Poker News

John Vorhaus

Last time I listed some ways I’m dumb at poker, and asked you to do the same. Well, did you? If not, it may not be because you’re lazy. It may be rather that you’re afraid: afraid to confront yourself openly and honestly. But it doesn’t hurt. Truly it doesn’t. Let me show you what I mean as I finish listing the principal ways I’m dumb at poker.

5. I FEAR MONEY. No matter how many times I tell myself that it’s only chips and that outcomes don’t matter, I still can’t let go of the fear of losing all that… value. When I’m within my comfort range, I’m fine, but when I put… gee… a mortgage payment on the table, I start to go a little frayed around the confidence.

4. I STAY IN BAD GAMES. Either through inertia, pride or denial I often convince myself that a game isn’t really as bad as it really is. Despite the evidence of my eyes, I can persuade myself that my opponents are not as frisky, tricky, deceptive or clever as they clearly are. Leaving a bad game is a sign of intelligence, not cowardice.

3. I DON’T COMPLETE MY DRIVES. How often do you see good players raise pre-flop, bet the flop, bet the turn, bet the river and eventually drop all foes? We know that they don’t always have the hands they represent. What they do have is the essential ability to carry through on a drive, even a bluff-drive. I, on the other hand, will frequently break off it off, checking the turn and the river if I haven’t dropped the field by then. Maybe I’m convinced that I won’t get all my opponents to fold, but maybe I am not right.

2. I CALL EVEN THOUGH I’M BEATEN. Frequently I know — just know — that an opponent has completed his hand. Nevertheless I’ll call. Whether I tell myself I’m calling “for the size of the pot,” or calling “just to keep them honest,” I’m really only calling because I can’t stand to admit the truth: I’m beaten and I know it, and I should fold. And the number one thing I do wrong…

1. I LOOSEN UP. I loosen up when I’m winning. I loosen up when I’m losing. I loosen up when I’m tired or agitated or bored. I loosen up… just over time. I start out playing squeaky tight, but soon find myself opening the valve. Next thing I know, the spigot is wide open, and I’m playing every crazy hand I can get my hands on. I think I’m being frisky, but really I’m “unscrewed”, and completely out of line.

Look, no one plays perfect poker. It’s a dream we can chase, but not a goal we can ever achieve. In the face of this reality, I find that it helps to be patient and impatient at the same time. Be patient enough to forgive your mistakes, and impatient enough to demand better next time.

To this generosity of spirit, just add clear-eyed self-awareness. Make frequent, frank inventories of your strengths and weaknesses, and use those discoveries to hone your game. At theend of the day, honesty may be the best weapon we have.

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