Posted in Poker December 22nd, 2009
Patience and Bluffing Make a Great Pair in Texas Hold ‘Em
How many westerns have you seen where two cowboys start a shoot-out over bluffing at the card table? Today’s Texas Hold ‘Em players are less violent, but no less dramatic in bluffing.
You might say that patience and bluffing are advanced strategies for Texas Hold ‘Em. This notion is the subject of a famous Kenny Rogers song, who as “The Gambler” cautioned players to know the right time to “hold ‘em” and the time to “fold ‘em.”
That’s what separates the amateurs from the pros at the table. Patience can be really difficult when you know that you’ve got a winning hand face down. New players get so excited that they show their cards too soon because it’s written all over their faces – and end the game with a smaller pot.
Poker strategists want to see the other players feed the pot as long as possible so the winnings are large. While playing your hand, you have to read the table, watching for clues from the other players about whether they are playing tight or loose.
All that concentration, plus the element of risk, can be emotionally draining. A successful poker player has to keep emotions in check at all times. Losing a hand that you were certain you had won is frustrating.
When that happens again, it’s worse. Frantic playing leads to foolish bets and early folds with an otherwise winning hand. That’s the time to take a break. Sit out a hand and leave the room.
Take a walk outside and get some fresh air. Stretch your muscles and clear your head. Get back your focus so you can concentrate on the next game and not be replaying the game that you already lost.
That’s wasted energy that will quickly become wasted money if you let it. You’d be amazed what a difference even a five minute break can make in your thinking. As for bluffing, sometimes you want the other players to know you’re bluffing.
Poker strategists say let the players catch you bluffing early on so they think they know how to read you. Then when you really are bluffing, show them a totally different look. That way you keep them guessing about your real intent.
Whether in person or online, the other players expect each other to bluff – it’s a part of the game. The skill is in hiding your real bluffs and picking up on that of the other players.
When you do, don’t gloat or call them on it. Just quietly enjoy what you know, and the pot you won because you were as observant of the other players’ non-verbal cues as you were of the cards.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 at 8:02 pm and is filed under Poker. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.
