Poker News

‘Oklahoma’ Johnny Hale

I have been asked many times to teach poker players how to play poker and how to win poker tournaments. Well, I would like first to tell you folks that today I teach poker-a lot better than I play poker.

I have been playing poker for over 70 years and that’s a long period of time to do most anything. In my long lifetime, I have done most everything, seen most everything, heard most everything, been most everywhere, had my foot caught in a lot of traps, got out of the traps and snares of life with a few scars of the battles…

…And have played in a lot of poker games.

Today I still can play a little poker! But I am happy to tell you that I have taken the actor Clint Eastwood’s advice- remember when he said in one of his movies-”A man has to learn his limitations.”? So thanks to Clint, I have learned my limitations-I have learned my limitations both in life and the living of it, and poker and the playing of it. On certain days for short periods of time-I still enjoy playing the game of poker. I never grow tired of talking poker or writing poker or for than matter teaching poker. So for the next few columns here in the Poker Player newspaper I plan in this column, “Back in the Saddle Again,” to attempt to teach you folks a little poker. I plan to open online-as the OK-J Oklahoma University of Poker-soon, so you are invited to enroll in my new poker university.

Over the years I have given out poker advice to many poker players! I am going to write a lot of this advice down-and tell a lot of you youngwhippersnappers just how to win when you play poker and how to win poker tournaments.

But first let me tell you about just one about one of my past poker students. This lady had never played the game of No Limit Hold Em’ Poker.

She had played the game of Blackjack in the casinos. There was to be a ladies-only poker tournament and each player who had played in the America’s Cup poker classic at the Old Vegas World in Las Vegas, Nevada who wanted to could nominate a lady to play for them in the ladies only event. The winner was to receive the championship trophy and a full length mink coat.

The lady that I had selected to represent me in the ladies only event was named Jane. Jane said to me, “Johnny, I have never played this No Limit Hold em” game of poker!”

I said, “That’s all right Jane, I will give you a five minute lesson on how to play!”

Jane said, “Johnny, I am a fast learner-but not that fast.” I said, “Just relax and do exactly what I tell you. Now listen up close for just five minutes and I will make you a ladies poker champion!”

Jane listened tome and followed my instructions exactly and she won the ladies tournament and the full length mink fur coat.

Yes, Jane was my wife Carol’s mother.

If you cannot wait until the next column to learn what I told her in that five-minute lesson that caused her to win her first no limit hold em poker tournament-Email me at Oklajohnny@aol.com and I will give you the five-minute lesson that will be published here in the next issue of PokerPlayer.

Until next time, remember to STAY LUCKY!!!

Filed under: Poker News