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.