Paid To Play Poker

Designing Playing Rules for Three Poker Games

Wanting very badly to apply THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD to becoming a winning poker player, I tried to follow the Professor’s recommendations. I tried to do every single scientific task he suggested. He had a lot of ideas requiring a high level of attention to detail. He was really into the fine details. It was hard work! Applying the scientific method to becoming a winning poker player was not an easy job! NO MUCKING WAY!

The Professor insisted I design concise rules of play for the games I would be assigned to play. This sounded easy, but believe me, it was very difficult. The rules had to be detailed, but concise enough to be reviewed in 2 minutes or less! Meaning I had to review a dozen poker books, carefully detailing the author’s ideas on winning play. This was challenging. It involved agonizing analytical work. Finally, I compiled three sets of concise rules for the games I would be assigned to play:

Seven-Card Stud Hi-Low Spilt,

Texas Hold’em,

and

Omaha, Hi-Low Split.

At any moment, as a Prop, I may be assigned to help start up a new game, I may be forced to switch tables, or forced to switch games. A Prop must be ready to play, with vim and vigor, and at a high level, in any game, at any table, on demand. A Prop can’t limit his play to his best game, or his favorite game! A Prop has a real challenge. As reasoned by the Professor, a Prop should have a concise set of rules by which to play. A concise set of rules that can be reviewed in less than 2 minutes allowing for a quick change of games, and a “refocusing of the mind.”

Now, I know most knowledgeable poker players say “cookbook poker doesn’t work.” I’ve heard this a thousand times! I know every hand of poker is different, and every situation is different. I know all players are different and all players vary from time to time! I know all of this stuff, I do! But still, written guidelines, especially on starting hand selection, according to the Professor, “Would go far as a starting point to becoming a winning player.” I went to work and compiled Rules of Play using poker books written by world famous poker players and authors. In addition to “the great books,” I also relied on Card Player Magazine ¹ for winning suggestions. To all of this information (books and magazines), I made some minor rule adjustments based upon my own experience.