The Inside Straight

Remembering 'Puggy' Pearson, Poker Hall of Famer
Son of Sharecroppers Became One of the Greatest Players of All Time
BY BOB PAJICH

The poker world lost one of its first stars on Wednesday, April 12, 2006, when Walter Clyde "Puggy" Pearson passed away in a Las Vegas hospital at the age of 77.

On the following Monday, poker players and loved ones gathered in the da Vinci rooms at Bellagio to pay their respects at a memorial service paid for by some of those players to one of the toughest poker players and gamblers who ever lived.

"It was absolutely an unbelievable memorial. Dad would've been proud, for sure," Steve Pearson, Puggy's son, said. "I felt that the service should be at a place where he went a couple of times during the day."

Puggy was far removed from the days of the '60s and '70s, when he was the King Kong of Las Vegas poker, but he still played $20-$40 or $30-$60 at Bellagio as often as his health would allow. He last played in the World Series of Poker main event in 1996, because he thought he couldn't play well enough to compete, Steve said.

Puggy moved his family from Nashville to Las Vegas in 1962, and immediately went on a run at the poker tables that cemented his legendary status. He was mainly a stud player, and his ultra-aggressive style, intense competitiveness, and innate ability to quickly and accurately calculate odds filled his pockets with thousands and thousands of dollars.

"Dad was, say, 5 percent Einstein, 20 percent Socrates, and 75 percent P.T. Barnum," Steve Pearson said.

His round face, pug nose, and ever-present cigars, which were usually about as thick as a man's thumb, made him one of the world's first true poker characters. It's been years since Puggy stood atop the poker world, but after he died, dozens of newspapers across the country ran obituaries about him.

"Puggy Pearson was truly an original. I doubt we'll ever see another like him," said Mike Sexton, former poker pro and TV co-host of the World Poker Tour. "He might have been the greatest 'rounder' this country has ever seen."

Puggy was one of nine children who grew up in a sharecroppers' family in rural Tennessee. His formal education ended at the fifth grade, when he quit school to find a job to help support his family. At 17, he joined the Navy. According to Steve Pearson, it wasn't because he wanted to serve his country.

Already a skilled card and pool player, Puggy spent his teen years watching Navy boys empty their pockets at a local pool hall. A man who always looked for and usually found an edge, he figured the Navy was full of suckers who were dying to lose their money. He did two tours and ended up sending more than $10,000 home to his family.

"He was a colorful character, there's no question," said Larry Grossman, longtime gambling analyst and former radio host of You Can Bet on It. "I enjoyed his company; I really thought he was a breath of fresh air. He loved poker; he loved the game and he loved the camaraderie."

His contribution to tournament poker is immeasurable. The champion of the first World Series of Poker tournament was named by popular vote of the players. A few years before the Series began, Puggy wanted to play a match in which everyone played until one person had all the chips. His close friend Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder liked the idea so much that he told Benny Binion about it, and the WSOP - and all tournament poker - has been played that way ever since.

Puggy's achievements go beyond the mountains of money he won over the years. He played in the first WSOP in 1970 and won the $10,000 world championship event in 1973. In 1987, he was the second living member inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.

Puggy was much more than a poker and pool player. Although he picked up the game of golf late in life, he got so good that he played against professionals and anyone else he thought he could beat for enormous amounts of money. Doyle Brunson once said he'd choose Puggy if he had to choose one golfer to make a 10-foot putt with his life on the line.

Sexton related this story: "Puggy was once interviewed by a reporter when I was standing next to him. The reporter said, 'Puggy, I understand you're quite a good golfer. Just how good do you play?' Puggy broke into a wide grin, wiggled that cigar of his, and said, 'I shoot whatever it takes to get the money.' And he could."

It was said that Puggy had the ability to concentrate and sum up the skill needed to win in high-pressure situations. The more money that was at stake, the better Puggy played. But he was also a master matchmaker, and wouldn't enter a wager if he didn't think he had better odds than his opponent.

"My dad always had a simple logic in life that would apply to every businessman today: Know when you have at least 51 percent of it, manage your money, and most importantly, manage yourself," Steve Pearson said.

Although Puggy prided himself on being able to know exactly that was going on at the table at all times (his son said that Puggy always knew when someone was lying), Steve Pearson believes Puggy's judgment was clouded after an emotional divorce from his second wife, which helped players relieve Puggy of his bankroll.

In 1977, during that year's WSOP, his comeback began. He was down to his last $1,500 in a seven-card stud game. He needed a heart to make his flush, and he got it. After winning that pot, he won more than half a million dollars in side games that year. In his later years, Pearson would show up on the first day of the WSOP main event dressed in character. One year, he came as a Viking; another year, he arrived as an Arab oil sheik.

The year that Pearson showed up dressed in a full American Indian costume, complete with war paint and headdress, Grossman wanted to know why he chose it.

"He said, 'This is my tribe, and I'm the chief,'" Grossman said. "He meant it. Like, this is what I am, and this is where I belong, and these are my people."

Puggy's ashes will be spread in Jackson County, Tennessee.

Season IV World Poker Tour Battle of the Champions
Nick Schulman captures title
BY LISA WHEELER

The World Poker Tour capped off Season IV with the WPT Battle of the Champions on April 17, a day before the 2006 WPT World Championship at Bellagio. Sixteen players had won WPT events over the course of the fourth season. Fifteen champions would compete during the first phase of the two-day event, inside the Salon Prive of the resort's poker room.

The players competing included:
Rehne Pedersen
Nick Schulman
Nam Le
Minh Ly
Mike Simon
Michael Mizrachi
Gavin Smith
Freddy Deeb
Barry Greenstein
Alex Kahaner
Alan Goehring
Al Ardebili
Roland de Wolfe
Scotty Nguyen
Victor Ramdin

Goehring and Smith were the first players to be eliminated. Ardebili knocked out Ramdin, and Le and Greenstein were the next to be sent to the rail. Greenstein immediately joined a high-stakes live game that was going on inside the event area.

DeWolfe, Pedersen, and Ly then went out, while Deeb doubled up twice, immediately taking down longtime chip leader Al Ardebili.

Day one was complete. The final five would return on April 25, along with Joe Bartholdi, who had just won the WPT Championship at Bellagio.

Day Two - The Feature Table
Play began shortly before 5 p.m. Linda Johnson announced the televised event, while Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten called the action from the sidelines. The final six were: Michael Simon, Nick Schulman, Freddy Deeb, Scotty Nguyen, Michael Mizrachi, and Joe Bartholdi.

The players started with $25,000 in chips. The blinds were $3,000-$6,000 with a $1,000 ante.

Six minutes after the cards went into the air, Deeb knocked out Nguyen.

Fifteen minutes into the invitational, Bartholdi, still tired from celebrating a $3.7 million win the evening before, was Deeb's next victim. Then, Schulman eliminated Simon and it was down to three players.

The blinds increased to $5,000-$10,000 with a $1,000 ante. Moments later, Mizrachi was eliminated when he missed his flush draw. It had taken 21 hands for four players to be eliminated. Schulman and Deeb would go heads up, practically even in chips.

Schulman won six hands in a row and held close to $1 million before the blinds increased to $8,000-$16,000 with a $2,000 ante. Thirty minutes later, Deeb was down to only $400,000. By the time the blinds reached $10,000-$20,000 with a $3,000 ante, Deeb's stack had been depleted to $200,000, while Schulman had more than $1 million.

Deeb tried to gear up, but the deck ran cold. They chopped a pot on occasion, but Deeb just couldn't gain ground. By 7:30 p.m., the blinds had increased to $15,000-$30,000 with a $4,000 ante, and Schulman had twice the chips of Deeb.

Finally, after 74 hands of heads-up action, Deeb took his stand.

Schulman pushed in from the button and Deeb called. Schulman had the J 10, and Deeb had the 7 5. The flop came 10 9 4 and Schulman had top pair. The 5 on the turn gave Deeb some outs. But, the river was a 4, and Deeb was eliminated. There was no consolation prize for placing second.

Nick Schulman had won the World Poker Tour Season IV Battle of the Champions. He took home a crystal trophy and will freeroll into the 2007 WPT Championship event next April.

After a brief congratulatory speech by Mike Sexton, he asked the young victor if veteran poker professionals intimidated him. Schulman's retort was, "No." Sexton, attempting to pry a more in-depth response from Schulman, then asked him if he thought he was as good a player. Schulman just smirked and said, "I'm better."

Players Battle for More Than Money at the Intercontinental Poker Championship
BY RICH BELSKY

There's a new poker tournament in town, and this one is about much more than money. The inaugural Intercontinental Poker Championship took place recently at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. With players from 21 countries vying for a $500,000 first prize and bragging rights for their entire country, the event took on an air of importance not seen at your usual tournament.

The structure of the event was as unique as its concept. The 21 players met the night before the tournament began for the "pairing party," where players drew envelopes to find out where they would be seated. The party, complete with open bar and buffet, was attended by all but two of the participating players.

When asked whether being chosen to represent Canada would create strife between Gavin Smith and him, Daniel Negreanu questioned, "Who's Gavin Smith?" All joking aside, Negreanu commented, "I love this tournament. I live for this kind of stuff. Poker is an individual game, but playing for your country means so much more."

Doyle Brunson echoed those sentiments, stating, "I'm honored and flattered to be here. It's a real privilege to represent the United States in this great event." The initial pairings were as follows (in seat order, 1-7):

Group 1: Eli Elezra (Israel), Chris Bjorin (Sweden), Johnny Chan (China), Thor Hansen (Norway), Yosh Nakano (Japan), Sammy Farha (Lebanon), and Hasan Habib (Pakistan)

Group 2: Humberto Brenes (Costa Rica), Steven Wolff (South Africa), David Benyamine (France), Refugio Quintero (Mexico), Jimmy Cha (South Korea), Chau Giang (Vietnam), and Marco Traniello (Italy)

Group 3: Tony G (Australia), Donnacha O'Dea (Ireland), Doyle Brunson (United States), Daniel Negreanu (Canada), Ralph Perry (Russia), David "Devilfish" Ulliot (England), and Carlos Mortensen (Spain)

The 21 players were divided into three sevenhanded tables. Players began with $250,000 in chips. The winner of each table moved on to the second round, where players began with $500,000 in chips. The six players who were knocked out at each of the initial sevenhanded tables met again in a second-chance freezeout, with the winner of each second table advancing, as well. Each player competing in the second-chance freezeout started with $125,000 in chips plus an additional $25,000 in chips for each player they finished ahead of in the initial round. The winners of the second-chance freezeouts advanced and began with $500,000 in chips. The six players then played a single-table tournament, with the winner advancing to the finals with $1 million in chips. The five remaining players then played another second-chance freezeout, with the winner advancing to the finals, also with $1 million in chips.

The setting of the Intercontinental Poker Championship was extremely nice. The table was set in the middle of the room, with the flags of every represented country surrounding the table. The chatter at the table was light and congenial, but the passion with which each player represented his country was easily seen in his stellar play and visible disappointment when eliminated.

The Intercontinental Poker Championship was a one-of-a-kind event. Don't miss the action when CBS airs the event in eight episodes, beginning June 17.

Poker Superstars Invitational III Reaches Midpoint
Jeff Shulman, Daniel Negreanu Sit Atop the Leader Board
BY BOB PAJICH

The first 10 weeks of the Poker Superstars Invitational III tournament have come and gone, which means that the first qualifying round is exactly half over. With 10 more first-round qualifying matches to go, several players have to make a serious push to get into the second round of 16.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are several players who did so well in their first few qualifying matches that they are virtually guaranteed a spot in the next round.

At the top of the leader board is Card Player COO Jeff Shulman, who finished first, second, and third in his first three matches. Even if he bows out first in his remaining two matches, the 22 points he now has will be enough for him to make it into the second round.

It took Daniel Negreanu only two matches to accumulate 20 points, which is good for second place on the leader board after 10 weeks. He finished first in his first two matches and is scheduled to appear on TV again on May 28. Like Shulman, he's virtually guaranteed a spot in the next round.

Phil Hellmuth also has played well in this tournament. After three matches, he has 19 points, which is good for third place on the leader board. He's placed fourth, second, and third. Barry Greenstein is right behind Hellmuth with 17 points, and if he manages a few points in his last two matches, he should make it to round two.

Johnny Chan (15 points), Chris Moneymaker (12 points), and Erick Lindgren (12 points) sit in the middle of the pack after three matches. As it stands now, they may be able to squeak into the second round without improving, but that would be a risk. Look for them to try to make a push in their last few matches to ensure a spot in the second round of 16.

Phil Ivey (2 points), Chris Ferguson (3 points), Ted Forrest (3 points), and Greg Raymer (5 points) have their work cut out for them. All but Forrest have three matches left to accumulate points. Forrest has one fourth-place and two sixth-place finishes. He needs at least one win and the 10 points that come with it in order to have a chance of making the next round.

The middle group of players have played only two matches. Cyndy Violette (8 points), Joe Hachem (7 points), Jennifer Tilly (7 points), Mimi Tran (6 points), and Carlos Mortensen (6 points) all have three matches to play before the first round ends.

In Mike Matusow's most recent match, he climbed out of the basement with a win, earning 10 points and $10,000. It was the first time during the tournament that he wasn't the first player knocked out. All of a sudden, he's back in the race.

The Poker Superstars Invitational III is shown Sundays on FSN at 8 p.m. local time.

Pechanga Poker Room Stresses Guest Service
What sets a poker room apart from its competitors? Just about every cardroom you walk into offers the same variety of games, similar tournaments, a range of live-play limits and tournament buy-in levels, and the necessities of the game - card tables, cards, and chips. Some of the more upscale poker rooms feature added services such as an order-and-go restaurant and valet service. So, what makes one stand out from all the rest? Very simply, its people.

With so many cardrooms featuring similar offerings and gimmicks to get players to play, it can sometimes come down to the people a player encounters during his experience that will sway his decision of where to play. To its credit, the staff of the poker room at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California, has developed the art of people-pleasing exceptionally well.

In November of 2004, after nearly a decade of success, the property's new state-of-the-art poker room opened its doors in its present location as part of the casino's multimillion-dollar expansion. Like their counterparts throughout the operation, Pechanga's poker management was charged with finding team members to fill countless new positions - dealers, change people, runners, floor supervisors, and so on - to accommodate the increase in the number of tables from 28 to 54. In addition to increasing the poker personnel, a head chef and complete kitchen staff were brought aboard for the full-service poker room kitchen.

Today, the 219 team members who keep Pechanga's poker room in full swing 24 hours a day appear to love their jobs. No matter which team member you run into on the poker room floor, you get a friendly smile. You may ask yourself, "What's going on here? Can these people really be this nice? Do they really like their jobs that much?" Apparently so.

According to Vice President of Table Games Operations Larry Miranda, guest service is paramount at Pechanga, and all team members undergo thorough training. But he hastens to add that an individual has to possess certain qualities and personality traits just to be considered for a position in the poker room. "If they meet those criteria, they go through Four-Diamond and Guest Service training," stated Miranda.

The poker room is spacious - 20,000 square feet - and stylish, with an elevated high-limit area, stadium-style LCD jumbotron screens, plasma TVs, and tableside meal service. "We wanted our poker room to be as comfortable as possible, and we achieved that goal in its design," said Miranda. A 20-year veteran of the gaming industry and an avid poker player himself, Miranda understands the importance of a pleasant and welcoming atmosphere, but he is adamant that what sets Pechanga apart from other poker rooms is its great staff and management team.

Poker Manager Richie Lopez agreed: "It's all about developing a relationship with our guests. That's why we make sure that we bring people on staff who not only embrace the resort's Four-Diamond standard, but also are talented and trained in their positions." Lopez pointed out, for example, that each prospective dealer goes through a rigorous audition process, often tested two or three times before making it to the floor. This stringent screening procedure applies to everyone who comes in with resumé in hand seeking work in the Pechanga poker room. "Poker is what we do, and I think we're one of the best in Southern California, and guest service is the key," concluded Lopez.

So, it all comes down to the people - friendly, happy people who know their craft and like what they're doing.

That's what makes the poker room at Pechanga Resort & Casino what it is.

Become a VIP at AbsolutePoker
New VIP Program Offers Freerolls, Bonuses
BY BOB PAJICH

AbsolutePoker.com has launched a new rewards program for VIP players. The new VIP program gives frequent cash players the chance to earn reward points up to three times faster than other players. The program includes special VIP freerolls, bonuses on special VIP days, and access to the VIP online store. In addition, players receive automatic invitations to AbsolutePoker parties at various events and the World Series of Poker.

"We believe AbsolutePoker's VIP program is one of the best, if not the best, programs in all of online poker," said Mike Edwards, marketing manager for Absolute Poker. "Our frequent players deserve this kind of recognition. They're among the best players in online poker, and we want to thank them for their loyalty and patronage."

Building on AbsolutePoker.com's core Absolute Rewards Program, the VIP program offers frequent cash players the chance to achieve VIP, Platinum, or Elite status based on the number of status points earned by playing in real-money ring games and tournaments.

Being an AbsolutePoker.com VIP carries valuable benefits. In addition to receiving the highest levels of personalized attention, other highlights of the program include:

• Winning rewards points faster: VIP members win rewards points up to three times faster than other players.

• Getting VIP bonuses: In the top tiers of the VIP program, players get additional bonuses on designated VIP days throughout the month.

• Accessing all areas: VIP players can participate in exclusive VIP freerolls and attend AbsolutePoker parties at special events such as the WSOP. They also have access to the exclusive VIP Store online.

New York's Turning Stone Casino Expands Poker Room
Ten More Tables, Giant TVs Should Make Players Happy
BY BOB PAJICH

Add Turning Stone Casino in Central New York to the list of casinos that have expanded or renovated their poker rooms in the last year.

The new poker room at Turning Stone opened recently, and the expansion added 10 tables, three cage windows, three 65-inch plasma-screen player-board monitors, and five 42-inch plasma televisions.

The seating system is completely computerized, and the casino expects to have player kiosks installed sometime this summer that will enable players to register for seats through the computer by using a players card.

The décor has gone from poker room neutral to what Jason DiBenedetto, the poker room director, calls "rustic Italian." The expansion also gives players more room to walk among the tables.

The poker room first opened in 1999 with 22 tables; the casino opened in 1993. In recent years, the poker room has become one of the busiest parts of the casino.

"On Friday and Saturday nights with 22 tables, we were turning away hundreds of players," DiBenedetto said. "It's obviously a much more profitable area than it used to be."

The casino holds 10 poker tournaments a week, with buy-ins ranging from $40 to $120.

Freddy Deeb's Seven Tips for Winning Poker
You can take anybody who has just a little idea about playing poker, and if he does these things, he will make money:

1. No drinking and playing.

2. If you're a poker player, you can't be a soccer player. You can't play any other games. You just have to play poker, and that's it. You can't mix with the other games. I don't care what they are.

3. You can't play when you're mad.

4. You can't play when you're tired.

5. You can't play over your bankroll … unless you have the borrowing power that I do (laughing).

6. You've got to manage your losses when things are not coming for you sometimes. You can't be pushing things. Some days, no matter what you do, you can't win. You just have to manage your losses.

7. You've got to take a profit. You can't be greedy.

If you do these things, you'll always make money. I mean, you're going to lose sometimes, but in the long run, you're going to win.

Bill: Scott, I love your column. I recently ran across a hand that I had no idea how to play. I've read almost all the tournament books out there, and nothing covers this. I was playing in a $224 online satellite to win an entry fee to any World Series of Poker/World Poker Tour main event. The top two players received $12,500, third place $1,500, fourth place $1,000, and fifth place $500. This hand takes place with 21 players left, and I am the chip leader with $33,000. The player to my right has $25,000 and is third in chips. The table has been aggressive, but not over the top. I am in the big blind with Q-Q; everyone folds around to the small blind, and he goes all in ($25,000). I'm thinking that he does not want action, and that his most likely holdings are pairs from sevens to tens, or possibly A-K. Do I want to risk my tournament on this hand? I called the bet, and he had A-J offsuit. An ace came on the flop. I don't care about losing the hand, but I need to know if I made the right move. I believe that I made a good read and got my chips in with the best hand. Am I correct? Help me, please!

Scott: That's a great question, a true toughy! In my opinion, this is a case in which you and only you can know the answer. To figure out this tough equation, you need to measure a couple of factors. The number one thing to consider is the following: How much better is your chance of winning a seat if you win his $25,000 stack? The answer, obviously, is that you will have a better chance to win, but how much, and does that extra expected value outweigh the possibility of your being crippled at that point and having almost zero chance to win? The type of hands the other player may have is a pair or A-K, in my experience. So, that being said, there is a very good chance that you could be crippled. If I were in that seat, since I am very good at blind stealing, I would have folded, knowing that the likelihood of my winning the seat wouldn't be greatly increased by busting him. Also, please remember that this is different than a multitable tournament, since you get no extra reward for accumulating all of the chips in play. You need to have just one chip left to win the seat. That being said, you are not wrong to call, and I think there are certain times that I would make that call, as well. I think I would lean toward the call in two instances: First, if only one seat was being awarded, and second, if the table was extremely tough for me to control. If I thought I wouldn't be able to steal enough to survive, I would gamble a little more in spots like that.

JD: I read your article every time I pick up an issue of Card Player. I really like the advice you give, so I was wondering if I can pick your brain a little. My local casino recently started spreading a $100 buy-in spread-limit hold'em game. Before this game, it had only limit hold'em and seven-card stud. What should I be aware of as a new player to spread-limit hold'em? Will I encounter many problems? I play a tight-aggressive style, if that helps you at all. Thanks for responding to my question.

Scott: You shouldn't have too much trouble adjusting. I am assuming that by spread-limit, you mean a game in which the bet is, for example, $1-$10 on the flop and then anything from $1-$20 on the turn and river. In a game like this, betting patterns are the most important factor. You should be able to quickly, and with more accuracy, read the holdings of your opponents by paying attention to the size of their bets. This form of poker is most like pot-limit. There are more skills to use in these types of games, because you can force your opponents further into the hand with you since there are no all ins. If you are the one betting, I would suggest making sure that you set a routine for yourself so as not to be easily readable. The best way to do that is to always bet the max. The problem with doing that is that it is harder to control the size of the pot, as it gets big very quickly, but this is for you to determine how you wish to play. If you don't like betting the max all the time, pick something else, like 50 percent, but you always must stick to it regardless of the strength of your hand. I like betting the max because the other players always think it's a bluff, and you get maximum value in the long run that way. Anyway, good luck, and don't be afraid to experiment a little!

How to Spot a Bluff
There is one key principle to keep in mind when deciding if someone is bluffing or has a great hand: If a player acts strong, he is probably weak. If a player acts weak, he is probably strong.

This is not an original idea. Mike Caro was the first to put this amazing insight into words many years ago. And after I heard this wisdom, my poker winnings soared to a new level, because many poker tells boil down to this fundamental principle.

Now, the unfortunate thing about this advice is that even though it is so simple, most poker players just don't "get it," or don't apply it properly. So, let's discuss how you can use this concept to spot bluffs quickly and consistently.

First off, it's important to know that in order to spot bluffs, you must pay attention to signs of strengths, as well. You can't look only for tells that suggest a player is bluffing, because then you're getting only half the picture. To get an accurate read on an opponent, you must look for signs of strength and weakness.

Let's go back to our main "rule" again, and look at the first part of it: If a player acts strong, he is probably weak. This means that when a player does something that makes it look like he's got a monster hand, he's probably bluffing. Most players don't try to act strong. They just do it unconsciously.

I know that sounds strange, but think about it. Let's say that you have 9-2 offsuit and decide to make a bold bluff by going all in preflop (which I don't recommend, by the way). In your mind, you're thinking, "I sure hope no one calls!" But when someone starts contemplating, you really start to get worried.

So, what do you do? Well, the natural thing to do - for most players - is act like you're not afraid. Obviously, you don't want someone to know that you're afraid of being called, right? So, you sit up straight, your hands don't tremble, and your voice has a little "arrogance" to it. Ultimately, all of those things are signs that you're bluffing.

But, you didn't mean to act that way; it just kind of came naturally. You didn't think, "Oh, I don't want him to know that I'm scared, so I'm going to sit up straight, act smooth, and talk with arrogance." It just kind of happens.

Let me show you a few practical examples. Here are three valuable "tells" to look for:

1. A player "flicks" his chips into the pot with extra oomph, or tosses them in aggressively. What's going on there? The player is acting strong - which means he probably doesn't have a very good hand.

2. A player speaks aggressively and talks a lot. Once again, this is usually a sign of weakness, since the player is "covering up" his bad hand by acting like he's got something.

3. A player looks you straight in the eye. This usually means he does not have a strong hand. The "death stare" is simply an act of strength, but it really means weakness.

Now let's flip this over and look at tells that will indicate when a player has a strong hand - because knowing when to fold is often more important than knowing when someone's bluffing.

Let's go over the second part of our mantra: If a player acts weak, he is probably strong. Acting weak is usually more subtle than acting strong; it's demonstrated in a way that is more like disinterest.

Once again, the player doesn't usually mean to act weak; it's simply a natural mechanism. Here are three tells when a player is acting weak but is actually strong:

1. A player looks away, acts disinterested, and doesn't make eye contact with you. This is the opposite of staring you down, which is a sign of weakness. This tell is especially apparent when the flop hits. If the flop really helped a player, he'll usually glance at it just for a brief moment and then look away. (On the other hand, if a player stares at the cards on the flop for a long period of time, that usually means the flop did not help him.)

2. A player is very quiet. When a player is praying to himself that you're going to call his bet, he usually remains very quiet. If everyone at the table is laughing at something and a player suddenly gets quiet - or kind of forces his laugh - that's a sign he just picked up a monster hand. Beware!

3. A player gets shaky. When a player's hands get very shaky, watch out. Some people think it's a sign of bluffing, but it's usually the sign of a monster hand.

Knowing about tells like these - signs of both weakness and strength - is a very important part of winning poker.

If you'd like to obtain more in-depth principles and step-by-step instruction, go to http://www.freepokernewsletter.com/ to get my free poker newsletter.

One Man's Life in Poker
BY TIM PETERS

PIZZA, PASTA AND POKER, by Vince Burgio (self-published; $19.95 in paperback)

As he writes in this picaresque memoir, Card Player columnist and professional poker player Vince Burgio got his first exposure to poker at the bar/restaurant his father ran in Kansas City. That's where a regular rummy game would occasionally transform into a poker game, and the young Burgio "got his first taste of … card games where the intent was to take every dollar from the other players." (Well, not every dollar; his dad raked every pot!) But don't be fooled: Burgio is too nice a guy to be that cutthroat - at least as he presents himself in these pages - though he's had his share of success at the poker table.

Burgio's early exposure to cards served him well during his years in the Air Force, but his devotion to poker intensified when he spent a summer in Seattle and discovered the world of illegal but "tolerated" cardrooms and the joys of draw lowball. He became a serious, successful amateur, and eventually became a dealer. Much of the time he kept one foot in the legitimate world - he worked for Boeing, for example, in Seattle, and eventually built a successful construction business in Los Angeles - but cards and gambling are constant threads in his personal tapestry, from those backroom games in Seattle to the early days of the cardroom scene in California in the 1970s.

One of the startling things about Burgio's story is the prevalence of cheating - he lost his entire bankroll in a Reno lowball game that he later discovered was rigged - and he got so disgusted with cardsharps that he gave up poker in 1983. But after selling his business, he got back into the game at the Bike (where the management, along with the cameras in the ceiling, convinced him the game was straight). It was shortly after this that he had his first experience of tournament poker, winning (on his second try), a lowball event in Las Vegas. The rest of the book is primarily about Burgio's successful tournament run, which led to a Card Player magazine cover story in 1992 and a World Series of Poker bracelet (in 1994, in stud eight-or-better), and an impressive string of tournament wins and cashes.

Don't look to Pizza, Pasta and Poker for any serious strategies for winning tournaments; Burgio's goal is to present an anecdotal account of his life, as a person and as a poker player, and there's as much in it about his family and the world in which he grew up as there is about poker. He's modest - about his prose (in the introduction, he says that if his "English teachers ever found out that someone was actually paying me to write something, they would be turning over in their graves") and his life - but it's a modesty that becomes him.

Readers with a taste for autobiography will warm to this gentle story of one man's taste of the American dream.