The last time we had our monthly Texas hold’em evening (a variation on the card game of poker), I didn’t win a single game. The three hour competition was even extended an extra couple of hands so I might take away something even as inconsequential as one winning hand. That didn’t work either.
Before I left home, Sheila must have given me the Eskimo kiss of death when she said, “Good luck, bring home enough money to go for lunch.” That’s what sparked it. Each and every time I had a decent hand such as three of a kind, someone would have a full-house – and it was usually that same guy across the table. I tried by best to be as ‘poker-faced’ as possible and not show any signs of facial emotions. But they still read me. Some players are clever and nasty enough to notice and use it to their advantage.
While in general, the game of poker is a serious one that does call for a poker-face, it is actually quite fun. And often players end up behaving in the most hilarious and funniest ways. Somebody always has a tall tale about an escapade but always when he was much younger or a vacation that went south, not necessarily to Florida – making it truly entertaining. One guy showed up a few months ago with a frog or lizard inside his shirt that he talked over with on whether to bet or fold! It looked really legit to me. Turns out he nearly lost the shirt the toad was hiding under.
I was on a real downer afterwards so I read all I could about poker to be better prepared for the next get-together. I realized that this fickle game of poker can turn 180 degrees on a dime. I figured if I could turn a modest 90 degrees I would leave on a positive note.
To put things in perspective, winning or losing doesn’t involve big money for us, rather more like pocket change. It’s for the bragging rights that count.
It feels so good to win a hand and on those rare occasions when things are all going your way a feeling of euphoria sweeps over you. During this streak of winning most hands, you feel unstoppable. No thoughts about folding early at all – sticking in there for the flop and for last card to be dealt is a given. But this game is fickle and that run could suddenly change into desperation where you begin to question every decision you make!
A few months ago things got out of control and I was in the middle of it. The pot was a big one. I had a good hand with only one player to beat. I did and excitedly stood up and began sweeping that pile of chips to my spot. Suddenly, a thunderous voice shouted, “Sit down!” The player to my immediate right was slow off the mark and he claimed his hand beat mine. It did, so I reluctantly had to shovel all those chips over to him. Regardless of being a good friend he was angry. Worse still he had given me a lift there and I was afraid he wouldn’t take me back!
With poker’s intricate combination of skill and luck, many players blame their misfortunes on the cards. In the short term and in specific hands, this may be true. However, how do you really know that it isn’t something more? How do you ride out these bad runs? Here are some suggestions, many of which come from amazing players who have ridden the ups and downs of the poker roller coaster and survived to tell their tales.
Bill Elder, a former Player of the Year believes poker players are notoriously bad at self-analysis. “Most players fail to be objective and determine whether they were really unlucky or they were playing badly. Most of the time, it is the latter.”
It is advised that even amateurs like we are must remain confident and stay focused: If the other players see that confidence they will fear and respect you. Somehow that didn’t do anything for my knack with the cards! “Focus on avoiding bad situations that could lead to even bigger mistakes – fold early if hesitant.”
Don’t blame the cards, that’s lame! Sometimes you have to miss a night if in a slump. I have been considering that for this coming month. In other words, you should want to play, not feel like you have to play.
Poker can be a truly entertaining past-time. Hearing the snapping of a deck of cards being shuffled, the tinkling and clinking of poker chips tossed onto the table and the anticipation and nervousness that goes with it, gives the poker experience a lasting imprint. ‘Holy crap, here we go again’!
