Getting Good Cards

My friend Mary is a poker player. This past May we traveled together to Las Vegas. She participated in a World Series of Poker event. She loves "Omaha", a version of poker that I have no clue how to play. I don't play poker. I have enough to handle with the track, the game rooms and the casinos. Anyway, I asked her how she did. Now Mary knows the game of poker inside out. She is very patient and never plays every hand. When she doesn't win (which is seldom) she'll tell me "I didn't get good cards".

The lesson here is all the knowledge in the world doesn't enable you to win. You have to have good cards.

I equate this at the track to the races. I am very similar to Mary in my game. I have learned from experience that you'll go broke trying to play every race. Some races are so up in the air that you might as well toss a coin to figure out who's going to win. Other races are set up so the "chalk" (race favorite going off at unreasonably low odds) is heavily played and in prime position to win. Believe it or not, these are the races I look for. I can skip races waiting for this race. Now the every race gambler will say "But it doesn't pay anything" That's ridiculous! Every race pays something if you have a winning ticket. What they mean is it doesn't pay astronomical amounts.

I figured out a way to make money on these races. Multiple bets. One time I hit a chalk race that paid $35 dollars on the dollar. Why bother hitting those, the other guys say. Well I hit that $35 five times and won $175!!! I bet a total of $36 so I cleared $139. Not bad!!! And since I didn't waste money chasing tougher races I ended up a winner!

Since I had the talk with my son, I have made a conscious effort to meet his needs. I have been home when he's here, and have made supper. I am providing some day time day care for his stepson for which he is appreciative. I have spent time with him having good conversation about other things on his mind that are bothering him. I like to think that I have helped him.

Life is good.