Lucky Dog Poker by Russ Scott

A Texas player wants to move from cash games to tournament play. What does he need to know?

I look forward to your column in The Dallas Morning News each week. I hope to move up to tournament play someday soon, with a goal of playing in some World Series of Poker satellite events and eventually the main event. Any thoughts? — Paul in Forney, Texas.

I like your style of play, Paul, in those $1-$2 no-limit cash games in Shreveport, La., and at the Winstar just across the border in Oklahoma. You wrote: "I tend to play only quality hands. I don't care to bluff. I will pay to see a flop if the cost is not too high and usually do pretty well with that strategy."

Keep in mind, though, that tournament play presents different challenges than cash games. You must pay attention to more elements, such as rising blinds and antes, your stack size, your opponents' stacks, stealing blinds, changing tables multiple times, final-table dynamics, plus short-handed and heads-up play.

Another huge difference: A single error or unlucky hand can bust you out of a tournament. In a cash game, if someone catches a miracle card on the river to wipe out your stack, you can buy in again and still come out ahead by session's end.

Your follow-up message was encouraging: "You are right, I didn't think much about the rising blinds and things like that in tournament play. I'll have to give that more thought and re-read your columns about that, to be better prepared."

About your column last week: I think far too many players neglect the importance of table image in their overall game. There is nothing wrong with strong play when the cards are good, (but) if you are too pushy all the time, you will eventually antagonize people and soon find yourself playing solitaire. — Dave M. in Quad-Cities, Ill.

Dave went on to say that players who seem bent only on "crushing everyone in sight" are "better suited to the bingo parlor than the card room.

To me, that's not poker, and it's no fun."

The power of the huge bet in no-limit poker can't be denied, Dave. It's a valuable weapon when used properly. But you're right — there seem to be more players out there willing to risk everything just to force people off their hands and establish a table-bully image.

Your approach makes a lot of sense for the typical player: "It's best to maintain an even temper and to remember that poker is a pleasant and challenging amusement, not a steel-cage death match on green felt. There is no substitute for play that is both smart and creative, and also both courteous and justifiably energetic."

Hey, LuckyDog, here's a story that illustrates the strength of gambling's draw on people seeking action at Wheeling Island Racetrack and Casino in West Virginia. You'd better get up there before all the true addicts lose their pokes! — Ray E. in Charleston, W.V.

Ray sent me two stories, actually. The first described how table revenues have soared since a full range of casino games became available in mid-December at both Wheeling Island and at Mountaineer Racetrack and Casino. Gross receipts are twice what was expected.

I already knew the two new poker rooms (a combined 60-plus poker tables) were getting lots of action. Freshly opened card rooms usually feature softer games with plenty of players coming just to gamble and have a good time. Savvy players can do very well in such games.

The second story told how an expected 5 feet of floodwater on Wheeling Island last week caused officials to shut down gambling operations. They implemented a disaster recovery plan that required all gaming elements — chips, dice, cards and gambling devices — be secured to prevent theft or tampering.

Not so fast, casino patrons said. About two hours into the shutdown, angry customers had been away from their slot machines and poker tables long enough. They insisted gambling resume, regardless of the high water.

They got their way. Officials fired up gaming areas on the facility's upper levels, keeping profits high and the gamblers dry.

E-mail your poker questions and comments to russ@luckydogpoker.com for use in future columns. To find out more about Russ Scott and read previous LuckyDog Poker columns, visit www.creators.com or www.luckydogpoker.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 RUSS SCOTT

DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.