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Poker News
Losing Like a Winner
Losing Like a Winner
Yesterday I told myself I was done with online poker. Enough was enough.
I was done with the fish and the calling stations and the ridiculous
suckouts and miracle draws that would seemingly never end. In a few
hours of limit Hold'em I saw my Kings go down to a runner-runner flush,
my set of 7's lose to a rivered set of Aces, and then my set of Aces
manage to find the muck after somebody's gutshot straight filled in.
Sure I won a few small pots here and there, but not nearly enough to
make up for the countless cold cards and bad breaks. By all means, it
was just one of those days.
Well approximately twenty-four hours after swearing off online poker
forever, you can probably guess what I was doing. Yes, I was back at the
same tables that had driven me into a fit of frustration, and of course,
I was losing yet again. I really couldn't have asked for better starting
hands: suited connectors, suited Aces, premium pairs, and A-K, A-Q and
the like. So many playable hands and yet so few were coming through in
the clutch. The flops would tease me with four-flushes and open-ended
straights, but ultimately the pots would seemingly always slid over to
the guy playing hands I wouldn't even check for free with from the big
blind. In retrospect I probably would've faired a lot better with the
easily foldable hands, as I wouldn't have wasted so many small bets, not
to mention those brief moments of hope that I might actually win a hand.
Obviously we all know that luck is a very significant aspect of poker,
especially in limit games where the art of bluffing won't get you much
more than a free poker. And while everybody loves when lady luck is on
your side, a lengthy streak of bad luck, or even just the absence of
good luck, can wrack the nerves of the calmest and coolest poker
players. It seems a bit ironic then, that in order to be a profitable
player, it is vitally important to handle all the losing sessions with
poise and self-control. It's one thing to flop the nuts, only to fold on
the turn or river, when it's clear you're beat. Being able to do so time
after time requires much more patience and discipline however, and is
what prevents a moderate downswing from turning into a declaration of
bankruptcy.
Personally, I don't consider myself a good free poker player, mainly because
I am still relatively new to the game and have yet to play the hundreds
of thousands of hands that give more experienced players an edge. Also,
as a relative beginner, it's still a bit early to be figuring out how
many big bets I'm raking in per hour, just as it would've been a bit
early to calculate a cumulative grade point average after my first
semester of college. But even after a two-day dry spell I find myself
wondering about my true free poker abilities. It would be one thing if I was
tilting uncontrollably, but I honestly believe I played my usual tight
and straightforward style from hand to hand, easily ditching inside
draws, weak pairs, and the almighty Ace-high. And of course there were
those hands I wish I would've just loosened up and chased one of my few
outs, cashing in like a true fish, but I stuck to my guns nonetheless.
Still I wondered. Am I doing something wrong? Am I playing too tight or
giving my opponents too much credit for their bets? Should I move to a
different table? Am I just not cut out for the mental strains of free poker?
Did I offend the poker gods when I bought a clay composite chip set, and
if so should I sacrifice said chip set in my front yard? Clearly, the
answers are hard to come by. although some more than others.
Specifically concerning losing sessions, I had even more questions. Is
it better to get solid hands that ultimately fail to hold up, or would
it be better to be constantly dealt trash or miss flops completely. In
terms of money the relative answer is simple mathematics, but
psychologically which case would you prefer? Given that lady luck will
inevitably have occasional scheduling conflicts when you want to get a
few hands in, is there a way to lose your bankroll while retaining your
confidence and composure, or is it simply a matter of waiting for an
upswing? Surely even the best professional players have losing days,
weeks, months, and even years. So how is it that they can blow thousands
upon thousands of dollars and still walk away feeling like a champ,
while I'm stuck pondering my basic logic skills after one bad night at
the low limit tables? Perhaps this difference is a big part of what
makes them the pros, and me the ranting poker writer.
As I wrap this article up I see I've left myself, as well as all you
readers, with a handful of unanswered questions. However, if there's one
thing I've learned in my continuing free poker experiences, both good and
bad, it's that poker is a game of constant uncertainties. Whether you're
unsure your pocket Kings are still good after an Ace flops, or you're
unsure of your playing ability in general, sometimes the only way to
find out is to keep putting your chips in the middle. As for me, I think
I'll see if the third time's the charm at those limit Hold'em tables. If
not, next week's article may end up being another sacrifice to the poker
gods.
Best of luck in flopping the nuts, but more importantly, best of luck in
keeping them.
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