In order to understand the game you must first understand the players
The Rapper: Daniel Negraneau on crack, will play any two cards at any time, from any position, can change gears at will and is known to raise from first position with 3-6 suited, or aces, or well, you get the picture. Named because of his propensity for wearing an ipod blaring old school gansta rap, mostly to drown out the whining of the other players. Has been known to drink at the table, in fact, has only played sober a few times in his life. For better or for worse, the Rapper will be playing the part of hero in these stories and is an overall winner in the game with some big nights and some equally bad ones, usually after a fifth of Absolut vodka.
Crazytrain: Makes the Rapper look like Chris Ferguson. Plays almost as wild as his hair, while amassing massive stacks of chips with calls looser than Jenna Jameson he usually ends up back in his wallet on most nights but has from time to time walked away with the bulk of the funds.
Jay Six (J6): Named after his favourite hand. Captain overvalue, and a source of great fun at the table, at least when the Rapper starts imitating him as he goes into the tank, which is a long, very long process of sighing, looking at his cards, wiping his face, and in all but the most rare of situations calling. Jay Six is probably one of the less experienced of the players, plays at a pace that would make a snail call the clock on him, and frequently miscalls his hands, missing straight flushes and full houses or seeing straights and draws that only he can see. A nemesis to The Mouth that Marvel comics would be proud of, can be a real source of humour after an extra glass or six of wine. In the past a constant contributor, lately has ended up a winner on most nights.
The Mouth:If Phil Helmuth and Tony G had a love child the result would be The Mouth. The main reason the Rapper wears an ipod so he doesn’t have to listen to endless berating from the Mouth to any player who sucks out on him, plays any cards but pocket aces to his raise, or slow plays him for his chips. Will butt heads with Poker Dave and Jay Six throughout the night and has a bounty on his head because of his table talk. Also known as Idiot Luck Box, because as much as he hates other people doing it to him, he will suck out more than any other player at the table getting all his chips in bad. A consistent winner at the table but can usually be sent home sulking early if he has to go in his pocket for more than one buy in.
Poker Dave:So named because of the amount of game he will play if given the chance. If the Mouth isn’t admonishing you for playing outside of "the book" you better believe that Poker Dave will be. Table sheriff and a constant battler with the Mouth, can tell you the odds for almost every draw that he doesn’t hit and runs worse that Mike Matusow with a voodoo curse on him. A true fan and student of the game who can’t deal, forgets to allow for cuts, will ask the value of chips throughout the night and can slow the game down as much as Jay Six.
Nice Guy Eddie: Can read guys like a book, but somehow forgets which language they are in. Loose agressive would be the way to describe him, more loose than aggressive. A self deputized table sheriff he is not the one to bluff into as he will look you up with 5 best pair on most nights. Has an uncanny ability to call cards before they are dealt, on the spooky level some times. Some good nights and some bad nights he is probably down for the past year of so, a non drinker, though you wouldn’t know it with some of the plays he has made.
Ace: Tight as a dam. Of at least that’s his rep, seems to only raise with the top few cards, will call with a reasonably wide range and is harder to shake than a pit bull on Viagra when his hand hits. All and all not a big winner in the game, though not one to usually lose too much and can make a buy in last longer than anyone else in the game. Has recently tried to use his reputation by betting and ace on the flop to some success.
Woody: A hard player to really pigeon hole into any particular category, but not one who you want to bluff for the most part, and loose would be a bit of an understatement. Newer to the game, but a frequent player, another of the non drinkers who plays like he does sometimes. All in all a nice addition to the table and probably about even in the game so far.
Captain Overbet: Or just the Captain for short, another of the newer players to the home game, he plays a game that is truly a roller coaster ride to watch, he will push everything into the middle with the nuts, nothing, and everything in between, controlling the size of the pot is the most important thing with Captain as you can’t control what he plays with any type of raise, hands that he will muck (out of turn) he will then pick up and play to a 8x raise. Placing a bet of 5 to 20 times the size of the pot are normal course of business for him. Odds are for nancy boys and I’m pretty sure he was in a war at sometime because he has no fear of reloading. Very hard to play against and read.
Ontario: Despite being a Leafs far he was brought into the game and after an initial feeling out process in which he learned that middle pair is not a pushing hand, has done fairly well in the game. One of the younger guns he is one to watch as he matures on the tour.
Alejandro: The Mike Matusow of the game, constantly getting bad cards and second best hands, bluffing into monsters and getting outdrawn, sucked out on and generally beaten down by the rest of the players. Occasionally the stars align and he comes away with a big payday, but for most games he comes resigned to the fact that leaving with his buy in is a good day. If poker is a game of odds, we all hate to be playing with him when the hands start running his way.