Let’s discuss my view on professional poker, at least in cash games.

One view of professional poker players is that they are wasting their lives. They do not heal the sick, transport produce, manufacture clothing or even increase the cultural warehouse. They just take money from suckers.

To some extent, I agree with this, though certainly it is their lives to waste, if they choose. But what do professional athletes do? They entertain the masses, for which they are well compensated if they achieve the top of their profession.

If you go to a football game with a family of four and spend $350 in tickets, parking, stadium food and souvenirs, that is still $350 out of your life with no lasting benefit but a few minutes of pleasure, or screaming, or getting drunk or whatever.

So I view professional cash game players, and especially me, as being in the entertainment business at the table. I am there to win the money, but I am also there to show the other players a good time. I participate in conversation, keep a pleasant and fun attitude at all times, have a few cute remarks and things to do at the table to keep it light, and so on. I never complain, yell, argue or sulk (well, hardly ever, for the sulking, with a nod toward Gilbert and Sullivan).

At a cash game table, most players are there to be friendly and pass the time. This is why casinos advertise “friendly dealers.” Me, I don’t want friendly dealers (though I certainly do not want surly ones either). I want efficient dealers and friendly players. Most players have home games that are fun and a great way to pass some time. Someone wins and someone loses, but the idea is to have fun. Most casino players are there to replicate the home game experience and I am there to help them.

One of my idols, Linda Johnson (congratulations on just winning the Brian Saltus Award, Linda) has said, “When I am at the table, I am there to win money, have a good time, and make sure others have a good time.” That is an excellent philosophy to adopt.

I should say why I single out cash games. Tournaments are entertainment by themselves…it is an odd form of the game designed to create artificial excitement by outsize prizes and increasing tension as blinds and antes rise. Cash games are repetitious and to some extent far less exciting to watch or play. The players must produce their own entertainment, and I am there to help them. And win.

I’m off the ship and in a hotel in Ft. Lauderdale (well, Aventura, really). The cruise was really wonderful…lots of poker, sleep, food and fun. I still recommend that everyone take a poker cruise.

I mostly played 40-80 hold’em. Tremendous action with lots of straddles and an occasional rock game (a straddle’s worth of chips in a rubber band is entered into the game. The winner of the pot must use the “rock” as the straddle thing is called, to straddle the pot at his next opportunity). While this is sometimes introduced into games with no action, our game had plenty of action and still used a rock. It made the action junkies very happy.

I had a chance to chat with Gavin Smith and he had no problems with my column about his thoughts, so that’s nice. He did give me a few other insights into his play. I was honored to be asked to do a “Tips from the Pros” seminar with Gavin and Mark Gregorich, hosted by Mark Tenner. We all gave a few tips followed by an hour Q&A, then Brent Carter requested the floor and reminded everyone that all these tips were worthless if they did not pay attention and concentrate on the game. It’s a great point, and I shall remember to mention it more often. One of my real strengths at the table is my ability to focus on the game.

The tips I offered were not calling raises pre-flop with marginal values and daring to bet the river. You have probably heard me do these before. Mark Gregorich discussed AK, and reminded everyone not to bluff with AK on the river. Nobody with a worse hand will call, and typically nobody with the better hand will fold.

Gavin emphasized the power of position in no-limit hold’em, and how calling in position with a variety of hands could give you insights into your opponent’s holdings. This is an advanced concept, but used very effictively by the top NL tournament players.

First, forum news. I want to thank the almost 40 players who have joined my forum, and created some very lively and highly informative discussion. The caliber of questions and answers is very high. I am especially grateful to my friends from United Poker Forum (where I used to post) for moving here. Your contributions have been excellent.

All players are welcome to join, ask questions, post hands, offer opinions or just lurk. It is fun and free and informative.

Now, a semi-apology. My column in the current issue of Card Player is the expansion of my Thought of the Week for January 29. It involves a hand played between Gavin Smith and Gary Gibbs in Tunica. This hand was not at the final table, will not be on TV (probably) and I therefore though it was pretty obscure. As it happens, Card Player has elected to feature this same hand in its “Tournament Hand Match-up” feature-ette two consecutive issues. I thought it was a shame that ran it last issue, and took a bit of the wind out of my sails, but then they inexplicably ran it again! I try to write stuff you can’t find elsewhere, and here the same hand over and over. Yes, I did it first, but by the time it got into print, it looks like old news. I’m sorry my column looks like a re-hash.

I’m leaving today for a poker cruise. Betty and I will be on the Party Poker Million V cruise for a week. I do try to keep up with my e-mail, and may post a bit, but at shipboard prices, please do not expect much from me on the forum this week. No, I do not plan to play the tournament. We will relax, enjoy the cruise and play some side games. I always enjoy poker cruises, and am looking forward to this one. We will do at least one more this year.

OK, a poker note. I had a good session last night. Players were making some great laydowns again me (and showing them, which I feel is silly), but that also let me make many more bluffs than usual. Here is a very quick one:

A local I play with frequently took a beat. On the next hand he raised in early position, and all folded to me on the button. I know this player and he always raises after he has taken what he considers a bad beat. He thinks he deserves to win the next one and get his money back. I had nothing (8-5). However, I also knew he had any two cards, so I three-bet. The blinds folded and he called.

The flop missed me with ace-high rags. He checked, I bet and he folded. A nothing much hand, but still a few more chips for me. Could this have backfired on me? Sure. He could have had a real hand, or he could have hit the flop. Or the blinds might have woken up with a hand. Nevertheless, understanding the tendencies of this player allowed me to make an aggressive play that rated to work enough to make me a profit. In limit poker, that’s about all you can ask.

I find it astonishing how few people take the time to try to figure out what the other guy has. OK, sometimes you can’t figure it out, but if he keeps on betting and raising, maybe he has a hand.

I understand in limit poker that the pots get large and the price to call is a small percentage of the pot, but there are still many times when calling is simply an exercise in futility. You are not obligated to call the flop, turn, and river, seeing all raises along the way, just because you have top pair.

I sit there night after night in sheer amazement as people call nice, straightforward players down with mediocre hands after the other guy has shown considerable strength. Look, I hate to muck hands too, but if you NEVER get bluffed you are calling way too much.

On-line, I almost never bluff. That is because so many people bluff constantly that the on-line players call everything down if that have a pair. But that situation seems to be affecting live poker as well, where people bluff a lot less. Many players just bleed off chips calling guys down with top pair terrible kicker, or middle pair, or even less. Sure there are times this is a correct play, but take your time and think about it. Can you release your hand on the turn and save two big bets? These things add up. Chips that stay on your stack spend just as well as chips you win.