Page 13 - February 2009 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Jim Mercurio: Poker
HPulling Mussels from a Shell: Don’t Be William “Tell”
ome games are supposed to have a friendly and casual atmosphere. I debated whether or not to include some of these tells, especially one which is sort of an angle. But I gure as long as I use full disclosure and put it out there for everyone to read (Is it my problem
that your opponent doesn’t read my column?), I can live with myself. By being a little more disciplined and a little more patient than the guy next to you wol ng down the free candy and soda the host provides, you can glean a lot of “hidden” information from home game players.
In general, it’s always important to look to your left before you act to see if there is any information you can learn from players behind you. So after you look at your cards, pause, take a look to your left, and often you will see two of the three players ready to fold. You can even egg them on by making a small forward- moving gesture to trigger their “auto-muck” re ex.
More importantly, don’t be the player who gives away information. If a guy to your right is ready to limp with his 24o and he sees you look like a tiger ready to pounce with a stack of raising chips in your hand, well, then...don’t do that. Or if you are in late position with KK or AA and you see the guy behind you is the aforementioned “raising tiger,” then you can actually limp in this late position which really disguises your hand if you get the chance to back-raise.
Also, if you are considering a tough call on the river, but you have one player to act behind you, often times you can get information by just “waiting him out.” e player behind you has a responsibility to
the original bettor not to reveal what he is going to do, so as to not give you more information.
But, let’s be honest, most players can’t conceal the strength of their hands when they want to. So if you spend a minute thinking about your call, the person behind you will often reveal his intentions. And, in case you don’t know this one: if he gets up and heads to the bathroom and tells the dealer, “ When it gets to me, I’m out,” that’s usually a sign he is going to fold.
is next tell is exaggerated in home games because of its casual and social nature. It may be possible to use this tell out of position, but it’s ten times easier to do it in position. Let’s say you are last to act heads up. On the op, let’s say you continuation bet, bet a draw or even call on a draw. And then let’s assume the turn goes check-check. Often when the river card comes out, many players reveal the fact that they have lost interest in the hand. e most common way they do this is by “de ating”—they let a breath out and let the tension escape from their body—a gurative or
literal sigh. e subtext is: I am done with this pot. A .50–.75 pot-sized bet should take the pot down here more often than not, which is more than enough times to be pro table, overall. Just be careful of the
reverse-tell: sighing when hitting the nuts.
Take your time at the poker table and your little bit of patience and observation in a home game will pay o . Look for the players who give away information with their tells. But make sure you, yourself, aren’t
being William Tell.
You can buy Jim’s lm Hard Scrambled at www.hardscrambled.com or if you like his column, contact him at jim@jamespmercurio.com.
NEew Barona Tribal Chairman & Three New Council Members Take Office
February 2009 Tribes in the News
dwin “ orpe” Romero, who was elected as the new Tribal Chairman of Barona and leading our sovereign government to preserve our culture and sustain the Barona Band of Mission Indians in December, o cially took o ce on our sovereignty for future generations.”
January 1, 2009. In addition to installing a new Chairman, former Chairman and Tribal
Chairman Romero succeeds Rhonda Welch-Scalco who did not run for re-election. Ms. Welch-Scalco will be completing her Ph.D. at the University of California, Riverside.
“I consider it a great honor to serve as the new Chairman of the Barona Band of Mission Indians,” said Chairman Romero.“I look forward to serving the people of
TSan Manuel Band of Mission Indians Donates $7.3 Million to Nonprofits
Councilmember Edward Joseph Welch was elected Councilmember along with
Linda Curo and Brandon Banegas. ey will join current Vice Chairman Charles “Beaver” Curo and Councilmembers Adam Reyes and Beth Glasco.
wenty- ve nonpro t organizations including charities, schools and colleges “ eir commitment and passion to this community is immeasurable,” said Yvette across Southern California and the West received $7.3 million from the San Ramos, director of the American Red Cross Inland Empire Chapter.
Manuel Band of Mission Indians on January 6th. e donations, ranging Northwest Indian College in Bellingham, WA received $2.5 million, and Northern
from $10,000 to $2.5 million, are the largest sum of money given by the Tribe at one time.
Nineteen of the nonpro ts that received money are based in the Inland Empire. One is based in the Victor Valley, and the rest are in other western states.
“Now more than ever we know there are greater demands on nonpro ts to provide services,” said James Ramos, Chairman of the San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians. “Despite the current economic downturn, we hope our support will motivate others to get involved as well.”
e Inland Empire nonpro ts that received the most money included St. Bernardine Medical Center Foundation in San Bernardino, which received $1 million; Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, which received $200,000; and the Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa and San Bernardino Valley College foundations, each of which received $150,000. e American Red Cross Inland Empire Chapter, in San Bernardino received $500,000.
Arizona University in Flagsta , AZ received $2 million. It underscores Chairman Ramos’s view that one of the biggest ways to change the cycle of poverty on reservations across the country is through education, whether it’s in an academic setting or vocational.
Other organizations that received donations include Time for Change Foundation, San Bernardino; San Bernardino Children’s Fund; Second Harvest Food Bank of San Bernardino and Riverside counties; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, San Bernardino; Sherman Indian High School, Riverside; Mary’s Mercy Center, San Bernardino; Redlands Council PTA; Operation Phoenix Foundation, San Bernardino; March Air Reserve Base’s Operation Warm Heart; YMCA of the East
Valley, Redlands; Boys & Girls Club of the Victor Valley; Olive Crest, Riverside; Trinity Children’s Foundation, Colton; National Indian Child Welfare Association, Portland, OR; Southern California Indian Center, Fountain Valley; Highland Senior Center; and Operation SafeHouse, San Bernardino.
February 2009 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE Page 13
Poker: Wired Aces and River Rats Tribes in the News