Top
5 Reasons
Cary Pall - 2007
I’m currently reading Daniel Negreanu’s Hold ‘Em
Wisdom for all players. This is Daniel’s first book and is
a primer for beginning players. I’m definitely not a beginner,
but this book has already taught me a few things. Chapter 2, entitled “Top
5 Reasons Why You’re Losing at Poker”, begins with a
funny poker saying: “Poker is a lot like sex. Everyone thinks
that they’re great at it, but most people don’t know
what they’re doing.” This is a very funny quote, but
also one that is very, very true.
In this article, I really wanted to deconstruct my own game and
share with you all what I believe are my biggest weaknesses and strengths.
I am going to be as straightforward and honest as possible because
I really think that will help improve my game. Hopefully it will
inspire you to take a step back and evaluate your own game and help
you come to terms with who you really are at the poker table.
I’m going to start with a list of all of my weaknesses regarding
poker. Here’s a few:
1.
Playing too high.
In the past I have played in games at limits
at least double what my bankroll could actually afford. Even though
I only played in these games because the competition was weak, it
was still a set up for disaster. Short term bad luck can wipe your
bankroll out quickly. Also, luck aside; I tend to play less than
my “A” game at higher limits because the money is too
important. For example, I might not bluff someone on the river when
I know he would lay down a better hand, or maybe I didn’t get
full value on a good hand because I checked the river. You should
never play above your “comfort zone” as you will be playing
scared and will definitely not be playing an optimal poker strategy.
2. Money Management.
This also is related closely to the previous
topic. Playing out of your comfort zone is DEFINITELY bad money management.
Why work so hard building a bankroll only to lose it in one game
where your ego controlled you? It is devastating to your bankroll
to let ego get involved and control your rational thought. It’s
also quite a humbling experience to have to move back down to the
lower limits after such a display of idiocy. Another problem I’ve
had with money management doesn’t have to do with poker at
all. After having a good month or two at the tables, maybe a big
tournament score, I’ve been known to disappear for months at
a time. I literally would just hop in my car and travel the east
coast seeing friends and partying, throwing money around left and
right. Although, I have no real regrets about this because it honestly
makes me enjoy life more, it is still a mistake for a professional
who makes his living playing poker. It’s good to have time
for you to relax and have a good time, but sometimes I overdo it.
Just because I’ve made a decent score here and there doesn’t
mean I’m some millionaire big shot who can do whatever he wants
all the time. Stay grounded when you’re on a roll.
3. Playing Passively.
Sometimes in tournaments I tend to become a
little too tight/passive. Sometimes my gut will tell me when someone
is bluffing and I just can’t pull the trigger with a reraise
or call. I’ve taken many steps to avoid this so I won’t
get bullied too much. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I’m
playing to win and have to stand up to the ultra aggressive players
if I want a first place.
4. Not being able to admit where I need improvement.
It’s ironic
that the first poker games I played (besides 5 card draw) are now
my worst games. Seven card stud and hold ‘em were my first
games and now seem to be the games I have trouble with. I don’t
play stud much, but I do play a lot of HORSE tournaments. I’ve
had to go back and study stud in detail to get back on track. Also,
limit hold ‘em and NL hold ‘em cash games were what first
interested me in poker. They were my bread and butter so to speak.
I used to be unstoppable! In the last year and a half, I’ve
really shifted focus to tournaments and Omaha/Stud 8 or better. Now,
when I go back to play hold ‘em cash games, I’m not the “all
star” I once was. The last few sessions of NL and limit hold ‘em
I played, I’ve clocked losses. So, maybe it’s time to
go back to my roots and get out there and play some live hold ‘em.
It’s also good to have friends, whose opinion you respect,
to help evaluate your game and talk about hands with.
5. Playing long sessions.
I’ve been known to go to Atlantic
City for a week and play forty hour stretches. I’ve played
a whole week with naps and little food. One time I played in NY in
a marathon session, napped in the poker room at the casino for a
couple hours and then did it all over! This is pure lunacy and you
could probably imagine what my results were like. When I play live,
I now play in fairly short spurts and I’m sure to get rest
and a proper diet. I had to convince myself that I’m a human
and not a machine and humans require sleep and a proper diet. And
I don’t mean nachos from the gas station! It sounds silly and
obvious, but you’d be surprised how that last hour or two in
a long session can hurt your overall gain. And playing long hours
in a losing session can turn into an absolute meltdown. Don’t
be silly like me.
Ok,
well, I think that’s a good start on the path to self
discovery! I thought hard about the “leaks” in my overall
game and I think I covered the important ones. Now, let’s end
on some positive aspects of my game, so I don’t feel like a
complete fish! Here are a few things I think I do very well at:
1.
Versatility.
I
think that this is the number one thing that separates me from
other good players. No matter what game is being played,
limit or NL, tournament or cash game, etc. I feel confident to
win at any of them. I feel that I’m well rounded in most variations
of poker and this gives me the confidence I need to play smart and
win.
2. Determination.
It
would be very hard to find a player with more determination and
dedication to the game of poker. I literally
put almost every waking hour into thinking about the game. It’s
borderline insanity possibly, but it just goes to show the amount
of love and respect that I have for the game of poker.
3. Card sense.
From playing so many hours in many variations
of poker, I’ve become familiar with betting patterns, tells, etc. I’m
good at analyzing individual situations and deciphering what my opponents’ hole
cards are. The only way to get better at this is through many hours
of playing and I have definitely put in my hours.
4. Fundamentals.
This may seem basic, but knowing fundamentals
and the math behind poker is absolutely essential. I’ve never been
good at math, but I have a very good memory which helps tremendously
when faced with a purely mathematical situation. By instilling certain
probabilities and odds into the back of your memory bank, it makes
these tough looking decisions become very easy ones. When I played
chess in college, a good friend and expert chess player, Josh Wolff,
used to tell me that I had a fundamental understanding of the game
of chess that not many had. My success in chess (I was a rated player
and played many tournaments) was due to my fundamental understanding
of certain positions, endgame technique, etc. which led to a very
simple, straightforward winning style. I lacked the opening game
knowledge, advanced tactics, and daring sacrifices, etc., but my
fundamentals were strong enough to override my weaknesses in other
aspects of the game. I believe that the same can go for poker (my
love for chess naturally led me to another great mind game, poker).
Go back and study some of the basics of poker sometimes, just like
a basketball player does lay up drills, to keep your game sharp.
In order to build a house, you need a solid foundation. With all
the great books out today, all the information you need is right
at your fingertips.
5. I simply do not tilt anymore.
Sure, I’ve had plenty of ridiculous
bad beats and at the beginning of my career as a poker player I used
to whine and really dwell on these hands. Now, I guess I have just
become numbed to it. Bad beats are part of the game and you should
take pride in every one that occurs. Think about it. If you’re
playing well and constantly getting your opponent’s to make
mistakes by calling you with the worst of it, then you are doing
your job as a poker player! It may sound counterproductive, but the
more bad beats I take, the better I am playing! Makes sense, right?
Yes, bad beats have probably cost me thousands, if not tens of thousands
of dollars, but at the end of the month I am still way ahead. Hell,
it’s cost me a couple thousand just this week! It can be very
frustrating to make a final table out of 2,000 entries or to lose
a $1,000 pot in a cash game when your AA gets cracked by AK, but
you have to understand that it’s all part of the game. Take
your bad beats in stride and don’t let it affect you
in that particular session, because in the long run it all
comes back exponentially!
6. Table image.
Whether online or live, I try to create a good
image. I am very good at being the guy at the table who can
make you laugh
at a joke while I scoop all of your chips. I can also crack
a joke after losing $500 to a runner runner flush. People respect
that
kind of character at a poker table. Even online, I try to engage
in table
chat and keep the mood light. But, if you can create a likeable
image, but also one that radiates fearlessness, then you can
destroy any
game you play.
Wow,
I feel like a great weight has been lifted off of my chest. I tried
to be completely honest about my game and I hope that is
the impression that you as the reader will get. What are some your
own strengths and weaknesses at the tables? I’d love to hear
about it so maybe we all can improve are games.
Best of Luck!
-CP
http://www.myspace.com/cary_pall
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