I'd Rather be Playing Poker
The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat
by Gideon Chung
“Leave your emotions at the door.” This is a quote from the recently re-made movie, “Ocean’s Eleven.” This was the Number 1 rule that Brad Pitt’s character taught to Hollywood actors learning poker. This rule can and should be applied to real life poker. Your emotions will affect your actions at the table, whether you win or lose. Dealing with your emotions and suppressing them will greatly improve your game.
Here’s an example of a hand I won, based on a successful play. I was playing in a loose (many people entering the flop) low-limit Texas Hold’em game, positioned in the small blind with 8-10 suited. Six players called the bet before me and I threw in two extra chips to complete the blind. There was no raise before me and I’d be getting 7-1 odds to my call on the flop. The big blind (who has the last action before the flop) raised and everybody called the raise after her. So I called one more bet because I would now be getting 14-1 odds to a call on the flop.
The flop showed 8-5-7, rainbow (no two suited cards). I had the top pair with a weak kicker ten. I checked and the big blind bet out. Five others called the bet, so I called (again getting good pot odds, even though I might already be beat). A deuce came on the turn. I checked and the big blind then checked. The first player after the big blind, also known as under-the-gun (UTG), bet. Three players called after him and the action was on me. I called for "time" and thought about it for a minute. I glanced curiously over to the big blind, who was grabbing a stack of chips to check-raise. I decided that my goal at this point was to get her out. I had read the big blind to be holding a big overpair (a pair higher than any cards on the flop) and read the UTG better and the other callers to be holding a straight draw (four cards to a straight) with a 6-something. At best, the UTG better had 6-8 for an open end straight draw with a top pair on the board. But I had a better kicker with a 10. I thought that I might already be beat with a holding like A-8, but I decided to check raise to see what happened.
As I hoped, the big blind thought for a while and laid down her hand (later she said she had pocket queens). She is a very smart but tight player, capable of making lay downs in similar situations. The UTG better called and two more players called after him. The cut-off seat (player before the button) thought about it and laid down his hand as well (later he said he had 9-9). The river brought another deuce. Now the board read 8-5-7-2-2 (no flush possible). I bet out and got called by the remaining three players. I turned over my top pair and it was good enough to win the pot, taking down an approximate $200 pot on a semi-bluff check raise. I didn’t get to see the other players’ cards because everyone mucked their hands. Two players said they had a 6 for the open-end straight draw. I was definitely pleased that I got the two pocket pairs to lay down their hands. They said they believed I was holding two pair or that I was slow-playing a made straight. This is exactly what I was hoping they would think.
As I was scooping up all the chips, I felt a surge of confidence and elation. I thought that my check-raise on the turn won me the pot and was proud of the way I played that hand. A win like this can give anyone a false sense of confidence and conceit. I felt invincible and this in turn affected my results for the rest of the session, where I managed to hastily lose most of my winnings for that session because I let my emotions play for me, instead of my head. It’s important to stay focused and think that each hand is independent of each other and not reflective of how you performed in previous hands.
On the flipside, a bad beat or a losing session can also affect your play. Here’s an example of bad beat, which is very common in the lower-limit games. This time, I was the UTG player. I was dealt K-J off-suit, a mediocre hand in this early position, but I decided to limp in (call without raising) because the players were very passive at this table (not much raising before the flop). Four other players and the small blind called, and the big blind checked to see a flop. The flop came J-J-7, with two diamonds. I was holding the third Jack with the King of diamonds, a very good flop for me. I decided to slow-play my monster hand to try and maximize my winnings. The small blind bet first and I called after the big blind. Two other players called the bet and five players waited for the turn card.
The turn card brought an Ace of diamonds. Now I was drawing for the nut flush and already had what I thought to be the best hand with three Jacks and a King kicker. The small blind bet out again and the big blind called. I immediately raised and one other player and the small blind called. The river card brought a deuce of diamonds. Now the board read J-J-7-A-2 with four diamonds. I was now holding the nut flush (best possible). My three jacks were now irrelevant, except that they reduced the chances that someone else was holding the last Jack left in the deck. This was all in my favor. I put the small blind on a flush draw at best and thought that if she made her flush, I had her beat with a higher one. The small blind bet out and the big blind folded. I raised and the other players in the middle folded. Surprisingly to me, the small blind check-raised me. This grumpy old lady was known to play some weak hands, but she was hard to read. I thought to myself, “Did she slow-play her Jack-Ace or Jack-Deuce?” I reluctantly called her raise and she flipped over pocket deuces. My mouth dropped to the floor as I nearly fell out of my seat. All I could say and repeat over and over was “Wow, wow, wow.” She had made her full house on the last card.
Needless to say, I went on tilt (playing recklessly) after this hand. It became personal and I tried my best to return the favor every time she was in a pot with me, but to no avail. I ended up being a $300 loser for the session just because I was pissed at the player and the way I lost the hand. This is a perfect example of what not to do. I let my emotions take over, rather than just letting it go. The best way to handle a bad beat like that is to put it behind you, take a deep breath, and play the next hand as if the bad beat had never happened. Winning and losing is all a part of the game and being able to suppress your emotions is essential. The ability to control your emotions combined with other skills are the keys to success in poker. If you are able to apply these skills to your regular poker game, you will win consistently in the long run.
Good luck!
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