Poker Allies

There are certain gifts that opponents bring to your table. These gifts are not earned on your part; but are there if you take advantage of them. Of course, one of the obvious allies is your opponent's bad luck. Good players take advantage of that. It may be because the worst players at the table are usually the luckiest. They play cards that good players wouldn't consider and thus have a chance to get lucky more often. Good players must rely on the bad luck of these same players and avoid their lucky streaks.

Have you ever played at a table that has players who seem to call everything? Well, who hasn't? Then there are times when opponents seem to hardly call any of your bets or raises. What's the difference? It might be your reputation. It might be the kind of opponent you are choosing. If you are known to be loose, expect more calls. However, if you are tight, you can expect fewer calls-especially if the flop has high cards and you are first to bet. You have an ally when other players are calling you and you have what you are advertising. Disbelieving players who call your bets and raises are a gift.

Another gift occurs when opponents walk into your traps. Again, they do not believe you. When you check-raise, and your opponents call, it's best to rethink your hand in case they have a better one. Nevertheless, it might be that they just don't believe you and think that you are making a move on them.

The common denominator of all such gifts (allies) is still disbelief. So how can you get opponents to disbelieve you? One sure way is to pick a table that is more likely to have disbelievers-either beginners or loose cannons. Another is to never be what you are representing and avoid being caught at this. Of course, you could get caught stealing as a way to set things up for those times when you have the nuts.

A loose table is one of the best sources of disbelieving players, provided you have the patience to wait for better odds than they are allowing themselves. Having a tight reputation, whether at a loose or conservative table, is invaluable at times-particularly when you are attempting to steal. Having a loose reputation is a good way to get calls when you have the best hand. What a combination: Loose player with the best hand. Or, still a better combination: Tight player who suddenly gets loose. All of these are allies that can lead to opponents who just don't believe you.

Other poker allies are things like betting out of position, when your reputation can convince players to believe you. Or, just calling when you have the nuts can be an ally. Another ally is paying attention to the number of players in the pot. If you are going for a flush and have high suited cards, having a lot of players in the action becomes an ally. At the same time, going for the highest hand seems to favor a one-on-one situation. Just make sure your hand is better.

Finally, your best ally is yourself. By that I mean your ability to be patient, play the odds, and disarm your opponents by acting like you are believable-even when you are not.

It might be that disbelief is the mother of all profit in poker.

Jim McKenna has been practicing psychotherapy for more than thirty-five years. His books include the acclaimed Beyond Tells: Power Poker Psychology, Beyond Bluffs: Master the Mysteries of Poker, and Beyond Traps: The Anatomy of Poker Success, all published by Kensington Press. Write to Jim@Jimmckenna-PhD.com.