Idiots, Manics, and the Fear of Losing

Hi. Come on in. I've made us some delights for the taste buds – chili-cheese-bacon burgers, half cholesterol and half salt. So, for healthy eating, I've added mushrooms. Dig in.

I've been getting lots of phone calls about "how dumb those jerks play." The callers' collective frustration, exasperation, and plain old annoyance can be summed up with this quote from Mark Twain: "It is strange the way the ignorant and inexperienced so often and so undeservedly succeed, when the informed and experienced fail."

Or as a poker room friend put it, "Why do these unconscious, unknowing idiots get good cards and win big while I, the best player at the table, continue to crash and burn at the hands of these maniacs?"

There doesn't seem to be any way of avoiding these types of players these days, during the big poker explosion. And maybe you shouldn't avoid them. Update your game and profit from them. The regular players who are getting burned the worst are those who have not adjusted their play to the current situation. Maybe I can help a little.

What's the difference between idiots and maniacs? As I see it, an idiot just doesn't know any better. He thinks it's a game of luck, and he has money budgeted to lose. So, he's just gambling and having fun. If he loses, he probably won't like it, but in the end, it's just the cost of an evening's entertainment.

The maniac, however, may very well know what he's doing or what he's supposed to be doing while playing poker. He might know how to play the game – and may have read and studied – but he just has too much gamble to him. He's having fun and showing off. He delights in making those "dumb outdrawing plays" and beating the "better" players. Many maniacs are addicted to the action and the thrill of the gamble.

So, what do we do about beating these types of players? We talked earlier in two issues of Card Player about playing against maniacs, but what about idiots? I suggest that you play them each about the same, except beware that the maniac might decide at any minute to play like he is supposed to play. The idiot will play like he is supposed to play only by accident.

What about novices? They're totally unpredictable, and have no clue. But, be careful the next few times you play against them. Many of my students start as novices and are still in a state of flux. They'll play better each time you see them.

Change of subject: Many of those types of players we just spoke about have no fear of losing. It's all about a lot of fun. But there are people who play with the fear of losing. They are the people who have something to lose, but can't afford to lose it. They aren't budgeted for that. So, they play with scared money. Actually, they shouldn't be playing at all until they can scrape together a bankroll that's just for playing poker.

What's the problem with playing with scared money? If you are playing with the fear of losing, you won't be playing aggressively. And aggressive poker is winning poker. Passive equals losing.

The fear of losing can cripple your play. It can cause you to begin playing defensively. You don't raise when you normally would, and sometimes you don't even call, for fear of losing that one bet, and end up losing a pot that you would have won.

A person who is afraid of losing will never score big wins.

"There is perhaps nothing so bad and so dangerous in life as fear," said Jawaharial Nehru. (Slip the word "poker" in there somewhere.)

The taste of those burgers will be with you all day. That's why I didn't include onions. Now, I require repose. Take those last two and kill the light on your way out.

Editor's note: Roy West, author of the bestseller 7 Card Stud, the Complete Course in Winning (available from Card Player), continues to give his successful poker lessons in Las Vegas to both tourists and locals. Ladies are welcome. Call 1-800-548-6177 Ext. 03.