THE WORLD'S #1 POKER MANUAL - Card Games

Poker Book, Strategies
"That's more like it." John says.
Sid's toothy grin stretches wider as he continues to deal.
2. Increasing the Betting Stakes (35)
After increasing the betting pace, the good player can often increase the betting stakes sharply. Most
games can withstand a tenfold to hundred fold increase in the betting stakes. Even when the big losers
seem to be at their financial limits, the stakes can usually be increased significantly.
The good player increases the stakes in carefully planned steps. Several temporary increases may be
necessary before higher stakes become permanent. But in some games, stakes can be increased
immediately and rapidly. Opportunities to increase the stakes occur when players want--
● a chance to get even by increasing the ante or stakes in the late hours or during the last round
● a more equitable relationship to the ante by increasing the first-round or opening bets
● a chance to protect a hand by increasing the middle-round bets
● an opportunity to bet a good hand by increasing the last-round bets.
The stakes are normally easier to increase after the betting pace increases. Opposition to higher stakes
and game modifications often diminishes when the resisting player is--
● tired
● losing heavily or winning big for the evening
● on a losing or a winning streak
● upset by some occurrence during the game
● affected by personal problems
● drinking.
A good way to increase the stakes is to let those players who want to double the stakes, for example,
play at double stakes whenever they are the only players left in the hand.
When John Finn started playing in the Monday night game, it was already seven years old and the
stakes had been stabilized for five years. A dollar was the maximum bet, and only straight draw
and stud games were allowed. The chart on page 67 shows how both the betting pace and stakes
steadily increased after John took control of the game:
http://www.neo-tech.com/poker/part3.html (14 of 17)9/17/2004 12:18:25 PM