2005 August 8

Growth in popularity of the game of poker has coincided with and aided the game's spreading across the country. It seems everywhere you look, people are playing or talking about poker, and it seems for now there's no stopping the unprecedented growth. Many states are becoming destinations for poker players of all skill levels, and among the several states of the upper Midwest offering poker to the game's fans is Wisconsin.

When last we left off I was busily engaged in ethnic, gender and age-specific profiling at the poker table. I was waiting for a seat. I was fortunate. I was given my choice of playing with only older white men or with a mixed table of women, black West Indian players, and four older white guys. I chose the mixed group.

You'll find poker at the Biloxi and Gulfport Grand Casinos, the Copa, and the newly opened Palace Casino. Biloxi Grand Hotel and Casino: This 23-table, non-smoking poker room, managed by Mike Smith, has been a popular destination for all levels of poker players since 1994. During the week, they spread $2-4 stud, $1-4-8 to $15-30 Texas Hold'em and No-Limit . . . $1-$2 blinds with $40 minimum, $200 maximum buy-in. Weekends you'll generally find $20-40 Hold'em plus a rip roaring No-Limit Hold'em game with $5-$10 blinds, minimum buy in $500, no maximum!

In "Harrington on Hold' em" there is an example of using an opponent to your advantage when you were going to raise with K-K and saw that the short stack to your left is reaching for his chips. It is a single table no limit hold em satellite (one winner). There was an early position player with a decent stack who limped in for 60 (blinds 30- 60). Rather than the kings raising to 200 as he was initially going to do, he just raised to 120. The short stack with 240 now moves all in essentially reraising you double your raise.

Peppermill Perfection Features Poker

RENO, NV - "A premier luxury resort in an American Paradise" is how one writer describes the Peppermill Hotel/Casino.

Overlooking Reno, with the majestic, snow-capped High Sierra for its backdrop, the Peppermill offers visitors a cornucopia of excitement and delights.

Surrounded by 40 championship golf courses, within minutes of 18 world-class ski resorts, and a breathtakingly beautiful brief drive to Virginia City and back to the Old West, the Peppermill sits at the center of an outdoor wonderland.

Hobby and I had been about to take off with a drug dealer in the back seat of the car -- we wanted to question him about T.V. Producer Bailey Mack's murder -- when his cohorts came to the rescue.

Suddenly I was under attack by a steroid freak shaped like the Michelin tire man.

Pulled from the car, I narrowly escaped having my head stomped by a size 14 boot. Before he could launch another kick, Hobby cold-cocked him with a karate chop. As we jumped back into the car I saw the other bozo laid out on the sidewalk. "What happened to him?" I asked.

The poker pro known as "Miami" John Cernuto shows this little smile, explaining, yes, it's true, things couldn't have happened the way they did without Ronald Reagan growling and flexing his presidential muscles.

That's the way it was during the summer of '81.

Cernuto was living and working in the Miami, Fla., area, an air traffic controller, a traffic cop of the airways who figured he also played a decent game of poker.

Carol, I know that you like it when I tell you that the math of poker is easy, and that anyone who can count to four can be a good poker player.

Aces and Kings: Inside Stories and Million Dollar Strategies from Poker's Greatest Players
by Michael Kaplan and Brad Reagan
Wenner Books 2005, 281 pp
ISBN: 1-932958-00-2
$24.95

We have lots of bargains, specials and poker room updates from Las Vegas this week.