Getting Better. Even if it means reading a book.
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Winning Poker Formula:Play Against the Weak. Losing Poker Formula:Play Against the Strong
Feb 5th
I’ll just come out and say it: I play poker to win money.
Just like any other poker player, I will take money from my friends, my enemies, my neighbor, the fathers of my son’s pre-school friends and even my wife. Hell, if my grandmother would sit down with me I would try my darnedest to take her money as well.
In order to win more money at poker, I have done what any true poker player does: study.
I study a lot.
I buy the books: Sit ‘n Go Strategy, Harrington on Hold ‘em, Online Ace, etc. I underline important parts, take notes and implement the techniques.
I take internet courses: Deepstacks University, the online interactive course endorsed by Mike “The Mouth” Matusow. (great site by the way!)
I have discussions with fellow poker players about strategy, odds, etc.
You’d think with all this diligent work my results would be better. Online I am a break even player. Home games:winner. Casino games: loser. To be honest, I am an overall loser in poker. Not huge numbers, but enough to irk me. Make me want to crack the nut.
After all this studying, practicing and playing, I have come to realize there is only one REAL winning formula for poker: Play against players that are worse than you are. Sounds simple, but it’s true. This is a predatory sport and the strong feast on the weak.
You want to beat the game, look for the table full of losers.
Top 10 Traits of a Losing Poker Player:
10. He has a short stack. A good player knows that to win, his stack has to be replenished. Otherwise he’s not playing poker. It’s called playing bingo.
9. A big talker, giving lessons = BIG LOSER.
8. Looks like he’s been up all night. Probably trying to get even. Winners go home when they are losing and cut their losses.
7. Complains about back beats.
6. Goes to the ATM. Definitely means he is going beyond his intended budget and probably not using good bankroll management.
5. Plays almost every hand: loser
4. Tries to verbally intimidate the other players. LOSER!
3. Talks about how much he won last night. LOOOOOOO-SER!
2. Throws his cards at the dealer.
1. Makes quick over-sized bets.
I am probably not telling you anything new. But how many of us truly abide by these rules. It ain’t rocket science, but it works. In fact, it works way better than reading, studying or talking about poker. To paraphrase Texas Dolly: Poker is a game of people played with cards.
I play poker to win money from the weak.
Why do you play? Let me know at stories@whydoiplaypoker.net
Like Dexter, I also have a “Dark Passenger.”
Jan 25th
“I’m all in!”
“I call!”
He shows me his straight. I muck my 2 pair in disgust. It’s not that I got outplayed. That doesn’t piss me off too much. What DOES piss me off is when I make a solid game plan on the way to the casino, but when I get there, my dark passenger takes over and the game plan goes out the door. It’s like I am two people. On the one hand, I am a responsible father and husband. Patient, creative and frugal. On the other hand, I am an aggressive poker player — impatient, impulsive and sometimes reckless.
Okay, maybe my comparison to Dexter is an exaggeration. After all, its been years since I hacked up some evil dude and threw his body parts in the ocean.
I have the same conversation every time I go to the casino. “Today I am going to play tight. No fishing. Only play position. Fold draws when I don’t have the odds. Go home when I lose my edge. Don’t go on tilt when I get a bad beat. And most importantly, FOLD WHEN I KNOW I AM BEAT!” I look in the mirror. Remind myself that I am in control.
Then I get to the casino, fast walk to the felt and plop down my chips and eagerly await my first Christmas present. 2 minutes later, all my chips are in the middle. 3 way action and I am on the nut flush draw on the flop. I almost have odds and convince myself this is a good spot to get it all in. 30 seconds later.….I am on tilt, calling for chips and ready to gamble. Just like that, enter my dark passenger. It doesn’t take long until, I have lost my second buy-in. At this point, I look at my phone and realize I have been here for only 75 minutes. Luckily the wallpaper on my iPhone is a picture of my son. Instantly I snap back. My horns retract, my fangs retreat, my tail disappears and I am myself again. I breath deeply and remind myself that I am not defined by my last hand of poker.
I am always surprised when my dark side comes out, but I have come to be grateful for him as well. I use him as a measure for my personal growth. The day I can take a beating and shake it off will be the day I have made it to the next level of consciousness. It may sound a bit metaphysical, but that’s one of the reasons I play poker.
Why do you play? Let me know at stories@whydoiplaypoker.net
Poker is a dream maker
Jan 20th
At some point in your life, you have to let go of some of your childhood dreams. Still 5 foot 3? You can put your NBA dreams to rest. Still playing pony league in your 20s? Probably won’t go to the MLB. Fail your medical boards for the 5th time? Surgery career out the door. Don’t get me wrong. I am fan of “anything is possible”. I’m a poker player, right? But let’s get real, sometimes you can tell things will never happen.
For me, I had a pretty good run as an independent musical artist. I played for some pretty large crowds, basked in the glory of the standing ovation and heard my music on TV, film and radio. However, when I turned 30, I could see the writing on the wall. I was never going to be a rock star. 10 years later, the only thing I miss is having that dream of being a star. Enter poker.
Poker is the dream that never dies. It doesn’t even discriminate. There are sharks of all ages sizes and shapes. 90 year old rocks, wheel chair bound chip slingers, and even the occasional blind man with a seeing eye sweater. You try walking into the Super Bowl all suited up demanding your shot. It’s not going to happen. But if you have $10,000 or were lucky enough to suck out on me in one of the bajillion satellites I played to get into the WSOP, all the power to you. You’re in and get your chance to join the elite ranks of the poker greats. What’s even more enticing is that the vast majority of WSOP bracelets are won by unknown players. It’s like Rocky every summer in Vegas.
Most of us will never bat against C.C. Sabathia or catch a pass from Brette Favre. But for the rest of our lives, poker players will have a chance to feel like a pro. If you’re ballsy (and rich), I’m sure a variety of pros from Doyle to Durr would be happy to meet you at Bobby’s room. Probably at this very moment. Who knows, you might even beat them in a pot. If that’s bigger than your poker budget, you can go for the glory by chasing a bracelet. It’s a more affordable way to get the rush of playing with the pros. And if that isn’t enough, remember you always have a chance to be the “lucky bastard” to put Phil Hellmuth on tilt. Poker is truly a dream maker.
I play to keep the big dream alive.
Why do you play? Let me know at stories@whydoiplaypoker.net
For more about making it big in poker read the following article:
http://www.pokerdownloadlink.com/how-to-win-at-poker/
I just read a new poker book. I’m bracing myself for the inevitable losing streak.
Jan 11th
I know that’s it’s not supposed to work that way. I would prefer to be able to read a poker book, preferable just the back blurb, and go on some endless winning streak. All of the game’s mysteries unlocked in one key paragraph. For about an hour’s worth of leisurely reading I think its only fair that I become invincible. I would like to sit down at the poker table and announce, “I want you to know I’ve skimmed through some of the Harrington books, please give me the contents of your wallets.”
It definitely doesn’t work that way for me. Actually, it means the exact opposite. Finishing a poker book kicks off a three week losing streak.
Even with that knowledge, I still love a new poker book. Sure, most of them say pretty much the same stuff, but every once in a while someone really changes the way you look at the game. Or at least, one aspect of it. Like three-betting an under the gun raiser.
So what do I do? I work the price of the losing streak into the cost of the book. It’s an education I believe is worth paying for. The whole point is to get better, right? If I’m going to keep playing the same mediocre game I should just get out of my seat and stop playing now. You have to get better. And I do. Slowly.
I play poker to get better. To possibly someday rule the table regardless of stakes.
Why do you play? Let me know at stories@whydoiplaypoker.net
Win big tonight, Honey!
Jan 11th
Those words are the kiss of death to me. I don’t think I’ve ever heard them and actually won.
The part that sucks the most is my wife is so earnest when she says them. She’s actually rooting for me. She wants me to win. Yet, that’s all it takes for me to know I’m fucked before I even start. I should just take my money and go to a strip club.
“Uh, Honey, you know those those nice, encouraging words you gave me before I went out? Well, they fucked up my head. As soon as I heard them, I knew I would lose at poker so I went to Crazy Girls and spent $300 to have this Latina spinner dry hump my leg.”
That’s at least logical. It doesn’t say much for me as a husband, but it makes sense. However, I don’t do that. I go and play. When I walk in the the casino, the valet might as well yell “Dead man walkin’.” Now it’s just a matter of putting in the time and money to make this self-fulfilling prophecy come true.
I tell myself I’m not even superstitious. But obviously I am. Okay, I admit, I don’t like playing poker on Friday the 13th either. What’s that about? I’m a serious poker player. I don’t believe in luck. I roll my eyes when I even hear someone complain about it. But if I hear the three words “Win big tonight!” I mentally throw in the towel. Same thing when I see that dealer who killed me when I had quads.
Okay, so I’m superstitious. I can accept that. The thing that makes me crazy is that I don’t adjust my game. If I have someone really loose on my right I adjust. Someone really tight on my left, I change my attack. So from now on I’m going to adjust my game when I hear those words “Win big Honey!”. I’m not playing.
I’m probably not going to the strip club either, but I always wondered what a $300 ice cream sundae looks like.
I guess sometimes I play poker to know sometimes I shouldn’t.
Why do you play? Let me know at stories@whydoiplaypoker.net
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