Decisions, decisions
23 December 2002
By Mark Pilarski
Dear Mark,
I was dealt the following hand at
Jacks-or-better video poker. A 5 of hearts, a 10
of hearts, a Queen of hearts, a King of clubs,
and an Ace of diamonds. It seems I had plenty of
choices I could have made, but I was not sure
which cards to keep and which to discard. What
would have been the correct way to play this
hand? Phillis G.
You are right, Phillis-a very interesting hand
that could have been played in at least four
ways. You could keep four cards, three of them
high, and draw to an inside straight; hold three
high cards, possibly catching a pair (Q, K, A);
hold three cards for a flush (5, 10, Q of
hearts); or keep the two-suited high cards (10,
Q of hearts) and go for a royal.
And here, Phillis, is the pre-draw ranking of
your four choices. The hand with the most
potential is the 4-card, inside straight. Next
in expected value is the two-suited high cards
(10, Q of hearts). Of equal worth, any time you
are holding three unsuited high cards (Q, K, and
A), is not to hold all three, but instead,
discard the ace and just keep the Queen and
King. Keeping the Ace is an error most video
poker players make. As to building on a
three-card flush, that one is so gol'darn
obvious: it's worthless. If you had no high
cards but the Queen of hearts, the Queen is the
only keeper.
Dear Mark, At a poker table, I placed my cards
down and turned to order a drink from the
cocktail waitress. The dealer took my cards,
killing a flush that would have probably won.
What gives? Cliff R.
(The epistle Cliff penned was over 1,000 words
long-including some four-letter compliments of
the dealer that are inappropriate for this
column-describing what can be summed up in the
34 words above.)
You didn't mention, Cliff, which poker game you
were playing, but in Omaha or Hold'em, where
some of your cards are hand-held, it is your
responsibility, NOT the dealer's, to be in total
control of them. Unprotected cards left out in
the open is a traditional sign that you are
folding. You cannot blame the dealer for
scooping them up as you're ordering your fifth
Jack Daniels.
I have witnessed another one you might watch
for. A fellow player who is folding may happen
to touch your cards as he's tossing in his,
which disqualifies your hand and your interest
in the pot. Commingling cards, my friend, have
been known to bring out a six-shooter.
Next time, Cliff, place a chip on top of your
"pocket cards" in order to protect that flush
that possibly, not "probably", could have won.
Dear Mark,
True or false: The joker is always wild in Pai
Gow Poker? Jason C.
The correct answer, Jason, is false. In Pai Gow
Poker, the joker acts as a special card, yet not
as a wild card in every scenario. The joker's
only uses are as an ace, or as a wild card to
complete a straight, a flush, a straight flush,
or a royal flush.
Gambling quote of the week: "There is almost as
murky a scholarly dispute over the origin of
blackjack as there is over poker and gin rummy."
John Scarne (New Complete Guide To Gambling)
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