win247.co.uk

Poker is a game of information. This information could come as a hand made up of the cards in the player’s hand and on the table. It could be knowledge about other players gained from paying close attention to actions and facial expressions. But in any case, one of the keys to success at the poker table is not giving others any more information than is necessary according to the rules.
Of course there are situations in which the players are all having fun, joking about each other, laughing off the mistakes etc. Generally these are home games and nickel-dime games played at the kitchen table, however. Letting go of “secrets” in a casino cash game or tournament is a sure way to disaster. Talk too much, make too many telling faces, show disgust at bad hands, and the elite few around the table will surely use that information against you.
In a recent cash game on the St. Louis riverfront, one particular player (call him Andy) gave the appearance of handing out information right and left, sharing with any and all opponents in his unique way. He talked loudly, bet big when he did bet and occasionally showed a card or two when everyone else folded. While all of this might have led to a catastrophic loss of chips, the truth of the matter is this – after two hours of play this fellow had the largest stack of chips.
There were two other players, who played in a manner exactly the opposite of Andy, who went home with as lot more dollars than he walked in with. But their quiet, almost timid play is another story altogether.
Andy blustered and bullied the other seven players, most of whom were there only for recreation. Some gave in to Andy’s requests to show their cards when he did, and in the long run they were left with very short stacks of red, green and black chips. So, if poker is a game designed on protecting information, how did Andy the Loud manage to add so much to his bankroll?
There are probably two or more answers to this question, or at least an answer with a few distinct parts. First of all, Andy was playing his natural style. He was very comfortable with his actions and words, so he could keep track of the game quite well even as he was visiting, talking and bullying. In another sense, he was also selective about the information he gave out. He only exposed a card two or three times during the session, and turned over both cards once. His manner and loud voice made it seem that he had turned himself loose completely, when in fact he was in control of his game most of the time.
There is at least one more part to the answer about Andy’s success. This fellow knew how to play Texas Hold ‘Em. Of course, he was at a $1-$3 table. Most of the bets were in the $30 range or maybe $40 if someone felt particularly strong. Andy himself went “all in” once with about $200 - $300. You may ask, if he knew so much about playing Texas Hold ‘Em why was he at a $1-$3 table? There is a simple answer to that. He played at a comfortable level, against players he could generally beat. This is crucial to poker success. As any pro will say, and as Alan N. Schoonmaker writes in Your Worst Poker Enemy, successful poker demands good decisions, not only during the game, but before the game. Winning players choose the correct table and the correct seat if possible to put themselves in position to win. While Andy seemed to be sharing too much information, he may have been in just the right game.