Family Poker

Article by William Abernathy, 2/1/2002

Many of our acquaintances - perhaps even most - consider poker a vice. My wife and I call it a family value. We play Texas hold'em almost every Friday night with our children. Our house motto is, "If you have a chip and a chair, you have a chance."

The primary advantages that poker has over other games is that it gives instant feedback for poor decisions, allows for mistakes during play, and although chance or luck is involved, chance plays a smaller role. In chess and checkers, one poor play can lose the game. In poker, one poor play costs a person the hand, but it seldom costs that person the game. In Life and Monopoly, luck plays too large a role: When faced with a row of hotels, Monopoly doesn't allow a person to fold. We use poker to instill persistence, as everyone has won a game after going all in. Again, "If you have a chip and a chair, you have a chance."

From our children's perspective, poker is tremendously different, because we pay them if they can beat us. Paying for success began when we had an epiphany that we could spend less money per weekend while enjoying our family more if we put up prize money. We currently have six players (Shades, Shark, Jelly, Stretch, Ammo, and Cato the Younger), and pay cash to whomever places in the top three. Paying for success means that the kids get additional spending money, we spend less per weekend when compared to movies and meals in restaurants, and we have much more interaction with our kids than if we were watching television like mute zombies.

After playing poker for a year, we've learned that we can instill our family values while dealing the shovels, jewelry, lovelies, and puppy tracks. We've used our poker games to teach the difference between possible and probable, counter the school's "all are equal" mantra, properly define prejudice, and, believe it or not, hammer home the unpleasant side of teen sex.

Poker has allowed us to condense our lessons about life in ways that we didn't foresee. We were able to teach, and continue to teach, that we want our children to reach their maximum potential, even if it means being better than we are. In the beginning, the kids thought that our poker advice was condescending. Jelly once told Shades, "Just because you have all the money doesn't mean that you know more." Shades replied through a laugh, "It means exactly that."

Poker has allowed us to teach our children that our advice is heartfelt and usually correct, that our values lead to success and happiness, and that we want them to have great lives. Our poker advice was to fold sooner, fold more often, and bluff occasionally. After giving our advice a try, all of them have won more money. We told Stretch to accept that when her bluffs are raised, she should fold. She does, and has become dangerous. We use the success of our poker advice as evidence that, just as we have never misled them in poker, we will never mislead them in life. Our advice is honest and well-meaning.

When we first began playing more than a year ago, Shades won 50 percent of the games and Shark took two-thirds of the remainder. The kids were losing because they lacked the ability to distinguish between what is "possible" and what is "probable." For example, they kept tossing in their money when they had three cards to a flush after the flop because they believed winning was possible. After putting their knowledge of fractions to use, they now know that they will lose more than 20 hands before they get their cherished flush. Possible isn't synonymous with probable. After grasping this concept, the kids realized that they didn't have enough money to lose 20 hands to win one.

After stumbling onto the fact that we could use our poker games to teach family values like persistence, unselfish advice, and the difference between possible and probable, we started actively searching for other lessons. Did I mention that our family has four daughters?

We linked the poker practice of bluffing to relationships. In short, boys bluff. Shades told the girls that he was the best bluffer because he was a boy, and boys have a natural ability to lie to girls. (Our current poker games consist of four girls and two boys.) Shades told the girls that boys would forever be telling them that they should get naked together if they are in love. But, it's a bluff, a lie, a prevarication. Boys bluff about being in love and they bluff well. Shark told the family about how many times she went on only one or two dates because she remained clothed. The boys always told her how much they wanted to be with her, but when she kept her clothes on, they stopped asking her out. We tell all the children that if a person really loves them, they will love being with them while their skin is covered with cotton. Shades told the family that all too often, boys view getting girls naked the same as they view a poker game: Bluffing is required and rewarded. Every once in a while, to keep the pain fresh, Shades shows his cards and brags about besting someone with a bluff. Since everyone hates losing to a bluff, Shades does it to hammer home the point that getting naked with someone who is bluffing feels a hundred times worse.

Our time together at the table has taught us that today's schools teach only two relationships: 50-50 and 100-0. In the beginning, the kids were wholly unable to understand the concept of 10-1 odds or 2-1 odds. The cards were either good or bad, 100-0. If deemed good, they were all equally good, 50-50. Cato was persistent in always putting in money to see the flop. Her reasoning rang with the sound of a school lecture - "All cards can win." We could hear the refrain of a teacher - "All people are equal." Sadly, Cato lost lots of poker games before she stopped believing that all cards are equal before the flop. Our family does not pretend that we are equal. We recognize and praise each family member's individual strengths, like Jelly's outstanding drawings and Cato's wonderful writing. We have used poker to counter the public school's mistaken mantra. All cards are not equal and neither are people.

Prior to playing poker, we had had discussions with Jelly about her choice of "friends," with less than desired success. When we told her that she should stop being friends with people who get poor grades, she told us that we were prejudiced. She absolutely could not understand the concept of judging people based on their actions. To her, any and all judgments were examples of prejudice. Poker has allowed Jelly to better understand us. To break a losing streak, Shades told her to fold when her cards were lower than tens. He hammered home that it was necessary to make poker decisions with limited information. Eureka! Getting bad grades is limited information, just like having only two cards out of seven. She has vaguely come to understand that her parents were not "prejudging;" they were "post-judging," making decisions with limited information. She now understands that her parents believe bad grades are enough information to warrant a decision. We no longer face the "you're prejudiced" argument when asking her to make decisions about people. Poker has taught her to make predictions with limited knowledge.

Our only remaining major advantage over the kids is our ability to read tells. (Shades, a.k.a. Dad, has this moniker because he put on a pair of sunglasses when the kids complained that he was staring at them.) Here, too, we have shared our knowledge with the kids. First, decide whether players are acting. If they are, they are doing the opposite of what their cards say they should. Acting weak means strength, while acting strong indicates weakness. The kids are listening and learning. Stretch recently told Shades, "I know you are weak because you are calculating whether to call my bet. When you are strong, you call quickly. When you are weak, you calculate." She was right. Ammo told him in a different game, "Dad, you had a look. You're bluffing." Ammo raised, and Shades lost.

If you are tired of board games and TV, have a couple of hours before bedtime, and enjoy teaching your kids how to live a proper life, play a little Texas hold'em. Our starting stake is 25 times the beginning maximum wager. We double the limits every 30 minutes. At the 90-minute mark, the game becomes pot-limit. If a game lasts two hours, we go no-limit. Almost all games last between one and a half and two and a half hours. Play a few nights. You will discover that it is a great way to instill family values

Thought of the Week

In the poker game of life women are the rake.
--Worm (in the movie Rounders)

What Day Is It?

I've been sitting at the computer for two hours trying write. I've already started over a few times. I don't know how, (or really even what) I'm trying to convey today. I played poker for a month. I did well. Let me tell you what I've learned this month:

I definitely could make a living playing poker.
There are certain parts of the lifestyle I really enjoy.
I have the temperament to handle playing poker for a living.
You don't need to raise with AJo if three players have limped in front of you.

I admit it was weird calling down to the front desk to have someone help me with my luggage just because I didn't want to make three trips to the car. It was not weird drinking margaritas at the pool on a beautiful summer day. Throwing my towel on the floor so I can get a clean one the next day is something I could get used to.

I know a month is small sample size. I cannot predict exactly what would happen over the course of a year. However, I do know that I went to Reno for the Pot of Gold tournament and I played in a total of four events, and I won two of them. (technically, I won one, and five us chopped the money up in the other.) I had a hard time staying awake and focused during twelve hours sessions, but surprising I learned that even when I was not totally alert I was still able to play effective poker.

I had some good nights and some bad nights while I was in Reno. When I got back to my sister's house I don't think my family members could tell if I had won or lost money-- until they asked. Although, sometimes certain cards could have came out more favorably for me I never blamed the cards for the results of the session. Even after losing $400 the night before I still celebrated finding five bucks under my seat the next day. Even after winning over five-thousand dollars in a night I still bought lunch for eight bucks the following afternoon. Poker remained separate.

Also, during this month I got offered my job back. Interesting. I don't know if I want to live out of hotels multiple months a year and be on the road frequently. However, I don't know if I would mind either. I love my job, but I would also love the freedom of making my own schedule.

Eleven years ago after having a tough time in some low-limit poker games while living Long Beach for the summer I decided that I would not play poker for a living unless I could afford to not win. (Basically, not play with this month's rent money).

I can afford to play now, but I don't know if I could afford to not to teach.

One month 'till school starts.

Wish me luck.

Click here for an update.

Winning

By the time I won I could barely stay awake.

Singing Along

There is a scarcity of women playing poker. So women that are even moderately attractive get plenty of attention at the tables. Last week the attractive woman to my right (the only female at the table) decided to loudly sing along with one line of the song playing faintly in the background.

The old guy in seat five says, “I used to wish I could sing better. Now I wish you could.”

High Stakes Poker

I still remember several details of this hand from watching it on TV a few years ago.

A few things to note:

When Barry Greenstein says that he has "about 190" when the hand started. He is referring to $190,000.
Watch how Farha's read is so good that he seriously considers folding the Kings.
Notice how Greenstein reacts after the result of this pot.




Incredible.

Five Tips to Winning at No Limit Hold 'em

A couple years ago a friend of mine told me he thought writing a blog was a stupid waste of time, because if someone was writing something worth reading they would be doing it for an actual publication.

No offense taken.

He added if I wrote a succinct piece about poker strategy, like five tips to playing winning poker, that he and other people would actually want to read it. Since I have also had a couple other requests to write more about poker, today I will honor his suggestion.

In recent years no-limit Texas Hold ‘em has significantly increased in popularity. When I first started playing poker in casinos it was often hard to find a no-limit game. Now it is often hard to find any other game in a casino or at a friend’s house. I’ve also found that more and more people are playing poker, both casually, and on a more serious level. So with all of that in mind I bring you:

Five Tips to Winning at No Limit Hold 'em

1. Consider the size of the pot

If you are involved in a hand you should have a rough idea of how much money is in the pot. It is important to consider this when deciding how much to bet, and also when deciding if your hand is worth a call. Usually, it is not wise to bet more than the amount in the pot. Often a bet of 1/2 the pot or 2/3 the pot will provide you the same result as going all-in (for example getting a player with a weak hand to fold or learning if your opponent is trying to trap you with a monster hand). Also, consider the size of your pot if you are drawing. Is the pot big enough to warrant a call? Sometimes an opponent will make such a small play that you will be getting good enough odds to call with a hand as weak as a gutshot. Other times the bet will be so large you should fold your nut flush draw.

2. Learn some basic odds

Respect the fact that poker is largely about math. You don’t need to be a math expert, but do need to be able to quickly make a few mathematical approximations. Here are a couple facts you can use for play on the flop:

A flush draw and an open-ended straight draw are both about 2 to 1 dogs to hit (meaning you will make your draw about 1/3 of the time).

If you multiply your outs by 4 that is the approximate percent of the time you will win the hand.

If you can make a few quick mathematical estimations it will help you make decisions about when to continue and when to fold.

3. Don’t try to be too tricky

I remember years ago after a hand I asked my friend Jeremy, “You have jacks?” After he showed me that my read was correct he concluded that because I was able to put him on the hand that he must have bet it properly. This was a profound realization. Often players are upset that an opponent was able to read them, but it may just mean that the hand was played properly. I’ve seen many beginning players make a bet and then are disappointed when they are not called. Usually, betting a good hand and picking up the pot is a good thing. If a player has a hand that could improve to beat your hand then you want to make him pay to stay in. Don’t overuse deception, and recognize picking up a pot with the best hand is usually the right play.

4. Pay attention to the play of your opponents

Hollywood leads us to believe that playing poker is about picking up on a player’s tell like if they are tapping their foot, or tilting their head to the left, or eating an Oreo in a certain way. However, the best way to get a read on your opponent is to remember what they have done in the past, particularly what they have done at each betting stage in that hand. If you have been at the table for 15 minutes or more you should have some idea of how often an opponent is involved, how aggressive they are, and you should factor in all this information when making important decisions.

5. Be selective, but not too selective

No limit is much different than limit poker. You can get big pay-offs even against only one opponent. Much of your profit in a session will be determined by a few big pots. I’m not advocating playing any two cards, but because of the possible gain you can get value out of playing hands like 55 or A4s. In a no-limit game AK and AQ are often going to win you small pots and occasionally lose you big pots. For example the flop comes A75 one player holds AK and the other 55. With that said playing more hands also means you will have to be able to get away from your hands with certain flops. For example if you play an 89s and the flop comes 953. This is a good flop for your hand, but depending on the action it may also be a good flop to lose a lot of money. With the 89s you’re really hoping for A89, or 67x.

In summary, winning poker is largely about memory and math. Pay attention to your opponents and always consider the numbers when making your decisions. Don’t let the result of one hand upset you. Winning or losing a pot isn’t as important as consistently making profitable plays. Good luck at the tables (unless I’m involved in the hand.)

Old Poker Adage

Earlier this week I had another one of my loyal blog followers directly request more columns involving poker. We know that people actually willing to voice their opinion represent a much larger number of people sharing that same opinion. Considering there are about 300,000,000 people in United States, the percent of those people that read my blog, plus a few international readers, with two people voicing their request for poker I’m assuming I have at least a half dozen of you craving this content. Do not worry. I hear your voices and have responded.

Today, I have written commentary on five of the most memorable poker adages or quotes I have encountered. It will explain some of my poker past, discuss a little strategy at the table, and most importantly show how poker is a microcosm of life.

1: Poker players like winning more than losing, but they like playing most of all.

I’m not sure I totally agree with this quote. Personally, I really like winning. When I was about twenty years old I began studying the game more seriously and I came across this quote in one of the books I read. I don’t remember which book or who said, but I remember why it was said. It will behoove you at the table if everyone is having a good time and the mood is carefree and fun, because then the other players will be less concerned about the money they are losing to you. Most players in a cardroom know how to play poker better than they are playing. (Mostly because folding and waiting isn’t fun.) So you don’t want to give them a reason to start focusing and playing better. This can also go to the other extreme is if you really make some mad that will likely cause them to play poorly too. However, that isn’t my recommendation. Keeping the mood fun and friendly allows me to have more fun too.

2: It's immoral to let a sucker keep his money. --Canada Bill Jones.

I’m not as cutthroat as Jones here, but here is my take on playing with a sucker at the table: The guy is going to dump his money to someone. You can’t prevent this, so you might as well get a piece of it.

I’ve played at tables where one person is so bad that even though I was ready to go home I chose to wait out the game as long as the particular individual was still seated. I used to make the mistake of playing too much in effort to capitalize on the poor play of the fish. My advice is to not drastically change your game. Maybe you will end up making money and not getting any of it from the sucker at the table. I’ve have had times where it caused where one bad player caused me to alter my strategy too much and I ended up playing poorly. Just recognize with a donator at the table the game is better and your odds of winning more money go up. Sometimes you may play a couple more hands because you can get in cheap and he is involved, but don’t let it drastically change your style of play.

Also, keep in my mind the quote from Rounders.

3: No one bluffs a made a hand.

This is an old poker adage. Let me explain. If you are holding a strong hand at the table, and are betting it properly, it may be obvious that you are holding a quality hand. So later in the hand if a player makes a large bet or raise, you will likely have to give him credit for a monster. This is because he knows that you are holding a strong hand, thus you will be unlikely to want to give it up. Nobody bluffs a made hand. This concept requires a couple levels of psychology, but every once in a while you may have to lay down your trips when your opponent raises and you know that he knows that you have what you have.

4: Trust everyone, but always cut the cards. –Benny Binion

This quote is more interesting if you understand the character of Benny Binion. He was well-known for several things. Things like: being a major proponent of poker, casino owner, murder. Binion was also the first Vegas casino owner to not have a maximum amount someone could wager. I like Benny’s advice here. In general I put a great deal of trust in people, and the systems we have in place. That is why I can do things like not balance my checkbook, because I assume the bank is keeping things accurate. I don’t choose to live a life worried about stuff that has given me no reason to worry. But if you’re going to live a life like that of Benny Binion “always cut the cards” just in case.

5: Life is a like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you is determinism; though the way you play it is free will. –Jawaharlal Nehru

This is what I try to teach my students. There are a lot of things in life you can’t control, but you still have to do your best with what you’re dealt. Some of us in life started off with better “starting cards.” Just because you aren’t being dealt great cards doesn’t mean you still can’t have a winning session.

Poker Quotes:

There is no sense in being precise, when you don’t even know what you’re talking about. --John von Neumann

Industry executives and analysts often mistakenly talk about strategy as if it were some kind of chess match. But in chess, you have just two opponents, each with identical resources, and with luck playing a minimal role. The real world is much more like a poker game, with multiple players trying to make the best of whatever hand fortune has dealt them. -- David Moschella

In the long run there's no luck in poker, but the short run is longer than most people know." -- Rick Bennett

[Poker] exemplifies the worst aspects of capitalism that have made our country so great. --Walter Matthau

The guy who invented poker was bright, but the guy who invented the chip was a genius. –Big Julie

I hope to break even this week. I need the money. –Veteran gambler

There are two days in poker that you will never forget. One is the first time you’ll lose $100,000 in a night and the other is the first time you’ll lose $1,000,000 in a night. –Chip Reese

Serious poker is no more about gambling than rock climbing is about taking risks. - Alfred Alvarez

Most of the money you'll win at poker comes not from the brilliance of your own play, but from the ineptitude of your opponents. --Lou Krieger

There are few things that are so unpardonably neglected in our country as poker. The upper class knows very little about it. Now and then you find ambassadors who have sort of a general knowledge of the game, but the ignorance of the people is fearful. Why, I have known clergymen, good men, kind-hearted, liberal, sincere, and all that, who did not know the meaning of a "flush." It is enough to make one ashamed of the species. --Mark Twain

Thought of the Week

"...nothing in life is certain and that, consequently, all decisions are about probabilities."
--Robert E. Rubin

Rush Poker

Warning: Those of you that do not play poker can just go ahead and skip this column. There is no summary at the end, and no interesting storyline for the average citizen.

For poker players, Full Tilt has just revolutionized the way poker is played.

People have often asked me how I can play poker on-line, and if there is significantly less strategy because you can't get reads on people you cannot see. I have often defended the similarities, because the majority of your read is determined by the players previous actions within this hand, and their previous actions to hands prior. Thus, the strategy on-line is similar to playing at a live table. For the most part the games are similar.

They were. Until this week.

With Rush Poker a player is moved to a new table immediately after folding a hand. It is crazy, and it is instant. Usually, getting a cold deck of poor hole cards is extremely frustrating. Now you can fold ten hands in a row in a minute.

I consider myself a heads-up specialist. The reason why I prefer heads up play is because you are constantly making decisions in order to outwit your opponent. It is not about patience; it is about making a play. Now, I have a way to always be involved in a hand while playing at a table with multiple players, and as soon as I fold I'm instantly moved to a new table and involved in a new hand.

This is something that would be impossible to imitate in a live game. It is only possible by technology, and it is going to completely change on-line poker.

This game constantly has new opponents so many strategies of an observant, analytical poker player will be taken away in this new format. However, it also allows you to play so many more hands. So if you are playing with an edge over the field of players you will just get that many more chances.

I just went on and played 48 hands (9-handed) in less than 12 minutes. I made $90 and I never sat around waiting for a hand. Often when I play poker on-line I'm surfing the net or watching TV or trying to find some way to distract myself so I don't get bored playing poor hands. Well, Rush Poker, takes that patience element out of the strategy and allows you to just play.*

It is fast. It is crazy, and it is going to make good players (and poker sites) very profitable.

I don't know who came up with this idea, but it's brilliant.

And if I was gambling man, I'd be willing to bet-- Poker will never be the same.

*If this was a poker blog I would write further columns about how Rush Poker changes the strategy of the game, and how you can maximize your profit in this game. However, this is not a poker blog so you'll have to e-mail me or call me if you want to talk about it.

Poker Marathon

I have a detailed poker story to share so if you’re not interested in the story in its entirety I have included a summary at the bottom. Also, throughout the story there will be links you can click on to view the transcript of certain relevant hands. Feel free to click on those links as you go. Click here to review some poker jargon before continuing.

The Story:
We began with 403 players. After playing for a couple hours I was in about 40th place of the remaining 56. It paid 54 places so I decided not to do anything too aggressive until I made into the money. At this point I wanted to get at least a little something for my time. This is how much of the tournament went for me. I was toward the bottom of the pack struggling to stay alive.
Each time I got short I would pick spots to shove in my whole stack. I usually managed to pick up the blinds. Because this tournament was a higher entry fee than I often play I think the field of players was better overall. This does create for higher competition, but it adds more predictable play from your opponents. Also, this tournament had just 6 players per table, which made for more faster action, and more frequent involvement.

I kept fighting and hanging around. Once I had aces a guy tried to make a play on me with 78s. He flopped four clubs, and I had to sweat it out. The aces held and I stayed alive. Shortly after I pushed in with 88, and was called by A9 (he had less chips, but enough to cripple me). He flopped an ace, and I hit a miracle 8 on the river.

I found myself in 30th place out of 32, but as long as I stayed alive I could keep moving up on the payout scale. If I could make the top 24 I would make an additional $50. I continued to live. With the blinds at 2500/5000, and holding only 30,000 checks I looked down and found KQo. Almosted eliminated, with very little options, I quickly pushed all-in. I was hoping to steal the blinds, but the SB called. Then the BB called too. Uh-oh. This is surely the end. The flop came K84. They both checked. Maybe I'm good now. Maybe I’ll triple up. It turned out they were holding nines and sixes, and I was holding 90,000 chips.

By this time I had Jeff on the phone acting as my poker coach. He had been helping me make decisions. Earlier, with K8o I wanted to push all-in from the button to steal. Jeff said the BB had too many chips and I should wait for a better spot. He added, “With his stack he would call you with A2 right now.” Right after I folded the SB went all-in and the big stack called with that exact A2. The SB had QK, and the big stack took him out. If it wasn’t for Jeff there I would have been eliminated. We kept fighting.

It got down to 7 people, and I was still alive. With good play and good fortune I made the final table. With 5 people left I had an average chip stack. My mindset had transitioned from surviving to winning. With a K7o and 150,000 chips, against the advice of my poker coach, I raised to 22,000 to try to steal the blinds. I was called by the BB. The flop came KJ6. He checked and I bet 29,000. He check-raised all-in, and I called. He was bluffing with Q5. Down to four.

With 4th place finisher was eliminated the chip stacks were:
Seat 1: Katchman1 (419,164) Seat 3: gutshot7 (328,913) Seat 4: BtCh I MiTe Be (460,923)

With the blinds still at 4k/8k we had plenty of poker to play. Btch took the lead as the battle continued until I had this key hand with J9s. After taking down that victory I was left heads up, with about even chips.

Occasionally, Btch was slow to act so I looked him up on the site. It turned out he was playing 4 other tournaments at the same time. Likely a pro. But I still felt I had a big edge in heads up play. I amassed a chip lead, and then we got all the money in preflop in a race situation. His small pair held.

Now I was forced to battle from behind. Down 3 to 1 in chips I began my comeback. When I had regained the lead he even typed in how tough I was play to against. At that point I think both of us sensed it was a matter of time until I beat him. I remained focused. His time came on the final hand against my J7. I flopped top pair, and he check raised. I came back over the top and he called with just a flush draw. (At this point probably a reasonable call on his part.) No spade hit.
I even had the railbirds cheering for me, singing my praises, and asking me for cash. The only decision I was left with was how much to tip my poker coach. We did it. This was my first big win since 2003.

The Summary:
Yesterday, I entered a poker tournament that had 403 entrants. I took first. Woohoo.

Ten High

I told you the last poker story so I could tell you this one.
Again I plan to write it with the jargon included. So if you’re uninterested in learning the poker lingo I will include a summary at the bottom. You may scroll down now.

The Story:
Last summer I was playing in a 1/3 no-limit game. I was dealt 9To in late middle position and I limped in hoping to see a cheap flop. Unfortunately, the kid to my left raised to $15. Usually, I would be happy to fold this hand, but everyone was coming along. By the time it got back to me there were 5 other players involved and no chance of a re-raise.

This kid looked like his most recent birthday party was his 21st, and he bought in for the minimum $100. My guess was he walked in with about $108 in his pocket. He was down to about $70 and didn’t want to bust out.

I called the $12 and took the flop. It came out 443. It was checked to me and I passed as well. The preflop raiser bet out $20. To my surprise everyone else folded. I thought there was a decent chance he was betting with AK. If that was the case it should be pretty easy to bet him off his hand. I said “raise” and slid in a stack of chips large enough to put him all-in.
The kid deliberated for a long time. He was thinking out loud trying to figure out how I had a 4 in my hand. He even guessed the possibility of A3 (which wasn’t a bad guess; I likely would have made the same play with A3). After enough time convincing himself he finally believed there was a chance he was behind. So he asked me, “If I fold will you show me in your hand?”

I answered, “sure.”

He flipped over his whole cards revealing two jacks. He looked on with a mix of disbelief and disgust as I unveiled a ten-high.

I don’t play poker often so it took me five years to have the situation come up again. I learned from the past. This time I said “sure” loud enough.

The Summary:
Several years ago I was playing poker and lost a pot because I did not say “sure” loud enough. Last summer I was playing again and bluffing with absolutely nothing. The guy next to me asked me the same question I was asked years ago, “Will you show me your cards if I fold?” This time I said, “sure” loud enough. He folded, and I won the pot.

"Sure."

The people have spoken. And overwhelming they are in favor of having this blog include columns about poker. However, if you are not very familiar with poker, or you are one of the three people to vote against it I have provided an article summary at the bottom. You may skip down there now. You do not need to read “the story” and “the summary” as they will both contain the same information. For anyone not familiar with all the poker jargon I wrote some poker information here that may make it easier to understand the story.

The Story:
Five or six years ago I was playing no-limit hold ‘em in St. Louis. I had AdQd and made a small raise pre-flop. Several other players called. The flop came out Kxx, with two diamonds. The guy to my right bet out $15. I called, and at least one other guy called behind. The turn was a blank. The initial bettor checked and I fired $25 or $30. The young kid in late position called (I say young kid because he looked only 2 or 3 years older than I was at the time.) The initial bettor folded and left us heads up going to the river. If a diamond hits I make the nuts, and I think I would also be good with an ace.

The river came another blank. I missed. Obviously, my only chance to win is with a bet. I bet out $50. The kid goes into the think tank. He clearly believes he’s behind, but is reluctant to fold his hand. Finally, he asks me, “If I fold will you show me?” I’m thrilled with the prospect, but don’t want to seem too excited. So I shrug my shoulders and act reluctant as I say, “sure.” Even after the comment he still thinks about if for another minute. Finally, he announces, “Call.”

He turns over KJo and takes down the pot.

I’m left baffled. Could this rook really pull off a read like that? Finally, I ask him, “Why did you ask me if I would show my hand?”

“I just really wanted to know what you had.”
“I said, `sure.'”
“You did? Oh, I didn’t hear you.”

Are you kidding me? I just lost a $200 pot because I didn’t say “sure” loud enough. I meant, “YES. SURE. Yes, sir. I’ll show my cards if you fold. No problem, sir.” *


The summary:
I was playing poker in St. Louis a few years ago. I had a very poor hand, but decided to make a bluff at the end. The other guy spent a great deal of time contemplating calling my bet. After much deliberation he asked me, “If I fold will you show me your hand?” I said, “sure.” He called anyway and won the hand. It turned out he only called because he didn’t hear me. If I had said “sure” louder I would have won over 200 more dollars.

*Next time I’ll tell you about a hand five years later when I bluffed with ten high and an even younger kid asked me, “If I fold will you show me your hand?”

The Poker Player

I did not write this story. It was just e-mailed to me this afternoon.

Two couples were playing poker one evening. Jim accidentally dropped some cards on the floor. When he bent down under the table to pick them up, he noticed Bob's wife, Sue, wasn't wearing any underwear under her dress! Shocked by this, Jim upon tryingt o sit back up again, hit his head on the table and emergedred-faced.

Later, Jim went to the kitchen to get somerefreshments. Bob's wife followed and asked, 'Did you see anything that you like under there?' Surprised by herboldness, Jim admitted that, well indeed he did. She said, 'Well, you can have it but it will cost you $500.' Aftertaking a minute or two to assess the financial and moral costs of this offer, Jim confirms that he is interested. Sue told him thatsince her husband Bob worked Friday afternoons and Jim didn't, Jimshould be at her house around 2 p.m. Friday afternoon.

When Friday rolled around, Jim showed up at Bob's house at 2 p.m. sharp- and after paying Sue the agreed sum of $500 - they went to theb edroom and closed their transaction, as agreed. Jim quicklydressed and left. As usual, Bob came home from work at 6p.m.

Upon arriving, asked his wife: 'Did Jim come by the housethis afternoon?' With a lump in her throat Sue answered 'Why yes, he did stop by for a few minutes this afternoon.' Her heart nearly skipped a beat when her husband curtly asked, 'And did he give you $500?' Sue, using her best poker face, replied, 'Well, yes, in fact he did give me $500.'

Bob, with a satisfied look on his face, surprised his wife by saying, 'He came by the office this morning and borrowed $500 from me. He promised he'd stop by our house this afternoon on his way home and pay me back.'

Now that, my friends, is a poker player.