By George “The Engineer” Epstein

 [Read Part 1] Continuing our review of Thomas M. Green’s unique new book, Texas Hold’Em Poker Textbook...

 The Flop (There are 19,600 possible flops). A “sparse” flop—three cards of different ranks, not in sequence and different suits—will occur almost 75 percent of the time.

by George 'The Engineer' Epstein

With so many poker books available (including my own two rather unique books), I hesitate to write about any. But Thomas M. Green’s Texas Hold’Em Poker Textbook is very different. So is Mr. Green. I have never met the gentlemen, except through correspondence. He is a retired math professor who knows the game of poker quite well, and uses mathematical concepts to perfection.

by George 'The Engineer' Epstein

The previous two issues (Read Part 1 and Part 2) described how the Claude Pepper Seniors Poker Group started seven years ago and grew rapidly. We play for recreation, recognizing that there are significant health benefits for seniors as well as potential profits. Today we complete the story. Starting out, we made do with whatever facilities were available. I brought the cards and chips, and the senior center purchased a large white board to facilitate lectures and discussions. As we grew, we moved into a large room where we also enjoy light refreshments, distribute poker publications, and hold door prize drawings. And local casinos were pleased to host us. After playing on makeshift tables for several years, the management at the Normandie Casino donated two regulation poker tables and heavy-duty poker chips. Our members could hardly believe their eyes!

by George Epstein

More About the Claude Pepper Seniors Poker Group... PART 2  Last issue, we discussed the start and rapid growth of the Claude Pepper Seniors Poker Group. Today, it is almost certanly the largest poker group in any senior center. Let’s review the activities of the group.

by George 'the Engineer' Epstein
People frequently ask me about the Claude Pepper Seniors Poker Group. Perhaps this will inspire other seniors groups to follow in our footsteps.

 First, understand that recreational poker is great for retirees. It’s important that we seniors get out, away from the TV, and interact with other people. “Couch potatoes” rarely enjoy happy golden years. Also, playing poker exercises our brains by stimulating the growth of the synapses that connect our brain cells, thereby helping overcome memory loss and preventing dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease, often associated with the aging process. And a healthy mind leads to a healthier body.

The Seniors Poker Group and guests recently  enjoyed two special poker events at the Claude Pepper Senior Citizen Center in Los Angeles as part of a current series of classes focused on “Six Ways to be Sure You are a LOSER,” taught by me. On Aug. 19, high-stakes poker pro Yosh Nakano—founder of the International Poker Players Association—recalled his experiences playing against some of the top poker players, including Doyle Brunson, the late Stu Ungar, and Johnny Chan, as well as in Larry Flynt’s very high stakes home games. On September 2, our special guest was Barbara Enright, the only woman elected to the Poker Hall of Fame and the only woman to ever reach the final table at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) main event.

The more you know about your opponents, the better your decisions and the more you win. It pays to observe how opponents play their hands as well as each player’s traits and betting patterns.
 
My attention was called to an interesting article in a poker magazine that sometimes offers “food for thought” tucked amid its glossy pages and colorful photos. It was about reading your opponents by recognizing their playing traits and betting patterns.
 

In the game of poker, deception is not cheating or immoral. In all its ramifications, deception and trickery are part of the game and worthy of our full respect. . .
 
To be a winner at the game of poker, you must be deceptive: Give your opponents information that will lead them to make mistakes and it will enable you to win more and bigger pots. Consider ways to be deceptive at the poker table. . .
 
Bluffing: Bluffing is the most apparent form of deception. Most bluffs are intended to force out an opponent. Betting or raising gives your opponent reason to muck his cards, leaving the pot for you. At least you hope your bluff—your level of deception—will be adequate for the job.
 

A tell is any mannerism, gesture or expression that gives information about your hand. The idea is that you want to avoid giving any tells, and concomitantly, you want to observe your opponents and identify any tells they may inadvertently offer.
 
Sometimes we give tells that detract from our potential to win at the poker table, and we need to avoid it. Admission: Many years ago when smoking was allowed in the Las Vegas casinos and before I had given up smoking, I enjoyed smoking a cigar while playing poker. One day my wife called me away from the table and said, “George, did you know you have a big tell?” Then she explained that when I caught a big hand, the tip of my cigar would light up brightly as I took a deep breath! She was right. As you seek opponents’ tells, make sure you don’t have any yourself. In that regard, Mike Caro’s  Book of Poker Tells (there’s also a DVD) could be invaluable.
 

Marcus Tullius Cicero, the ancient Roman statesman and philosopher who died in 43 BC, is credited with introducing the concept:“Cuiusvis hominis est errare, nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare.” Translation from the Latin: “Anyone can err, but only the fool persists in his fault.”

We all make mistakes now and then. Usually they are inadvertent. Hopefully we will learn from these mistakes. Sometimes the mistakes are surprising—unexpected—and should not have happened. Byron Ziman, one of the members of our Claude Pepper Seniors Poker Group (who is credited for introducing us to the idea of “tainted outs”) brought to my attention a conspicuous error by a top-rated poker celebrity, published in a column in a poker magazine. Apparently, the celebrity, who has won many poker bracelets in tournaments and often has been said to claim he is the best poker player in the world, made an eye-catching error. Oh, well, we are only human.