We hear a lot about "the Act of Mercy" or "Acts of Faith" applied to emphasize different acts we employ. But no one refers to "The Act of Poker." Yet the Act of Poker is what sets poker apart from other activities.
Some people make an attempt to play poker while others really commit the act of poker. There are certain things a player must commit to before his or her game can be called the act of poker. I'm sure most veteran players will agree and could add to this list.
P - Is for playing position and having the patience needed to play a good game.
A game played the same regardless of your position is more an act of insanity than an act of poker. Ask yourself this, "Would you play a K-9 (off-suit) from early position the same way you would in late position?" If the answer is "yes," then you are not committing an act of poker. You are inviting problems-particularly if others have bet or raised before the flop. Poker is a waiting game because most hands are unplayable-unless you are playing the people and not the cards. Waiting for the best starting cards takes a lot of patience.
O - Is for being observant.
Players who don't pay attention to how others are playing are like a one armed paper hanger. A lot of clues are missed that are available to those who are observant. This includes paying attention to how others bet, fold, and raise when they are playing their hands. K - Stands for keeping your opponents guessing.
Players who vary their play based on the size of their hand and position give away too much information. Remember, poker is a game of communication and the information given off about yourself sticks with a lot of players. If you telegraph your hands by playing them the same way all the time, people will notice and will take advantage of your predictability. Good players are hard to read-mostly because they don't do the same things and mix-up their play.
E - Means playing with your head and not your emotions.
When you are on tilt or upset about something, it's not the time to be playing poker. Unless you have the ability to unhook from problems, don't let poker be your sedative. Some play every hand based on their feelings. This is a mistake in poker and will cause you to feel disappointed when you leave. The best way to commit the act of poker is to combine thinking with feelings. It's not better "being lucky than being good." It's best to have both luck and skill. When you have both, you will be better able to fold hands that you think are beaten and second best.
R - Stands for being able to read other players' actions.
Part of being observant is knowing how your opponents behave in good and bad times. It's one thing to read whether a player is aggressive or conservative. It's another thing to know the personality type of your opponents. In my book, Beyond Tells, I delineated six personality types. The tells will mean something different with each type. For example, placing a bet in softly might mean nothing to an emotionally based player. That's their normal style designed to avoid upsetting anyone. Yet, for a high roller who is naturally aggressive, this soft action is their way of telling that they want you to call.
