Good News! Most Poker Players are Losers!

Hi. Come on in. I ordered one of those giant-size pizzas with extra cheese and three kinds of meats. I believe they call it "The Cholesterol Special." It should be delivered by a cardiologist.



Let's huddle here in the dark corner of your poker mind and talk some poker while we clog our arteries.



Have you ever given much thought to who's your competition at the poker table? The thoughts that I'm about to give you apply to any poker game, anywhere, public or private, but I'll speak specifically about my beloved Las Vegas.



Many of the best poker players in the world live and play here in Las Vegas – and many of the worst poker players in the world live and play here in Las Vegas. Also, the best players aren't always in the big games, and the worst aren't always in the small games. Most of your competition is somewhere in between.



Most poker players, hold'em or stud, have read some poker books but haven't really studied the game. They sometimes win and sometimes lose. Most – about 80 percent to 85 percent, I would say – are losers. But, they don't lose much in a year's time – perhaps a couple of grand (although they think they are "about breaking even or are a few bucks ahead"). This 80 percent to 85 percent of players who lose a little is enough for the other 15 percent to 20 percent to make a living from poker.



All games, big and small, have contributors. Otherwise, there would be no professionals. Yes, the big games have contributors just like the medium- and lower-limit games.



Why do people play and lose, even at the higher limits? Because, like the losers at the lower limits, they also believe that they are "about breaking even or are a few bucks ahead."



If you've been around the tables for a while, you realize that another factor is ego. They want to play with the big kids, the "name" players, not those unknown small fry at the low and medium limits. That's boring.



There's not as big a jolt to playing $1-$5 or $5-$10 as they find at the bigger limits in the back of the room, and the big kids back there encourage these losing players by working on their egos. "You were sure unlucky today. You'll get 'em tomorrow." "The way you play, you should be winning every day. Bad luck."



Sometimes when such a player does step down in limits, he doesn't win regularly there, either. He gets impatient and wants to show the small-time players a thing or two. Well, some of these "small-time" players already know a thing or two about winning poker; some of them are darn good. Thus, they take this player's chips for a while instead of the big guys taking them. After a while, our losing hero figures, "This is no fun, and I'm not winning here, either, so I'll step back up where at least I'm having fun and the other guys respect my play." Ego.



There are, in most areas of public poker, some excellent players whose names you have never heard – and they want to keep it that way. They don't enter tournaments, but they are at every major tournament, playing the side games. While the tournament players are trying to grind their way to the final table, with most of them never getting there, these no-names are playing

and winning each day of the tournament. They have no desire to have their names known. (A good hustler has to remain anonymous.)



There are players with whom I've talked who say that if I ever mention their names, they will beat me silly with one of my own books. They want no limelight; they just want to sit quietly and win. They are the pros of the game whose names you never hear, but many of them make as much money as those whose names you do know. Don't underestimate your competition just because you don't see their names in Card Player every issue.



CHANGE OF SUBJECT: In our remaining moments, let's consider when you can call a seven-card stud opponent's known big pair with your smaller pair.



Here's an example: After you call on third street with a pair of medium value, a conservative player showing a small upcard raises. You know that this player raises only with large pairs, so he has something big buried. In this instance, you have a legitimate call with your medium pair. I realize that this is contrary to what we previously have discussed. The difference here is that it now becomes easy to read your opponent's hand. He cannot make two pair without your seeing it, except on the last card. If he pairs any card before seventh street, you will see the pair lying there and will know that he has two pair. Or, if he catches one of the cards with which you know he raises, you'll realize the possibility of trips and will play accordingly.



We devoured that entire giant pizza, so I won't have any for breakfast. Now, I need a nap to let it digest. Kill the light on your way out.



Roy West continues giving his successful poker lessons in Las Vegas for both tourists and locals. Ladies are welcome. Get Roy's toll-free 800 number from his ad on Page 136.