THE WORLD'S #1 POKER MANUAL - Card Games

Poker Book, Expansion
1. Making the Game Attractive (112)
A player often tolerates heavy financial losses if he enjoys the game. Also, an attractive game will draw
new players.... The good player makes the game more attractive by--
● encouraging a carefree and relaxed atmosphere
● keeping players out of serious arguments or feuds
● preventing or ameliorating complaints about the game
● selecting the more pleasant and weaker players for the game, especially when available players
are abundant
● keeping the game well organized
● keeping the action exciting
● providing good refreshments and new cards.
John Finn makes certain that at least a dozen new decks of cards are available for every Monday
night game. Although the pots are cut to pay for these cards, the players appreciate the luxury.
Losers like Sid feel important when they can call for a new deck of cards at their whim, just like
big gamblers in a big game. And big gamblers in a big game bet more money.
Other small deeds by John also help make the Monday night game relaxed and carefree. For
example, he spends a few dollars on a dozen green plastic eye shades. At three in the morning,
when most players are glumly reflecting on their losses, John pulls the eye shades from a brown
bag and hands one to each player. Everyone appreciates John's sudden "thoughtful" gift. When
Scotty suggests they cut the pot for the eye shades, John refuses with a shaking head and a waving
hand. All players smile as they don their green shades and laughingly make remarks about
gambling at Vegas and on Mississippi riverboats. John Finn smiles too as he silently surveys the
money still in front of each player.
2. Helping Losers(113)
Poor players are valuable assets to the good player. He keeps them in the game by shielding them from--
● personal comments that could hurt their feelings
● arguments
● unpleasant players
● personal problems of other players
● bad credit.
Poor players and big losers are usually grateful for the good player's "protection." They don't allow
themselves to realize that he is the one who sets them up for their heavy losses. Still, if big losers never
win, they will lose interest and may quit the game long before they are broke. So occasionally the good
player helps them to a winning night. He helps poor players (relative to better players ) by--
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