THE WORLD'S #1 POKER MANUAL - Card Games

Poker Book, Opponents
● loans
● advice
● compliments
● sympathy
● showing of cards.
Out of the loser's desire for "favors" and approval from a respected winner, the good player can often
get, for example, a loser's support for changes in house rules that further benefit the good player at the
loser's expense (e.g., faster-paced games and higher stakes).
2. Play of Cards and Betting (86)
The good player constantly exploits his opponents as they play their cards. He repeatedly lures them into
playing poorer and poorer poker. With the proper strategy, he causes them to--
● make mistakes
● improperly estimate the value of their hands
● play a looser game
● play hands that should be dropped
● drop hands that should be called.
An exploitation ploy that John Finn uses (especially in split-pot games) involves the following
maneuver to make a hesitant player call a bet:
The game is high-low, five-card stud with two twists. John has a winner--a lock on low. Quintin
and Ted are playing for high. Quintin bets $20. Ted has a four flush and wants to call, but is afraid
that John will raise and Quintin will reraise, thus costing him $40 more. He starts to fold. John
picks up a $20 bill and holds it over the pot. Now, knowing that John will only call and not raise,
Ted calls. He then catches a flush on the twist. After more betting and raising, Ted ends up beating
Quintin for high. John wins low and makes an extra $50 by not letting Ted fold.
John seldom fakes that maneuver. So when players see him holding the call money, they know
with confidence that he will not raise. But he will often fake the reverse maneuver of not holding
the call money and then not raising.
The good player also exploits his opponents through betting. When holding a strong hand, he can build
much larger pots by getting other players to do his betting and raising. Successful indirect betting
requires accurate reading of opponents' hands and knowledge of their betting habits. Miscalculation of
indirect betting can result in smaller pots. Thus, when uncertain about his opponents' intentions, the
good player will bet aggressively rather than check his strong hand.
Disproportionate betting can throw opponents into more vulnerable and exploitable betting positions.
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