In the year 2006, all kinds of unimaginative ideas are en vogue. For example, since poker is the flavor of the month, there are probably all kinds of ideas floating around for a reality show, sitcom, promos on TLC (The Learning Channel), and a variety show featuring the next three winners of the W.S.O.P. tournament bloopers! These kinds of ideas are o.k. To try to capitalize on if you happened to be a poker connoisseur in the mainstream eyes, with name recognition to boot. So then what would we say about Mr. and Mrs. Everyday Jones and their plight, to be number one?

Since everyone's starting point is not equal, it is very difficult to communicate poker ideas without firsthand knowledge of what you know. However, I am going to give you some quality pointers from a dealer perspective. If you notice, most - supposedly - knowledgeable people will say that people who move up to middle limit poker - say a $20-$40 game - usually have no chance of winning. I just want to point out that; whatever card room that the tourist jumped into the $20-$40 game and could not win in a $2-$4 game in the movie "Rounders" -save for luck - does not exist in everyday play. In addition, the statement that, "no amount of luck could help them" would not be accurate if in fact the players were capable of playing that limit. To be sure, it is difficult to make the transition but the number one reason is not that the players cannot play.

The first and foremost reason is: scared money cannot win. Since a new player to the game is usually targeted to see if in fact the player fits at the level, the better players are going to try to isolate the player repeatedly. Obviously, at this point I am assuming that the new players are capable of playing the best hands. It is the middle of the road card decisions that cost money. There is that name again - money. The pressure that the seasoned vets are going to produce is predicated on the fact that enough raises will make you lay down a hand. Never mind that those pair of nines you were holding were good, they will not look so good if there are all kinds of raises from every angle - from supposedly better hands. The fact is; the newer player will not want to mix it up for that kind of money, not knowing if they in fact have the better hand. So, here we are again back to money which is seeping fast, unless a run of the superior hands and flops appear to save you. I am not going to tell you that if you have the skill level - but not the money - to wait until you accrue a bankroll of $50,000 to play. That would be like me telling you to come into the middle of a movie and figure out who shot the sheriff. Naturally, you start asking questions - about how the hero got into and out of a predicament - from your neighbor, because you do not know. Therefore, you do not know where you get this fictitious $50,000 either. If you knew that, you would be like that credit card commercial and "not leave home without it".

I am not one to listen to a lot of people, however, I am one who watches a lot of people - there is big difference. Next time I will tell you why.