THE WORLD'S #1 POKER MANUAL - Card Games

Poker Book, Expansion
John Finn peeks at his hole card--the jack of clubs. He then quickly mixes his worthless cards into
the deck. Handing Stephanie $25, he says. "Here's your last bet. Guess I'm not a good gambler.
Can't take money from a woman. So I'll quit while you're playing."
"No, no," Stephanie says, handing the money back and standing up. "I lost it fairly. And you
already lost money by not letting me call that last bet. Now you keep on playing. I'm tired and
going home now.... I've had my fling at poker."
Sid Bennett drives his wife home and then hurries back to the game.
"Stephanie should play instead of you," Quintin says when Sid returns. "She'd win if you'd . . ."
"That lovely woman doesn't belong in this tough game," John interrupts. "Don't let her play
again."
"You're right," Sid sighs as he counts his money. "I'll never let her play again."
2. Improving Attendance (110)
Players are attracted to a full game. In fact, they become eager to play in games that are completely
filled. So an effective way to expand a game is to fill it. For example, if eight players are the maximum
for a game, the good player may make sufficient telephone calls to invite nine or ten players--or more.
When the game is so crowded that some players cannot be seated, an interesting phenomenon occurs . . .
irregular players become regular players, and the scheduled starting time becomes rigidly adhered to.
Good attendance is also encouraged by keeping the game well organized and by maintaining the proper
atmosphere. Excess attendance means excess players who can be shifted to other games.
John tries to keep the Monday night game filled. The full game helps draw the big losers back
each week. The crowded table and fast action excite the players, especially poor players like Sid
and Ted who feel they are missing something if left out of the action.
A packed game increases John's flexibility. With excess players, he can increase the stakes and
pace more quickly since the loss of one or two players would not seriously hurt the game. Excess
players also lessen the need for him to reduce his earnings in order to keep losers from quitting.
XXII
Maintenance (111)
Maintenance of a poker game determines its health. The good player keeps losers in the game by
protecting them, lifting their morale, and by making the game attractive.
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