Diane McHaffie

by Diane McHaffie

  I have to agree with Mike. I, too, prefer short-handed tables. With fewer players you should be involved in more pots, resulting in additional opportunities to win. Often your play will differ, becoming more aggressive. With fewer players, it’s easier to develop a relationship and manipulate your opponents, which has the potential to prove profitable.
 
 Another positive to a short-handed table is that everyone is playing more hands, allowing them a chance to compete at a pace that prompts, with the end result -- more chips sliding your way.

 Waiting. You absolutely must check out short-handed tables whenever you get the opportunity. It’s imperative that you know how to play in these circumstances. Not only does it prepare you for final stage of tournaments, when the tables shift down to fewer players, but it’s also an educational experience preparing you for occasions when it’s necessary to join an undermanned table. Are you actually stubbornly going to wait for a full table to take a seat, or will you join a possibly more profitable table comprised of only six or fewer players?

Too often, players feel the overwhelming need to raise prior to the flop. Surprisingly, many skilled players are guilty of this tactic. Sure, it’s possible to win and profit by making this move, but it may also jeopardize additional profit that could be acquired from weaker opponents waiting to act, who may be intimidated and not play their substandard hands.

 Impressive. Prior to the flop, you only have two cards in your hand. Unless they’re superior, your next step is questionable. Yes, it’s acceptable to jump in with a raise before the flop. But, it isn’t something you’ll want to do on a regular basis, unless you’re in late position. When playing from an early position, you are at a distinct disadvantage. Your actions pre-flop will often influence your actions after the flop, and on remaining rounds.

by Diane McHaffie

Sometimes, I “people watch” at the mall, instead of shopping. There’s a wide variety of people, and they all have different ways of dressing, walking, and little traits that set them apart from others. In my latest lesson at MCU, Mike informed me that studying people would also be an important factor in playing poker successfully. In a long line leading to the cash register, a lady stands impatiently with her arms crossed, tapping her foot. In poker, as in the mall, people have subtle (sometimes not-so-subtle) mannerisms that give away their secrets. These are what we call tells, and that is what I’m witnessing from this woman. She is impatient and frustrated at the wasted time.

 Everyday tells. Then, I notice a teenager standing near a CD rack. He is glancing about him with shifty eyes, his hands in the huge pockets of his baggy jeans. His eyes are telling a story of their own. At any moment, I expect him to slide a CD from the rack neatly into his pocket, thinking no one is going to see. Only when he notices my presence does he walk away.

by Diane McHaffie

One of the first lessons Mike taught me was that Hold ‘em is by far the most popular poker game in casinos. This was news to me, because I had always thought that stud poker or draw poker were the main types of poker, since they were the ones always represented in movies. The movies are probably one of our first introductions into the poker world and can be vastly misleading.

 With 7-card stud you receive seven cards total, four face up and three face down (the ones face down are your cards that no one has seen). When you play 7-card stud against opponents, anything is likely to happen with the cards that are dealt. A small pair to begin with, in 7 card stud, often would be pretty good; however, that would not be the case in hold ‘em.

 I have learned that in hold ’em, one of the most common mistakes happens when players try to think the same as in 7-card stud. They think that a small pair has more value than it actually does. That isn’t the case with hold ’em.

 Hard to improve. Hold ‘em starts with two cards face down to the player. Those are personal cards that nobody has seen, and they can’t be used by anyone but yourself. All the other cards (five more total) will be communal, dealt face up, to be used by both your opponents and you. This means that it is hard to improve a small pair in hold ‘em, because it is impossible to catch another pair on the board to improve your hand.

by Diane McHaffie

Impulse is an abrupt, spontaneous urge to act, often with dire consequences in poker. How long would you survive if you allowed impulsive actions to govern your decision-making? Not very.

 Moods. Don’t allow impulse to dictate decisions in poker. What sort of mood are you in? Upbeat is good. Depressed is bad. A negative attitude means you probably won’t play your best game. Go to the park instead. If you’re coming to the table to improve your mood, I’d reconsider. That doesn’t work. If you’re angry with someone, chances are your nasty mood will lead to impulsive decisions. Not good!

 Observe the players prior to joining a game. Do they appear to be rookies? If so, expect them to act on impulse, and that’s money for you. If they’re meek players, calling frequently, but rarely raising, you’ll likely be rewarded. They’ll make impulsive calls when you hold big hands.

by Diane McHaffie

Sympathy and empathy impact poker. If you hope to elicit an empathetic response from your opponent by sharing your sad story, save your breath. The player to whom you’re whining probably knows a better one.

 Sometimes, you’ll evoke an insincere sympathetic utterance, because sympathy is easy to express. If you’re just responding politely to make someone else (or yourself) feel better, that’s everyday sympathy. If you really feel another person’s agony, that’s empathy. While some poker opponents feign sympathy, they almost never feel empathy.

by  Diane McHaffie

In poker, “going on tilt” means playing emotionally and recklessly. The cause is often one or more bad beats. But boredom can also lead to going on tilt, with the same devastating results, if you don’t learn to manage those moments.

 Patience is an important element of poker play. But impatience frequently accompanies boredom, which can prompt impulsive action and disastrous outcomes. So, today we’re going to learn about boredom management. Chat. Full-handed poker tables can often prove tedious, but you shouldn’t allow it to affect your play. Yes, many of your decisions will merely be to fold, due to either your position or the disappointing quality of your cards. But, that shouldn’t determine the quality of your play. Good decisions are still a must! Flops will come and go, frequently without your participation. Use that down time wisely.

by Diane McHaffie

The first time I saw Greg Raymer at the poker table, wearing his obnoxious, animated sunglasses, I thought, “What the hell! Those are the most distasteful sunglasses I’ve ever seen! They are so creepy! Why would anyone want to be seen wearing those?”

 ET. In movies and on TV we’ve seen extraterrestrials portrayed with huge eyes, and that is definitely what Greg reminds me of: an alien! Why would he want to appear to be an ET at the poker table? Well, it seems that his bizarre glasses are designed to weird out players and make them uncomfortable, thereby giving him a distinct advantage. Yes, I’m aware he’s a world-class poker player, but would he be as good without the glasses? Would he be able to stare an opponent down without flinching or blinking? How would he like to sit across from someone wearing a motorcycle helmet with a face shield and gloves?

by Diane McHaffie

What is a rock? Mike Caro says it’s “a conservative player who is extremely disciplined and enters very few pots.”

 Many players succeed because they’re rocks at the poker table. But that isn’t exciting enough for some. They frequently think it takes the fun and challenge out of the game. Instead of secure rocks, they’re just loosened stones, tumbling down the hillside in search of excitement. You can potentially win extra money by being more aggressive than a so-called rock, but don’t do it just for thrills.

by  Diane McHaffie

I’m frustrated and upset! I know Mike is too, because he argued against me writing this column.

 Many poker people have been inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame since 1979. With all of Mike Caro’s contributions to the poker world, he still isn’t in.

 Criteria. The main criteria for the Poker Hall of Fame are as follows:
 • A player must have played poker against acknowledged top competition
 • Played for high stakes
 • Played consistently well, gaining the respect of peers
 • Stood the test of time
 • Or, for non-players, contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results.

 Mike played poker successfully for 14 years as a pro. He is often called the greatest draw poker player alive, including by Doyle Brunson, in his book Super/System–A Course in Power Poker. He’s certainly played for high stakes.