Be Gritty, Not Nitty

I've lost track of how many hours of side action I've played at World Series time. It's one of the most profitable times of the year for me, because of a very particular type of player who comes to Vegas during the WSOP. These players have poker experience that's limited to small games with unaware, inexperienced opponents. They play against local folks who see poker as just another form of gambling. These WSOP visitors have designed a set pattern of how to play against their typical hometown competition, and it's effective against that competition. They build a small bankroll against their unaware opposition, and build their confidence in their poker game enough to bring that bankroll to the World Series of Poker. They arrive with dollar signs in their eyes, looking to play higher limits than they have ever played before – and they all go broke.

Against the experienced, aware players with good play knowledge whom they face at the higher limits, these visitors have little chance of booking a winner. Back home, playing a tight, somewhat timid style prevails against the gambling fools who are watching sports, drinking beer, and telling stories about work. Folding a lot gets the chips in lots of hometown games. Being a nit has real value and positive expectation. But when they bring that style to Vegas and play it against some of the toughest players in the world at all limits from $1-$2 up to games with a $1 million buy-in, well … being nitty doesn't cut it. Back home, looking for excuses to avoid putting money in the pot doesn't cost them too much, but against experienced, aware opponents, they give away far too many pots by giving free cards to their opponents by not bluffing appropriately. These visitors seldom get value from their good hands … even bad card readers don't call them. They get run over a lot, often get bluffed, and are way too predictable. Slightly above average players play circles around them, and they can't figure out why. And you should see what great players do to them!

Coming to Vegas at Series time thinking that tight is right is a frustrating, boring way to slowly drizzle off their bankroll. And while they're watching their stack shrink, the other players are wondering why they're so unsociable, and not good for the game. These visitors not only lose, they have to listen to a lot of grief about their play.

Tight is right! But that concept does not go far enough. You need to incorporate other factors into your game. You also need to be aggressive … get value out of your hands … outplay your opponents once in a while … not allow your opponents to read your hands effectively … and protect the hands you make. If you don't do those things, you can never get the best of experienced, attentive opponents. It's tight, aggressive play that gets the money.

Many players get into a tight, timid mode when running bad. Getting into that frame of mind can make a bad run fatal. You gotta have grit to stand up to the competition that flies in from all over the world with nothing more in mind than separating you from your bankroll. Otherwise, you'll follow the path of the many thousands before you who have gone into a downward spiral. Your mentality will change, you'll feel defeated, and you won't want to – can't afford to – tell your wife again that you lost some more money.

Most timid players are pessimists at heart. Many of them were not of that mentality before taking up poker, but developed that frame of mind through poker. Many are socially insecure and have poor people-reading skills, and therefore have poor card-reading skills. They're always unsure of where they are in a hand, and many are unsure of where they are in life!

Do you wanna bang elbows with the big boys? Give up the nit and get some grit! Light a fire within yourself. Go right at someone – aggressively. Kick some tail! Your opponents have been watching you fold for your whole poker career … try bluffing somebody. No one will think you are capable of it. If you are in doubt of whether you should bet for value or not, bet. Induce a bluff from your opponent and make the call. Try robbing some pro players blind (I have a job now). Don't give your opponents free cards – bet! If you think someone is bluffing, call him down; better yet, raise! Many of these plays may be wrong for the current situation, but overall they will be more correct than the style you are playing. At least they will change your image and give you a shot at winning something in a session. Most importantly, they will start you on the path of improving your game.

Meanwhile, if you don't find the grit and wanna remain a nit, do come over and play some sociable poker with me.

Editor's note: Roy Cooke played winning professional poker for 16 years. He is a successful real estate broker/salesperson in Las Vegas – please see his ad.