However, the first real revolution in televised poker can only be accredited to a little known (at the time) Welsh television production company called Presentable who were in fact the first example of a televised poker format using under table cameras exposing players hole cards to the viewers. This was achieved by the hole cards being placed face down on a sheet of perspex. This also allowed the viewer to look straight up the nostrils of the players however. This started back in 1999 some three years before the American version of events.

Late Night Poker reached cult status amongst many late night television viewers, especially in Australia, and surprised the creators with its popularity, no doubt due to some great extent to the comical quips by the host Jessy May. LNP brought many of the famous names in poker to the fore. Who can remember that cherub faced Phil Hellmuth Jr. wearing a suit and tie (yes, a suit and tie…..it is the same Phil Helmuth Jr.) with none of his famous shenanigans. LNP also brought fame to The Hendon Mob (Barny commentated on the later series) Simon ‘Aces’ Trumper, Dave ‘The Devilfish’ Ulliott and more importantly to those of us who frequent The Big Slick, Tony ‘The Hitman’ Hakki.

As Texas Hold ‘em became easy to learn (from a technical point of view at least) because viewers could see how the pro’s did it, thanks to LNP, every man and his dog wanted to play. Enter the poker boom along with countless internet poker sites with thousands of players from around the world playing against each other, ever increasing home games and new card playing clubs such as the Big Slick putting pressure on the big casinos to increase the size of their poker rooms.

The recent poker boom has benefited poker as a whole in general, but there are times when it can become frustrating. It is at times quite difficult, for example, for a seasoned poker player to play against a relative novice, as the seasoned player will make sensible raises with good hands but the novice, not knowing the reasoning behind the strength of the raise, may very well call with a mediocre hand, and end up winning the hand by hitting their one outer. The resulting ‘You called my mega raise with THAT?????’ usually accompanies such a defeat.

Also, let’s not forget the self proclaimed experts to be found on internet poker sites that criticise other players moves and plays, yet are often found on very low limit tables or $2.00 tournaments, but that is a different story that I will cover in future articles.

It is difficult at times to play against novice players, but we need to remember that we all started playing at some point in time, and we probably played the same way when we did. We just need to learn to adjust our play to allow for ‘beginner’s luck’ and move on.

The beginner’s nights at the Big Slick are much more informative and enjoyable than another big poker club in London, where novice players, or those venturing from internet play to live play for the first time, are often exposed to ridicule or being screamed at by seasoned players for ‘incorrect’ play and left feeling that they wished they hadn't’t bothered. It is a far more relaxed and nurturing environment for beginners at the Big Slick. For example, I recently told a fellow player that sat at my table at a Monday beginner’s night tournament during the break that he had quite an obvious tell where he would look straight down at his chips when he hit a card on the flop. I noticed that it was when the second card of the flop came down (a King) when he looked down. My suspicion was confirmed at the showdown that he hit top pair. It was something that I didn’t wish to take advantage of, but didn’t want others to unfairly take advantage of either. As it was a beginner’s night tournament, I felt it my obligation to tell the chap who is a decent player in his own right and has been to the club several times.

The beginner’s nights at the Big Slick have an excellent mix of seasoned players, pro’s and poker enthusiasts who are very approachable and happy to lend a hand and offer advice to those who wish to improve their game. The dealers also do an excellent job at advising without patronizing newcomers and go out of their way to put them at ease.

Steve ‘Pommy’ Ross-Bryant
Club regular and Omaha player extraordinaire.