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he Guardian Poker Column |
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Victoria
Coren |
Friday April 7, 2006
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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. |
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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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