Learning to Dance in the Rain

Hi. Come on in. Greek food today: roast lamb, stuffed grape leaves — and a big block of feta. Enjoy.

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. Life is about learning to dance in the rain. What in blazes does that mean? And what does it have to do with poker?

Well, let’s talk about it here in the dark corner of your poker mind. For the last 10 sessions, I have barely been able to win my hat size, while hearing from two more students today about how big they are winning.

Sometimes your poker life feels like a giant rainstorm. The winds are howling. The rain is beating down on your head. And you can’t catch a starting hand no matter how much you pray to the poker gods.

So, you wait for the storm to pass. You hunker down and play “defensive poker.” But you can’t make any money by playing defensive poker — by playing not to lose! That’s passive poker.

We all know, or should know, that aggressive poker — playing to win — is winning poker. It could take a while for that storm to pass, so you had better “learn to dance in the rain.”

Structure your game and your strategy to play through the storm of “no cards.” Toughen up. Play your best game always, cards or no cards; play what poker writers constantly refer to as your A-game. To do that, get into some poker books, and study the great information that’s available here in Card Player.

My Strategy for Never Going on Tilt

It’s easy. Just follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. Realize that if you are a knowledgeable, skilled poker player, you are going to win seven or eight out of 10 sessions.
2. The loss of money today is meaningless. You’ll get it back tomorrow.
3. Realize that as a skilled player, you will win more or lose less with the same cards in the same circumstances than other players will.
4. Keep smiling!

It has been many years since I’ve gone on tilt. I stopped it just by deciding not to go on tilt! I know that my game is solid. I know that in the long run, I’m going to win seven or eight out of 10 sessions. So, a loss today is meaningless. It just doesn’t matter. I’ll be back to win on most days.

I also consider that a loss from a bad beat doesn’t mean that it’s not a good day; it’s just the loss of one pot. Meaningless! I know that if I stay on my game, I will win in the long run. Remember, as I tell my students, poker is a marathon, not a sprint. There’s no need for you to go on tilt. (I have learned “to dance in the rain.”)

The E-Mail Section

I asked you the last time we talked to let me know if you are playing in or have been encouraged to play in the “Insomnia Gold Mine” games. I received a slew of responses from players all around the country; they stated that they did as I suggested and hit their local casinos in the wee hours of the morning. They said the profits were there, mostly from the stuck players who were trying to get even. (See, I won’t steer you wrong.)

I also heard from three of those “stuck” players, who now realize that they need to improve their games in order to stop being the contributors in those games. I sent each of them some suggestions; glad to be of help. If you have a question about your game that I may help with, see my e-mail address at the bottom of this column.

Win With Your Ears

What? My ears?

After a hand has been completed, if you ask another player what he had, he will probably tell you to get stuffed, unless he is a friend. It’s as if he is guarding a great secret. But you don’t have to ask — just listen!

Pay no attention to “table talk.” Some players talk one game but play another. But, after a hand is over, many players will start yakking about what they had and why they played as they did. You’ll hear a lot of misinformation and stupid talk, but you also will learn who the knowledgeable players are. Keep track of this table talk from all players. It is valuable information when you are in a pot with them.

More E-Mail

I recently received an e-mail stating that a while back, I used the term “gambler’s ruin.” The sender asked what it meant.

Gambler’s ruin means that unless you have an unlimited bankroll, in the long run you must go broke if you play without an edge. Every casino has a built-in edge. That’s how they make their money. In poker, you get your edge by studying — learning to play better than your opponents. Simply stated, “In the long run, good players beat bad players.” The lesson? Become a good player!

My friend Nicholas Papadopoulos actually put that meal together. (Those Greeks really know how to eat.) Put the rest in your pockets and take it home for breakfast. I’m now going to repose. Kill the light on your way out.

Roy West, poker author and teacher, has been giving his successful poker lessons in Las Vegas for more than 20 years to tourists and locals. Ladies are welcome. Contact Roy at [email protected], or (800) 548-6177, access code 03, or (702) 873-7574.