Hollay
10-26-2005, 11:52 AM
Ok gang, here are the final submissions for this week's Write to Win contest, and let me assure you, they are as great as the are different!
Vote for your favorite submission and you are automatically entered into a draw to win Hollywood Poker gear. The author of the winning submission wins a tournament ticket, so make your vote count!
Entry #1
I have been playing in cash games now for about 5 years. I have owned cable for 3 years. I haven't yet heard of a noteworthy pro who has died. I do however expect the poker world to loose a few to the great beyond here soon. Getting up there in years are names like Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim, and the inventor of the Camera Poker Table, Henry Orenstein, to name a few. From what I know of these men, from TV, they have lived rich and full lives. If I were to meet any one of them today, I would shake their hands, and feel privileged to have met them. I also think that the poker world will suffer a loss when they pass.
Statistically, 10 out of 10 of us are going to die. As we all know, age doesn't necessarily make the difference, but it does make it more likely. For as many theories as there are on how to play Texas Hold 'em, there are twice as many on what happens to a person on the fateful day of our death. Most think that where we go when we die, is determined by how we have lived our lives. I definitely have my take on the subject of life and the afterlife, but I keep it close to me. If I am engaged specifically on the topic, I will give my thoughts. Until then I have a few questions for every poker player to ask themselves:
1. Is there an afterlife?
2. If yes, will it accept a life of lying to your neighbor so as to take their money?
3. Does this afterlife accept a life of risking your money on the luck of the draw?
4. Do you think that one day you will not be able to morally justify playing poker?
5. How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?
If you answered Yes-No-No-Yes-32, I will see you at the big show in the sky. If you gave any other answer, I sure hope your right.
~MinnesotaRon
Take Your Checks To The Bank
The “Grand Old Master” of poker, Johnny Moss, won the world championship three times. He played against the best players in the world and for the highest stakes.
In the last few years of his life, he lived in a complimentary suite at Binion’s Horseshoe and played poker almost every day in the casino. As Johnny approached and passed 80 years of age, he often played 20-40 hold’em. Although his game may have slipped a little, the Master was still a formidable opponent. He taught many expensive lessons to young upstarts who liked to challenge him.
Although I usually played 10-20 hold’em, I could not resist joining the 20-40 when a seat opened up on Johnny’s immediate left. The lessons to be learned figured to be worth playing a little above my comfort zone. Besides, I might get lucky and beat the Master.
Early in the session the cards were running over me. I was winning handsomely and my confidence soared. In late position I was raising frequently pre-flop. On the flop the players often checked to the raiser. I usually bet while saying, “no checking, take your checks to the bank” During this hour or so, Johnny played few hands and none when I was in the pot. But I did notice him watching me closely several times when I was playing. Maybe the Master was not too old to learn a few new tricks.
A hand then developed where everyone folded to Johnny on the small blind. I had the AJ of clubs and was ready to raise on the big blind. After studying me a few seconds, Johnny limped in. I raised. Johnny thought a moment and re-raised. This surprised me as I called.
Happily the flop came JJQ with two spades. Johnny thought and said, “check”. Fighting back the urge to tell the Master to “take his check to the bank”, I bet my three jacks. Johnny check-raised. I thought about re-raising but decided to see what the turn brought. At this point I knew I was facing a pair of aces or kings, a flush draw, or possibly three jacks.
When the turn brought the 3 of spades, Johnny checked. If he was afraid of the flush, I had him. I bet again. He check-raised again. So he had the flush. I called and hoped the board would pair.
The beautiful 3 of hearts came on the end. Johnny took his time and checked. I had gotten lucky and drawn out on the master. Excited, I could resist no longer, I bet while saying “take your checks to the bank”. For the fourth and last time, Johnny check-raised. After almost re-raising, I decided we had the same hand and just called. The “Master” turned over a pair of queens for a winning full house.
As he raked in the pot, Johnny said nothing but he had taught me a valuable and costly lesson. A “check” against an aggressive player does not always mean, “I have nothing”. It only means, “I am not betting right now”. Also, I am sure Johnny had studied my betting habits and patterns, and was confident that I would bet each time.
After winning several more nice pots, the “Grand old Master” left with four racks full of chips. Where was he headed? Maybe he was going to “take my checks to the bank”.
~SBTRUE
Vote for your favorite submission and you are automatically entered into a draw to win Hollywood Poker gear. The author of the winning submission wins a tournament ticket, so make your vote count!
Entry #1
I have been playing in cash games now for about 5 years. I have owned cable for 3 years. I haven't yet heard of a noteworthy pro who has died. I do however expect the poker world to loose a few to the great beyond here soon. Getting up there in years are names like Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim, and the inventor of the Camera Poker Table, Henry Orenstein, to name a few. From what I know of these men, from TV, they have lived rich and full lives. If I were to meet any one of them today, I would shake their hands, and feel privileged to have met them. I also think that the poker world will suffer a loss when they pass.
Statistically, 10 out of 10 of us are going to die. As we all know, age doesn't necessarily make the difference, but it does make it more likely. For as many theories as there are on how to play Texas Hold 'em, there are twice as many on what happens to a person on the fateful day of our death. Most think that where we go when we die, is determined by how we have lived our lives. I definitely have my take on the subject of life and the afterlife, but I keep it close to me. If I am engaged specifically on the topic, I will give my thoughts. Until then I have a few questions for every poker player to ask themselves:
1. Is there an afterlife?
2. If yes, will it accept a life of lying to your neighbor so as to take their money?
3. Does this afterlife accept a life of risking your money on the luck of the draw?
4. Do you think that one day you will not be able to morally justify playing poker?
5. How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?
If you answered Yes-No-No-Yes-32, I will see you at the big show in the sky. If you gave any other answer, I sure hope your right.
~MinnesotaRon
Take Your Checks To The Bank
The “Grand Old Master” of poker, Johnny Moss, won the world championship three times. He played against the best players in the world and for the highest stakes.
In the last few years of his life, he lived in a complimentary suite at Binion’s Horseshoe and played poker almost every day in the casino. As Johnny approached and passed 80 years of age, he often played 20-40 hold’em. Although his game may have slipped a little, the Master was still a formidable opponent. He taught many expensive lessons to young upstarts who liked to challenge him.
Although I usually played 10-20 hold’em, I could not resist joining the 20-40 when a seat opened up on Johnny’s immediate left. The lessons to be learned figured to be worth playing a little above my comfort zone. Besides, I might get lucky and beat the Master.
Early in the session the cards were running over me. I was winning handsomely and my confidence soared. In late position I was raising frequently pre-flop. On the flop the players often checked to the raiser. I usually bet while saying, “no checking, take your checks to the bank” During this hour or so, Johnny played few hands and none when I was in the pot. But I did notice him watching me closely several times when I was playing. Maybe the Master was not too old to learn a few new tricks.
A hand then developed where everyone folded to Johnny on the small blind. I had the AJ of clubs and was ready to raise on the big blind. After studying me a few seconds, Johnny limped in. I raised. Johnny thought a moment and re-raised. This surprised me as I called.
Happily the flop came JJQ with two spades. Johnny thought and said, “check”. Fighting back the urge to tell the Master to “take his check to the bank”, I bet my three jacks. Johnny check-raised. I thought about re-raising but decided to see what the turn brought. At this point I knew I was facing a pair of aces or kings, a flush draw, or possibly three jacks.
When the turn brought the 3 of spades, Johnny checked. If he was afraid of the flush, I had him. I bet again. He check-raised again. So he had the flush. I called and hoped the board would pair.
The beautiful 3 of hearts came on the end. Johnny took his time and checked. I had gotten lucky and drawn out on the master. Excited, I could resist no longer, I bet while saying “take your checks to the bank”. For the fourth and last time, Johnny check-raised. After almost re-raising, I decided we had the same hand and just called. The “Master” turned over a pair of queens for a winning full house.
As he raked in the pot, Johnny said nothing but he had taught me a valuable and costly lesson. A “check” against an aggressive player does not always mean, “I have nothing”. It only means, “I am not betting right now”. Also, I am sure Johnny had studied my betting habits and patterns, and was confident that I would bet each time.
After winning several more nice pots, the “Grand old Master” left with four racks full of chips. Where was he headed? Maybe he was going to “take my checks to the bank”.
~SBTRUE