George Epstein

The game of poker is much like a play performed on a stage. There are many analogies between performing in a play in a theater and playing poker.

The king-high flush is often referred to as the second-nut flush. Assuming a straight flush isn’t possible, and there is no pair on the board, only the ace-high flush can top it. It is a powerful hand but can lose more often than you might think.
 

We’ve all been exposed to foolish arguments about what percentage of poker is skill versus luck? Frankly, that discussion has no real meaning. It’s a waste of time. More important is to understand that poker skill—proficiency and talent—can help you to get luckier.
 

Deception… Poker is a game of many faces, including deception. It offers many opportunities for taking the pot by being tricky. Bluffing is the most common form of deception. Stealing the blinds and check-raising also are viable examples.

Ask your friends, family, neighbors. Like it or not, most will tell you that poker is a gambling game. On that basis, some well-meaning people frown on the game—even though it offers many benefits aside from the potential of winning money.

In hold’em, there are only three made hands before the flop: A-A, K-K, and Q-Q. They can win without further improvement much of the time, although Q-Q is on the cusp. If an ace or king falls, pocket queens become chopped liver. Most playable starting hands are drawing hands that must improve to take the pot. We are assuming that you bluff only when circumstances permit, which is infrequent. In limit hold’em, most pots are won by the best hand at the showdown.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could count your opponents’ outs?

Serious players know full well the importance of counting outs: How many cards remaining in the deck will help your opponent’s hand become a winner?

If and when I write the Encyclopedia of Poker, there will be a special chapter entitled "Mike Caro." There are many celebrities who have made their mark in our poker world; but I believe no one has contributed as much to poker as Mike Caro. I soak up every word he offers in his books, videos, columns, seminars. He is more than the "Mad Genius of Poker;" he shares his knowledge and analyses with us.

A theorem is an idea that has been accepted or proposed as a demonstrable truth. In his book, The Theory of Poker, poker expert and writer David Sklansky presents his "Fundamental Theorem of Poker:" The best way to play your hand is to play it as if you could see your opponent's hole cards.

I love innovation! It makes life all the more fascinating. And it keeps us seniors young.

In the January 18 issue of Poker Player Newspaper, Barbara Connors column (Connors' Corner) on "Enemies with Benefits," was concerned about a bounty button. I was intrigued. How could we best apply Barbara Connor's teachings for the benefit of the Claude Pepper Sr. Citizen Center Poker Group?