Expand Your Poker Horizons

Hi. Come on in. I picked up a couple of quarts of ice cream. Let's eat more slowly this time so we don't get "brain freeze." (I hate when that happens.)

Poker players are creatures of habit – same old, same old. We tend to gravitate toward the familiar: routines, patterns, sameness, consistency. Thus, we are much the same as the general population. We regard any change in our lives as an intrusion, and possibly find said change mildly upsetting.

Most of us prefer to "leave things the way they are." We continue the same lifestyle, keep driving the same car on the same streets, and play every day in the same poker room. We're in a rut, and it's time for a change. And I have a plan.

This week, we will change our poker room habits – all of us. Instead of going to the same cardrooms, we will break out. We will play in a club in which we've never played before, or one to which we haven't been in a long time. We'll encounter a different environment, hear unfamiliar sounds, and see new faces. It will be joyful.

Oh, you think it might not be joyful? Stop your grumbling. Would I offer such a proposal if I didn't believe it would be good for you? Certainly not! This exercise will get you back on your poker toes. It might even increase your winnings. (Got your attention with that one, didn't I?)

One tends to become lethargic playing the same game in the same room with the same people every day – same old, same old. What's new? Nothing is new; I'm getting bored. Who raised? Wake me up when something happens. Going to a new poker room will yank you out of that lethargy. You'll feel like a tourist. You won't know the players and they won't know you. You'll be forced to pay attention, observe, and be alert. Observation and alertness are two prime components of winning play. You'll be back on your poker toes. (And you were grumbling; you should be ashamed.)

As an example, you folks in Las Vegas who live on the west side of town might drive over to the east side of the valley and play in the rooms along Boulder Highway. Several casinos there offer cardrooms with good action, friendly people, and mainly low-limit stud and hold'em games. Check it out. And you folks living on the east side, head west.

Change of subject: I was in a stud game with a player who criticized everyone's play – constantly. He went on and on, asking questions such as: "Why did you make such a dumb play?" "How could you stay in against my four-flush on the board when you had only one pair?" "Keep playing like that and I'll get all of your money." Meanwhile, this same man was certainly among the worst poker players to tread the carpets of our Las Vegas poker rooms. He was just awful. It seems he didn't do anything right. This man has been playing poker for at least 15 years that I know of, and hasn't improved one whit. He blames his losing on bad luck and the bad play of other players. It's not so.

I don't think he particularly likes poker. There are many players like that. They play poker because it's the form of gambling in which they can take their money the furthest. And that's another reason they don't improve their game. They really don't think they can win, but they lose more slowly at poker than at other games. It's just the form of gambling they have chosen. Sometimes they will score a nice win, but if you just stay with your same solid game, you should get your share of their bankroll.

Change of subject (sort of): Do you make disparaging remarks, or even groan inwardly, when a poor player scores a nice win? You might want to consider giving that up. Instead, rejoice with him as he pulls in the chips. This will be good for your image, identifying you as someone who is not a grumbling loser. And while you're rejoicing, keep in mind that if weak players won only according to their abilities, they would quickly go broke and could no longer play. Soon, all games would be made up of only strong players. Then where would you get the money for your next cheeseburger?

A cheeseburger would go nicely with that quart of ice cream you just inhaled. Now, I require repose. Wash your sticky hands and face, 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.