A Couple of Roy's Rules and a Few Other Things

Hi. Come on in. I have fried chicken today, but don't worry, it's skinless, low in fat. I'll get you healthy yet -in food and poker.

Let's talk about a couple more of Roy's Rules. This one goes along with getting your ego out of the game. Play the game and the limits you are capable of beating, not the ones you wish you could beat.

I recently saw one of my students playing in a $15-$30 seven-card stud game, but he was barely ready for $5-$10. I had a talk with him about discipline and gambling. "Move up when your skill says you are ready, not your ego."

Sometimes even experienced players have to be reminded of this one: Never draw to a hand when you don't know what you want to make, or what you're going to do with it if you make it.

As an example, I often see hold'em players drawing to the bottom end of a straight (the ignorant end) and then being afraid to bet when they've made it. If you draw to a hand, have some reasonable assurance that the hand will be a winner.

Now, here's "a couple of other things." Here's another quote that you can add to your list on the subject of "luck." One of the recent Super Bowl coaches (I forget which one) said, "I think it's bad luck if you don't block and tackle." So, when your luck runs sour, "block and tackle." That is, go back to the basics.

And here's yet another thing. This is about a poker room friend who is not doing so well. I hope he goes broke soon, and tomorrow wouldn't be soon enough. My fondest wish for him is that he loses every dime he has.

Some friend I make; I'd better explain. When I first moved to Las Vegas 20 some years ago, I had a friend (a different friend) who had been living here for many years. He was an elderly gentleman who had been around and seen a lot. After I had been here for a couple of weeks, he said to me, "Be careful of who you make friends with. There are people whose main interest in life is to gamble, party, and run around chasing women."

That sounded good to me – just my kind of people. But they never showed up. I saw them around, but they never came into my life. In retrospect, I'm grateful. I think I'm better off after finally realizing what my elderly friend was telling me.

So, what does this have to do with my poker room friend? Well, I was playing poker one afternoon when who should enter the room but my young friend. When I first saw him about six months earlier, just after he came to town, there was nothing outstanding about him. He was just your average, neat, clean-cut American youth giving Las Vegas a try. I even figured he had a shot at making it, as he played a fairly solid game of poker for a new kid in town. But that afternoon, he looked like hell. What happened?

You guessed it. He got in with "the wrong crowd." I realize I'm being quite judgmental. Just who am I to say what is "right" or "wrong" for this young fellow? If he wants to drink, do drugs, and chase women, that's his business. I just hope he goes broke soon – so flat-busted broke that he'll give up the life he's chosen. Then, I hope he has a place to go back to and an understanding someone there to welcome him. I'll even provide the bus ticket and a bag of sandwiches.

One more? Remember the night we listed what's in and what's out for the world of poker? Here are a few that were left over.

In: Poker room managers who do not allow players to abuse dealers in any way, shape, or form.

Out: Dealers who make critical comments to and about low-limit players. If their play is slow and the pots are small, too bad. The game is not spread as entertainment for the dealer.

Out: Having to avoid almost everyone you know because you owe money to almost everyone you know.

Out: Asking for a loan from someone to whom you've owed $300 for more than five months. (A bad debtor needs a good memory.)

In: Scoring a big win and having your first reaction be finding the people to whom you owe money.

Now I fade and will soon be out. Take that last piece of chicken and kill the light on your way out.

Editor's note: Roy West, author of the bestseller 7 Card Stud, the Complete Course in Winning (available from Card Player), continues to give his successful poker lessons in Las Vegas to both tourists and locals. Ladies are welcome. Get his toll-free 800 number from his ad on Page 92.