School's Back in Session!

I have returned from my sabbatical and have this gnawing fear that you may not have kept up with your assignments while I was gone. I know how this can happen; when the cat's away … so to speak. Please know that there will be no test, because I was goofing off, too! Regardless, we will continue on with some poker stuff – stories, odds and ends, and strategies – as well as answer some basic poker questions here.

Where have I been? That is a tough question to answer. I have just returned from about an eight-month road trip. Actually, it was not all one trip, but a series of 15 minitrips that allowed me to sleep at home only 30 days or so in the past eight months. I went to the East Coast four times, and drove the Card Player Cruises truck for the transcontinental New York to the United Kingdom cruise, and again for the Ft. Lauderdale to the Southern Caribbean adventure. There also have been poker cruises to Mexico during this time, and poker trips to Reno, California, Costa Rica, Arizona, and other places that I seem to be blanking out on. There has been so much activity in my life that I have rarely had an opportunity to play poker lately. That having been said, I would like to pick up this column where we left off before the break, and talk about my Wednesday afternoon poker group meetings.

To refresh your memory, there are several poker enthusiasts who meet every Wednesday in Las Vegas to make and bond with new friends, and even talk seriously about poker. Our group just celebrated its first anniversary, and has grown to more than 25 attendees at some get-togethers. One of our group members, Howard, has taken on the task of keeping minutes of the meetings and sending a group E-mail to everyone after the meeting to help us follow up on what we discussed, as well as create envy among those who missed the meeting. His newsletters certainly can give this column a run for its money, as he is talented, witty, funny, and the most enthusiastic new poker player I have ever had the pleasure to meet.

The group alternates the meeting location every month between the west side and the east side of town. There is something to be said for those song lyrics, "East side, west side … " We recently adopted new guidelines for our meetings. The first hour is "social hour." During this time, players socialize as they eat their lunches. After an hour, poker discussion commences. Since we often have noted authors and writers in attendance, as well as many guest celebrities, many in the group come prepared with questions to ask those "in the know." It is really interesting that with all of the know-how at the table, we disagree on many strategies. It reminds me a lot of the practice of medicine. It is an art, not a science. Opinions often vary on the "right" way to play a hand, and, of course, on the wrong way to play it.

Recently, we got involved in a discussion about the play of two jacks after the flop, given a specific flop. Jim Brier wrote about this hand on the Two Plus Two forum, so I don't want to be redundant, but let me explain it briefly so that you can follow along. The game is $15-$30 hold'em and Jim is under the gun with J-J and raises. The next player cold-calls two bets, and everyone mucks to the small blind (SB), who calls. The big blind mucks. They see the flop threehanded, and it comes 9-7-6 rainbow. The SB bets, Jim raises, the original two-bet caller calls, and the SB calls. The turn card is a scary queen and puts two spades on the board. The SB bets, Jim mucks, and the remaining player calls. The river brings a blank, and it is checked by both players. The SB wins the pot with the 9 8. Jim had thrown away the winner.

There were many "authorities" at the meeting, and do you know what the consensus was regarding how Jim should have played the hand? There was no consensus! Some said fold, some said raise, and some said call. I was in the fold category, which agreed with how Brier played the hand. In this particular instance, the raisers and callers had it nailed, as Jim folded the best hand. But I still would fold the hand in this situation.

The point is that poker is a game that lends itself so very well to discussion and thought, as there are many ways of thinking about how to play a hand.

This group meeting lasted nearly four hours. We ended it with a heated debate on when is the right time to step up in limits. I will write about that next time. Until then, class dismissed.

Note: It is not too late to book a room and make your plans for the May 17-21 Oasis Open in Mesquite, Nevada. I will be the tournament director for this event. The buy-ins will range from $50 to $120. This is a nonsmoking event and room rates are an astounding $15 a night, with free rooms for anyone who plays in all of the events. Call the Oasis poker room to book your room: (800) 216-2747, Ext. 3537.

Please contact me with your poker questions, comments, and column ideas. I will answer every E-mail that I receive. Thanks for waiting for me to return from my sabbatical! I missed you all.