What are the most common mistakes beginners make when they try to play poker in a casino setting?
The question was asked me by a friend of mine in Charleston, S.C. He and his fiancee were planning to leave Charleston for a new life in Reno, NV. where his company was transferring him. Wayne is a Certified Public Accountant, brilliant in math, and an all-around good guy.
'We're planning to get married in Reno,' he added. 'I am not much of a gambler and I know that poker is a game of skill rather than gambling. So what should I avoid when I get to the Biggest Little City in the World?'
I like Wayne and Jan. They are two of my favorite people. When I discovered they were planning a trip to Reno, I went to Barnes & Noble and bought three books as going away presents: Doyle Brunson's 'Super Systems,' and two strategy books by one of my favorite teachers, Daniel Negraneau.
I joked with him. 'For one thing, don't leave Jan alone at the bar,' I said. 'She's too pretty and there are a lot of stray cowboys in Reno who just might take advantage of that.'
Jan smiled and hugged Wayne. He squeezed her and said, 'Got cha. What else do I have to remember?'
I got serious about poker.
'Most rookies bluff too much,' I said. 'They watch the World Series of Poker on television and try to run over the opposition with a bluff. In most cases, it simply will not work. You need a little experience at the game before you can pull an effective bluff on a player. So my number one rule for you would be not to try any bluffing until you have been playing the game for six months or longer.' I smiled. 'Of course, I don't expect you to listen to me. You'll be trying to pull a bluff right from the start just to prove I am wrong.'
'No he won't,' said Jan. 'I'll be there watching him to make sure of that.'
Wayne said, 'I'll probably be so nervous that won't be a problem. What's rule number two?'
'Rule number two gives you time to get settled in a game and have patience. Jan, I have a question for you. How patient is your husband-to-be?'
'On a scale of one to 10, I'd give him about a three.'
Wayne pretended to be shocked. 'Come on,' he said. 'I'm better than that. Give me a four at least. Hey, I even took you fishing once and you need to be patient to be a fisherman.'
'True, he took me fishing,' she said. 'We went down to the pier and fished off the end of it, but the fish weren't biting and we didn't stay very long. We ended up going to a restaurant and ordered seafood. Great restaurant, by the way.'
I said, 'You need to develop patience and let the cards come to you. Here's a suggestion. Bring some three by five index cards to the poker game with you. Write the letters PBPTCWC on top of one of them. The letters stand for 'Please be patient, the cards will come.' Study those letters between hands and wait until the cards come before you play a hand. Do that until you feel comfortable at the table. It will really pay off for you.'
'I like that rule,' he said. 'What's rule number three?'
'I don't know how much money your company will be paying you, but rule number three doesn't play at unaffordable limits. Until you grasp the concept of poker, keep the limits down. You can raise them after you have been winning steadily for about six months.'
Jan said, 'I'll be in charge of the household money and I'll make sure he doesn't take that much money to the casino with him.'
'And no credit cards,' I reminded him. 'It can be very easy to trap yourself on the credit card business. That ATM is just a few steps away.'
'This is fun,' Wayne said. 'I feel like I'm a winner already. What's rule number four?'
'I've watched a few Saturday football games with you and I know you enjoy a beer,' I said. 'No drinking while you're playing. It affects your perception of the cards and the players. After you have been playing for a while, a drink or two is okay, but limit your intake to two drinks. Remember the Oriental adage: the man drinks the first drink, the drink drinks the second drink, and the drink drinks the man on the third drink.'
Jan wagged her finger at him. 'Remember that. It's good advice.' Wayne promised to remember.
'Before I give you rule number five, let me ask you a question. What would you do if you got ahead in the game? Say you won a couple of hundred dollars.'
Wayne grinned. 'Well, I'd quit and take my winnings home,' he said.
I shook my head. 'Wrong. You keep playing as long as you are winning. Never quit when you're on a winning streak. You may be on a real rush and you never know how long it will last. So you just stay there until the rush ends. Then you can go home and put your money in the bank. Comprehende?'
'Comprehende,' Wayne said, shaking my hand.
'Comprehende,' said Jan.
'The reverse is true if you are losing,' I said. 'The game you are in, even though it's low limit, could be too tough for you, especially if there's a lot of raising and jamming the pots. If the game is too tough, you might want to ask for a table change. The floor man will be happy to accommodate you. Find a game that is comfortable, sociable and beatable. That's rule number six and it's an important rule.'
'Will do,' he said. 'I'm running out of paper. Is there a seventh rule?'
'Rule number seven is enjoy yourself and remember you have a beautiful wife at home waiting for you,' I said.
He hugged Jan. 'That won't be hard to remember. Thanks. Let's have lunch.'
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 ).
