???: "Alright, let's play TP Poker."
Ayano: "How do we play it?" she asked hesitantly, eager to know the next game.
???: "Easy. Same rules, but with five mandatory rounds. Once it starts, you can't withdraw. When we place a bet in the first round, we'll be forced to double that bet in each following round until the end. Drawing rules stay the same — you can only change two cards. Got it?"
Ayano stayed silent for a moment to organize her thoughts, then responded:
Ayano: "Yes."
???: "Good. Let's play."
The referee took out a deck of cards and shuffled it thoroughly in front of them, then handed five cards to each. Both of them looked at their cards.
Ayano: "Wait, is this a Full House? I have three Queens and a Nine and a Seven. So logically, I should swap the Seven and hope to get another Queen or a Nine. That's what I'll do."
Ayano threw the 7 on the table and drew another card from the deck.
Meanwhile, the man didn't change any cards.
referee: "Now place your bets."
???: "I'll bet the exact same amount you place."
Ayano: "20 dollars!"
referee: "Now reveal your cards."
Both laid their five cards on the table. Ayano had three Queens and two 9s. The man had four Kings.
Ayano: "Four of a kind...!"
Man: "I win, huh?"
referee: "Now, the second round."
He took out another deck, shuffled it, and dealt five cards to both.
Ayano: "This time I got spades: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9. No question, I have to get rid of the 4."
She threw the 4 of spades.
The man didn't discard any cards, which made Ayano a little suspicious.
referee: "Now reveal your cards."
They both laid their cards on the table. Ayano had a one-pair, while the man had three of a kind.
Ayano: "Damn it!"
???: "Seems I'm lucky today."
Ayano: Something's off... if he had three of a kind, why didn't he swap one or two cards to try and improve his hand?
referee: "Now, round three."
Again, he took out a deck, shuffled, and gave five cards to each.
Ayano: I've already lost 60 dollars... If I want to win, I need to change my way of thinking.
She looked at her cards: 4 of hearts, 4 of diamonds, 6 and 7 of hearts, and 10 of diamonds.
Ayano: "Two pair? That's weak. I need a better hand... Should I risk going for a straight flush? That's suicidal. Should I just go for it?"
In the end, Ayano exchanged two cards.
???: "Huh, now that's strange…"
Ayano: "What?"
???: "Nothing."
He didn't change any of his cards.
referee: "Now reveal your hands."
The man had a full hand of four cards (four of a kind), while Ayano got a straight flush.
???: "What?!"
he was completely shocked.
Ayano: "I did it... I actually won it"