allowed to see their cards. Thus, everyone has an equal stake in the current hand, and

folding is less 9️⃣ common in early betting rounds. (It's the "I already paid so I might as

well stick around for another card" 9️⃣ mentality.) Antes have the benefit of allowing

players to sit out any hand (say, to go to the restroom or 9️⃣ take a phone call) or even

quite the game without any sense of unfairness.