I Love to Sandbag

'Dear Geno,' a member writes. 'I love to sandbag. Does that make me into a terrible person? My boyfriend Jerry claims it does. Belinda H., Tucson, AZ.'

Belinda is a sandbagger, which means she loves the thrill she gets out of checking and then check-raising a person who bets. It sounds like boy friend Jerry is a traditional player who doesn't like to get out of line. Well, guess what? Sandbagging is a part of poker. Nobody should ever apologize for sandbagging. It helps keep the other players on their toes and they are less likely to pull a move or a play on you if they know you are a sandbagger.

Now once Belinda becomes known as a sandbagger, her plays will become less effective once her reputation spends. This could add to the intricacies of the game as each player tries to outthink Belinda and her strategy.

I enjoy playing against players like Belinda. They bring a spirit of verve to the game in a way that can only enhance it.

Trap plays are fun and they can add to your bankroll. If you are a good checkers player who thinks several moves ahead, this may be your ticket to good fortune.

The problem, of course, is laying a trap that nobody falls for. Other players will snicker and whisper, 'He expects us to bet for him.' When that happens, you have missed a bet. Better luck next time.

Sandbaggers seem to have more fun in home games where they know everybody. I know we certainly enjoyed doing it in Brownsville, PA. at Mugsy Belvis' place. All the players were friendly toward one another and Mugsy did bake the best wedding cakes in town. She delighted in the midnight servings of wedding cake that she hadn't sold earlier in the week.

There were always at least three women playing in our weekly poker games at Mugsy;s -- Fanny Nicola, wife of the town's police chief Sam Nicola, Mugsy, and Betty, a widow with snappish sense of humor. Once I brought up the subject of love and passion at the poker table and asked the girls which was more important in a relationship.

'Passion,' said Fanny with a smile. She is married to a hot-blooded Italian.

'Love, said Mugsy whose husband, John, is a civil engineer.

'Shut up and deal,' said Betty, who has been widowed for more years than she can remember.

Ah, Brownsville. Robert Mitchum and John Savage made a movie there with Natasha Kinsky called 'Maria's Lovers.' I tried in vain to grab an interview on the run with Natasha as she was fleeing from the cocktail lounge of a Holiday Inn. 'Miss Kinsky,' I yelped, trying to keep up with her run, 'I served as Arizona correspondent of People Magazine.' She threw me a flippant smile. 'People? I was on the cover of Time.' And jounced away into the parking lot.

(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter and poker player who lives in Phoenx, AZ. He has published 2,000 articles in 50 magazines and 125 newspapers. If you want to share a gambling story or book idea with him, send an email to glawrenzi@gmail.com ).