Losing Sleep Over Poker

Not in the way you might imagine (or, maybe exactly in the way you might expect/imagine).

On Wednesday, I decided to go in to the club and play the regular £75 Freezeout. This used to be one of my most regular games; ironically, when I was working flat-out, I used to make it maybe 2 out of 3 weeks. Of course I was staying in London most nights then, so it was actually easier than now when I need to think about travel and accommodation etc.

This would be my first live game since Vegas and, having been away in Spain for a week, I hadn't played any poker at all for a couple of weeks (that's a long time !)

I made some other appointments in London for the day, and after checking into my hotel, duly made it down at 7:59pm.

In the tournament itself, I made it about half-way. It was a pretty inconspicuous game - perhaps it would have turned out differently if I had not lost a big post with QQ early on (some discussion here).

At that point, I was tempted to join the PLO game that was just starting. These are the circumstances for which the phrase "Why, Oh Why?" was coined.

The answers have to do with the fading of bad memories, and weak-willedness.

It was an expensive re-acquaintance and - duly on tilt - I also lost a not-insignificant amount playing Hold'Em later on (note to self: AK-suited for 250BB is not the nuts in a cash game even when you hit Top Pair/Top Kicker). Looking for silver linings, I guess the good news is that I won't be tempted again for a long, long time.

So, very much poorer, I headed back to my hotel about 3am. Now, in fact, I would not have actually stayed overnight except that I had been invited to a private game on Thursday night. I used Thursday to catch up with some ex-colleagues for lunch, then met up with my host at a London restaurant in the evening.

This game (a £50 rebuy tournament with about 20 players) has been running once-a-month for several years I understand. I've been invited countless times before, but never been able to make it previously for various reasons.

This time, I thought it would be good karma. The host was a broker whom I have known for many, many years and who keeps in touch even now I have left the finance industry (according to him, not for very long).

It was particularly relevant since the first time I played poker was at The Gutshot as his guest in a £50 rebuy that his firm organised for clients. In that event, I came 2nd / 119 and was hooked ! Furthermore, the person who beat me (I still remember the hand) would be playing - revenge time !

The game got underway a little about 7:30 (running late). I'm used to playing poker in casinos and card-rooms so the layout (2 "tables" all around one long dining table with baize laid over) looked a bit odd to me. The whole set-up was less professional than I'm accustomed to. Not in a bad way, I must add, and of course I am very familiar with tournaments where the social aspect is more important than the poker.

Still, I really wanted to win. Even more, I did not want to LOSE.

It was obvious to me after a short while that I was the best player there by some margin. If you read my blog etc then you know I rarely claim to be all that good, and if I play in a Gutshot tournament, say, then I think I may be a little above average at best.

But in this case, it was really apparent that some of the other players were short on experience, and none of them was a really strong player. It was clear that I should have a big edge in theory.

Now we all know that the luck-vs-skill debate allows for a huge difference in outcomes no matter how the players rank on relative skill/experience.

Some people I know - good, experienced players - maintain that they prefer not to play against beginners. I understand why they say this but I profoundly disagree. They make so many mistakes and put you under so little pressure. This extra edge more than makes up for the main problem, which is that they don't know what they are doing, so you can't work out what they are doing and act accordingly !

The single biggest mistake, imo, that they all make is being far too passive. So much limping and minimum-raising. Another common mistake is calling too much although this particular fault was less in evidence.

I mentally ran through the "rules" in my head "Don't bluff, don't be too clever, play strong hands strongly, see draws cheaply. Don't go bust".

On to the game. I had been told it was a £100 rebuy which could have become rather expensive. At £50 rebuy it still wasn't cheap but I was surprised - given the make-up of the players - how relatively timid they were in the rebuy period. I was hoping to see a lot of money go in but for the whole of the first level, no one was all in at my table (apart from me, obviously).

So cautious was it, that I had to resort to raising blind pre-deal to get some action going. That did the trick, but I couldn't win a hand it seemed. I felt I really needed some chips to ensure I could dictate the freezeout action so I was pushing any reasonable had to the max, but running into big cards: flopped Top Pair, another guy flopped the nut flush. Top Pair (Queens) again, up against pocket Kings !

I managed to double up with the mighty J8o, and then thought my moment had come: raised AJ and got 2 callers. Flop A62. I check-called trying to get the maximum value. I check-raised the turn (another deuce) so all three players were all-in now (one was all in on the flop in fact).

The cards are tabled: I am up against A6 and A2 !! Owned !

At the end of the rebuy, I topped up and had 4,700 chips - just a fraction below average. Playable, and needing a good start in the freezeout. Essentially I needed to pick my spots, and be prepared to go with the hand.

The first such key moment came when it was folded to me on the button with A9. I pushed (blinds 200/400 already) and was called by 77. He covered me comfortably so I doubled up when a 9 hit.

I waited for another spot which came shortly after the final table formed (this did not take long - with the average stacks being <5k and blinds 200/400 then 300/600 and 400/800, it took less than an hour to knock out 11 of the 21 players). It should not have taken that long, really, but the pace of the play was snail-like.

Second hand at the final table, I have Jd8d on the big-blind. There is one call, then a min-raise. The button calls. The play is so passive that I have to think I can see the flop for only 800 more, with a likely pot when the early limper also calls (chances of him limp-raising all-in - an obvious play - zero !)

So, I do that and I see a 6,400 pot for 800. Flop 5d3d2h. If there is any more obvious move than the insta-push here, I would like to know about it. I move in for 8,200 and no one defends. Up to nearly 15k, and able to wait for further good opportunities.

I was pretty happy with my play in this event. With the blinds the way they were, you either need a big hand that plays itself, or you need to play in the correct situations. In any event you need some luck.

A good example of situation + luck came up a round or two later. I have 15,100 and the blinds are now a terrifying 1k/2k. We are 7-handed I think. UTG+1 limps. I am next. I know this player will not call off his chips without a big hand. His limp says he doesn't have one. I have KdTd and push to pick up the 5k chips on offer. I am pretty confident this move will work.

Now, the player ("invincible Vince") on my left acts. He has had about 2 bottles of malt whiskey, I reckon. Very nice chap, but not following the action too closely (went on to finish 3rd by the way !). How much is it? He asks. "About 15" is the reply.

Call, he says, and puts in 1,500 chips.

No. 15 THOUSAND.

Obviously, in any normal game, his verbal "call" has to stand and the dealer would put in the chips for him. Here, it was not really clear whether he was being allowed to pull back his chips, leave the 1,500 in and fold, being forced to call, or what. I said nothing - I don't want any callers, although it is obvious he does not have a big hand.

Eventually he puts in another 1,500 - total of 3,000. This could take a while.

Eventually, part 2, he shrugs his shoulders and puts in 15,100. He has at least the same left behind.

The original limper folds KJ face-up. I know I am right that he would fold that just against me as well.

OK. What am I up against ? A-2 suited. Could be worse, although with one King folded and useful straight cards also gone, I need some help.

Flop 8-7-3. Turn 9.

River, 6. My opponent does not see my T-high straight, but I make sure the dealer has spotted it and scoop up a nice pot for the chip lead.

I feel in control, to be honest, but the blinds are enormous and it is still really hard to read the other players' actions. For example, there was a pot at 2k/4k 5-handed where I felt I had to call on the SB with King-high (2k to see a 12k pot - hard to turn down).

It was checked on flop and river and I was first to act on the river when an Ace fell. 9-7-7-5-A board with two hearts on the flop. I really think King-high could be good but I decide to try to see a showdown. Checked to the button who now bets 5k into 12k, with about 25k behind.

I think I am winning. In any case, the other player would be all-in to call 5k so I can't be re-bluffed. I call, looking forward to the plaudits when I win with King high.

The other player calls all-in and flips up 6-8 for the straight on the turn. The river-bettor has Ace-Ten !!

In hindsight, I should realise that passive players do not bet out on the river, even last to act after 3 rounds of checking, without at least a pair.

Hmm. I was now down to 28k chips or so which was 2nd biggest, but only 7 big blinds!

Key hand next: I pick up A-7 suited under the gun and push all-in. One fold, then one all in for about 11k. The big blind was nearly all-in (<1k left after posting) so he calls.

I am up against pocket Tens (the all-in player) and KJ (big blind). Could have been a lot better !

No Aces come, but two spades on the flop and instant service on the turn knocks out two players and means that we're in the money.

It's not too long before short-stacked Vince is out (with the blinds so big, I keep putting him all-in).

Heads-up with Dario. I offer a deal (I am 2nd in chips but am prepared to settle for an even money split). Up till this point, I had swiftly put down any discussion of deals. Dario does what I would do ... "play on".

Poker is a game of skill, and luck. Poker is also a game where experience counts. With the blinds now raised to 4k/8k and with only about 100k chips in play, there is a huge crapshoot element. Nonetheless, I felt I was about 75% to win. I am by no-means a heads-up expert but having been in this position a few dozen times is rather better than being a heads-up novice !

Essentially, Dario was way too passive. He let me see far too many flops and did not stand up to be counted. I moved into a 4-1 lead and at that point decided it was time to be all-in every hand. When the next hand was dealt, I moved-in blind.

Dario checked, liked what he saw, and called.

I turned up my cards - Ac7c - nice !

Dario - pocket Jacks ! OK then.

Flop... JACK ... !! The rest of it came out King-Four. Only one club.

Turn Queen of clubs.

River - not a club. But it was a Ten, giving me the straight and the £1,950. Dario was gracious in 2nd place (£970).

I gave him one of my H-bomb cards which cheered him up (ah ... beaten by a professional ... I feel better now, he said. LOL)

A good night - it's nice to win something for a change ! Thanks to Hardy, Pat and Gio for hosting.

Not something to lose sleep over, you would think. Well, the game had gone on way past my bedtime - I was told to expect an 11pm finish. The last train was at 1:18 - quite a margin. It was now well past 12:30, and Dario and I shared a cab to London Bridge where I discover the last train had been cancelled.

Nothing for it .... off to The Gutshot to play through till the first train. It turned out to cost me a little more than a cab back to Bedford, but was probably more fun.

Who needs sleep anyway.