Poker News

Jan Fisher

As I conclude another weekend of teaching World Poker Tour Boot Camp, I was reminded of a comment made to me recently. A student in a recent seminar suggested that players such as Linda Johnson, who had given the seminar with me, and I shouldn’t play in ladiesonly poker tournaments. She said that we were too good and it wasn’t fair!

While flattered and embarrassed by this comment- and truly don’t agree with it-I have to take exception. The event that raised this comment was a $125 nolimit hold’em event, which I was fortunate enough to win. With 195 total entrants, those are some very long odds, even if I could have been considered to be one of the best players in the event.

Prior to the tournament, Linda and I gave a noholds barred seminar including some of our very best live and tournament poker tips. It was the complete package; we held nothing back. One of the things we discussed during the strategy session was how important it is to play with players of all skill levels, and if you see someone who you believe is better than you, to watch them, study them, learn from them, and emulate them.

The sour grapes comment didn’t occur when I paid to enter the event, but rather after I won it. Seems it would have been okay for me to play and lose, but not to play and win? If, in fact, we are too good, then by the same reasoning, male tournament players of note would not be allowed to play in poker events. Should Doyle and Chip be barred because they are too good? Of course not; that would be foolish.

Last year I played in a $5,000 buy-in no-limit event on the East Coast. On the second day of play I was moved to a table and seated to Phil Laak’s immediate left. Wow, was this the opportunity of a lifetime? “Hell yes,” I thought to myself! By carefully observing Phil play during the three hours we played at the same table, I learned more than I could have learned in a year of study and practice.

His play was masterful and at a level I hadn’t really encountered up until that point in my no-limit poker career. Having only played no-limit hold’em a short time prior to the event, I watched in awe as he owned the table. He had so many chips, he was the go-to guy when we needed to make change or color-up.

He was charismatic, charming, fun to play with, and he ran over us all! He stole pots from the entire table right and left and made everyone happy to-well, maybe not that happy-to give up the money! He definitely took his share of the pots along with a good portion of everyone else’s.

Did I think it was unfair that this highly celebrated poker pro was allowed to play in the event? Of course not. A poker tournament is a short-term poker situation and seldom is the best player going to win. I’d even venture to say that with fields as large as they are today, even one of the better players is not a favorite to win. Take the opportunity to learn from the better player so that soon you can be the one they fear. Don’t be timid or afraid to play against better players. That is the best way to improve your game.

Moving right along…

Filed under: Poker News