THE WORLD'S #1 POKER MANUAL - Card Games

Poker Book, Policies
In the Monday night game, the original house rules allowed a maximum bet of $1 and permitted
only straight draw and stud games . . . $50 winners were rare. Now $100 bets are made in draw.
Wild and split-pot games with twists prevail. Thousand-dollar winners are common. After six
years of controlling the rules, John increased his edge odds from 35 percent to 65 percent, and his
profits soared from $2,500 to $42,000 per year.
4. Arguments and Emotional Situations (73)
The good player avoids involvement in emotional situations such as--
● personal disputes and arguments
● personal problems
● exposing cheaters.
He avoids involvement by outwardly ignoring the situation. The good player will, however, study an
emotional situation in order to exploit it. He intervenes only in those situations that could cost him
money. For example, he steps in to prevent a loser from quitting the game because of a personal
argument.
When the good player faces a potential argument, he controls the situation either by yielding quickly or
by standing firm. He avoids taking positions that he may have to compromise or yield. He takes a firm
position only when financially profitable. When in doubt about yielding or holding firm, he usually
yields before a confrontation occurs.
Sid's loud mouth constantly bellows good-natured insults at the players. Professor Merck does not
like Sid to tease him about his mustache, his tight playing, or his beret. He tells Sid to stop. But Sid
Bennett grins and rides him even harder by calling him a dirty old man. Quintin accuses Sid of
running a-dishonest road-paving business and calls him a pasty-faced crook. Sid shouts back
louder insults. Since their bickering hurts their poker playing, John increases his winnings from
the upset men.... But their animosity increases each week and John begins to worry. Blows are
nearly exchanged when Quintin threatens to expose Sid's payola on city paving contracts. Sid
threatens to sue him for slander and then calls him a queer. Squinting his green eyes, Quintin
cracks the edge of his hand on the table and threatens Sid with a karate blow. Sid vibrates his big
fist close to Quintin's nose, calls him a queer again, and then storms out of the house while
shouting that either he or Quintin must quit the game.
Fearing that Sid may quit, John telephones both men the next day and settles their argument. He
explains how their feud is hurting their playing and is costing them money. They both agree and
thank him for straightening out their problem.
John made extra money from their feuding. But when the feud almost caused the loss of the
biggest loser, John stepped in and eliminated their argument in a way that improved his image as
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