What Does a Poker Player Look Like?

Hi. Come on in. I brought in a couple of old beanbag chairs from the garage. Flop down and sip your drink while we explore a dark corner of your poker mind.

I've been watching your play. It's fairly solid. But would you like to know a common mistake that is made by even solid poker players? I knew you would. Even you, solid player that you are, probably have made and will continue to make this simple yet potentially costly error.

It involves folks like you who play regularly in a public poker room. A new player joins your game, and your mistaken thoughts go something like this:

"Ah, a new player. Never saw him before. If he doesn't live around here, he can't be much of a player. Besides, he doesn't even look like a poker player. Nothing to worry about."

Mistake. Huge Mistake!

I know lots of good poker players who don't play regularly in the same cardroom, so I might not see them even over a period of time. Then, too, they might be solid, regular, public poker room players from other parts of the country. And if they are my students, they've been taught to make themselves appear to be tourists, thus disarming their opponents.

You might want to ask yourself, "Just what does a poker player look like?" Tall? Slim? Handsome? Fat? What? Good players come in all sizes, shapes, genders, and colors.

Underestimating your opponent is an invitation to getting hurt, financially. I speak from experience.

I was playing in a $10-$20 stud game more than a few years ago. A guy I had never seen before and who looked to be about 80 joined the game. I dismissed him as any kind of a threat. Mistake! He gave the table some poker lessons while taking our money. The old guy was around for a few weeks and I later was able to engage him in poker conversation, whereby I learned a lot more, but at no cost (except for a couple of lunches).

Since that time, I've learned to have what I believe is the proper respect for an unfamiliar player. Now, when I encounter one in my game, I immediately assign him the title of "Best Poker Player in the World." Then, I let him prove otherwise to me. As I observe him, I'll take away a little bit here and a little bit there until I have him pegged. Then, I know where he fits and how to play him.

I encourage you to do likewise.

Change of Subject: Another common mistake is not keeping records of your playing results. I'm amazed by how many people who consider themselves to be playing serious poker for the money have little real idea of how much they've won or lost in the past month, or year.

Why don't these people keep records? Here's a clue. I find that, generally, winners keep records and losers don't. Some players don't dare do so. On some level, they realize they are overall losers, but don't want it confirmed in writing. So, they delude themselves, remembering the wins and dismissing the losses.

The money these players lose is not a huge amount. But, enough of them lose moderate yearly amounts, which enables a small percentage of solid players to improve their standard of living by playing poker.

What more enjoyable experience is there for you the poker player than entering a nice win in your journal. You have confirmation that you are indeed a good player, and that you are on top of your game. You are making money doing something you enjoy. What could be better?

On the other side of that experience, it's a real drag to enter a loss – and especially a string of losses. It confirms that you are not, after all, one of the best poker players on the planet. Who needs that? So, you decide that keeping these written records is too much bother. You'll just sort of keep track in your head. And there you go, down the slippery slope to being a loser and not even knowing it or admitting it to yourself. Keep records!

I'm going to take these beanbag chairs back to the garage after my nap. I forgot about those little white foam beads that get all over the place. Kindly 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.