Overview of the Book
Living on Jacks and Queens is not a typical poker strategy book. James Garner, Jack Kelly and Roger Moore starred in the "Maverick" television show during the Golden Age of Television Westerns. Since the show centered
around the exploits of a family of traveling gamblers, poker was a key element in many of the episodes during the show's run.
Each chapter begins with a quote from the series, followed by one to two pages discussing the concept established in the quote. Since the book relies on the quotes from the series, not all aspects of poker are covered in detail. It covers both tournament and cash game play. It focuses on the Basics of Texas Hold’em, including Premium Starting Hands, the
Importance of Position, Understanding Your Opponent and Knowing Yourself, The Use of Odds and
Statistics, The Psychology of Poker, Strategic Betting and Bankroll Management Techniques. The title is taken from a line in the show's theme song.
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Sample Chapter:
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Bret Maverick: “Where do you know her from?”
Bart Maverick: “Abilene. A dancer. Every
time she went into her act, I won.”
Bret Maverick: “Well
it is nice when they watch something besides you and the cards.”
- Jack Kelly as Bart Maverick and
James
Garner as Bret Maverick in Maverick
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Distractions
Distractions away from the table can be an easy way to losetrack of what is happening at your table and the players on it. In the days of
poker room saloons it was the showgirls on stage, today it is the huge plasma
TVs showing sporting events or the ring of your cell phone that can pull your
attention away from the cards. It is particularly bad if the casino is at a
racetrack with either live wagering or Off Track Betting (OTB) available. To
paraphrase an old saying, “Hell hath no fury like a man who just lost the
exacta by a nose.”
The problem of distractions is especially prevalent when
playing online. With a spouse, significant other and children (or even the pet
dog that needs a walk) garnering for attention when you are playing, it is hard
to keep from being distracted. These distractions lead to a lack of
concentration, or worse, going on tilt. In order to play your best game, you
have to limit the distractions around you.
If possible, when choosing your table in the card room, find
one away from the big screen TV or sit with your back to it. If you are at a
casino where there is an OTB on-site, stay away from the dogs or ponies while
you are playing. Make sure to turn off your cell phone when you settle in at
the table.
If
you are at home, isolate yourself from distractions. If you are taking your
online poker seriously, let those around you know it. If Internet poker is even a
portion of your income, set yourself up in a sanctuary with designated office
hours, so you will not be disturbed. If you were in an office building, no one
would expect you to stop working on the report in front of you to go home and
walk the dog. Make sure you have the same considerations at home. This is the
same problem work at home people often find themselves facing. It is difficult
trying to keep family, friends and neighbors from dropping in or calling
because you are at home. Their rationale is that since you are at home, you
cannot be busy. It may be difficult at first to set boundaries other people
will follow, but in order to keep distractions to a minimum, you must learn to
enforce them.
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Living on Jacks and Queens is not yet on sale. To add your name to the waiting list to be contacted when it is available,
please e-mail: info@PokerInsider.org.
