Since I didn't get much response on yesterday's call for blog topics, today's topic is going to be on my latest, greatest personal interest...poker.Poker? Hell, I didn't even know her!
Sorry, just had to get that out. I never said I wasn't crude. Now back to the show.
(I'll be using some game specific terms so if you need a primer on the game, start here.)
Last night I was invited to play in a free, friendly game at a local restaurant/bar only a few minutes from my house. I got parole from the warden and sat down to play at around 7:30. Hal, from No Sleep in Helena, Alabama was there and I was glad to meet yet another person I have followed on-line for quite a while. Strange to think most of my social circle is made up entirely I have meet through this blog or other internet sites. Anyway, the game cranked up shortly thereafter and it only took a few hands for me to realize I was in for a very different experience.
I am used to playing very tight in the early rounds. The first game I was invited to a few months ago at my new friend Scott's house is very competitive and full of good players. Those guys won't call the blind or a pre-flop raise just to see the flop. It would be throwing money away. If they pay to see the flop they generally have good starting hands for their position. Last night's game, however, was completely different. People were paying to see the flop with garbage hands. 6-3 off suit in early position for example. Even my pre-flop raises were getting called with garbage. It completely threw off my game. I have been studying strategy for weeks now but just about everything I have learned was useless in this game. Because of the wild calls, the odds of losing on a suck-out jumped dramatically and it happened to me on more than one occasion including my last hand. It simply came down to the complete lack of stakes in the game. While yes there was some restaurant credit on the line, for the most part there was nothing to be won or lost so players played to play and not necessarily to win. That being said, the most loose player ended up the chip leader. Sometimes reality just doesn't agree with the odds.
I realized I had to start calling with more hands just because of what else was going on. I was playing tight and was on my way to the short stack due to a very fast game where the blinds got high quickly. I figured if I can't beat them I had to join them so I started playing weaker hands than I have been taught to play. I won a few hands and lost a few and ended up in 5th place on the table when I got K-6 off suit. I was in the blind and a few players called to me. I, of course, checked and saw the flop. The flop came 9-K-3 rainbow. A good flop for me. Knowing that the players had been playing VERY loose I decided to go all in with my kings. The table folded to the dealer who called. That left just two of us head to head. He showed Tens and I showed my kings. I was in great position to double up my $7500 stack. The turn came and it was a 7. Then came the river. Guess what folks...it was a ten! I don't know if that would be considered a true suck-out but I know it certainly did suck.
My night was over just like that. I left shaking my head. Nothing played the way I expected. I did learn that I need to adjust my strategy earlier if the play requires it. I hope to get another shot at the game next week as apparently this is a weekly game. Here's hoping the odds are with me next time.
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