Han Solo Poker

Remember that scene in Star Wars where Han and Chewie are chasing a bunch of stormtroopers down the halls of the deathstar? It takes the stormtroopers a few minutes before they realize "Hey, why are we running? We've got these guys out numbered!" and then they turn and chase Han and Chewie. Well something like that can happen at the poker table; you can rake in the pot if act boldly enough, but you have to take it down before the stormtroopers figure out what's going on. Sometimes weird things happen at the poker table and you can profit from the weirdness by acting boldly. In a confusing situation, the human instinct is to flee - so you can induce that flight instinct in your opponent by going on the offensive.

Case in point: I was playing a tournament in which I had made it to the final table with a sizable chip lead. I was playing very tight poker- and was well aware that I could now probably steal some pots based on my tight image. I was in the big blind, but I made the mistake of thinking I was under-the-gun and therefore first to act. I tried to fold my 7 4 off suit, but the dealer pushed my cards back to me, explaining that I'm in the big blind. Now technically speaking she made a mistake - even though I had folded out of turn, I had still folded and my hand should have been dead. But she gave me my cards back. No-one else at the table made any objection because they all thought it was funny that I made this mistake, and obviously I was going to fold if anyone raised my big blind. "That's a bit of a tell!" one joked and the others all laughed. And I laughed too - oopsie! Sure enough a guy in late position puts in a raise and it folds to me.

This is where I'm supposed to sheepishly fold, right? For some strange reason my instinct tells me it's time to do the unexpected. "You know, I think I might just play this. I call." This elicits more laughter. The flop comes with an ace and two rags - neither of which is a 7 or a 4. I check. My opponent bets half the pot and I don't even hesitate before pushing all-in. My thinking is that if he has an ace he'll call and i'll lose - but he probably doesn't have an ace. With less than top pair, he will almost certainly fold with his tournament life on the line. It is a confusing situation for him. If he really thinks it through, it will probably dawn on him that I'm probably bluffing but I'm counting on him folding before he reaches that point, that hey, why am I running? moment. Luckily for me the weirdness of the situation had him off-balance and he did what most poker players do when they are attacked - they fold.

Victories and disappointments

The extent to which you are in control of your life and the extent to which you the plaything of fate is something smarter people than me have pondered and written about. I will say this; it is human nature to believe that when you are successful it is do to your skill, and to believe when you are unsuccessful it is due to circumstances beyond your control.

We also tend to believe that victory and defeat have a lot to do with desire - we will win if we "want it bad enough." While I think this is true in a general sense, the "want it bad enough" myth doesn't always hold water. The Calgary Flames probably wanted to win that game last week more than the opposing team because they didn't want to be knocked out of the playoffs. They didn't like being told they sucked. But they lost anyway. In fact they may be losing so much because they are so desperate to win - they are second guessing themselves on the ice and "squeezing the stick too much."

Success, it seems to me, is most often the result of finding the sweet spot where determination dances with patience. Confidence in yourself as well as the wisdom to let the universe come to you.

***

Since my on-line melt down, I have limited my real-money poker to weekly live tournaments. The results have been pretty good: I have made the final table three times, going out on the bubble once and cashing twice - including a win. Still I have never wanted to win a tournament as badly as the one I entered last night - a charity event where half the proceeds went to a local animal rescue group. There were 91 entrants, with re-buys though the first four levels. The top nine got paid. I was knocked out in thirteenth position.

Maybe I could have done better if I hadn't wanted to win so badly. I squeezed the stick too hard.

The Fun Factor

A few weeks ago I wrote a post about the detrimental effect fear will have on your game. Yesterday, while playing in a live tournament, it suddenly struck me that having fun at the poker table actually helps you win.

My epiphany came as I sat with a hot Asian chick on my left who obviously was enjoying herself, kibbitzing and teasing, not taking the game like it was life and death. On my right sat Bad Luck Schleprock, a miserable grumbler who had his own personal rain-cloud hovering over him. There was another happy-go-lucky fellow at the table too, and this guy seemed to be unbeatable. He was playing every second or third pot and winning more than his fair share of them. Sure enough Schleprock's stack soon dwindled to nothing while Mr.Fun and Glamour Girl ran over the rest of us.

Does winning at poker make you happy? It seems like the answer should be an obvious yes, but I'm not so sure. What I am more confident in saying is that being happy makes you more likely to win at poker. Poker is, after all, a game. The playful mind sees possibilities where the grumpy mind sees foolishness. Furthermore a happy-go-lucky demeanour can put the grouches on tilt, the grouch is convinced Mr. Happy is not good but lucky, and they let this perception influence their decisions.

I once heard someone say you should play poker with a loose body and a tight mind. Maybe "happy" is too general a word for this "loose body" state I am referring to. It is a concept that I am still trying to understand. Any insights you would care to share would be appreciated.