Table Lessons
Thursday, July 10, 2008
I will be honest; 12 months ago my poker experience totaled a few friendly cash games, the number I could keep track of easily using my fingers. 9 months ago I’d lost count of the games and my winnings, and 6 months ago I found myself thrust through the door and halfway down the main hall of the online poker house. The passive buzz of tournaments and unfamiliar game types echoes from the passing rooms. Razz, Stud, Omaha...my first thought: it seems like all card games have strange names. Poker is more than just a game for many players; some would say it is a way of life. After reading an article on how US Presidential candidate Barack Obama’s poker skills will help him in office, it lead me to thinking; are the skills we learn at the table, applicable and relevant to the lives we lead. How can our new found skill sets improve the quality of other areas of our life. What follows are a few brief thoughts on the matter.
I sit down at the table, weathering the probing glances and stares from the other players. Their eyes slowly seeking information to answer the question now flashing through their minds – am I any good. Poker is played in two simple ways; you either play the cards, or the player, or both. The attention to detail my opponents exude tells more about them than they are getting from me, I'm like stone, before the first cards are dealt I’ve already put the score at - Me 1 Them 0. Truth is everything we do and say, every action we undertake and display tells the world around us everything about us. Poker just fine tunes our perception to such tells. A nervous glance, a hand over the mouth, a hint of a smile, if you displayed such attention to detail to the women in your life, do you think your success rate with them would change? Leaves me wondering if Daniel Negreanu is a master of poker and women
Blinds are collected, cards are dealt, the betting begins; 4 folds, 1 call, then I call followed another fold and another call. Flip Flip Flip, the flop falls to mixed reactions. To play poker successfully, we tend to put up fronts, cool and calm images of ourselves while our head races nervously inside. Check. Mostly the confidence is fake, and when it is real, it’s still set behind the same disguising veil. I check as well. The lesson on offer - If you’re shitting your self, then the other guy probably is too. A bet, a fold, I raise. So bluff, confidence is just an act. Be it in Texas Holdem or life, if you go all in, balls to the wall, chances are the other person will fold. Well usually. He calls and the turn falls.
Free online poker is a perfect platform to practice and learn poker skills, but the problem with practice in the practice arenas is not the same as the real thing. We both check and see the river. It’s like becoming a martial arts expert without ever actually having a proper fight. Practice helps, but the stakes are not the same; it’s not the real experience. I check, he raises. So stop testing the waters forever, it’s already at perfect temperature. Start playing for real. Now. Put your money where your mouth is comes to mind, but seriously, tell me that doesn’t relate to your life…All in.
I sit down at the table, weathering the probing glances and stares from the other players. Their eyes slowly seeking information to answer the question now flashing through their minds – am I any good. Poker is played in two simple ways; you either play the cards, or the player, or both. The attention to detail my opponents exude tells more about them than they are getting from me, I'm like stone, before the first cards are dealt I’ve already put the score at - Me 1 Them 0. Truth is everything we do and say, every action we undertake and display tells the world around us everything about us. Poker just fine tunes our perception to such tells. A nervous glance, a hand over the mouth, a hint of a smile, if you displayed such attention to detail to the women in your life, do you think your success rate with them would change? Leaves me wondering if Daniel Negreanu is a master of poker and women
Blinds are collected, cards are dealt, the betting begins; 4 folds, 1 call, then I call followed another fold and another call. Flip Flip Flip, the flop falls to mixed reactions. To play poker successfully, we tend to put up fronts, cool and calm images of ourselves while our head races nervously inside. Check. Mostly the confidence is fake, and when it is real, it’s still set behind the same disguising veil. I check as well. The lesson on offer - If you’re shitting your self, then the other guy probably is too. A bet, a fold, I raise. So bluff, confidence is just an act. Be it in Texas Holdem or life, if you go all in, balls to the wall, chances are the other person will fold. Well usually. He calls and the turn falls.
Free online poker is a perfect platform to practice and learn poker skills, but the problem with practice in the practice arenas is not the same as the real thing. We both check and see the river. It’s like becoming a martial arts expert without ever actually having a proper fight. Practice helps, but the stakes are not the same; it’s not the real experience. I check, he raises. So stop testing the waters forever, it’s already at perfect temperature. Start playing for real. Now. Put your money where your mouth is comes to mind, but seriously, tell me that doesn’t relate to your life…All in.
posted by Jason @ [ c a r b o n p o k e r ] at
9:03 PM
2 Comments
2 Comments:
That is hilarious! And so true. I have so many times come across poker in everyday living. My knowledge of poker has saved my behind many times in life.
One example, and this for the men out there. Situation comes up between you and your wife. Doesn't matter what. You are put into the position of answering a loaded question. Women load there questions all the time. So how do I answer? your thinking to yourself. Do i tell her, "yes, that dress does make you look fat." Hmmm... Not a good choice, what else? I know... I can say "no honey, that's a dress makes you look so beautiful." Hmmm... nope she knows this answer is full of bull. Not that she's fat, but that she thinks so. Hmmm... What to do... what to say... Hmmm... Ahh poker. The third option, Hmmm... the bluff. Hmmm... I GOT IT! "Honey, I know you dont have the the right dress, why don't you go shopping and surprise me with the most beautiful dress you can find." The third option. This answer will save a mans marriage, and maybe even his life. The best part is, while she's out shopping forever for the "perfect" dress. You get to be alone to play poker without having to worry about the wife calling you to take out the trash while your on the final table. the1steve
Life/Poker
It's me again, the1steve. Here to relate to all of you the real poker that you all can see, but i'm going to put it too you in life terms.
All poker is fishing. Tables, tourns, limit, and no limit? All different fish. High stakes, low stakes, freeroll. Different fish. When I teach poker to a new player I explain these things to them. So, I will share this bit of wisdom with all of you.
If you are fishing for a trout, and your using catfish bait, and your hook looks like the anchor for a navy vessel. Then you are in for a disappointing time fishing.(poker)
At every level, every limit change. The players (fish) play differently. If you can't change your bait (strategy) then you will get swallowed by the bigger fish on that table.
To get to the level of a masterbaiter. You have to spend some time fishing in the same pond. (poker game/level) Figure out what bait works for that pond and your table will be full of fish chips.
While you see the players on TV playing high stakes poker. Realize that this is the pond (game and limit) they are comfortable with. These same players playing the same as they do at that table would get eaten alive at a limit style, freeroll, tournament play and many other tables.
A bit of advice from a poker coach. Find the pond you thrive in. Stay there. Only come out when you know you can always go back and make up for what you lose trying out another pond.
the1steve
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