Ranch Poker Guide Page 1: Introduction

Introduction

Poker. Simple word. Simple game. Vegas style. Family style. High stakes. Low stakes. A friendly game or a game so serious it makes you sick to your stomach. There are all kinds of incarnations, but the intention of this guide is to concentrate on a unique style of poker, as it is played during a six week period in August and September each year, on a little piece of heaven (un poquito de cielo) known as the Estrada Ranch.

The knowledgeable reader might ask, "What would be the necessity of a guide for a pastime with such a long and admittedly rich tradition, an already established set of customs, rules and characters?" It is true that, for so many years now, it has seemed that there was no need for explanation or review, for discussion of the rules or nuances of the various games. Certainly, to my recollection, there haven't been any substantial problems with intangibles such as attitude or etiquette. Until now.

Opening weekend of deer season, 1994 was memorable, as always. The festivities were rewarding. The rituals, carried out commendably. The mood, jubilant. The bonding, inevitable. With one small exception. I think if you look back, comb your memory, search your soul a little bit, or maybe just check out the cover of volume 2 of your edition of last year's Ranch News, you'll recall that shortly after dusk, in the formative stages of the traditional poker game, in place of the normally refreshing sense of camaraderie and goodwill that would begin to wash over the multitude, there was something else present- noticeable tension at the table.

Oh, we carried on. We looked the other way. We made do. We even made light of the problem. Well, we're not going to do that this year. Behind all the machismo of poker playing there is a delicate balance that must be maintained. Without some minimal willingness by all the participants to engage in a little 'poker therapy' right now, the very fabric of the game is threatened. I think that the problems of last season stem directly from a basic misunderstanding of some of the elemental, social concepts that have developed over the years and how they relate to the unfolding tapestry of each hand.

This guide attempts to cover only the very rudiments of some obvious areas of concern that came to mind during the off-season and should not be taken as an exhaustive study. It is a very subjective view, narrow in scope, of a limitless topic. But it's a start. Let's all look at last year's aberration as a blessing and try to learn something for once.