A 'Good Word' for Poker<br>By Barton Gratt

Dear Acey: I need a "good word" to help me win at poker.

- Dick from Henderson, Nevada

Dear Dictionary Dick: "Patience" is a good word for winning at poker. It also works well in business, love, and war. And if that word doesn't work, try "Shazaam."

Dear Acey: Would you rather play poker using chips or greenbacks?

- Dollar Bill Bill from Billings, Montana

Dear Dollar Bill Bill: Paper money is compact, it can be folded in half, and it doesn't roll off the table. Also, it doesn't need to be cashed in at the end of a poker game. On the other hand, chips hide the true monetary value of a wager. Chips can be stacked, shuffled, counted, sorted, shifted about, and rolled when you're nervous. Chips are easy to count. While at the poker table, giant stacks of chips are more intimidating than a thick wad of green bills. All things considered, Dear Acey prefers playing poker with chips – especially if they once belonged to the other players at the table.

- Rocky Stoneman

Dear Rocky Stoneman: Yes, the best possible poker hand in a given situation is often called "the nuts." Every poker player dreams of holding an unbeatable hand; hence, "the nuts" goes by many nicknames, including: "the mortals," "the mortal nuts," "a mortal cinch," "the brass Brazilians," "the holy city," "Jerusalem," "the world's fair," "a lock," "an immortal," "an ironclad hand," "an iron duke," "a woolly bear," and "nut-nut."

- Big Slicker from Seattle

Dear Seattle Slicker: I recommend that a player sometimes raise with A-K from early position and sometimes slow-play the hand. It all depends on your table image, the level of action of the game, and the other players. Sometimes when my Big Slick (A-K) is either all red or all black, I'll raise. If it is of mixed colors, red and black, I'll slow-play the hand. I believe the key to good play is being unpredictable, just like the weather in Seattle.

- A Lovely Las Vegas Lady

Dear Lovely Las Vegas Lady: Poker authorities claim that poker is a game of skill. Extremely weak poker players will consistently lose to highly skilled players. However, if all of the players at a table are similar in their poker skills – luck takes over. Dear Acey would much rather be the luckiest player in a poker game than the most skilled. Skill helps a strong player beat a weak player, but luck, sweet luck, helps all players win.

- Miss Mary Lee from Tulalip

Dear Miss Mary Lee from Tulalip: Yes, Dear Acey has noticed that men, in general, tend to play poker differently than women. Men players, especially young men, tend to act aggressively when they play poker. A man is usually less patient than a woman at the poker table. Men sometimes try to "power play." They tend to be "action" players. Men love to bluff, bet, raise, reraise, and check-raise more so than women. Men drink alcohol, swear, insult other players, argue, and are generally more unpleasant at the poker table than women poker players. Men are often poorly attired when they sit down to play poker. Overall, men are more obnoxious when they play poker than women.

Women, on the other hand, tend to be "quiet" players. Women tend to be very patient at the poker table, calmly waiting their turn for a big hand. Women players like to slow-play monster hands. Most women are properly dressed, clean, neat, and a pleasure to see across the table. Women seldom get drunk at the poker table. Women are rarely obnoxious at the poker table. Women tend to be much better sports with regard to winning or losing in poker, as compared to men. Both men and women players win and lose in poker. When a male "action" player loses, he loses a bundle. When a woman player wins, she wins "her share."

Dear Acey recently published a new book, Poker Stories With Winning Lessons, which is available exclusively through the Gambler's Book Shop in Las Vegas or online at [email protected].