2007 January 08

In November 1979, the people of Czechoslovakia overthrew the Communist government in a bloodless coup, the "Velvet Revolution." In November 2006, the voters of the United States overthrew the Republican control of Congress. In part this was due to a "Green Felt Revolution:" Poker players won the election for the Democrats. More accurately, the Republicans lost, through their heavy-handed prohibition of Internet gambling.

You called the blind from an early position with A-Q unsuited. The flop came down:

Your aces look great. Top pair and a big kicker! You bet out and are called by three opponents.

Possibly the most famous Finnish poker player of all is Patrik Antonius. Lately, he's been on tour Stateside, hitting several major events since the World Series. And what a World Series it was: five cashes, including ninth in the $25,000 HORSE event. Antonius also finished runner-up in 2005's Doyle Brunson event at Bellagio. This native son does Finland proud, and it's also remarkable considering Finland has only one casino with poker.

"We offer cash games and tournaments," says Jukka Rasanen, table games and poker manager at Grand Casino Helsinki.

Certain general poker truisms have become like gospel for many players. Here are six.

1. Don't play at stakes you can't afford.
2. Don't drink alcohol while you play.
3. Play tightly in a loose game and loosely in a tight game.
4. Don't draw to an inside straight.
5. Bluff more in a shorthanded game.
6. Don't play when tired.

In my experience, however, there are exceptions to these rules that can be the source of considerable profit. Let me address each of them in turn.

Former FBI Agent Uncovers Mystery Of Tells Serious poker players who do battle face-to-face across the green felt have harbored a precious secret for a long time - something that ensured they would have a big edge over their competition. They didn't necessarily have a word for it but what they now refer to as tells, the rest of the world would eventually call body language.

I received a lot of favorable feedback about my recent column, Playing the Odds. This piece expands on it by discussing the impact of odds in tournaments. Next issue we'll look at implied odds.

Tournament players have additional factors to consider when deciding whether to fold or continue drawing. Even when the pot will offset the odds against making a hand, the risk of elimination sometimes overshadows any potential rewards.

Because of this, folding is often advisable even when the relationship between pot odds and the odds against making your hand are favorable.

Detroit, located in southeastern Michigan, conjures up powerful images of the automotive industry and the unique music of Motown. However, there is so much more to this 303- year-old city, for instance, glitzy Las Vegasstyle casinos! The Detroit-Windsor area is host to four action packed casinos, each offering it's own special style and amenities, and of course, exceptional poker rooms. The motto here is "Play Big & Win Big in Detroit".

Leadville, Colorado, at 10,430 ft., is the highest incorporated city in the world. Its heavenly altitude did not, however, prevent the town from becoming one of the most notorious, lawless, gambling hellholes in frontier history.

A mining camp was started in 1859 when gold was discovered by prospector Abe Lee in nearby California Gulch; named so because Lee is said to have declared,"By God, I have California in this pan!"

You've heard me talk about today's topic before, in various contexts. I'm passionate about it. It has to do with the common notion that checking and then calling is weak. Many experts will tell you that professional poker players should keep their aggressive image intact by doing one of three things: (1) betting; (2) checking and then raising if bet into; or (3) checking and then folding if bet into. Checking and then folding is seen as a weak play - one that should be reserved for amateurs.

Poor, poor Bob, to whom all bad things happen. His wife hates him; his children think he's an idiot and his co-workers walk all over him like he's part of the carpet. He spills hot coffee on his shirt every morning burning his white delicate skin and staining his already wrinkled shirt. Bob just kept telling his bad beat stories over and over again until it became the very fabric of his being. He seemed not to be a child of God anymore but of the beat. The bad beat. Triple "B" some called him.