One thing that certainly separates good dealers from the rest of the pack is their ability to tune into surrounding sights and sounds at the table. We like to believe that the players who populate the casino world are doing so with disposable money, but don't you believe it! Many times while dealing I've overheard fragments of sentences from players using the words, "foreclosure" or "impounded", "evicted," and worse. As painful as it is to believe, often times the money being gambled-on the flop, to the river-really belongs to a finance company, a mortgage holder, or a utility.

It's certainly understandable for a player to rant about his problems then when he takes a bad beat or unexpected beat; his reaction is 100 percent natural. The pressure to prevail against the odds can be excruciatingly taxing on the nerves. So, when a player reacts in anger to the culprit who just placed a bad beat on him and everyone who witnessed it, by saying: "How could you play those cards-off-suit-all the way to the river, what he is really saying is this: "You imbecile; how could you play that bull$%## all the way to the river to put a beat on me when I was this close to getting the money I needed to extract my behind from the jaws of calamity!" Certainly, there are some good words that are overheard at the table as well. Such as from seat No. 3, Mr. Good-wrench who can get your car fixed at all hours of the night, or seat No. 1, Mr. or Ms. in-house lawyer at your service, whose motto is: In and out is what we're about!

Unfortunately though, that's not the norm. Hearing the words after, "I'm in trouble," can be downright scary. These words heard together are almost always dangerous: "So, how much time would I get?" Or this one in particular is really scary: "Were there any witnesses? Rest assured, not everyone at the table is engaged in some sinister plot to commandeer funds to keep playing in the game they love to hate. However, the rippling effects of balancing the strains of outside obligations against a depleted poker bankroll can sometimes run together for some players.

Eventually, all money becomes one in order to wipe out debts and eradicate monetary problems altogether. Now, winning becomes paramount, and every unwanted loss is escalated. Ultimately though, the cards usually get involved at this point. They know all too well how this scene will play out and end. As soon as our hero- who is under the most pressure to prevail-receives the two red aces before the flop, the die is cast and his goose may be cooked. The fat lady has started to sing, and the thrill is gone. You get the picture. Because those aces, with a raise before the flop, or additional raises and action from the table, insures his doom when the wrong cards are dealt. (Fade out).

For the player who just dropped all the money on earth in that big, big, pot and left in a hurry, I have but one thing to say: "Trouble comes and fear is at hand but the sun still comes up in the morning." I really don't know how that can help so I'll add these cautionary words, "Hopefully, there won't be any witnesses!"