I thought Poker School was on the 5th Tuesday of each month just at a time when stars and night hit the first few seconds before a sunrise – when the Sandman sprinkles the first grains of sand over the Card Fairy’s nodding brow. That’s how it should be. Some nonexistent time and place that no one can get to and it’s not posted anywhere in the real world but that ain’t the way it’s coming down. Everyone is an expert. They know why you played a hand a certain way and they want to tell you why they played back at you the way the did…why? It’s TV time.

But in reality, how can you think badly of anyone that is now playing poker because they saw it on TV? You can’t. Everyone wants to be included in the rage, the rush, the star status, the hype, the POKER craze, and to act like they are not part of the picture would be totally criminal. They are the picture. Everyone that participates in a game of poker is what the game of poker is all about.

That’s what this is all about. In order for the world to be able to accept poker as it’s meant to be played, we are in a continual training ground, a transition where we work with new people coming in and the ‘oldies’ that have been there, seen that, done that type of thing. We cannot trade one for the other. Each is important and has it’s place in the stepping stone and foundation of poker.

From the dealer’s box, I caution people all the time about ‘No conversation during the hand, please.’ – ‘Please don’t discuss the hand while it’s in progress.’ – ‘Please don’t remind them to look for something.’

It’s ongoing. I receive a large amount of, “Now who wouldn’t know that it takes a 10 to make a straight?” and the like of that. Well, kids, if someone isn’t trying to make a straight, they may not know that’s what it takes…so why remind them to look for it?

I don’t mind doing my job and keeping a smile on my face while I’m doing it, but stop trying to give me shit for doing it…especially if you’re a long term player.

I learned my lesson years ago. I was running the games at the Oxford in Missoula MT and a lot of nights found me sitting in the game as a player…it was necessary to keep the game running. This particular time I held K-K. I raised it pre-flop and got a million callers, people came in from the next county to call.

The Flop was K-10-10. I didn’t even think about the possibility that someone else had flopped a bigger hand than me – and I was trying to hold a game together and not ‘bust’ everyone for the night so I bet, got raised, only a half a million callers this time, I raised and turned up my hand with this comment, “I have Kings Full.”

Everyone folded except one player. He showed me four 10’s – out of courtesy and with no anger or malice. Another player held pocket nines and we ran the cards out…a nine came on the River. I ruined the action of the player that held four 10’s. He would have gotten paid off in more places than one if I’d played the game the way I should have. Ke-rist! I’ve learned a lot since then.

I find myself trying to herd people in the right direction but using a soft touch when I do it. I don’t want them to leave, I want them to learn how to play the game…the game isn’t only about a poker hand. Take a seat, buy chips, you’ll get the picture…but leave the damn lessons to another place and time…this is poker!