Poker is a game and there is a reason why the words “play” and “player” are used to describe the act of poker and the person doing the acting. I’m the first to admit it doesn’t much feel like “playing” when it’s not my night. It’s pretty maddening when my opponents repeatedly draw out on me, but I can’t make my draws on them or coming up strong but second best over and over. Nevertheless, I can make some progress in taming the tilt beast if I can focus on making good decisions and strong plays at the table regardless of the short term outcome.
Last night I went out to a card room I don’t frequent a lot. I don’t go there because the action is spotty compared to my usual haunt. I’ve played there with the typical loose passive players but now and then I run into maniacs and more than once; a table stone solid pros. These situations aren’t always bad. Some of my best nights have been at the expense of maniacs. Solid players also aren’t always bad to play against because they often understand what I’m doing and we can enough to get out of each other’s way. This is what happened last night.
I often don’t like sitting to the right of solid players because they are more apt to raise than call. I like having the option to overlimp with loose passive players without having to worry about a raise behind. Also, if anyone is going to do any raising, I want it to be me without having to worry about a 3-bet. When I found a patient and perceptive player on my left I took the first chance I got to move to a seat on his left. It didn’t take long for a spot to come up to test me.
I was in the hijack seat (two off the button) and overlimped with five other players holding A5 of clubs. The flop cooperated coming 3c-10c-6h. It was checked to Mr. Patient and Perceptive who bet, I raised and everybody folded around back to him. So, why raise without a made hand? A great deal of post flop strategy in Fix Limit Hold’em revolves around what’s called a free card play. With the low cost of the small bet on the flop it is often correct with a good draw to play very aggressively. In position the action will often be checked to you on the turn and you can bet out if you make your draw, or check behind if you didn’t. You basically get to see the turn and river for the price of only one extra small bet. Out of position you can check-raise with similar results.
In my usual game I often will not use the free card play because of the players I’m up against. Neophyte players don’t understand the strength of their hands. The turn comes and their thinking goes, “I’ve still got a pair, I bet!” The free card play all revolves around your opponent’s check on the turn. The play becomes too costly if my opponent is smart and senses what I’m doing (or is too foolish to know better) and bets.
In my hand last night, I think Mr. P&P did pick up on what I was doing so he three bet. I figured I was still drawing quite live against his likely set or two pair so I capped. I missed on the turn but sure enough, Mr. P&P checked! I checked behind to the gasps of all at the table. I missed on the river again. This time Mr. P&P bet out and I mucked, again to a chorus of gasps.
So, why was I grinning despite having lost $20 and looking like an idiot in front of my opponents? Because I had the courage to make the correct decision despite adverse and scary circumstances. I put myself in a position to win although without that ultimate result. As long as I can keep doing this, positioning myself to win, I’m playing the game instead of being played. The long term results will inevitably come my way but in the mean time I can enjoy myself instead of feeling defeated.
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