Plus, answers to more of your top poker questions....
BIG FILM DEAL! The following snippet probably falls into the Michael Caine category of “Not a lot of people know this!” Top professional Joe Macek actually watched the entire box set of Sly Stallone’s “Rocky” movies (get this) while he was actually playing in the Main Event of the WSOP. Using headphones and a mini DVD player this of course causes no distraction to the other players and is therefore allowed under the rules. Joe apparently borrowed this rather elongated “pumping up tip” from World Champ and all round class act Daniel Negreanu who watches the entire box set before every major tournament he plays in. Someone probably ought to point out to Macek that the key word with Daniel’s use of the movies is before he plays and not during. This oversight might explain why Joe doesn’t win quite as often as young Daniel. Focus applies to all players, top professionals included. Now a lot of people should know that!
FREQUENTLY ASKED POKER QUESTIONS Q: I noticed a chat box the other night which described a player being at a poker game that was a real “dog track”? What on earth does that mean? A: It’s actually in quite common usage among the professionals. It’s basically a table composed of so called “calling stations” and poker virgins with no regard for raises and who call with just about anything their holding. The happy result for a resident shark is that every pot gets to be over invested and juicy and the whole game ends up being a white water helter-skelter down to the river. No happy endings though. Usually everyone drowns but the shark.
Q: Why do some players talk about “cardnage”? A: I love that one. It doesn’t happen often. It’s when two big time premium hands crash into one another. Both players in the resulting “heads up” are sure they are going to win and put everything, including the shirts on their backs and their granny’s false teeth, into the pot.
Q: I notice a few pubs in my area are beginning to cash in on the poker craze by setting up games. Is that legal? A: I remember watching the same question being asked politely of a somewhat neolithic group of chain smoking wanna-be extras in a Guy Ritchie movie playing Hold’em in a South London pub. As with the smoking ban, I imagine it depends on the size and determination of the copper or licensee. On this occasion I think a shiny new bright eyed PC anywhere south of six feet five and a brain still working in his helmet would’ve been advised to fold rather than call.
