Fake It Till You Make It

by thetank
Submitted by: snoopy on Tue, 09/01/2007 - 1:44pm
 
You’ve just raised, you have nothing, but are reasonably sure he doesn’t have anything either. The only way your hand will be good enough to be pushed this pot, is if mateyboy trusts you enough to surrender his own.

When I say you’re reasonably sure, that's not really true, you just hope. You’re not yet good enough to be anywhere near certain your opponent is weak, but a natural cynicism and greed have drawn you towards attempting a re-steal.

Who wins this pot will make the difference between an almost certain cash, and an almost certain blank. When you make that move, pushing those chips or clicking that button, you take a deep breath. Scared to breath again, as if that would adversely affect the outcome. Waiting those few torturous seconds while your opponent weighs his options.

Heart rate increases, stomach cramps up, blood vessels do things that squeamish types don’t like to think about, matey boy really needs to make a decision one way or the other for the sake of your health.

I think this was my biggest weakness in live poker. Too much tension within me when I make a bet, and a good player could smell it. Even if they have no intention of calling in a million years, keeping me on a leash till I pass out from lack of oxygen is too good an opportunity to waste.

Some of the best players I’ve seen make sure they wait a wee while before making decisions. They appear cool and calculated, and illicit fear and respect from their opposition.

There’s another side to that coin. Some of the worst players I’ve seen make sure they wait a wee while too. They appear drunken and/or boorish, and illicit little but disdain from their opponents.

So what’s the difference between the two?

While the good player is waiting, you are convinced he’s involved in high level calculations or a sophisticated logical elimination process, beyond that of our mortal comprehension. While the other player is waiting, you get the impression his inner workings are on a somewhat lesser plateau. In fact, you’re not entirely sure they realise it’s their turn to act.

It turns out the distinction is not to tough to draw. One looks like Johnny Chan, the other like Johhny Vegas. The tough part is making sure we come across more like the former than the latter when we try.

I’m not that great a live player. As far as wins go, I have but one good result in a comp with over a £100 buy-in, and even then it only had 6 runners. The thing that makes it stand out, is that one of them was Dave Colclough, a player anyone would do well to emanate if they wished to improve.

The thing I remember most about that night was that he wouldn’t phaff around. When he raised, and I re-raised, if he wasn’t going to call, he wouldn’t put me through the ringer, instead, he would simply pass his hand. Complete gent, I hold the man in the highest esteem, a pleasure to play against.

That’s one thing I’d rather not copy though. In a competitive environment, I don’t want to be a pleasure to play against. I’d rather my opponent was as uncomfortable as possible when he plays me, especially heads up, I want them squirming in their booties.

So can we add a bit of wait into our game, how do we avoid being the idiot at the table slowing the game up for everyone else?  I guess it’s like chocolate, butter, television and practically everything else on the planet, best when you indulge in moderation.

I like the idea of acting as if you are the best player in the world. Act as if you can play the game good and some good game shall be given unto thee. With pretend confidence and manufactured arrogance, comes less chance that you will telegraph your secrets.