The Education of a Poker Player (High Stakes Classic)

Author: Herbert O. Yardley
Publisher: High Stakes
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FIVE-CARD DRAW, JACKS OR BETTER 31

following pitches in sequence-spit ball, knuckler, fast ball, change-up, slow ball. On the next batter he calls the following: fast ball, change-up, knuckler, slow ball, spit ball. Now the batter has three chances to swing. One of these pitches is known to me before it is delivered. What pitch is it?"

"Write that down, will you?" I asked.

Monty wrote the pitches in two sequences and handed the slip to me.

I studied the sequences a while. "Well," I said, "I don't know with out further evidence but there is only one repetition in these two cases. The change-up is preceded by the fast ball."

"You see, immediately after Grim delivers the fast ball, which the batter doesn't strike at no matter how good the pitch is, I signal to the coach at third base, who in turn signals to the batter. The batter sets himself for a change-up. Is it any wonder we always beat Linton when Grim pitches and Stevens catches?"

I shook my head. "You know any more odd or even tricks?"

"Well, I'm in a talkative mood and you are leaving next fall, so why not?

"Salty who plays with us is a consummate actor and a windbag but with the intelligence once removed from Dupin's simpleton. He knows what to stay on-I give him that credit. But you can detect repetitions in his actions and chatter. For example, occasionally in five-card stud when he deals and his up-card is an ace he will bet but when he re sumes the deal will fail to give himself another card. Someone will invariably say, 'Salty don't need any more. He didn't deal himself the third card.' Salty pretends to be flustered with having given his hand away. But he hasn't given anything away. He's bluffing. He doesn't have aces back-to-back. He never varies this trick.

"Then he has another habit occasionally during five-card draw of holding the cards close to his face as if to keep anyone from seeing his hand. If he bets, he's bluffing. Once he heard someone say, 'Look out for Salty when he picks up his cards like that.' You see his cunning is just once removed from Dupin's simpleton."