When Doyle Brunson wrote his best-selling book, 'Super System,' some years ago, he put together a strategy designed to help people win at Texas Hold'em. Brunson listed the top Hold'em hands a person should play and pocket aces headed the list.
That was yesterday. Today a growing number of Hold'em players are trying to figure out how to get their pocket aces cracked and they're doing it because poker rooms will pay them to have the aces beaten.
While some casinos offer this cash bonus only during certain hours, other casinos like Wild Horse Pass near Chandler, AZ. runs the promotion seven days a week, 24 hours a day. If dealt pocket aces and somebody makes a better hand, you are paid $100.
I played $4-8 Texas Hold'em the other day and had my pocket aces cracked twice in six hours. The House congratulated me and I left the poker room with two crisp $100 bills.
Wild Horse Pass also pays a $100 bonus if a player gets a 6-4 low hand cracked by a wheel.
It's incredible to watch how the poker players play their hand when they get pocket aces. The first thing they do is slow play the aces -- no raises. Let everybody in.
Then even if a third ace falls on the flop, they don't raise. They want as many people in the hand as possible.
Sometimes their best efforts fail and they win the pot by accident. They don't like it, but I haven't yet seen a player refuse the pot when it is pushed in their direction.
The poker room management at Wild Horse Pass told me their policy of paying for aces cracked had increased the number of people who play Texas Hold'em. They also tell me the players stay at the tables longer trying to catch aces so they can get them cracked.
Talking Stick Casino near Scottsdale, AZ. sets aside certain hours to pay off when aces are cracked.
Players who like this policy should pressure the poker rooms where they play to adopt it and to keep it operating 24 hours per day. It certainly gets rid of the sting of losing to two pair, trips, a flush, straight or full house.
Of course, you will have to invest some money before the hand is over. But it's worth an investment of $20 or $30 to win $100.
When I get dealt pocket aces, I rarely slow play them. For one thing, the players at Wild Horse Pass are lost and won't let a raise keep them from getting into a hand. I want to get a lot of money in the pot so that either way I will win a nice chunk of cash.
The other evening an older woman named Annie sat down at our table. It became quickly apparent that she was new at poker and all the players tried to help her understand the game.
Sure enough, she was dealt pocket aces. She was a timid player and didn't even raise with them, which was probably the best way she could have played the hand. When a player with two pair beat her, she started to throw her hand into the muck. I saw she had pocket aces and stopped her from doing it.
'Turn your hand over, Maam,'I said.
'But I have a loser,' she said.
'No you don't, Maam. You have a winner.'
When she learned what she had one, she broke into the biggest smile. She even called her daughter on her cell phone to give her the good news.
When a poker room employee handed her the money, she shook her head and said, 'Lordy, Lordy, ain't this something? Getting paid to get beat by a better hand.'
Author: Geno Lawrenzi Jr.
(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter and poker player who lives in Phoenx, AZ. He has published 2,000 articles in 50 magazines and 125 newspapers. If you want to share a gambling story or book idea with him, send an email to glawrenzi@gmail.com ).
