Issue #16
For Advertising Call (306) 693-1269
Say You Saw It In Tidbits
POKER POKER
at
By Corwin Tony Dunst By Cole
Make a read and stick with it. Far too often, I see people go through each stage of a hand with the notion that they will wait to see what their opponent does next and then re-evaluate. This is a fancy cover-up for two silly mistakes: being indecisive and getting attached to a hand. Anybody who has played a lot of poker is familiar with this faulty pattern. I recently observed a perfect example of it in a live $5/10 no-limit hold ’em game. Sitting in the four seat, a serious and competitive player had raised before the flop to $60, getting two callers who had initially just limped in. Holding pocket kings, he was already anticipating raking in a big pot. The flop brought J♥ 8♣ 7♦, and both of his opponents Player’s checked. Still happy with his hand, he bet $150, a typical hand: amount with $195 already in the pot. One player folded, and the other raised to $400. As the player in the four seat began to analyze the situation, I had a good idea of what he was thinking. He was losing confidence in his hand. Many likely hands could beat his, and he never expected to be check-raised in the first place. He was hoping that somebody would call him the Opponent’s whole way and have a lower pair than his kings. This is hand: when he became indecisive, feeling like he couldn’t fold yet. I’m sure he considered that it would only cost $250 more to call, and that there was already $745 in the pot, giving him nearly 3:1 pot odds. Besides, he was in position, so he could see what happened on the next card. At the same time, he was already attached to his two kings. He had not picked up any strong hands all Flop: night. It was frustrating. So, he began to rationalize his desire to continue. He no doubt thought about the possibility that if he folded a strong pair like this one, everyone at the table would start to bluff him relentlessly. Not to mention that he would appear scared of even a small amount of money, the paltry $250 being Turn: insignificant at these stakes. Of course, he concluded that he could not fold. But he came to that decision not by sound reasoning, but rather by the attachment to his pair of kings that cursed him from the beginning. Watching him, I could see that he never really made a read on his opponent. He got bogged down in coming up with excuses for not folding. When he finally decided to call and see what happened on the turn, which brought the 2♣, his opponent went all in for a little over $1,000. After agonizing for a couple minutes, the player in the four seat said, “I just can’t fold this hand,” and called, losing to a set of sevens. Always make a read even if it is hard to stomach, and make the right play even when it is difficult. Never let your emotions get the better of you. Success in poker comes mostly from patience and discipline.
K ♠ 7 ♣
J ♥
8 ♣
K ♥ 7 ♠
7 ♦
2 ♣
(Corwin Cole is a poker coach whose instructional videos can be found at CardRunners.com. He can be reached at corwin.cole@cardrunners.com.) (C) 2013 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
HOTEL
A division of
HUgE tIrE sALE FrEE tIrE stOrAgE spring service special - Goodwrench maintenance inspection - Lube, oil & filter change - Brake inspection Most cars & trucks - Tire rotation - Battery test Offer Expires May 31, 2013 Diesel trucks
$ 99 95
FrEE Exterior Wash
$139 95
WIN $ 500 KEON
Get a head start on SPRING Enter to win one of these great prizes:
Garden Centre
$250
LyNbrOOK Golf Club
$250
HILLCrEst Golf Club
Page 5
$250
DEEr rIDgE Golf Course
Enter to win with our Service, Parts, or Body Shop.
Call 306.693.4605 1-888-544-2438 15-Chester Road, Moose Jaw w w w.murraygm.com
28-Manitoba East
s! u n po ?
u draise s i fun on eds.
s to s ne r a o e eam p t i l s l h a ors aseb ll
a r spons or all your b b e s ba ing fo e pros f e offer: look
h
ee t me s
Co
kra fo s✴U e t a l re in o rP e m g r r Bu fo
W
ak N ✴ Ste
ights
Call
✴
1
-232
692 306-
n w o T e in
n ow o i s s e tter n n s r H e k y...the be o o p newore you plcaes to win! Ga t s e ott
m
m The our chan Prizes! t 7pm a y y l n t u Nigh d&S e W y Ever Play
Cheladas Now In Stock!
s✴
pper
Su nian