Queer Luck: Poker Stories from the New York Sun

"Queer Luck: Poker Stories from the New York Sun" by David A. Curtis is a compilation of stories from the late 1800s that shows us the exciting world of poker, with its risky bets and interesting players. These stories look at how chance and luck play a big role, and the hard choices gamblers face, bringing the card games to life with lots of detail and suspense in both secret clubs and wider society. One story kicks off as a tense poker game, with five smart players caught up their high-stakes gamble, showing us the details of how they plan, how they read each other, and the friendships among them. As surprising luck changes the game, tensions increase until a lawyer is confronted with a tough ethics problem about with a big pot won using money that isn't his. He then faces tough decisions, leading him to leave and reflect on the meaning of honor when gambling. The beginning sets up the mood for the stories ahead, creating anticipation steeped in moral challenges.