Guru's Mini LESSON 02-April-07

Posts: 2913 · Posted: 28.04.2007, 05:33

Guru's Mini LESSON 02-April-07

Hello to my flock of PC scholars!

I can't bear to let another day go by without teaching you something new, so I have opted for a mini lesson.

This lesson will consist of a few things that every pokerologist should know. And yes, I am aware that there is no such word as "pokerologist". But there is NOW because I just invented it.....and if it gains wide enough usage, then it will be in the dictionaries in a few years.

Now let me tell you why you and I are pokerologists. We who take it seriously know all too well that a poker player is not playing. He/she is WORKING! As such, it is time to acknowledge that fact by allowing us to have a name for our profession, in my opinion. We enjoy our work as much sometimes as if we were playing, but it is still work. And of course, it requires preparation, such as an education in it, as you have already learned so well.

That leads me right into the first thing you should know. The old-fashioned (now) name for someone who makes a living playing poker was a "rounder". Not very complimentary sounding. Poker has changed and has gained tremendous status in recent years. It is now a well-accepted "sport" in society. Even a spectator sport, as evidenced by the regular television broadcast of games. And, of course, it has its "stars", a status some of you will attain and should aspire for.

I will hobble to my easy chair, when I am old and gray, and watch "my" favorite stars play. That of course, will be you. The very first group of true pokerologists. You could make history!

On now to something else you should know: Who named poker "poker"? It was Johnathan Gran in 1834. He was allowed to name the game because it was not mentioned in the Hoyle book of game rules. At that time, it was played mostly on Mississippi boats. It continued to slowly gain respectability, and about a hundred years later, the famous funny man, W.C. Fields, became famous for, among other things, making the statement, "Trust everybody. And always cut the cards".

As a pokerologist, you should be instantly familiar with the value of poker chips. They are always used instead of real money at official games. Color designations for them are arbitrary, but more and more, all places are using what is becoming standardized colors. You can see that you are on the early ground floor of building the popularity of this grand sport.....a wonderful place to be! A pioneer, each of you. And perhaps someday your names will be known as the pioneers of the sport's rise to fame.

The newly standardized color designations are: white for $1 chips, red for $5 chips, green for $25 chips, and black for $100 chips. I hope you agree that this is something you should know automatically.

The next thing a pokerologist should be educated about is Binion's Horseshoe Poker Hall of Fame.

Every year, since 1979, a player's name is enshrined to the list of legends at the Poker Hall of Fame at Binion's Horseshoe. In the beginning, as it was started, seven players were listed first, as the charter members. They are:

1. "Wild Bill" Hickok
2. Edmond Hoyle
3. Red Winn
4. Sid Wyman
5. Felton "Corky" McCorquodale
6. Jonny Moss
7. Nick "The Greek" Dandolos

Every modern-day serious player should hold these truly pioneering heros in high esteem.

And the last item I will include in this mini lesson is a little bit about the charter member, "Wild Bill" Hickok. His real name was James Butler Hickok.

Wild Bill traveled with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. He starred as a sharpshooter. This was after he served his duty as a scout in the Civil War.

In 1876, while playing cards, he was shot in the back by "Crooked Nose McCall". As a result, at the age of thirty-nine, Wild Bill Hickok died. The cards he was holding at the time of his death were Aces and eights. From that day until this day, Aces and Eights have been known as the "Dead Man's Hand".

I hardly EVER win with a hand of Aces and eights. What about you?

I hope you have enjoyed this mini lesson. Please learn it well. When you are out there at the tables, I want you to be the most educated players at the table. You know what they always do. THEY WIN!

Presented to you lovingly by

Your PokerGuru

Posts: 301 · Posted: 28.04.2007, 08:30

That was not only informative and educational, it was also very interesting and much fun to read. Bravo.

I think many player's, especially the more supersticious kind, ( and I don't in any way mean you oh wise one. ) will be unable to play A-A-8-8 the correct way. As soon as they see these ' Dead Man's Card's ' They will begin to tilt, for fear that they bring bad luck to all those who hold them.

Bob Dylan wrote a song about ' Wild Bill ' called ' Gamblin' Willy. '
In this song, Dylan say's that ' Wild Bill ' was a very generous man, who spread his money far and wide, to help the sick & poor.
He also says that Wild Bill had many children to many different women, yet he never had a wife, but still, he fully suppoted all those children, and their Mother's to.

Is any of this true???

Wild Bill headed North, To a town called Criple Creek,
There he joined a Poker Game that lasted about a week,
Nine-Hundred Miner's had layed there money down
When Willy finally left the room, he owned the whole darn town,

Posts: 1825 · Posted: 28.04.2007, 09:11

Actually tonight I won a deadman's hand Smile

Started out with A8 and that was the first thing I thought of was I had a deadman's hand lol and I won with 3 Aces and 2 8's

Posts: 1825 · Posted: 28.04.2007, 09:23

I need to tell you this ... when I mentioned I won a deadman's hand this other player (a woman) replied: "I wish I could win a Live Woman's hand" hahahaha I wonder if she even knew the expression deadman's hand but it cracked me up.

Posts: 301 · Posted: 28.04.2007, 09:59

Hi Valeria,

She probably thought you'd just made it up.

And beside's, you cheated, you had an extra ace up your sleeve,

Now go straight to your room this instant.

You're grounded

Posts: 2913 · Posted: 28.04.2007, 21:19

ROFLMBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! @ both of you!!!!!!

Your PokerGuru

Posts: 1825 · Posted: 28.04.2007, 22:07

ROFL ALW yes but that "hidden" ACE did the trick huh! hahahaha

So it was a full house and not AA 88 but it started out kinda sorta that way lol

Posts: 301 · Posted: 28.04.2007, 23:09

Your dead man's hand was very much alive & kicking, and raking in a nice pot I shouild expect