This past weekend I played in a fundraiser poker tournament.
The twist was that there were quite a few people from the professional circuit
in attendance as well, for a grand total of 5 tables of 8, or 40 total. The
buy-in was a set amount, which got you about $5,000 in chips to start, and you
had the option of buying an extra $2,500 for about 1/3rd of the buy
in price—a good deal, but one I refused. So I was already starting at a
deficit.
The game was Texas Hold ‘Em. For the uninitiated, you are
dealt two cards face down. Then a round of betting ensues. Anyone remaining
gets to see three more cards (“The Flop”), more betting, another card (“The
Turn”), more betting, the last card (“The River”) and, if there are two or more
players remaining at that point, a last round of betting. Players play the best
five cards available—a combination of one or both of their two cards and the
five in the middle.
The thing about poker you don’t see in movies and on TV is
the enormous amount of folding of hands that goes on. Most hands never make it
past The Flop. The best players pick their moments and their fortunes largely
result from a few well-placed bets or even going “all-in” at certain points.
Rarely are you in every other hand.
The other thing that gets a lot of attention is “The Tell”.
Everyone supposedly has one. But in all my years of playing, I can honestly say
that it’s not so much a specific action, like a smirk or a wink, as a general
feeling that develops as you play. Every hand is a chance to learn something
about your fellow players. Does the guy to your right always folds if
challenged? Does the girl to your left bet too aggressively when nothing good
is showing?
For example, if The Flop comes up A-K-J and everyone checks
around or bets lightly, you would expect that things wouldn’t change much when
a 2 comes up on The Turn. But if someone suddenly bets aggressively, you have
to wonder if they are 1.) trying to steal the pot, 2.) were trying to pretend
they didn’t have anything at first in order to lure in more money or 3.) want
to make sure that no one is able to catch their Straight on the River.
Basically, these things add up to give you an almost
subconscious read of the table, which of course “Tells” you quite a bit of
information.
Unfortunately, even the best played hand are subject to the
whims of Lady Luck and my A-10 suited was beaten when the old codger across
from me caught a matching 7 to his A-7.
These are the subtleties that make poker interesting. And if
there wasn’t so much smoking at those games, to the point where my eyes were
burning, I would probably be more inclined to try my luck in the future.
