Lately there has been a fair amount of poker on TV no matter where in the world you live.  And like anything on TV its influence creeps into the school yard.  My son came home not long ago and proudly informed me that he wanted to learn how to play poker, specifically Texas Hold ‘em.  Oh boy.  What’s a Mom to do?  I hate gambling.  I love my boy.  If I don’t teach him someone else probably will without keeping his best interests in mind.

So I did what I could.

I taught him to cheat.

See the thing that most suckers don’t realise is that poker is the easiest game to cheat.  Really.  I taught my son all the ways I could remember:

* First there is local courtesy where seemingly unrelated strangers are actually working as a team bet against the newbie.  Or even someone experienced.  Hard to pick up this one or to prove.  Most likely you won’t even realise it’s happening.  Unless your naturally suspicious.

* Marked cards.  An oldie but a goodie.  Basically you will have to buy a new pack of cards each time you play, the type where there is a seal that is obvious if it is broken (forgot the brand).  Note that cards can also be marked during play.  You can pick this up if you hold the deck together and pull your finger across the top so that you see the backs of the cards flash rapidly like a flip book.  Do this a couple of times and your eyes will spot a glitch.

* Using a hidden camera just behind the player.  Even easier now with spy cameras from the internet.  Some type of signal would indicate information, or  may be used in conjunction with…

* Use of a thumper.  Electrical impulses are sent to the player from another person who is reading the cards.  Could be an earpiece but not as likely.  May be done in conjunction with the dealer.

There will be more that I don’t remember.  And probably some new ones too since people are always looking at ways of controlling the outcome.  The point is if you must play learn the cheats first.

Investing time and money into learning NLP and covert hypnosis techniques is a little like learning poker, Mom style.  You get to peak behind the cards of the mind and see what others are holding.  The payout is without limit.

Blessings,

Keri Eagan