As the reigning champion of Foxsports.com/blogs poker,  (see ShooterB's blog for details, and this title was "borrowed" from him, so thanx shooter.) I thought I might pontifacate a bit on the subject.

   First, let's discuss terminology. Poker , like many activities, has it's own proprietary vocabulary. In Texas hold 'em ,you are dealt two cards face down. These are known as your "hole" cards. Then 5 cards are intermittently dealt face up, and these are referred to as the "community" cards. Everyone shares these.

  The first three community cards are called the "flop".

  The next one is called either "fourth street" or the "turn".

  The last card is "fifth street" or , more popular... "the river".

  If your two hole cards are of equal value, then you have what is known as a "wired pair"    (I.E.: K/K or 3/3)  ** From this point forward... A = ace/ K = king/ Q = queen/ J = jack, and the numbers represent themselves...

  Here's where it gets cool... different starting hands (hole cards) have developed names to represent them. Here are a few that I know about....

   A/A =   these get called bullets, points, or American Airlines...

   A/K =  This is generally called "big slick" but lately... Anna Kournacova.. (sure looks good, but rarely actually wins anything..)

  K/K = Cowboys (pretty dull...huh)

  Q/Q = ladies, ####es, or you can say "the Hilton sisters" which I kinda like...

   J/J = jakes, or fish hooks...

   Those are the obvious ones. They have stood the test of time, but there are some obscure ones that I find kinda funny.... like.....

    J/4= is called the Flat tire....as in... "Hey, whats the jack for...?"

    Q/3 = is a "#### waiter".... it's a queen with a tray.... get it???.........ahem.......

    10/2= is the "Doyle Brunson", or the texas dolly... Doyle is the Godfather of modern poker, and has won TWO!!!!  WSOP main events (ten WSOP bracelets total) with that hand!!! It's a #### hand, and I would suggest that everyone who isn't Doyle fold it the second you see it...

    8/8 is double infinity.. (the mathmatical symbol for infinity is an 8 squashed down, and laying on it side.....really... I wouldn't make that up!!)

   There are probably several more that I've not heard of, or forgotten, so please feel free to add to the list......

  There are several etiquette rules in the game (who woulda thunk that), but I have two that I'm really passionate about....

  1. DON'T SPLASH THE POT!!!  This is where you throw your chips in the center, and no one sees what amount you had. Especially don't do this with a phony Russian accent!!!! ( see John Makolvich in the movie "Rounders")

  2. DON'T react to the community cards if you're NOT IN THE HAND!!!  If you folded a 7/2, and the flop comes out 7-7-2...... Don't act like you just made the biggest poker mistake ever.... You folded cards that will only win 1% of the time... just because this is the one time out of a hundred.... you already folded them..... let me act like I have them.....and I'll do the same for you...

  I'm not going to debate the whole poker ain't a sport thing here....but you should not treat it like a hobby either. Fishing is a hobby.... and after you get a boat, buy gas, rods and reels, and bait.....it can become a very expensive hobby! Poker will get expensive too... so you should treat it like a job.

  There are several good books out there on Texas hold 'em, and they can all help increase your skill level. Here are some that I recommend....

  Anything written by *David Sklansky or *Barry Schulman... these guys cover everything needed for the novice or the pro. They read like a text book.... so have a highlighter, a pad and a pencil with you when you're reading. *Doyle Brunson's "Super System" is a must read for anybody who wants to play any type of poker. I am currently reading *Phil Gorden"s "Little Green Book", and have found it to be like having a conversation with one of the top players in the business.... so I recommend that as well.

  So.... Ya'll have fun, and remember....... A Chip and a Chair.... can make you a Millionaire!!!

  Like always.... that's my story.........

  Post Script.... Thanks again to ShooterB and Saxman, and Ricko for allowing me to participate in the "First FoxSports Bloggers Poker Tournament"    I had fun!!!!