Higher Ginko Biloba
dosage needed for Yours Truly
6 December 2004
By Mark Pilarski
Dear Mark,
In poker, could you please explain the
difference between a loose and an aggressive
player? Fred T.
An aggressive player is NOT the same as a loose
player though the two are often confused.
Frequent raising and re-raising characterize an
aggressive style of poker play. Good aggressive
players are very selective about the cards that
they will play, but become assertive once they
get involved in a hand.
Playing loose simply means playing more hands
and holding onto them longer, essentially being
"loose" with your money. Surprisingly, Fred,
being a loose player doesn't always reflect poor
play, especially since being an extremely tight
player can cost you dearly, particularly at
higher levels of play.
Dear Mark,
Your answer to the reader's question concerning
state lotteries was not on point. All state and
multi-state lotteries advertise with the
disclaimer that the total advertised prize is
payable in annual installments, usually 20-30
years. The two winners could have had the entire
$20 million if they wished to take their halves
over the 30 year period. It is just like buying
an annuity. The winners in this case took the
other option, receiving the present value (the
cost of buying the annuity) of the $20 million
in cash. If the cash is chosen, federal taxes on
the whole sum received are withheld immediately.
The winners taking cash therefore wind up with
about 40% of the total prize, equaling $4
million each. Bob J.
With over 400 columns written, it still amazes
me when readers spot everything, especially my
fuzzy, at best, response to a lottery question a
few weeks back. Many writing in stated the
purchasing of an annuity as Bob describes above,
while others brought up the facet of federal and
state taxes being withheld.
The answer should have been that most lotteries
give the winner a choice of either taking the
prize over time or taking a lump sum up front.
What many lottery players don't realize is that
when a publicized weekly lotto grand prize is as
the question stated $20 million, the lottery has
only half of that amount, $10 million, on hand
in cash for the winner. Like Bob asserts, to
make up the difference, a state lottery will buy
a $10 million dollar annuity from an insurance
company or bank, which creates a paid up savings
account that promises to collect interest on the
money so that the interest and principle will
total $20 million in 20 or 30 years. Doing this
allows state lotteries to offer jackpots twice
as large as the actual amount of money
available. If the person takes the upfront cash
option, they get slightly less than the amount
used to purchase the annuity, Uncle Sam snatches
his share, and only then can the champagne
wishes and caviar dreams begin.
Dear Mark,
Your Jacks or Better video poker strategy cards
states drawing three cards when you have a
3-card straight flush. My question is, must the
cards be consecutive? For example, should it be
a 7, 8, and 9 of hearts, or can they be any
three cards that could form a straight flush?
M.C.
A three-card double inside straight flush with
one high card (5, 7, and Jack of hearts) or, a
three-card inside straight flush with only one
gap and no high cards (5, 7 and 8 of hearts) are
hands of slightly more value than two high
cards. So, M.C., keep your 3-card straight
flush. Otherwise, two high cards would be a
keeper if your 3-card nside straight were a
double inside straight with no high cards (5, 7,
and 9 of hearts).
Gambling quote of the week: "Always play the
machine nearest the door. No, not because it's
programmed to pay out more but because you'll
have a fast exit when you lose all your money."
--Frank Scoblete, Gambling Author
|
