So the strategy for that first tournament was quite simple: I just laid back and observed for the most part. I would only play medium-strong to strong hands. I played just a few hands, but when I did, I bet them strong and would get paid off. I realized early on that Robert would be the only one who posed any kind of threat. When we were down to three players and I had a sizable chip lead, the following hand came up. I had A♥-Q♥ when the flop came A-10-7 with two spades. Robert led out betting and I re-raised him all-in. I did not want him chasing a flush. Robert called with A♠-5♣. Robert ended up hitting runner-runner spades and doubling up. Oh well, that’s poker.
Soon thereafter the third player was eliminated, and it came down to Robert and me heads-up. I had a small chip advantage. Now a funny thing happened. I had been having a good time enjoying everyone’s company and feeling very relaxed. All of a sudden, I tightened up. We were playing strictly for fun and pride, but something came over me. I had absolutely nothing to win and a lot to lose. Since I knew something about poker and had a great deal more experience than anyone else, I was expected to win. If I lost, though, I would lose credibility. At least, that’s the way I saw it. I’m sure the rest of the group, all being good guys, would not think anything either way.
Well, as soon as you start playing not to lose, you are guaranteed not to win. Robert played very aggressively as you must when you are heads-up and the blinds are high. I played tentatively, waiting for an opportunity to exploit. Instead, I was outplayed and ended up coming in second. Again, I learned a valuable lesson from what I thought would be just a fun social event. No matter what the circumstances, to play not to lose is a poor choice. There will be times in a tournament to tighten up, but to play not to lose anytime is wrong. Unless you are playing a satellite, tournament payouts are always weighted heavily toward the top. If you want to win the big money, you always have to be playing to win.
A perfect example of this is when bubble time approaches in a tournament. Many players are content just to make the money. Others want to win the tournament or at least advance as far as they can. Those who want to make the money will play not to lose at that point in time. The more experienced players will take advantage of this.
Our neighborhood home game continued to be played on a regular basis. It was both fun and interesting to me. It was a great social event, and I learned you could really learn something from every situation. During this time, I was playing in events on the Professional Poker Tour, the World Series of Poker Circuit, and the World Series of Poker itself. I saw players on each of those events making some of the same mistakes as players in my home game. I really looked forward to playing in the home game.
Over the last few years, poker has become somewhat of a job to me. To be able to play purely for fun serves as a reminder of why I love the game so much. That is another lesson learned. Poker should be fun. You have to stay focused and play to win, but you should be having fun doing it. I find that I play better when I am enjoying myself. That does not mean that the game is stress free. Far from it. But it’s like any other worthwhile endeavor. I find the challenges exhilarating.
It was fun to watch the different players develop during the course of the home game. I did not believe that any of the guys were playing anywhere else besides the home game. At least if they were, they were not telling. And I could not make every home game with my schedule. Still, I could really witness each player develop and find his own unique style.
First, there was Gib. Shortly after our very first game, my first book Tournament Poker and The Art of War was released. Gib was kind enough to come to a signing at a local bookstore and pick up a copy. He also read the book, which showed that he was interested in learning. The fact that he wanted to learn and realized that outside sources could help made a big difference in his game. The next time we played, he was a completely different player. While the other players were making baby steps, Gib made a quantum leap. He was playing very few hands, and when he did, he played them with strength. The two of us easily played the least amount of hands. Not coincidentally, the game came down to the two of us playing heads-up. We started with approximately the same amount of chips.
I was not about to make the same mistake again. This time, I played to win and was extremely aggressive. It did not take long for me to win. The biggest mistake Gib made was failing to adjust his starting hand requirements when we were heads-up. Otherwise, I was extremely impressed with how much Gib had improved in such a short time. He really grasped the concept of using your chips as power, which is so important in a no-limit Hold’em tournament. He did not needlessly squander his chips at any point. You could tell that Gib was also beginning to understand the relative value of hands. He tightened up his starting hand requirements. This paid off in a big way, for when he entered a pot, he was typically a big favorite to win.
The two biggest weaknesses I could see in everyone’s game was the failure to make adjustments and the failure to use position. Most of the players appeared to play their hands in a vacuum, that is, so long as they liked what they had in their own hand, they played it the same regardless of what else was going on. They failed to adjust to the number of opponents entering the pot, the size of the blinds, the number of players still in the game, and the hands their opponents might be holding. Just as important, they never used position to their advantage. No one adjusted his starting hand requirement even if everyone folded to him on the button.
Now since these were all beginning players, their failure to make adjustments is completely understandable and easily excused. Yet, I see it happen all the time in much bigger events. So many things change in tournament poker that you constantly have to adapt if you want to succeed. The blinds increase, antes are introduced, players are eliminated, tables are consolidated, and stacks can go from big to small (and vice versa) in one hand. You cannot go into cruise control for one minute. Unlike a cash game, in which you can be playing with the same opponents for hours on end at the same levels (and players can dip into their pockets and replenish their stacks if need be), the only constant in a tournament is change.
To make adjustments constantly is very difficult. The consequences of failing to adjust are apparent when watching a table of beginners. The slight adjustments needed to survive and thrive in a more competitive environment are not as apparent but equally destructive to your chances to win. I was determined to work on this aspect of my game after this home-game session.
Let’s next take another look at Robert, our host of the home game. Here’s a guy with a ten-man poker table, clay composite chips, a card shuffler, dealer button, and every other poker paraphernalia imaginable. The guy loves poker and understands the value of hands. In addition, he knows when to bet and raise. The other guys outside of Gib still prefer to call and check just about every time. Robert also loves to bluff, and that’s his biggest fault at the poker table. He learned it from watching edited final tables on television where they’re going to show an inordinate amount of bluffing. A common belief of beginning poker players is that poker is all about bluffing. Certainly, bluffing plays a large part, but it’s much smaller than beginning players think.
Texas Hold’em is about playing position and your opponent. It’s about making correct decisions and avoiding mistakes. And yes, it’s about bluffing at opportune times. Bluffing only works when you try it in the right situation and against the right opponent. In tournaments, the ability to choose spots to bluff is critical because you cannot always afford to wait for cards. Robert, however, bluffed indiscriminately.
There is an old poker saying