Anyone who knows me, knows that I love the game of poker... specifically, Texas Hold'em. I'm not admonishing or condoning the gambling aspect of it, but the game itself, is brilliant. Granted, it isn't for everyone... but, personally, I have grown to enjoy it immensely.
It has all things that appeal to me... knowledge of game play itself, analyzing of various elements around you, timed strategy, reading other people, acting, psychology,... it's all there! The only element that I really struggle with, is that this game also requires patience. Dang! Probably explains why I haven't recently made it to the final four (last night I placed 7th out of 18).
Not much more to tell. Although, I should state... as much as it is nice to have good cards (high pairs, Ace and a King, etc.), I have found that the people who finish in the top four most consistently, are those who have honed some of the other elements... effective bluffs, reading others, playing what's called the 'position' spot, etc. So, as much as I'd like to say "I got lousy cards last night... no wonder I didn't place in the top four!", I simply can't. I was outplayed.
Extra Content
Here's some info on the game itself that you may or may not find interesting:
Texas Hold'Em, unlike stud or draw poker, doesn't use antes. Instead, Hold'Em uses something called 'blinds.' The person to the left of the dealer is responsible for the small blind, and the person to the left of the small blind is responsible for the big blind. Every twenty minutes or so, the blinds increase. So, the game may start off with the small blind being one chip and the big blind being two chips. But, after twenty minutes, the blinds increase to 2 chips and 4 chips, and so on. To ensure that everyone has the opportunity to pay into the blinds, this game 'rotates' the dealer. The dealer position rotates around the table, along with the blinds. You may be dealer the first hand, but the person to your left will be the next dealer, and so on.
It sounds complicated, but it's not. Like many games, you pick up the basic mechanics of it after just a few minutes. You learn what the hand structure is... what hands beat other hands (high card, pair, 2 pair, 3 of a kind, etc.). However, if you're lucky, you won't 'accidentally' learn some of the unspoken rules:
1. never push out part of your bet, and then decide to push out more... you will be scolded... this is called a string bet.
2. don't throw your bet out into the middle with the other chips... this is called 'splashing the pot'... it makes it difficult to know what your bet was
3. don't EVER look at other people's cards after they've folded... big faux pas
There's more, but those seem to be the most common rookie mistakes.
Lastly, some poker terms:
1. The flop - the first three cards placed face up on the table after the first round of betting
2. The turn - the next card placed face up
3. The river - the final card placed face up
4. Big Slick - an Ace and a King in your hand (you get dealt 2 cards... 5 more or placed on the table)
5. Pocket Rockets - 2 Aces in your hand
6. Cowboys - (pocket kings) - 2 Kings in your hand
Most combinations of 2 cards in your hand have been given similar witty names, but I need to get movin' on today's event... a puppet workshop and puppet show in Minneapolis. Fair well.
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