Just the Facts with Kelli Mix, author of The Game Day Poker Almanac Official Rules of Poker.

By Bernard Chapin

No, the poker boom has not ended. Each year, publishers and
writers attempt to take advantage of a sizable minority of readers interested in
poker and gambling. Occasionally, among the strategy tomes and memoirs, is a
book which tells you the basics. Kelli Mix’s recently released, The
Game Day Poker Almanac Official Rules of Poker, purports to do exactly that.

BC: Kelli, nice to meet you and congratulations on the
almanac. Can you explain why this book would have any appeal for an experienced
poker player? In other words, what do you offer them that they don’t already
know?

Kelli Mix: Experienced players often understand basic rules
such as: an over chip with no verbal action constitutes a call, not a
raise. Most, however, do not know the
intricacies of the rules and how they change depending on location and game
format. I commonly hear experienced
players make inaccurate comments such as, “Show one show all,” when a player
reveals one card at the end of the hand, or “He cannot play his hand face-up –
his hand is dead.” Or a favorite controversy in many games: “You cannot ask to
see my called hand if you were not in the hand.” It is a lot of information to remember. This
book is a good reference for decision making and pointing out that yes, he can
ask to see your hand – it is an etiquette violation, but not a rule violation.

By Bernard Chapin

BC: Much of this is based on Robert’s (Bob Ciaffone’s) Rules
of Poker? How much here is original? If a player already has Mr. Ciaffone’s
book then why should he buy yours?

Kelli Mix: Robert’s Rules of Poker provides detailed rules,
but not actual instructions. It is one
instrumental piece of the pie. It was a
great grocery store that we converted to a Super Walmart. The
Game Day Almanac Official Rules of Poker provides step-by-step instructions
on how to set up a cardroom, select a game in a cardroom, deal and play each
game of poker. Robert’s rules are the
guidelines (in live games) to follow AFTER these other steps are established. In
addition, we added TDA rules, WSOP rules and about the most extensive etiquette
and glossary sections you will find. One stop shopping for rules.

BC: You have a section on the World Series of Poker rules.
For those readers who only know that version of the game (due to their watching
the event on ESPN), what differs between it and your average tournament?

Kelli Mix: The average tournament is much different than
what is shown on television. The
standard poker tournament table consists of ten players rather than the six
shown at the final table of a televised event. Less players at the table increase
the number of hands played and induce aggressive action at the table. This
combined with the fact that hours and hours of dull play is heavily edited to
only show action hands, leads to a misperception about poker that is very
costly to the inexperienced player.

BC: There’s a section on poker etiquette here. Most of us
think that is certainly needed. At any rate, do you think manners have declined
in recent years? If so, how much is due to the effect of television?

Kelli Mix: More people are playing poker than ever before
and most of them are novices to the game. Lack of poker etiquette is usually
the mark of an inexperienced player, not a regular player, so no, manners are
not declining – the number of new players is rising. Those new players need to learn proper poker
etiquette through books and table time. While
it can be annoying when players act out of turn or school others on how they
should have played a hand, I watch them, laugh with them, sometimes grit my
teeth, but ultimately I take their chips.

BC: You cover a plethora of games in this text. Which
others, apart from hold’em, are in ascendance? Also, which games are
practically extinct?

Kelli Mix: All of the games played at the World Series of
Poker (denoted by an * in the book) are played in most casinos – some games
more than others. Hold ’em and Omaha are by far the most
popular right now. Any version of
community card poker could become popular because it allows for more players at
the table, making it more profitable and space efficient for casinos. For home
games high/low declare games are popular and more players are learning to play
Chinese poker, while waiting for the table to fill. As far as extinct games – you would be hard
pressed to find draw games such as five-card draw, though ironically it is the
first form of poker most people learn.

BC: In your opinion, what is the breakdown between skill and
luck in poker? Furthermore, which games are most skill dependent and which ones
are most influenced by luck?

Kelli Mix: Poker is game of strategy that involves timing,
patience, mathematics and psychology.
Those players who study, practice and master these skills (yes skills)
will prevail. In my opinion, games with multiple betting rounds are more skill
dependent. I also find games such as
Seven-Card Stud that add memorization of cards to the strategy heavily
dependent on skill. Really any
additional decisions a player has to make adds to the level of skill needed,
for example, no-limit games force players to decide what to bet – that is an
extra decision not needed in a limit game.
Mixed games such as H.O.R.S.E are absolutely the most skill dependent
because players must be able to strategize and adapt their play for each
game. As far as luck goes, I know of no
form of poker that does not require some
element of skill. Even in the simple
form of Indian poker with only one betting round, the player with the best
psychological read and bluffing ability will win most of the time.

BC: Why is it more states don’t follow California’s example and make cardrooms
legal? Could it be due to the fact that most people still think of poker as
being a casino game of chance? One that’s little different from roulette and
blackjac

Kelli Mix: Well, that is the magic question…I wish I had a magic
answer. I believe there are several
factors involved, but I do not believe it is a “game of chance” issue. The ever-growing popularity of The Lotto
simply refutes that theory. I live in
the south and what I see and hear is opposition to change and the fear of legalizing
something that has been illegal for so long. The banning of cardrooms and
online poker is ironically creating an influx of illegal activity…more
underground games are popping up and attracting criminals who are robbing games
at gun point and taking advantage of the law, knowing players will not call the
police. Legalize poker, provide a safe
outlet, then tax it – it’s a win/win.

BC: As a player, do you think online poker remains
profitable in America?
Do you think the government’s stance will ever reverse?

Kelli Mix: Yes it is still profitable, but of course with
the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, profits have declined for
online sites, financial institutes, as well as for players. I believe government will absolutely reverse
their stance on this issue. The fact is 75% of Americans are opposed to banning
online poker and billions of dollars in tax revenue is being lost…it is not
logical to ignore those figures.

Bernard Chapin is the author of Women:
Theory and Practice and Escape
from Gangsta Island. He can be contacted at veritaseducation@gmail.com.

Just the Facts with Kelli Mix, author of The Game Day Poker Almanac Official Rules of Poker.

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