November 2005 Poker Column

The Poker Mechanic

How the poker mechanic can always FIX a game!

POKER MECHANIC AT WORK
Not that many years ago it was possible to find a poker lounge in Vegas where you could watch a really brilliant “card mechanic” at work. This is the kind of rubber-fingered individual Ed Norton was born to play. With sheer guru-like skill he could manipulate a pack of cards and deal his chosen “mug” exactly the hand he wanted him to have. A big enough hand to play aggressively but just slightly less than the “killer” hand he’d dealt himself for the “take down”. Well, be thankful for online poker. Those romantic figures are strictly for yesteryear and the movies. A dying breed. Perhaps the reason poker on the web is  such a monster success these days is that cheating is now all but impossible. The green felt may be virtual but it’s on the level and gaming is fairer and more fun than it’s ever been. (Check out the movie Shade to see a poker mechanic at work!)

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FREQUENTLY ASKED POKER QUESTIONS

Q: I’ve seen the term American Airlines appearing in chat boxes. What does it mean?
A: Pocket Rockets! It’s another way of saying a pair of aces.

Q: What happens if two players in a heads up both have the same strength three-of-a-kind?
A: This could happen for example if there was a pair of kings in the community cards and each player had a king in their hole cards. In such a case, the strength of the “kicker” hole card comes into play as a decider.

Scenario 1: Player 1 has jack of spades and king of diamonds (hole cards). Player 2 has seven of spades and king of hearts. The community cards are: King of clubs-four of diamonds-queen of hearts-six of clubs and king of spades. Player 1: Best five card combination (using both board cards and hole cards) would be-King of diamonds-king of clubs-king of spades-jack of spades and queen of hearts. Player 2: Best five cards would be-King of hearts-king of clubs-king of spades-queen of hearts and seven of spades. Player 1 wins with three kings and a jack kicker. If both players should ever have the same strength kicker cards or do not beat the board cards, it becomes a split pot. 

Scenario 2 demonstrates this point: Player 1 has Ace of spades and three of diamonds as hole cards. Player 2 has Ace of diamonds and five of spades as hole cards. The board cards are: Ace of hearts-ace of clubs-king of spades-six of diamonds and ten of spades. Player 1: Best five card combination would be: Ace of hearts-ace of clubs-ace of spades-king of spades and ten of spades. Player 2; Best combination: Ace of diamonds-ace of hearts-ace of clubs-king of spades and ten of spades. This would be a classic split pot.

No poker card mechanics at: www.DailyStarPoker.com

ALL THE ACES poker column:
Thursday, November 10, 2005: 
The Poker Mechanic