Have Some Fun With These Questions: You Should Know the Answers

Hi. Come on in. Today we're having some healthy skinless chicken and a fine white wine. You'll need nourishment, because we're going to have a quiz on low- and medium-limit poker and other poker-related tidbits, designed especially for all of the new players to our beloved game. You'll have unlimited time, but if you need more than two days, I suggest you take up playing gin rummy. Now, start at question No. 1 and just follow the directions wherever they take you.

1. In the list of Key Concepts in the best-selling book Championship Hold'em, by Tom McEvoy and T.J. Cloutier, the second concept states:

(a) Nourish with popsicles while playing (see No. 7)
(b) Hold your patience (see No. 15)
(c) Watch your opponents (see No. 4)

2. Close. He's one of the game's all-time great players. His 1978 book Super/System, recently updated, was a milestone in poker literature. Back to No. 9.

3. I say, yes. It would be difficult to list all of Mike's contributions to poker. His research and publications have made a vast difference. Thanks, Mike. Now, on to No. 17.

4. Of course! Poker is a game of people at all levels of play. One of my favorite sayings is one that I learned from Tom: "There is no substitute for knowledge of your opponents." And it's free. All that's required is alertness and observation. Now, go on to No. 9.

5. Nope. Back to No. 17.

6. This is the end of the quiz, except for that little squib at the bottom. Fun, huh! Take the rest of the chicken - leave the wine - and kill the light on your way out.

7. I'll give you credit for being a kid at heart if you chose "popsicles." But no, go back to No. 1.

8. I'm not too delighted with this lineup, either. If these are my only choices, I'll take the solid players; it's easier to read disciplined play than haphazard play. But given my druthers, I'll take a mixture of half and half. On to No. 19.

9. There is no right or wrong to this one. It's an opinion question (but, of course, my opinion prevails; after all, this is my column). The father of modern-day poker is:

(a) Doyle Brunson (see No. 2)
(b) Mike Sexton (see No. 13)
(c) Mike Caro (see No. 3)

10. Nope, but now we're out of options. Or are we? Beware of the words "always" and "never." You don't want to find yourself always doing something or never doing something. Varying your strategy is best, and the variation should depend on the specific circumstances of the hand or the game - which are too many to cover here. Now let's look at No. 20.

11. Nope. Back to No. 17.

12. Nope. Back again to No. 17.

13. Close again. Mike's passion and dedication to our beloved game has been instrumental in the creation and televising of the World Poker Tour. Back to No. 9.

14. Same as No. 19 (see No. 6)

15. Don't be silly. Everyone knows it's a game of popsicles. Back to No. 1.

16. Not me. A table full of weak recreational players is difficult to consistently beat without a specific low-limit strategy. Go back to No. 20.

17. The game is low- or medium-limit hold'em. On the turn, you have a four-flush in late position. You should always:

(a) Check (see No. 5)
(b) Bet (see No. 11)
(c) Call (see No. 18)
(d) Fold (see No. 12)
(e) Raise (see No. 10)

18. Nope. Back to No. 17.

19. This is not an answer to any question in this quiz. How did you get here? Try No. 14.

20. Here's another opinion question. As a solid player, you're better off against a table full of:

(a) Weak recreational players (see No. 16)
(b) Solid players (see No. 8)

Roy West, best-selling poker author, continues giving his successful poker lessons in Las Vegas for tourists and locals. Ladies are welcome.