Poker Rules to Live By
| Thursday, 18 March 2010 00:00 |
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When sitting down at a poker table, it’s important to be true to your style of play. Many players have certain rules that they live by, and I am no different. Of course every rule has an exception, but if you go into a tournament with your set of rules and their exceptions… then you are ahead of the game.
Rule #1 – Always wear pants at the table Although this can be a very effective strategy for distracting your opponents, this practice will most likely get you courteously escorted from the casino. You can’t win any money while standing on the sidewalk searching for cab fare in your Hanes cotton briefs. Rule #2 – Never sit down at a table with a player who has a nickname Unless that nickname is “The ATM”, “Fish” or “Rags” it is wise to steer clear of players who have earned a reputation for their game. I would shy away from people named “Action” Dan, “The Magician” or “Jesus.” If you hear a nickname like those, excuse yourself, stand up, and join another table. Trust me on this. Rule #3 – See a cheap flop with a small pocket pair Let’s say you are dealt a pair of fours. Depending on the size of your chip stack, you should generally want to see a cheap flop. Don’t call big raises with this hand. Try to just limp in or call. Then, if you hit a set on the flop you can set a trap by check-raising an opponent. If you don’t hit a set, you can fold your hand easily if your opponent bets you out of the pot. Rule #4 – Never imitate another player Playing poker takes skill and good judgment. Most poker players aren’t very good at it. Don’t imitate a bad player. It’s probably not wise to imitate players you see on TV, as well. If Phil Hellmuth throws a temper tantrum, would you? Be yourself, and use your own instinct. Chances are your instincts are no worse than anyone else’s, and if you’re going to imitate anyone… imitate Teddy KGB from the movie “Rounders.” Rule #5 – Always Remember that you might be on TV In this age of YouTube, any poker game you play in could end up on the internet. While it’s always embarrassing to lose your cool, it’s even more embarrassing when millions of people around the world can witness you losing your cool. In the 2009 World Series of Poker, Phil Ivey faced elimination when his ace was dominated by a better kicker. Instead of whining or adopting a “woe is me” attitude, Ivey calmly pulled an apple out of his duffel bag and ate it as his dreams of becoming the World Series Champion went rotten. Ivey knows about cool. Comments (0) Share this page! |
