Playing 4 Keeps™ a Gaming Newsletter for Winners

Celebrating Ten Years!

A Gaming News Letter For Winners

March 2005

Volume 7 Issue 3

Copyright ©2005 Michael Vernon

"Luck Has Nothing To Do With It When You Are Playing 4 Keeps™!

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Who ya gonna call July 2nd - 3rd?

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Chubby Checkers sang, "Come on baby, let’s do the twist". It was a fun song and a fun dance if you still have the knees for it. However, when I refer to the "twist" in a casino game, there is no rock and roll. It is more like a rock and a hard place.

When in a "twist", you are playing "second best". Poker comes to mind as the clearer example. Your two pairs are beat by three of a kind. When you hold three of a kind, you lose to a full house. You draw a good hand, but second best is the best that you can do.

The big problem with playing the "twist" is that you do not lose as fast. This means your situation is not always obvious. It is painfully frustrating, playing seemingly good hands that just miss. I call it a "twist" because it is like wringing out a hand-washed garment. The water is wrung out over a series of several twists. It takes a bit of effort and some time, but eventually the excess moisture is squeezed out. When playing a casino game, being in a "twist" is similar. You win just enough hands to keep you interested, while all along you are being wrung dry, losing when it looked so good.

For the dice player, it’s like this; the game is teasing you. A few passes complete. You get your bets up and the numbers begin to roll. Just when you think you can light up a smoke and slug back a drink, (otherwise, enjoy the game) seven-out is called and you feel a tightness creeping over you. You dig in your heels and commit to the game, only to run into a small profit hand, a push and then a quick out. Somewhere in all this the game changes into a challenge to catch that long hand the one that will make it all good. The player fights the "twist", consciously or unconsciously. He or she attacks the game perhaps with an attitude of "I’m not going to let them get away with this." By the way, there is no them, and it is not even the dice that is being fought. It’s fighting the "twist". In the same way that you cannot fight the current of a river that’s just the way it is.

At the blackjack table, second place is common enough. You hold an ace-8 against the dealer’s up-card, a 9. You figure for a push. The dealer rolls the "hole card", an ace, and you lose. Next, you have a pressed bet, the count is favorable. Your first card is a six. It is not the expected face card. Oh, but for the joy, your second card is a five. Double down! Even better, the dealer’s up card is a six. You should catch your double down card and the dealer should bust. Right? Not tonight, not in a "twist". You pull the ten-count card for 21, but the dealer has a 5 under, for the "hole card", and draws a ten count card as well. You push, having the exact same hand as the dealer.

Okay, the bet was not lost. Another rock and roll song kicks in, this time from Lenon and McCartney, "Hit young Rocky in the eye. Rocky didn't like that, he said I'm gonna get that boy". The second best game is on for Rocky, who is not willing to relinquish to the "twist". Eventually he collapses in the corner. Poor Rocky Boy!

I am going to limp in with a Texas Hold’em example. I certainly have not played the game enough, but I have committed myself to study, read and practice the game. In fact, it was during a practice session that I became inspired to write this article, that and a shot of Tequila. I was drawing starting hands like pocket Aces and pocket Kings and losing. Bit by bit I went from a profit situation to being seriously behind in chips. I started to pull ahead on small pots only to be knocked back further with great second place hands. Unconsciously, I said to myself, "I’m in a real twist." I caught myself chasing a game that had me in the wringer. I was talking myself into a continued loss because I could not accept the reality that I was in a losing phase. No matter how good my starting hand was, second best was my lot for that session of play.

Granted I was practicing on software, so I was playing at no financial risk. You will have to take my word that I was that emotionally involved in getting back my pretend losses. In reality, is it any different in a real game when chasing a loss?

No matter your game when gambling, each session will develop a signature or a personality during your time playing. There are as many game personalities as there are people playing them. Play alert to the kind of persona exhibited in your session. Playing in a "twist" is just one example. Without the recognition of what is going on and having the discipline to cut the losses when in a "twist", the game will wring you dry.

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Author’s Note: Texas Hold’em stuff. I have been reading different Texas Hold’em books and practicing at home. I recommend Bill Burton’s book Get The Edge at Low Limit Texas Hold’em. I have read plenty of books on gaming and I really like the way Bill presents his information. I think it is the best book for Texas Hold’em. I also like the fact that he references other experts in the game as resources for his learning experience. I get the feeling that Bill, in his book, collects the best of the best from other experts in game. I met Bill at Beau Parker’s (Dice Coach) one-year anniversary a few years ago. A very personable gentleman. I heard him speak at a gaming convention in Albuquerque a year ago. If you are into Texas Hold’em Poker check out this book, I recommend it!

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By Soft Touch

While thumbing through the September 13th issue of the current events periodical - US News and World Report, an article by Christopher Schmitt that caught my eye. He was reviewing a book written by a Harvard Professor, Rosabeth Moss Kanter, called Confidence: How Winning & Losing Streaks Begin and End. In this book she details how confidence can make all the difference between success and failure. I found this especially timely in light of my last month's discussion: The Three C's of Craps.

Confidence, one of my Three C's to Success, and is fast becoming a nationally recognized buzzword both in and out of the gaming arena. It is this quality that I encourage in craps players, and it is the achievement of this confidence will allow them to succeed at their game.

As the magazine article goes on to explain, Ms. Kanter states that at the heart of success is confidence, and confidence is the key to success. Maintaining confidence in the organizational business world requires focus. This timely business article goes on to explain how a group's confidence can "make or break" a company. Beyond the business world, I believe the principles stated in Ms. Kanter's book can easily ring true in our gaming arena as well.

Within the next few paragraphs are Ms. Kanter's "cornerstones of confidence", and some consideration should be given of these key ingredients as they apply to our craps game plan.

First of all, the author states that it is important to Maintain Accountability. People should share and exchange information. They should take responsibility for their actions, always working toward higher standards, while hiding nothing in an effort to show the true picture of their progress. In the craps world, we have to accept our failures, as well as our successes. We have to be honest with ourselves about our performance, and not allow excuses to creep into our reasons for losing.

Another cornerstone is Collaboration. People must maintain a certain respect for one another, working together in order to elevate the common good. This collaboration plays a significant role in achieving confidence. Ideas are shared among our dice community. Those with the greater knowledge and experience, mentor those who are just starting out. These efforts are key to our confidence and one of the most honorable things we can do for one another in our craps world.

Lastly she goes on to say that we need to Take the Initiative in the offering of ideas and suggestions. Not only will it help others, but it will also make a difference to what we do and in what we want to achieve. I have personally witnessed this initiative in the collaboration between the Dice Coach, Heavy - Axis Power Craps, the Professor - Playing4keeps, and Irishsetter. They are working together to assist and educate our dice community; even through they each have their own unique perspective on the game of Craps. And their upcoming CrapsFest might just turn out to be one of their most successful achievements.

So, it's nice to feel validated. To know that I wasn't too far off the "mark" when describing the qualities we should develop and strive for in our approach to winning. It is nice to know that our approach to our game, as well as to winning, is the same approach we take in our business lives. And Confidence is the key.

"Soft Touch"

Copywrite © Deborah Garcia

Reprinted with permission

Find more articles from Deborah Garcia at www.dicecoach.com

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Well, that’s it for this edition of the Playing 4 Keeps™ Newsletter.

See you at the tables Playing 4 Keeps™!

Michael Vernon

Author and Gaming Instructor

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Click Here

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The Do's and Dont's of Dice - Playbook

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More Testimonials:

Gaming Events Coming Soon!

Join Heavy  in historic Albuquerque, New Mexico for an exciting one-day

Axis Power Craps Mini-Camp on April 23, 2005.

Hurry! Only eight slots remain available for this fun, precision dice shooting experience.

Spring Craps Fest 2005  Join the Four Experts of Craps this May in Las Vegas.

Click here for the details because you won't want to be left out of the fun.

Keep up to date with the other experts of the game...

"Heavy" www.crapsfest.com

"Dice Coach" www.dicecoach.com

"Irishsetter" www.dicesetter.com

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Referrals to my web site and my free newsletter are appreciated.

Help spread the word. "You can win them all Playing 4 Keeps!"

Thank you for your continued support. Your comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome, send them to: professor@playing4keeps.com

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Playing 4 Keeps™ empowers the player to become a consistent winner. My commitment is about the empowerment of each student. Learning to apply discipline, confidence, intention, and metaphysical lessons, is empowering. I teach students methods that avoid losing sessions. Most importantly, it is my intention to teach metaphors that link the knowledge of casino games to "the game of life". Michael Vernon

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Michael Vernon

Playing 4 Keeps™ Seminars

P.O. Box 1251

Ranchos de Taos, NM 87557

Phone 505-751-9381 --- Email professor@playing4keeps.com

Playing 4 Keeps™ Newsletter written and published by Michael Vernon. It is intended to be informational and entertaining. Do not consider the information a guarantee for supplementing or replacing income. Casino games are adult entertainment, games to be enjoyed. It is Michael’s intention to provide information so the reader may play with more enjoyment.

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Copyright 2005 All Rights Reserved Michael Vernon