Poker lessons

Giver of the lesson

About once a month, this man gives me a poker lesson.  The lesson has pretty much been the same each time: my pile of chips becomes his pile of chips.

I still enjoy seeing him each month in spite of that, because he makes me laugh, and usually shares a little of his Crown Royal if you ask him real nice.  But, he and his wife have taught me that there is a definite difference in poker players and the good ones seldom loose.  Oh, I get the occasional lucky hand and win, but typically Luke or Lottie win most of the hands.  The fact that they both portray famous old west Gamblers should be an indication of their enjoyment of the game.

We play our game in an old barn that has been converted into a private saloon specifically for this purpose.  Everyone brings a dish to share, and a bottle or ten to sip from.  Then the chips are counted and we start the game.   There are two kinds of players at the table – vultures and victims.  The vultures sit on their perch waiting for the unsuspecting prey to slowly wander by.  I wait until the vulture sees me and then flip over into a defeatist position, and let him pick me clean.

Here are the lessons the Vulture has taught me.

#1.  Poker is serious business.  If you are looking to visit with others, do it on your own time.

#2. If you pick up the cheat sheet, that’s as good as telling everyone you probably have a good hand which will make the pot smaller.

#3. Bet more than you can afford and be a damn fool about it.  It means more meat for him.

#4. Once you’ve been cleaned out, make room at the table for the next victim.

I enjoy poker night.  It keeps me humble and educated all in one.  Some lessons are best ignored for the sake of friendship.  However, I am going to nip from that Crown Royal a little more often.