Poker News

Over the years of playing poker, I have learned to love to hold and to play with small baby pairs.

Years ago I did not appreciate holding small pairs as I do today. I remember in one poker game at the old Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas. I was playing with real money, not in a tournament, but with real money with a bunch of very good poker players. Do not worry, folks–in those days I played a little bit better than I do today.

My poker MOP (Method of Play) in those days was to begin with $500 and double it to $1,000– Then double up again to $2,000–Then quit and go home. I used to get sleepy when I was winner and cash out.

I have never heard anyone say anything about a poker player quitting a poker game winner in Las Vegas. Of course I have had occasions when a railbird would follow me to the cage and ask me for a stake to get into the game.

In the home games in Tulsa, Oklahoma I could not quit when I got winner or sleepy. I had to play until midnight and then play one more round before the poker game would end for the night and everyone would go home at the same time.

If you did not show action and continue to play when you were winner, you would not get invited back to play in the very rich homes in South Tulsa, Oklahoma.

I would use a different (MOP) in the home games and managed somehow to lose some of the money back near the end of the poker game. Then I always got invited to play next week.

But in Vegas you could quit anytime you might wish to and no one would think are say anything about it.

Folks, I talk slow and sometimes write long, so this is a little long for just one “Back in the Saddle Again” column here in the Poker Player.

So, will you please come on back next time and I will tell you all about the hand I played with Mr. Bill Boyd, who was a member of “The Seniors” World Championship of Poker and the legendary poker room manager of the old Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, Nevada.

But before I go let me tell you just one of the things my daddy taught me –My daddy G. N. Hale taught me many things about life and the living of it and poker and the playing of the game of poker. This life and poker tip comes from my dad.

If you make a mistake, fix it and if you are not winning in your poker games, you can fix that also.

Winning is not something that just happens with luck. In life and poker you do not win by accident or with just luck. You win by playing correctly and doing the right thing each hand you play.

If you do the right thing every time, my daddy told me,your life will be fun to live. If you do the right thing each time you play a poker hand, poker will be easy for you to play and winning will become something that happens to you almost every time you sit down to play.

Until next time, remember to STAY LUCKY!!!

Filed under: Poker News