Four flusher

Posted by Brian from Shawnee on March 12, 2004

In Reply to: Four flusher posted by ESC on March 12, 2004

: : Does any one here know where the term four flusher came from and what it refers to?

: : I thought that perhaps it referred to cheating at poker?

: Merriam-Webster online:

: Main Entry: four-flush
: Function: intransitive verb
: : to bluff in poker holding a four flush; broadly : to make a false claim : BLUFF

An actual Flush in poker consists of 5 cards of the same suit. If you have 5 consecutive cards of the same suit, it's a Straight Flush, and if those 5 cards run from 10 thru Ace, it's called a Royal Flush.

A cheating Four Flusher will show his hand, with only four cards of the same suit, and the 5th card obscured in such a way that anyone taking only a quick glance will think it's a true 5-card flush.

That's the meaning I've always understood, but in looking around on the internet, including the M-W.com definition posted by ESC, it seems that four-flushing can mean "bluff". That's funny, because bluffing in poker is not illegal, but cheating is. I had always thought of a Four Flusher as a cheater.

• Four flusher ESC 12/March/04
  • Four flusher Smokey Stover 13/March/04
• Four flusher Thomas P. Crapper 12/March/04
  • Four flusher Smokey Stover 13/March/04
    • Four flusher R. Berg 13/March/04
      • Four flusher ESC 13/March/04