More Poker Wisdom

Here are more poker tips that I frequently find myself thinking about.

From Bobby Baldwin: Be Polite.

You want the other players to be enjoying themselves. If you are winning, make sure that you praise the play of your opponents and comment on how lucky you have been. They will naturally want to see themselves as skilled and you as "just lucky", so you don't have to do much to encourage this. The most important thing is that they like playing with you and invite you back. When you see a guy try an obvious bluff, pretend to really deliberate before calling. Praise his courage for trying so gutsy a move as you rake his chips in, shaking your head at yourself while questioning your own recklessness.

From my father: Don't quit while your ahead, or as dad put it, "Cut your losses short and let your profits run." This idea runs counter to many people's instincts. It is natural for one to wish to leave the table when one has a small profit, thus avoiding a turn of fortune that could quickly put one in the negative. But it is often the case that the reason you have a small profit is because you are better that your opponents, and if you are playing against people who are worse than you, then you should continue to play as long as possible. The inverse is also true - if you are losing at a table, it may be that you are not good enough to be there. Don't lose more money trying to get back to even - cut your losses.

From Mike the Poker Pro: Be Patient. In Mike's own words: "I see guys on their last day in Vegas make all kinds of reckless moves. I don't need to play that way. I live in Vegas. I don't have a plane to catch." In other words don't try to win every hand. Sit back, wait for the good cards, and let the other guy take the risks.

From Judi James: Differentiate "leakage" from "performance". Your opponents will be sending you lots of signals to help you interpret their relative strength or weakness. Some signals they are unaware they are sending. You should consider such signals as "leakage", true indications as to how your opponent feels about his or her hand. Other times your opponent will send false signals in an attempt to look weak when strong, or strong when weak. These signals you should consider "performance". Most people have standard moves they repeat when they perform, which you can detect if you pay close attention.

From Doyle Brunson: Pay close attention. Even in hands you are not involved in. If you only watch the other players when you are in a hand, then you are getting far less information on your opponents than you could be.

From I don't know who: Don't go broke with a pair. This is just one of those cardinal rules, which you should remember every time you flop top pair and someone else goes all in. Stop. Think. What is that guy going all-in with? Chances are it's better than a pair.

From Phil Gordon: Drink lots of water.