This and That, and a “Brief Hiatus”

Posting has been sporadic of late, and unless something unforeseen happens, this might be the last post until September.  It’s always difficult to explain our situation here, as we work in a seasonal tourism environment that means we are 24/7 (little exaggeration) until Labor Day, and we STILL have to fit in our regular life cycle patterns around the adventures at the ice cream parlor (like eating, laundry, etc.).  Playing poker and writing about it are far down the list…so with that, let me clear my system of a few things I’ve been wanting to discuss…
 

OREGON IS SAFE FOR POKER…FOR NOW

I posted information previously about the attack on Oregon Card Rooms.  Word is that the bill has been tabled and will not come up for a vote this year, after a raucus hearing where the only “pro” (read: anti card room) speakers were folks who ran card rooms…in Washington.  Nothing subtle here.  Many players spoke out against this nonsense at the hearing and in the press, and for now, the card rooms survive (though some of the rules may be re-written, which many believe is OK).  Me too, even though I’ve yet to set foot in any of these rooms.  Yet.  Someday, when I live closer to Portland.  And have more time.  Soon.

YOU CANNOT WIN BIG IF YOU DO NOT BET SOME

In what limited play I’ve been involved in, I see more and more trapping where players refuse to make even the smallest bet while holding the nuts, waiting for others to bet and then re-raising them.  In small stakes affairs, only the super aggressive (and foolish) are going to toss money out there, and if you haven’t identified them yet, you’re losing money.  Sure, if you have two of these guys at the table who will overbet the pot on a small pair or ace-high, check.  But if you have Meekrats who only bet with the goods, you can’t trap in this fashion.  You think:  If I bet now, they’ll fold and I can’t win a big pot.  I say:  But if you don’t BUILD the pot now, you won’t win a big pot either, AND you give everyone a chance to catch up to your hand (few hands are always the nuts from flop to river).  Yes, you’ll get outdrawn sometimes, but you’ll know when to fold if that happens. But having a great hand and not betting is costing you money.  Stop that.

YOU CANNOT WIN AT ALL IF YOU DO NOT BET AT ALL

If you’re in a hand where it seems as if no one has anything, and the only way you could win the small pot is to act as if you caught the last card…why aren’t you betting?  Unless you’re last to act, that is.  This is when such a play nets nothing – either you have the best hand or you don’t, and you’ll know which when everyone either (a) folds or (b) you get raised.  But if you’re in any other position, and no one shows interest in the pot, toss some money out there – sometimes.  If nothing else, you’ll learn who likes to trap by not betting anything (see above), and you know how to deal with those monkeys.

FINALLY, THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO BOUGHT MY BOOKS

Sales seem to be in an upturn in two areas – foreign purchases of the poker book (because it’s legal there), and purchases from all over of the blackjack book.  I will make an effort to include more blackjack posts in the future, but for now…I found a great new place to practice – “The Blackjack Casino” on Facebook.  Fairly realistic, different casinos with different rules, and if you’re my friend I can send you chips (and visa versa).  Link here:  https://apps.facebook.com/blackjack-casino/

That’s all for now – have a great (and profitable) summer.