Hi. Come on in. We'll have strawberries and champagne while speaking of our beloved game of poker.

A while back, we discussed several of Roy's Rules. Let's look at a few more, in no particular order:

"Have a specific reason for every action taken in a poker game." What's your objective? What are you trying to accomplish with your check, bet, call, or raise? Or, are you acting on a whim or a guess? It's amazing how many players do just that. Too many players act without thinking, and they don't think because they don't know what to think about. They don't know because they haven't taken the time to learn. They're too busy playing, and they wonder why their opponents are so lucky.

"Your opponents are not lucky." If they beat you consistently, it's because their skill level is higher than yours. If you waste your time and mental energy moaning about "luck" instead of improving your skills, you will continue to lose. After all, you have the same opportunities of improving your skills as everyone else, including the "name" players. They didn't get to be "names" by tossing coins into a wishing well and asking for good luck.

A large portion of winning poker is attributed to luck by more than just beginning players. It's semilogical for them to do so. But, if they don't develop their poker thinking beyond the "hope-for-luck" stage, they are doomed to march among the 90 percent of poker players who contribute a living to the remaining 10 percent.

Take the word "luck" out of your poker vocabulary.

"Understand position at the poker table." That doesn't mean to just be able to define position, but to know position. Many players can explain clearly what position is, but have no concept of how to use the information, such as I teach in my poker lessons. Inexperienced players not only do not understand, they don't even realize there is such a concept to be understood. Thus, they fail to adjust their actions to their relative position during the course of play.

If your daily opponents know as much as you do about the game, but know nothing about position, I would be willing to bet that you show a profit at the end of every month. Position is important in many areas of life, and it is crucial in poker. If you don't know it, learn it!

"Endeavor to win the first hand that you take to the end." Of course, you'd like to win every hand that you take to the end. I don't know of any way to guarantee it, but it helps to start strong. Don't dive into your first stud pot with a small pair and a small kicker. Be patient. Starting with a win does wonders for your play on any given day.

Often, when players must travel a long distance to get to the game, or have to wait for more than a few minutes to get a seat, they are eager for action! In fact, they're often overeager – chomping at the bit! This often results in playing the first hand that offers the slightest bit of hope. And you'll recall from our talk a while back that we are taking "hope" out of our game.

"You don't need a big hand, just the best hand." Playing decisions should not be made based on the rank of your hand ("I couldn't fold, I had a straight."), but on the relative strength of your hand in a given situation. Many players play live-action poker the same way that they play video poker, forgetting that they have opponents. In video poker, a good hand is automatically paid off. In a live-action poker game, it might end up with the same value as swirling leaves in the autumn wind.

Don't look for good hands – look for good situations.

It's a good thing you're walking home after all that champagne. Take some strawberries to munch. And kill the light on your way out.

Editor's note: Roy West, author of the bestseller 7 Card Stud, the Complete Course in Winning (available from Card Player), continues to give his successful poker lessons in Las Vegas to both tourists and locals. Ladies are welcome. Get his toll-free 800 number from his ad on Page 104.