Playing the Rush<br>Part I - Offense

We all get rushes once in a while. It seems that the poker gods have smiled at us, then hit us with the deck. It's one of poker's greatest kicks, but – partly because we get them so rarely – most of us don't know how to react. How should we take advantage of this rare and wonderful experience? And what should we do when someone else is playing his rush? This column deals with playing your own rush, while Part II, "Defense," will discuss ways to respond to other players' rushes.

A rush is so rare and pleasant that some people go on "a variation of tilt." That term was used on TwoPlusTwo.com's Poker Psychology Forum to describe a man's reaction to getting ahead. "The feeling of 'overconfidence' (after winning) takes over and affects my sound play … soon I squander the winnings." Another poster agreed: "When I'm running good, I go on positive tilt. I try to run over the table with marginal hands instead of the solid ones that got me there. In addition, I slip into fancy-play syndrome. Then, before I know it, my stack has dwindled."

Someone else called this reaction "momentum psychology." He said, "Once you've won a few pots and are ahead, you tend to feel like you're on a roll and have winning momentum. I am guilty of doing this, too. I tend to get a little overconfident and start playing too many hands. I rely on implied odds and my winning table image too much."

In other words, when they feel they're on a rush, some people become too confident, loose, and aggressive. In fact, that's what most people regard as "playing the rush." It's fun, and it can build a stack quickly, but the downswings can be brutal.

Doyle really "plays the rush." In Super/System, he wrote: "If you're going to have a rush … you've got to let yourself have one. You've got to sustain that rush. And to do that, you've got to get in there and play.

"After I've won a pot in no-limit … I'm in the next pot – regardless of what two cards I pick up. … I keep playing every pot until I lose one. And, in all those pots, I gamble more than I normally would."

" … I know that scientists don't believe in rushes … but they make about fifteen hundred a month. I've played poker for almost 25 years now … and I've made millions at it. A big part of my winnings came from playing my rushes." (pp. 450-451).

I'm one of those scientists, and I know rushes have no predictive value. The fact that you won the last hand, or the last three, or five, or even 10 hands has absolutely no effect on your future cards. Not one scientist would disagree with that statement, but most people believe that cards run in streaks, that a rush (or its opposite, a cold streak) can influence later cards.

Why do most people believe in rushes? For exactly the same reason that they believe in "hot rolls" at the craps table, use lucky charms, and consult astrologers: They are so frightened by randomness that they deny its essential nature. I made this argument in "ESP is Nonsense" (Card Player, March 28, 2003), and there is no reason to repeat myself. The evidence is absolutely clear: Your past cards have no influence at all on your future cards.

Does Doyle believe that his past cards affect future ones? I doubt it very much. He began his book, According to Doyle: "Poker is a game of people. Don't just play your cards, play your people." He "plays the rush" aggressively, not because he expects his cards to be better, but because apparent rushes scare people, and he is a master at exploiting that fear. Since Doyle is an immortal – and his strategy agrees with what they want to do – countless people have followed his advice. A few highly skilled players can do so successfully, but it is extremely dangerous for you, me, and other mere mortals. Doyle can get away with his extremely aggressive strategy for four reasons:

1. He has an uncanny ability to read players and cards.

2. He is extraordinarily aggressive.

3. He has an intimidating reputation.

4. He plays no-limit (and this advice was in the chapter on no-limit hold'em).

Unless all of those conditions apply, following his advice can be disastrous. Since you don't have his gifts and reputation, and aren't playing no limit, you should be much more conservative. It's just another example of poker's most important principle: The answer to nearly every question – including, "How should you play a rush?" – is, "It depends on the situation."

Even though a rush will not affect the cards you catch, many players will think you're hot, and their belief will affect the way they play against you. They will probably be afraid of you, and some people will even say, "I'm not messing with you until you cool down." The more afraid they are, the more easily you can run over them. However, a few people will have opposite reactions: They will believe that your rush is over or have a macho desire to "make a stand." In other words, a rush does not change the mathematics of poker, but it certainly changes the psychology.

For a brief time you will have a frightening table image, and you should take advantage of it, but only with the players who fear you and your rush. They may be so afraid that you can push them out of a pot. You can therefore play a few more hands, be a bit more aggressive, and bluff a little more often. As many experts have said, never pass up an opportunity to let them fold a better hand. Of course, the danger is believing you're on a rush and the rush will continue, and then playing hopeless hands aggressively.

This danger is particularly great if you're up against someone who is either oblivious or, worse yet, wants to "play sheriff." The oblivious players won't be scared, and the sheriff wannabes will deliberately confront you.

Here's a few examples. If everyone folds to you on the button, and the blinds are tight players (or have expressed their fear of your rush), you should try to steal the blinds with any two cards. If you're in a shorthanded pot and the flop is all rags without a draw, bluff. If you miss your draw on the river but the board is scary, take a shot at the pot.

But, do not play marginal hands in early position or total trash in any position (except when you have the right conditions to steal the blinds), or grossly overplay any cards. Nor should you try to bluff calling stations, oblivious players, or "sheriffs." In other words, enjoy the rush, and take advantage of the table image it creates, but don't take foolish chances just because you think you're hot.

If you would like to learn more about yourself and other players, you can order Dr. Schoonmaker's book, The Psychology of Poker.