By “Crash” Martin
In No Limit Texas Hold ‘em tournaments, disappointing defeats are simply part of the fabric of the game. We, as players, can use all the proper strategies we know, make decisions based on scientific odds and still be crushed in a hand by the turn of a card.
My ears were once again treated to a player who, with personal indignation, questioned another player’s hand selection. Are we not responsible for our own plight? The only thing we can control is our own action. We don’t choose for others the hands they play, the size of their bets and certainly not the cards that fall.
A favorite phrase of mine in sports or any competition (poker included) is ‘Act like you’ve been there before’. Apparently this fellow hasn’t been THERE, and for that matter, never been anywhere because denial, whining, and miserableness (is that even a word) are part of his (and others of his ilk) table persona.
It seems it would not be difficult to treat our fellow players, our community if you will, in golden rule fashion. Win with class, lose with class, treat others like poker ‘family’ members, try as fiercely as possible to beat them, and congratulate them when they get the best of us.
Remember, there’s no one specific method of strategy, all we can do is get our chips in with the best of it and after that the results are no longer controlled by us.
Keep listening for pearls of wisdom from sage members our game, I know I will, and may all your premium hands hold up and I can only hope my pocket eights crush your ace-king every time.
