Charlie grunted when the next round of cards was dealt. He wasn't grunting at his own card because he hadn't looked at that yet. He was watching what Rose and The Bandit had caught. The game was Seven Card Stud and Charlie had aces and sevens. Rose was now showing three hearts and The Bandit had paired his door card, a ten. Charlie knew he was in trouble unless he made a full house. His card was the three of clubs. Rose bet and The Bandit called. Charlie cheerfully mucked his hand. Why you ask? Because of apercu. What in the world is apercu? Believe me, it isn't that I am trying to impress you with a big vocabulary or throw big words around. What is most important to me is to communicate effectively, and the word apercu has come to mean a lot to me as I play
poker. This is especially true when trying to get a read on other players. Here is the definition of apercu as given by Webster's Ninth Collegiate Dictionary.

Apercu: 1. an immediate impression; esp. INSIGHT 2.

A brief surveyor sketch: OUTLINE.

This is what reading people at the poker table is all about? I must get an immediate impression of what my fellow players are holding. I must try to gain an insight into the strength of their hand by the clues I have observed. I must formulate a sketch or outline of how they are playing this hand and make a decision as to,' whether I should continue to play my own hand.

Obviously, if I think they have me beat, I fold. If, on the other hand, I have a well concealed monster hand, I would like them to take the lead and sucker some other people into the pot before I reveal the true strength of my hand. I want them to have a good, second best hand and call me all the way. So if I can do a good job of apercu, I maximize the money I make on my best hands and minimize my losses on my second best hands.

Developing the ability to read my opponents effectively is a constant, minute by minute struggle. It takes lots and lots of dedicated practice to become proficient at apercu. Here are a few ideas to help you:

Read the best book around on this subject, Book of Tells by Mike Caro, The Mad Genius. This book is a classic and is regarded as a textbook for some classes in
Online poker playing. It is still available for only about $20 in hardback - avery reasonable price for what you get. The illustrations are terrific, Caro's analysis of what is taking place in the photos is great and he also includes a reliability table. This book is a must for serious Online poker UK r players.

In addition to looking for "tells," develop the habit of logging patterns displayed by certain opponents. Terry will almost never raise with a pair of kings or queens from any position in Texas Hold 'Em. He will raise with a pair of aces, except on the button. Joyce will playa k-5 off suit, Helen will never check-raise, and Steve plays tight except when he has the best position and then takes some big chances. These are the sort of things you want to remember. I have found it valuable to write these things down. I keep a loose-leaf logbook and have each page dedicated to only one player. Whenever I find a new pattern about a certain person, I write it down.

These are two ideas to help you develop apercu. It is those lighting-fast conclusions that will increase your earnings from the Friday night game or from your local poker club.

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