- Poker Simplified -

Christal Ashley

With all of the advice offered on how to be a better poker player, the simplicity of the game can become lost. While I understand that there are certain nuances to the game which can make you a better player, I feel sometimes you just have to take it for what it is. Poker.

A couple of nights ago, after my aces went down to a set of nines on the river, I was frustrated and baffled. I needed to find the root of poker again. I tried to pick up “Super System”, passed over High Stakes Poker on TV and found myself staring at my computer. Finally, I went to Merriam Webster Online and found the definition of poker. This is the result:

“Main Entry:
po•ker
Pronunciation:
\'po-k?r\
Function:
Noun
Etymology:
Probably modification of French poque, a card game similar to poker
Date:
1836

: any of several card games in which a player bets that the value of his or her hand is greater than that of the hands held by others, in which each subsequent player must either equal or raise the bet or drop out, and in which the player holding the highest hand at the end of the betting wins the pot”

It sounds so simple huh? It all comes down to betting, calling, raising or folding. When progressing in your game, it is easy to become confused or lost in all of the advanced play strategies. I know I sometimes try to incorporate too much into my game to the point that I forget the importance of the basics. Sometimes I forget that poker can be summed up in so few words.

A funny side note: While looking up poker, it brings up a list of related words. One word I didn’t realize was in the dictionary is strip poker!! It officially entered the English language in the 1919. Just a bit of funny trivia for you all!

Now for another word that affects our psyche to no end at the poker table: Luck. Here is what Webster has to say about this word:

Main Entry:
luck
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English lucke, from Middle Dutch luc; akin to Middle High German gelücke luck

1 a : a force that brings good fortune or adversity b : the events or circumstances that operate for or against an individual
2 : favoring chance; also : SUCCESS

Have you ever thought of luck as a force? I surely hadn’t. I’ve seen it as an important factor, but had never used such a strong word to describe it. It is the age old debate. Do you need skill, or do you need luck? From what I have seen and been through, I think you need both. I know I took the easy way out with that answer. But seriously, at some point in time, you are going to get your money in with the worst of it. With luck on your side, you’ll catch that runner-runner flush. With no luck, you can’t win at poker. Then again with no skill you can’t win at poker either. It’s a delicate balance.

I have a new saying for the time being. “It’s just poker.” I might even write poker’s definition on a small piece of paper and carry it with me to the games. My favorite World Series of Poker moment was during the 2005 Main Event where Steve Dannenmann was holding A-10 against Joe Hachem’s all-in with A-J. Steve pulls out his little note sheet and lists off “1. Have fun, 2. Play tight, 3. Not calling a raise is only a small mistake” and then folds. He had simplified his game with those notes. “It’s just poker”, or “It’s just Aces.” Those phrases make it all sound so simple.

To view more of Steve Dannenmann’s Main Event Notes, visit his website at www.financialace.com and click Gallery.

Until next time, Aces and Kings and all good things…

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