If you're at all serious about the game of poker, you've probably learned that the goal in poker is to make as many correct decisions as possible. In no-limit forms of the game, just one bad decision can cost you your stack and send you to the rail. So, when you're put in a tough spot, it's important to take your time. This seems like pretty obvious advice, but you'll often see players make rash decisions because they get caught up in the moment. There's no question that poker is an emotional game, but you must not let your emotions dictate your actions. You need to apply logic, and sometimes that can take a while.
When you're faced with a difficult decision, one of the first things you should do is take a deep breath. Calm down and start to replay the hand in your mind. Then, think back to all of the information that you have about your opponent. Is he loose or tight? Does he like to trap or is he a straightforward player? You also must ask yourself what I believe is one of the most important questions of all: How does my opponent perceive me? Knowing what your opponent thinks of you will greatly enhance your decision. Cross-reference what you know about your opponent with how he played the current hand, and look for clues about what he may be holding. Go through each one of your options. Count out the chips required to make a call and stack them up. Calculate how much is in the pot. Contemplate throwing your hand away. Consider raising or moving all in. Every option should be considered and weighed before you make your final decision.
As you are going through this process, make sure that you occasionally look at your opponent. I see too many players retreating completely into themselves when deliberating over their next move. They often miss out on key tells from their opponent. The longer you take, the more likely it becomes that your opponent's body language will begin to reveal some important information to you. Is he getting calmer or becoming tenser? Is he putting on a show for your benefit? Is he suddenly quiet or suddenly talkative? Look at your opponent and try to figure out what his goal is. Does he want you to call or fold? Is he trying to make you raise? Only after you've considered every aspect of the decision should you act. This will give you the best chance of making the right choice.
Beyond giving yourself time to think, a long pause before you act also can have some less obvious benefits. When you take your time to act, you break your opponent's rhythm. Whether you believe in rushes or not, you often will see players start to pick up momentum during a game. When they begin to raise a lot and start taking down pots uncontested, it is important to try to slow them down. Break their rhythm by taking your time and making them sweat.
That's another key point: When you take a long time to make a decision, you often make your opponent uncomfortable. If someone has just made a big bluff and you let him sit there in suspense while you take your time deliberating what to do, you often will cause him great psychological pain. In fact, one of the ways not to get bluffed as often is to really torture your opponents whenever they make a big move against you. Let them stew in the uncomfortable juices of their uncertainty, and I guarantee you that they will think twice before bluffing you again. That may sound a bit Machiavellian, but if you're playing poker to meet new people and make friends, consider joining a book club. If you want to win, psychological tactics need to be a part of your arsenal.
Having said all of that, please don't infer from this advice that you should take an eternity every single time the action is to you. Especially in tournaments, stalling the game for no good reason is highly inappropriate. In my opinion, the following scenarios justify taking some time to act:
• You've been put to a decision for your entire stack.
• You have a strong draw and need to be certain about the math and the implied odds before you act.
• Your opponent has been picking up a lot of steam and you need to slow him down.
• You think your opponent is making a big bluff.
• You have a monster hand and need to determine how to maximize your profits.
• You sense that you are about to make an emotional decision.
In all other scenarios, an experienced player should be able to act fairly quickly. So, be courteous and respectful to your fellow players by acting quickly when you can, but avoid making rash, emotional decisions, and don't be afraid to make them sweat when it's appropriate.
Marc "Myst" Karam is a Canadian poker pro who has won millions of dollars competing in major poker tournaments all around the world. Despite his tournament success, he makes his living primarily by playing online cash games on Eurolinx Poker at some of the highest stakes available.
