Poker Veteran of 50 Years: Got What It Takes?

Always keep in mind that although poker is touted as a parlor game, it is way more than that. Playing poker is an action/reaction paradigm of skill and luck, which demands a certain temperament and demeanor.

Above all, poker is a game of absolute aggression, posturing, and finesse. At the same time, you must be nimble and mindful of the many nuances of the game. 

It is a game of cards while simultaneously having little to do with the cards. It's a game of misdirection based on misinformation. A game, when played properly, is a puzzle within a puzzle. 

Poker is a game where you want to reside in your opponent’s head—of course, rent-free. By getting into their head, you become very dangerous. It is about confusing and confounding your opponents by applying your timely calling, raising, and bluffing skills and by playing hands that can be disguised as hidden ninjas. 

At that point, you know their biggest asset is attempting to figure out what you have, and often not believing what you represent. You want to embrace those starting hands that can bring their big holding to their knees.  I’m talking about suited connectors, gappers, and even small to mid-sized pairs that can play well against those big Broadway draws. Bear in mind—your call can readily produce two pair, a set, or more on the flop. And if you miss, you can always bail.

Be aware that most players, at any level, feel very confident playing and overbetting their high-ranking Broadway cards while trying to protect and isolate their paired holdings. Those hands are vulnerable, and you should challenge them by running them down with your disguised assassins. 

Remember, there are more small cards than Broadway cards in the deck, so don’t be afraid to use the proverbial slingshot against the giant.

Take Ace King for example, a hand well known in poker. It is a very good drawing hand. A good betting hand. But, in reality, it is a hand that is often overplayed and ranks lower than a pair of deuces. AK gives you a sense of power, dominance, and a false sense of security. You wouldn’t play deuces as hard as you would AK. 

Poker shares all the qualities of the game of chess, considered by many as the epitome of intellectual gamesmanship, combined with the attributes of mixed martial arts and some street fighting sprinkled in. Poker transcends simple definitions and requires an understanding achieved only through total immersion and many hours of practice. Poker is all-consuming and humbling, but most of all exhilarating when you come away a winner.

Don’t forget that poker is not a game of instant double-ups, and you’re home free. 

Poker is dynamic and fluid. It’s a series of decisions that must be made continually throughout each hand you play. If you’re not prepared for the quick responses needed, as if you’re piloting a Formula One race car at high speeds, through left-hand turns, then right-hand turns, you will crash and burn. It may not be physically painful, but it can shatter your pride and set your confidence back considerably.

Yes, some players get lucky and even rely heavily on good fortune by overbetting, utilizing the element of fear, to get their opponents to fold. They can only make it so far. Luck, no matter how much you have, is never, and I mean never, as potent as the skill of good judgment and clear-headed decision-making.

When playing poker correctly, your chips are always in play—as is your ego. But patience and careful planning will pay off in the long run. Challenging or being tested is the name of the game at every level of poker. Someone is always pushing your ability to withstand the pressure by their betting action, and putting your game at risk. Your resolve, determination, and ability to make the right choices are always on the line, especially when it matters most. That is poker at its finest. 

Do you have what it takes?