THE WORLD'S #1 POKER MANUAL - Card Games

Poker Book, Increasing the Edge Odds
Wanting Scotty to call, John lets his fingers creep into the pot and spread out the money. He pulls
out the big bills and lays them on top. Scotty stares at the money; he is a loser, and winning that
pot would make him even . . . he licks his lips and calls.
Poor Scotty never should have called. His kings-up two pair were no match for John's full house.
Was John acting? Yes, because Scotty was undecided and John varied his own behavior to make
him call. John also did some long-range acting toward Quintin Merck. How was that? Quintin
observed John's maneuver to make Scotty call. John heard Quintin snort when Scotty fell into the
trap.
The following week, John and Quintin are battling for a large pot. John raises . . . Quintin
scratches his head and then starts to call. John's fingers creep into the pot and spread out the
money. He pulls out the big bills and lays them on top. Quintin snorts, shows his three deuces to
everyone, and then folds with a prissy smile. His smile snaps into a frown when John throws his
hand face up on the table. His hand this time? A four flush.
Why did Quintin fall into that trap? He forgot that John would not apply the same tactic toward a
poor player like Scotty as he would toward a sound player like Quintin. John plays against the
individual as well as the situation.
2. Personality (39)
The good player varies his personality to obtain the best advantage. Typical poker personalities he
adopts are described below.
a. Unfriendly or Intimidating (40)
In public (club or casino) games or in games consisting mostly of professionals or strangers, tough or
unfriendly and intimidating behavior may be best. Such behavior disorients opponents ... and disoriented
players are easier to control. Unfriendly behavior irritates opponents, causing them to act more
emotionally and to play poorer poker.
The following unfriendly and intimidating behavior can be advantageously practiced by the good player:
● Silently throw bets and raises into the pot. Give ill-tempered replies when asked about those bets
or raises. Make disagreeable remarks when other players err because of your silent bets.
● At the conclusion of a hand, throw cards face-up on the table without comment. Make opponents
figure out the hand. Capitalize on their errors that favor you.
● Stage displays of bad temper.
● Delay anteing and making good on lights (money owed to the pot).
● When dealing new games, give inadequate explanations. When asked for further explanation,
give details grudgingly and unpleasantly.
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