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07/04/2006 No.42
he Guardian Poker Column
 
   
 
 
Victoria Coren
Friday April 7, 2006
 
 
 
How to play poker
(How to play has been running from issue 16)


Last week, I pointed out that a timid poker player is unlikely to win tournaments. But you also need the right temperament to enjoy them. Poker is, after all, a game. Even if you are a professional player, you're just pursuing your hobby full time. And you don't want it to make you unhappy.

If you suffer a "bad beat" in a cash game, you can buy more chips and feel confident about continuing to play against the person who put their money in with the worst hand. But in a tournament, especially a fast- structured tournament, an unlucky card can knock you out completely. The money's gone for ever. If this makes you angry or upset, you are not suited to tournament play.
 
     

Last week, I played in the 888.com Women's Poker Open, an entertaining ladies-only event currently showing on Challenge TV. I was knocked out after losing with a pair of sevens against 93. The player on my right, who was getting low on chips, moved all in first to speak. I sensed an act of slight desperation, and made a good call. Eunice made a flush. It was a major chip haemorrhage from which I didn't recover. My heat, and loss of $3,000, will be on TV tonight. I don't think I'll watch.

The following day, I played the £1,500 event in a London poker festival. After two solid days' play, I called on the big blind with J hearts 9 hearts and check-raised all in on a flop of 992. My opponent made a reluctant call with a pair of eights, and hit two running clubs to make a flush. Suddenly at an unexpected loose end, I consoled myself by playing the £300 event which followed - and got knocked out with KK against 66 when a 6 came on the flop.

These things will happen in tournaments of any size; there's no point playing if you can't shrug them off. Luckily, I have the perfect philosophical temperament, and my hellish week didn't rattle me at all. I simply came home and smashed up the kitchen with a baseball bat. If you are less easygoing than me, stick to cash games.

 
 
 
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