Poker News

Oklahoma Johnny Hale

When I was 17, (yes, it was a very good year) I could play poker in the card barns in San Diego, California-But I could not take a drink. I was old enough to die for my country and to play poker with my uniform on-but I could not go in a bar and order a drink.I could and did just sit right down and play poker with the old boys.

I won all of the money on the ship and became the ship’s banker-which reminds me of the story about why I do not drink-but that is a story for another day. If you cannot wait to hear why I never drink–email me at Oklajohnny@ aol.com. The first one of you folks who emails me with the reason that I do not drink will win an autographed copy of my book “The Gentleman Gambler.”

In California, the state constitution said that you could not play stud horse poker and that the maximum bet was limited to no more than $20. Believe it or not, the cardrooms had to close on certain hours and certain days. Most of the time the game that we played in California was draw low ball ace to 5 or bicycle and hi-draw. All the poker games that we could legally play were all draw poker.

Its was different on the ships and in the barracks and locations around the world where the boys and girls were stationed and fighting during the World War II.

Seven card high stud was my favorite game and I still think that it is the most skillful game in poker. If you can play seven card stud-you can sleep and play all of the two card hold’em games.

Tune in again and we will revisit some of the poker games of the past, but today I want to finish up this column by telling you of a new type of a hold’em poker game. My friend Tony told me about his new poker game-that Rip Van Winkle could have played. Tony has stripped the deck-there are no cards smaller than the 10’s.

Tony calls his new game (Yes, he has a patent on it) Royal Hold’em Poker. Royal Hold’em is by far the most exiting, fast-paced action game ever created and is conceivably ready to take the poker world by storm. Not only can it be played in the back room but also out in the pit, as it is designed to be played by six players or less.

Tony also warns that the players should fasten their seatbelts because this is one poker ride that no poker player will want to miss! Royal Hold’em Poker-The Poker Game of the New Millennium.

Tony told me that Royal Hold’em plays just like all of the other hold’em poker games, except that in Royal Hold Em Poker, it is almost impossible to not like your hand. Each hand that you play, you will receive two very good cards to start with as your two hole cards each time. The flop helps you almost everytime that you play a hand. Don’t know about this Royal Holdem Tony!-but I will give it a try.

Until next time, remember to STAY LUCKY!!!

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