In previous episodes, we met TC. TC is a table coach, who now has a somewhat grumpy coach of his own in the form of a genie called Dave whom TC found in a book. They are stuck with each other until TC reaches the final of a live tournament for real money.

TC was given a $5,000 bankroll to play World Series of Poker satellites by a mysterious young player named Brandon. However, Dave has told TC that Brandon and his friends want to kill genies to keep the games soft and keep making money. Indeed, Dave suspects that Brandon has motives other than just being nice.

Either Brandon or one of his friends saw TC make a rare play known as an "Action Bluff" while in Las Vegas and this has led them to the conclusion that "We are dealing with an Elder..."

Much to the Genie's amusement, TC was watching Japanese baseball on some obscure channel. For once, TC seemed to actually understand what was going on.

"If the Chiba Lotte Marines win this, they win their first Pacific League pennant since 1974," explained TC, as they watched Tomoya Satozaki hit a two-run double to put the Marines in front in the eighth.

"I knew they would win. I should of bet on it," he whined.

"You didn't really know though," sighed Dave. "Even if you had an expert understanding of the sport, you would only have at most a small edge. Also, 'of' is not a verb."

"Of course, I have an expert understanding, and surely if I have a small edge I should bet on it," noted TC.

"With our current $100 bankroll, you could maybe have safely bet up to $2, and that might be too much," explained Dave. "This may not have brought you the joy that you desired."

TC sighed. "I do understand these things, you know," he explained.

"You what?" exclaimed Dave. "Okay. Let's test your basic probability knowledge."

"Try me," challenged TC.

"Ok, you watch someone flip a coin ten times. It comes up heads every time. You win $100 if you guess the next flip correctly. What do you guess?" asked Dave.

"Tails," replied TC. "It makes no difference what I call, so I call tails to show you how clever I am."

"So, let's get this right," laughed the Genie. "You have just watched a coin land on heads ten times in a row, and you're now perfectly willing to bet on tails on the next spin. I rest my case."

TC looked baffled.

"Have you ever read Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead?" asked Dave.

"Rosenwho? and who?" asked TC.

"Guildenstern," replied Dave.

"Guildwhat?"

"enstern"

"'n' who?"

"It's a play," explained Dave, "about two characters whose fate is laid out by forces they don't understand."

"I don't understand."

"I know. Anyway, basically there were a lot of heads and no tails."

"Remarkable."

"It was."

"Does it apply here?"

"It may."

After watching the Marines clinch, TC decided to head to the bar and try to get a small game. His short bankroll was worrying him, and it was time to build it up.

"I'm going to stay here," said Dave.

"Okay," replied TC, before adding, "How does that work exactly?"

"How does what work?"

"Well, you're supposed to be linked to me or something, and yet you often go wandering off on your own, or don't come with me."

"Oh, that!" smiled Dave. "The older the Genie, the more he can get away with. There is no formula or anything. It just happens."

"So what happens if you don't see me for a day or two?" asked TC.

"I will," replied Dave. "There's no way around it. It just happens and, anyway, one thing is for sure, I'm stranded here unless you free me, so I won't be letting you get far away."

TC arrived at the bar to find that there was a party going on.

"I did it again," sighed Patch, when TC ordered a beer. "I said If the Cardinals win this game, I'll give everyone free drinks. You would think I would learn," he concluded, pointing to his eyepatch.

TC took a free drink and quickly worked out there would be no poker tonight as everyone enjoyed their freebies. He had just decided to finish his drink and leave when Brandon entered the bar. TC felt strangely nervous as Brandon approached and began to speak to him.

"The word on the street is that you're nearly bust again," said Brandon. "We can discuss another deal, but not in here. You'll have to come to my house."

TC knew this was probably a bad move, but he couldn't resist, and so he went with Brandon. The inside of Brandon's huge house was like entering the headquarters at NASA. There were giant screens everywhere, computer terminals, and several people running around, clearly working frantically on something or other.

"This is where I live and work," explained Brandon. "We gamble on everything and anything here, and it makes us a lot of money. Of course, you could be a part of this, but we need you to turn in your special friend."

"What special friend?" asked TC.

"This is how it's going to work," explained Brandon "You're not going to admit to knowing a Genie, but you know we know about it. I won't ask you any more about it, and you won't deny it any more. Just listen to what I have to say."

"The Genies are mischievous entities. They are blessed with being able to see a short distance into the future, but cursed with having to help people with things. Of course, they can often pass off bad things as help. For instance, the attack on Pearl Harbor was advised by a Genie."

"What does that have to do with anything? Surely it was a disaster for the Japanese." snorted TC.

"Are you sure?" asked Brandon.

"Yes," replied TC.

Brandon moved to a switch and flicked on one of the enormous screens on the wall. To TC's surprise the Marines-Lions baseball game was being replayed.

"They don't look too bad, do they?" asked Brandon.

"This is ridiculous!" shouted TC. "To link Pearl Harbor to baseball is stupid."

"I just ask you to think about it, that's all. If Genies were kind at heart, would they cause so much trouble? Also, have you noticed how 'the rules' keep changing to suit the Genie's own motives?"

TC thought for a moment, but said nothing.

Brandon continued, "Now would you like to bet on this game? You can have an even money bet on either side. One team is called the Lions, and the other, the Marines. It's a replay from a big Japanese game that I haven't gotten around to watching yet."

TC could hardly believe his luck, but he wasn't going to mess this one up. He remembered the Genie's sage counsel.

"I'll have $2 on the Marines please," he smiled.

While they watched the Marines winning (again), Brandon finally got to the point. "I need you to keep the Genie hanging around. You understand that getting rid of the Genies is not easy, and it is very important to everyone on the planet. They are evil. I'm even willing to give you whatever money you need until we're finished with him, and you won't owe me anything. Of course, it will need to be a fair estimate. I have no idea what your target is, and if we find out you're lying, the consequences will not be pretty."

TC gulped as he watched Tomoya Satozaki's eighth inning double for the second time.

"Depends," said TC.

"You don't need those. If you're honest, there is no need to be worried," replied Brandon.

"No. IT depends. On how long," sighed TC. "I guess around $2,000 would do it for now," he estimated.

"Okay," replied Brandon. "Now go and meet Bad Jon in the office at the top there." (He pointed to the office in question.) "He'll give you your money. Oh, and I recommend you don't make any BJ jokes."

TC went to the office where he was greeted by an enormous man sporting an almost equally enormous black beard. He looked like something from a pirate film.

"You must be Blackbeard, I mean Bad Jon, I mean, I'm sorry, I er..."

"HOW MUCH?" growled Jon.

"$2,000," replied a rather timid TC.

Jon paid him the money, and TC returned back to Brandon. Brandon then paid him his $2 winnings from the baseball. "Is there anything else I can help with?" asked Brandon.

"Well. In a Sit 'n' Go, how should I play pocket jacks under the gun?" asked TC.

Brandon grinned. "Whatever you do should be a part of your entire strategy," he replied enigmatically.

"Do you know what solipsism is?" asked TC.

"Never heard of it," replied Brandon.

TC nodded and left. He felt like he had sold out, although he couldn't have done much differently. When he got back to his house, he decided it would be best to tell Dave everything.

Dave was nearly sick when he heard about the $2 bet on something that had already finished, but his main concern was with Bad Jon.

"What's the problem? Other than him having a terribly cliched name and description, of course," asked TC.

"He doesn't seem like he's required in the entire set-up," replied Dave. "I must be missing something very obvious."

TC agreed.

"Anyway, thanks for telling me. You did the right thing. They obviously know I'm here, and we need the $2,000."

"$2,002," corrected TC with a grin.

"What did his answer to the question about jacks mean?" asked TC.

"Well, that's the least mysterious thing of all," replied the Genie. "If you read around, you'll find that people are often divided about how to play this hand. What they don't consider as often is their plan. The people who say they should raise preflop are generally aggressive as an overall strategy. so they can get action on their bigger hands. Those who like to limp are doing so because they will also limp with several lesser hands. Limping with hands as strong as a pair of jacks allows them to get away with limping with other hands too. You can also factor in the post-flop strategy too..."

"Ok, that's enough for one day," interrupted TC.

TC's sleep was troubled. He didn't really believe either Dave or Brandon's stories and no longer knew who the good guys were. The only thing he was absolutely certain of was that Bad Jon was indeed nothing like a good person.

To be continued...