If you play above your poker comfort zone, you’re already a loser....
$3,000,000 A DAY! There’s always lots of talk among gamblers that Las Vegas is a gold mine, and of course that’s true, but not quite in the manner you might imagine. The vast hotels that dominate the infamous “Strip” have had to become ever more competitive with one another. Each gigantic enterprise puts on fights and shows that no other venue in the world could afford to stage. All this comes at an enormous price. The average major hotel in Vegas has to generate $3,000,000 a day to break-even! Weep not. The good ones generate $5,000,000 every twenty four hours but against this background it was an eye-opener for me on a recent visit to hang out in poker rooms where various high rollers were making bets on hands of Texas Hold’em at $250,000 a pop. Makes your eyes water to watch a hand that may only last a matter of minutes drain dollars at the rate Bill Gates probably earns them. The important point I noticed was that all the high rollers concerned seemed to be playing well within their comfort zone. This is the key lesson for all poker players. The late great gambler Kerry Packer would frequently launch extra-ordinary bets but win or lose it was always clear his billion dollar fortune was never in jeopardy. For all of us who play poker for fun and the intention to come out ahead by year end, the lesson of managing our bankroll to suit our personal financial circumstances is crucial. If you play above your comfort zone, you’re already a loser.
FREQUENTLY ASKED POKER QUESTIONS Q: I’ve only just started playing poker online and I’m gradually getting familiar with some of the terms. Can you explain the term check-raise? What is the purpose of the check-raise strategy? A: This is when you check to your opponent with the idea of seducing him or her to bet so that you can then raise your opponent back. Your scam is to give your opponent or opponents a false sense of security with your initial check, luring them out to bet so that you can hit them with your follow up raise and make the pot more valuable.
Q: As a housewife taking up Texas Hold’em for the first time am I at a disadvantage over male players who are also starting out? A: Let me offer you a quote from a lady poker player who answers your question far better than I can, “Strength is the only real division between men and women, and honestly, it doesn’t take much effort to pick up two cards!” This was well said by Jennifer “The Lioness” Harman, one of the highest earning professional poker players in the world.
Q: What is an “over card”? A: An over card is a card with a face value greater than the highest rated card among the community cards.
