Today I made a conscious decision to quit gambling and start playing poker. Those of you who play poker regularly, or seriously, may know what I am talking about. There is a very big difference between playing poker and gambling. Of course, playing poker has an element of gambling to it - you are betting on who has the winning hand (or who can be most convincing that they have the winning hand).
To me, roulette is gambling. You pick a number or a color and spin a wheel. Not really much different then the lottery. Random luck of the spin. Poker, however, involves the element of deception, persuasion, and you can “win” without ever seeing the cards. Its a people-game. A game where the most cunning and creative win. Of course, that can fail, and that is where there is some times a gamble.
Scotty Nyugen said it best when asked how he has been so successful at gambling, and replied, “When you play poker like me, its not gambling.”
Now, I'm not saying that I am Scotty Nyugen level (yet), but I have decided to approach the game more seriously. Its sort of the equivalent to deciding to try out for the football team instead of just playing catch with your friends. I have decided to give up my old habits of gambling for the fun of seeing if I can hit an inside straight draw when I am in first position in a 9-handed game, and start folding K-4 suited in a 9-handed game.
After a dismal weekend, where I played the usual 9-person poker tournament with my friends, and placed 5th, followed by a poor showing in our follow-up open cash game, I decided to really look at how I play, and quit playing for the fun of the gamble, and start playing to win and improve my skills as a poker player.
With my new mind-set and focus, at the recommendation of some friends, I entered a sit-n-go tournament at FullTiltPoker.com for $20+$2 ($20 to the pot, $2 to the house). I played tight in the beginning, playing only the top 10-15 pocket hands. I let the others duke it out, and only played a little loose when I was in good position and at least half the table had folded. When we got down to 5-handed play, I was in my conservative 4th place position, and watching the 4-others work on each other. At 4-handed play I started to open up a little, without risking getting knocked out of the pay-out positions (top 3 pay out 50%-30%-20% of the $180 pot).
By the time we hit 3-handed play, I was in last place, with around $1,800 in chips, to the combined total of $11,700 chips in the other two player’s hands. At this point I am guaranteed to get paid $36 (a 64% profit). After giving up the blinds on some dismal cards, I find myself on the big blind and holding 7/2 off suit. For those of you who don't know, this is the worst starting hand there is. I couldn't help myself...after the dealer slowly called the $120 blind, and the little blind slowly called, I was faced with temptation. Of course, both of these players had been fairly aggressive throughout the game, so I was pretty sure they weren't holding much. I decided it was time to represent Aces. I bet the pot ($360), tripling the bet. The dealer, who was the chip leader called with $240, and the other player folded. The post was now $840 - about half my stack. The flop came down 4-7-A. I decided it was time to keep the bluff alive. I went all-in, and the chip leader folded to me, giving me a $480 boost in chips (around a 25% increase).
After this I started to get slightly better starting cards, and managed to double up once, putting me in a close race with the #2 player. Shortly after that I managed to bust the #2 player with an all-in bet on suited J-Q. He had a low pair, and my over cards paid off with a Q on the flop.
This put me in the #2 position, in a heads-up game. I was now guaranteed at least $54 (a 146% profit). We went back and forth for a bit, and I managed to pull in the lead with a couple of strong plays. In one hand, where I had pocket J's, I called the other player all-in on his big blind call. He had A-5 of hearts. The flop came down with an Ace and he took most of my money, leaving me with just over $1,200 to his $12,300. I had only 10% of what he had.
Again, with a couple strong plays I managed to double up a few times until we were nearly even. I really felt like I had a shot at the #1 position, which paid out $90 (over a 300% profit).
Finally, I was dealt big slick suited (A-K of the same suit), and went All-In. He called, and turned over pocket 8's. While I had one of the top-ten starting hands in Texas Hold'em (#4 to be exact), and he didn't, my fate was sealed. The flop came down a rainbow of low cards, followed by a turn of a J, and a river of a low card. In that hand, my opponent took me out and sent me home with my $54 (or 146% profit).
While I didn't win, I felt very good about 95% of my play, and regret only a couple of hands. I managed to switch my play up when it was critical, and in doing so walked away profitable. I feel good about this.
I will write more about my poker adventures as I have them.