Sometimes it PAYS to Lose Seniors Scene By George "The Engineer" Epstein
No matter your age ... whether young or old ... there are times when it may be to your benefit to lose a hand of poker.
Losing with a MONSTER Hand ... and Being Glad. We hear grim, almost macabre, stories about bad beats and holding a fantastic hand, only to lose on the river. These are ill-fated moments, sometimes putting the player on tilt. You can easily lose your "cool" after such an incident. Yet, if you play poker, it is bound to happen now and then. (Hopefully not too often!)
Playing in a middle-limit hold'em game at the Hustler Casino, I had been doing so-so. After about two hours, I was a few dollars ahead. Sticking to my usual "patient" game, waiting for the "right" cards to enter the fray, I had been dealt my share of decent opening hands and even a few worthy of pre-flop raising.
Starting With a Pair of Queens. Shielding my hole cards, I looked down on a pair of queens ... two beautiful queens! A great starting hand. When the betting got to me, I raised to reduce the number of opponents staying in. Four opponents called.
And then the flop came. Wow!!! The dealer spread three big aces! The table grew silent. You could sense the tenseness ... or was it awe. After a few moments we recovered our bearings, and the game went on. The players seemed uncertain as to how to react. A flop of three big aces!
When the betting got to me, I deliberated whether to raise. My aces-full-of-queens certainly was a powerful hand ... a MONSTER hand, not likely to be beat. I decided to just call so as to keep as many as possible in the pot.
On the turn, I was concerned lest it be a king. If so, an opponent holding a king would beat me. Fortunately it was a rag. Certainly, I wasn't concerned about someone making a flush. Seated across the table, Abraham made the bet. There were two callers; then I raised. Abraham reraised. Well, I thought, he may have a pair to go with the three aces. One other player and I called.
On the river, another rag and again Abraham bet. The player to my right called. I raised. Abraham reraised.
Could he have a pair of kings in the hole, or perhaps the case ace? That was the only way he could beat me. I reraised. So did he. At that point, I began to realize that Abraham might beat my aces full of queens. I just called.
Thank You for the Hustler Jackpot. As I made my final call bet, I thought: Wouldn't it be great if he really did beat me. I would win the Jackpot!
And so it was. Abraham turned up the case ace for quad aces. My aces-full-of-queens was second best. The table grew silent. Then a loud cheer rose above the din of the casino. Abraham and I both stood up as if tied to the same cord. We reached across the table, slapped our palms together, firmly shook hands. The roar at the table grew louder. I was stunned ... almost in shock. I had won a Hustler Casino Jackpot! I would receive 40 percent of the $6000 Jackpot. (Too bad the light wasn't flashing for the double Jackpot, but I was quite satisfied.) Wow!!!
So what's your opinion?
George “The Engineer” Epstein is the author of The Greatest Book of Poker for Winners! (T/C Press, PO Box 36006, Los Angeles, CA 90036) A retired engineer who received many industry and government awards and commendations, he continues to be active by consulting, editing an international technical newsletter, teaching an engineering course at UCLA, and serving as an officer in a professional engineering society. One engineering society has a scholarship in George’s honor. In writing his poker book, he applied the lessons learned and experience while working as an engineer to solve problems. He is currently writing his next book on The Four Rules for Success in Life and Living. Reach George by e-mail: geps222@msn.com.
This article was published in the Sep 9th 2003 edition of Poker Player
George “The Engineer” Epstein is the author of The Greatest Book of Poker for Winners! (T/C Press, PO Box 36006, Los Angeles, CA 90036) A retired engineer who received many industry and government awards and commendations, he continues to be active by consulting, editing an international technical newsletter, teaching an engineering course at UCLA, and serving as an officer in a professional engineering society. One engineering society has a scholarship in George’s honor. In writing his poker book, he applied the lessons learned and experience while working as an engineer to solve problems. He is currently writing his next book on The Four Rules for Success in Life and Living. Reach George by e-mail: 
