If I Had Only Known

Hi. Come on in. I've had several requests to repeat a favorite repast – fried Spam on warm sourdough bread, heavy on the butter. (I won't tell your doctor.) Dig in.



For the millions of players who are new to poker, I will, from time to time, be pointing out some pitfalls from my own play for you to avoid, as we discuss, "The Many Things I Wish I Had Known When I Started Playing Poker Many Years Ago."


If you are playing hold'em and have a drawing hand, and there is a pair on the flop, be very wary of possible full houses. Actually, if there is a pair on the flop, there is the possibility of four of a kind, and two full houses. With a pair on the board at fourth street, four full houses are possible. With a pair on the board at the river, six full houses are possible along with the four of a kind.



Because you have a full house doesn't mean you have the nuts. Calculate where your hand ranks in the order of value. You could have a full house and have the seventh-best hand. Be aware. (If I had only known.)



More Among Those Many Things
A lot of the feedback that I get about my writing and teaching is from poker players who say they hadn't realized the importance of observation – just plain old paying attention to the game, even when not in a hand.



Many players believe that observation is not as important in hold'em as it is in seven-card stud, because there is only the board to "observe" in hold'em and not all of those faceup cards in the other players' hands. That's erroneous thinking. I'll deal with that another time. Today, let's talk about seven-card stud observation.



If you make a habit of paying close attention to the details of the game, there will be a positive payoff for you at seventh street. Being able to recall the cards that have been folded will provide you valuable information about the possibilities of your opponents' hands, and an advantage over those who are purely guessing. If you are guessing, you are gambling, and our objective is to take the gamble out of your game. At the poker table, you want to make decisions that are based on information gathered during the play of a hand.



In the event that you have become distracted and lost track of the folded cards at seventh street, you'll have to make your best guess as to whether yours is the best hand. At that point, it usually is better to call one last bet with your average to good hand, rather than trying to outguess yourself. The pot will usually be offering you good enough odds to make this a profitable play over the long run. But bear in mind that this is a defensive call that is done with forethought, and not just an automatic toss of chips into the pot.



Let's say that at sixth street you have three sevens and your opponent's board is showing spade-spade-heart-diamond. You figure him to be on a flush draw with those first two spades. You've seen only two other spades. On the river, you watch as he looks at his last card, but you don't pick up a tell as to whether he has made the flush. You didn't fill your three sevens. You are high, and check. He bets, representing the flush. Rather than try to guess and wonder if he made it, just call. It's only one more bet. If he made it, you've paid him off. If he didn't, you've won a nice pot.



An added bonus is that your call will help keep players from bluffing at you, especially if you have a conservative image. However, use your best judgment; be careful that you don't allow yourself to become a calling station. Keep in mind that this is a defensive call that should be made when you have doubt, but still a possibility, of having the best hand.



Even when heads up, the pot usually is large enough on seventh street that it isn't worth your energy to try to guess whether to call or fold. Many players, even "smart" players, fold too frequently in such situations. If you figure that you might have the best hand, call. (This assumes that there isn't the threat of a raise from a third player in the pot.) Even if your call was a mistake, it cost you only one more bet. Not making this call when you should will cost you a whole pot.



Remember that we're talking about seventh street here. When you're guessing at fourth street, there are three more bets to guess through, and that's too much guessing – too much gambling. However, here on seventh street, it actually is "only one more bet." (If I had only known.)



I knew all along that you were a "closet" Spam lover, so I made a few extra for you to take home for breakfast. Now it's time for one of my daily periods of repose. Kill the light on your way out.



Roy West, best-selling poker author, continues giving his successful poker lessons in Las Vegas for both tourists and locals. Roy's toll-free number is 800-548-6177 ext. 03. In Las Vegas call 873-7574.