a bestseller in Reno.
Goat from PBS almost 3 years ago
You shouldn’t have asked, Rat. But, I’m glad you did.
phredturner almost 3 years ago
Coming up with 365 new puns every year is not easy work I’m sure
cdward almost 3 years ago
And right now I’m reading Popular Sigh-ence.
Masterskrain Premium Member almost 3 years ago
“Groooooan!!”
elbow macaroni almost 3 years ago
Boring.
El Cobbo Grande almost 3 years ago
Aaaahahahahahahaahah……I luved it
Jeffin Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Three lemons, Steph.
Huckleberry Hiroshima almost 3 years ago
Nah that’s a good one, Rat. Give him a break.
artegal almost 3 years ago
I believe it’s time to fold ’em.
Call me Ishmael almost 3 years ago
Steph gambled when he should have gamboled.
Steverino Premium Member almost 3 years ago
After Elizabeth II goes to the loo, she does a royal flush.
Zebrastripes almost 3 years ago
I guess the chips are up!
Linguist almost 3 years ago
In Bettor House and Gardens the House always wins!
Diat60 almost 3 years ago
I think I only follow this comic so I can go “AAARGH” at the end.
Mr. Snuffles almost 3 years ago
Pun strips are my favorites
GlenGoodwin almost 3 years ago
Often the artist known as pastis rastamon throws aces
awcoffman almost 3 years ago
See, what always happens here is thar Steph posts a terrible pun, and the commenters come up with a ton of better (or worse) ones.
Kveldulf almost 3 years ago
While it is difficult to make a living as a gambler, choosing the right game for your strengths helps a lot. There are two games, one variant of poker and the other a type of chess, where I have never lost.
The poker game is High Chicago; you play regular stud poker but the pot is split equally between the best poker hand and the highest Spade held in the hand (not face up on the table). The first time I ever heard of it, I was dealt the King of Spades and could see the Ace face up on the table. I have loved the game ever since.
The chess variant I think is called Kriegspiel. It requires three chess boards and an experienced referee. The players sit facing away from each other with the referee’s board between them. Each time a player moves a piece, the referee moves that piece on his board — or he notifies the player that he has just made an illegal move. He does not say why the move was illegal, it is up to the player to determine why. The referee also notifies a player if his King has been put in check, adding “on the horizontal, vertical, long diagonal, short diagonal, or knight check” as required. While it sounds chaotic, I found that by mid-game I would have located almost all my opponents pieces exactly where they were.
The secret to my success was the same in both games. I played each one only three times and won by luck.
Lscool5791 almost 3 years ago
ahhhhhh dad jokes
hobbit0101 almost 3 years ago
That reminds me of my favorite magazine about hamster racing, Rodent Track.
johnschutt almost 3 years ago
Very nice!
zeexenon almost 3 years ago
Nothing but the best illegal immanent gardeners. Their Green Cards are dollar bills.
Mr_Lucky almost 3 years ago
Sorry…that is a great pun,!
Lightpainter Premium Member almost 3 years ago
…and WHY is Rat standing so close to Stephen if Stephen is crapping out of his pants? Gross, Rat…get out of there!
brick10 almost 3 years ago
This is one of his better bettor puns.
kaycstamper almost 3 years ago
Am I the only one that is bugged by Better being spelled wrong?
TheComicFan almost 3 years ago
It’s my mom’s b’day today!
The One follower almost 3 years ago
WOAH, so many comments and featured only has 9 replies!
willie_mctell almost 3 years ago
“My baby always tells me, ‘You should bet that the dice won’t pass.’ Ever since I been doing that I’ve got a raggedy yas-yas-yas.”—Peetie Wheatstraw, “Crapshooting Blues.”
Adam-Stone(Soup) almost 3 years ago
I like the jokes. In particular, though the magazine title was awesome, I like Rat’s rebuttal to you. (LMAO)
stamps almost 3 years ago
I know a guy who rented apartments to two cotton bugs. He was the Lessor of Two Weevils.
asrialfeeple almost 3 years ago
That’s it! Somebody needs to bit slap his router.
asrialfeeple almost 3 years ago
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3a/ff/b9/3affb9c689bfb0dcd628492c66cf0c03.jpg
tee929 almost 3 years ago
Maybe change the name of the strip to “For Bettor or Worse”
grumpypophobart almost 3 years ago
Nice!!! He took a punt and won!
Sisyphos almost 3 years ago
Rat, take Cartoon-Boy to Vegas. Use him as collateral. Lose on purpose. Let the Mobsters take him out to the desert…. You know what happens then. Better bettors.
gmu328 almost 3 years ago
had to read “bettor” twice … good one Pastis
FXP1951 almost 3 years ago
OMG!!!