THE WORLD'S #1 POKER MANUAL - Card Games

Poker Book, Increasing the Edge Odds
lip when worried. Breathes through mouth when bluffing.
Drawing--Inserts cards randomly into his hand and then ruffles cards when drawing to a four
flush or a pair. Puts cards on one end with no ruffling when drawing to a four straight or trips.
Puts card second from the end when drawing to trips with a kicker. Puts card in center of hand
when drawing to two pair. With two pair, he looks at draw quickly. With all other hands, he
slowly squeezes cards open. Squeezes very slowly when drawing to lowball, flush, or straight
hands. Jerks hand when he misses.
Looking at draw--Exhales when he misses, and his eyes stare blankly at the table. Inhales when he
catches, and his eyes glance at his opponents and then at the pot.
Stud up cards--After catching a good card, he touches it first and then reorganizes his cards.
Confirms catch by looking several times at his hole cards.
Stud hole cards--When hole cards are good, he keeps them neatly organized and touches them
periodically. Does not bother to organize or touch poor cards. If one fakes a move to grab his hole
cards, he impulsively jumps and grabs the cards if they are good . . . does nothing if they are poor.
Last-round bet--A quick call means he will call a raise. Picking up all his money when calling
means he will not call a raise. Watching the next caller without looking directly at him means he is
hoping for a raise.
Questions--"Do you have three tens beat?" Scotty blinks his eyes if his hand does not beat three
tens ... no blinking if it does. "How many cards did you draw?" Scotty hesitates and turns eyes up
in thought if he is bluffing. Gives a casual answer if holding a normal hand. Hesitates and stares at
the pot if holding a powerful hand.
After hand--He will play carelessly when sulking over losses. He will play extra tight when
winning and counting his money.
With so many readable patterns, Scotty has little chance against John Finn. By putting together
several of those patterns, John reads him with consistent accuracy. And Scotty's low awareness
level keeps him from recognizing the habits that reveal his cards and intentions.
John also has similar dossiers on the other players and can usually read them accurately ... even a
sound player like Quintin Merck. Because of Quintin's greater awareness, he occasionally
recognizes and eliminates a habit that reveals his hand. But John uses several habits to crosscheck
readable patterns and can quickly detect when anyone changes or eliminates a habit. After
each game, he records in his notebook any new or changed habits.... John Finn knows that all
players have telling habits and readable patterns that give away their hands and intentions. The
task of the good player is to identify and interpret those habits and patterns so he can accurately
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