Seniors’ Scene - Controversy: Is Poker Gambling?
November 26, 2016 - 11:11pm
By George “The Engineer” Epstein
With so much having been recently published in leading poker publications – Card Player magazine and the weekly Gaming Today newspaper – regarding mega-rich casino magnate Sheldon Adelson’s attack on our poker world, I am sure Stan Sludikoff would have wanted the last word...
Recall: Adelson claimed that poker was a game primarily of luck because the players cannot control the cards; skill plays “a negligible role,” he argued. Those of us “in the know,” realize that, on the contrary, skill is the most important factor in winning at poker. Those who depend on luck – those who are unskilled – are bound to be losers over the long run. And you don’t have to take my word for it. That’s why so many can make a living at the game.
Time has come for a Poker Industry Hall of Fame
October 18, 2016 - 11:10pm
By Robert Turner
Originally published in Gaming Today
The poker industry is over 100 years old, and many individuals have never been recognized for their contributions to the industry. Many pioneers of poker need to be honored, and what better place than the new Poker Industry Hall of Fame.
The time has come for the creation of the Poker Industry Hall of Fame to preserve and honor those individuals that built the game of poker and established a framework for the players to achieve their dreams.
Today poker is accepted around the world, and I want to preserve its past for future generations by honoring those individuals who built and managed poker rooms, brought innovations to the industry or wrote about the game we all love.
Seniors’ Scene - A Hand To Remember
October 15, 2016 - 9:40pm
By George “The Engineer” Epstein
There are literally millions of possible five-card hands you can make while playing poker. Hands like a royal straight flush and four-of-a-kind (quads) certainly are memorable. They are so rare, and naturally get our attention. Later, you may even want to tell others about it when you catch such a hand.
Even more memorable is a hand like the one I am about to describe to you – replete with suspense and intrigue. . .
Playing Texas hold’em, it’s not unusual to be dealt two horrible downcards such as:
3♣-5♠
Recognizing hold ’em hands quicker
October 11, 2016 - 6:47pm
By Mike Caro
For more than a year, I’ve been giving hourly poker lessons by Skype. My students come with a wide variety of skills, from absolute beginners to established professionals.
So, naturally, I tailor the lessons to their needs. But, here’s something strange. I was puzzled that so many beginning hold ’em players had trouble identifying what hands were possible after seeing the board. It turned out that most weren’t able to see all of the basic threats that were possible.
Seniors’ Scene - Was it a Bad Beat?
October 1, 2016 - 7:42pm
By George “The Engineer” Epstein
Playing in a $4-$8 limit hold’em game at a local casino, it had not been a good night for me. I was quite a bit behind; and it was getting close to time for me to head home. As the game had progressed, it had become more aggressive, with frequent raises and reraises before the flop. A young man joined our table, two seats before me, and proceeded to raise almost every hand. Probably a “maniac,” I concluded. Fortunately, I had position over him for most of the hands dealt.
The pots had grown substantially. If I could win a couple of these big pots, I might yet go home a winner. . .
The Future of Poker at the New Hollywood Park Casino
September 30, 2016 - 6:32pm
By Robert Turner
Originally published in Gaming Today
The new Hollywood Park Casino, located just minutes from downtown Los Angeles and Los Angeles International Airport in Inglewood, California, provides a unique gaming experience that embraces the future but also honors its historic past.
Close to Beverly Hills, the beach areas and West Los Angeles, Hollywood Park Casino has always had its fair share of celebrity poker players, but the new casino is a glamorous addition to the Los Angeles poker scene where everyone is treated like a VIP.
Seniors’ Scene - Readers Response: More Poker Aphorisms
September 29, 2016 - 6:56pmBy George “The Engineer” Epstein
Recall: An aphorism is a concise and usually witty or humorous statement of wisdom or opinion. We offered a few that would apply to the game of poker: “It’s more fun to win;” “Win or lose, it’s how you play the game that counts;” and “Learn from your mistakes.”
Responding to our column on poker aphorisms in the Sept. 3 issue of PPN, Mike Brehm, a recent retiree (he was an optician for forty years) offered two fascinating ones.
He created this aphorism from scratch; it got me to pondering over its message:
“Only with clouds come the prettiest sunsets.”
Evaluating Tells
September 15, 2016 - 6:35pm
By George “The Engineer” Epstein
A skilled poker player always seeks out tells from his opponents. Tells are mannerisms that reveal information that can help him make better decisions – win more often and bigger pots.
The easiest tells are when the cards are first being dealt out. I always teach my poker classes to especially observe the players to their left as they first look at their holecards. Those are the ones who will be betting after you.
Seniors’ Scene - Aphorisms for Poker
September 3, 2016 - 3:03pmBy George “The Engineer” Epstein
An aphorism is a concise and usually witty or humorous statement of wisdom or opinion, such as “Lord, what fools these mortals be!” (from Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night's Dream”). In his “Essay on Criticism,” Alexander Pope wrote: “To err is human, to forgive divine.” Perhaps the most familiar aphorisms are: “Children should be seen and not heard,” and “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” I am sure you have heard/read some of these.
The Barstow Poker Hall of Fame
August 31, 2016 - 6:04pmBy Max Shapiro
“Hey Maxey,” Big Denny bellowed on my latest visit to his dumpy card shack, “did ya hear about da Minnysoda Poker Hall of Fame?”
“That’s ‘Minnesota,’” I corrected him.
“Oh, yeah, dat’s da name of da city.”
“Minnesota is a state,” I said wearily.
“Yeah, whatever. But did ya hear about dere Poker Hall a’ Fame?”
“Yes, I read about it. It was started by the Canterbury Park Racetrack and Card Casino to honor poker players from that state and those who helped the development of poker in Minnesota. So what about it?”
“Well,” the big guy explained, since Minnysoda is startin’ one, I figgered I could do da same an’ have a Barstow Poker Hall a’ Fame.”
