limon
10-09-2003, 02:26 PM
S & M's essays have some good info but they're so damn boring I can barely make it through one. I can't bitch though if I dont offer an alternative. So here is my first attmpt at a poker essay which doesn't make you want to quit poker. I've kept massive playing records over the years and most of them are in anecdotal form. If anyone likes it I'll post more.
DARK GLASSES
I am a big fan of dark glasses. I wear gold frame Dunhill’s with the gradient tint circa 1978. Besides looking stylish they help create an intimidating persona. Over many hours of play I found flop bluffs were more successful with glasses as opposed to without. Glasses also let you observe players without them knowing it. This comes in handy when someone beside you exposes their hole cards, you can peek without being caught. Glasses can also be used as a prop.
Once at the Bike I was playing $1-2 no limit and got in a hand with this know it all biker dude. He had a sweet mullet braided into a pony tail and after every hand he would claim he knew what people were holding. He and I got into a hand where 2 players limped and I raised to $13 on the button w/KJ suited. I figured this would get me heads up with the biker who was in the big blind, and it did. The flop was AJJ he checked I bet $25 he called, I’m putting him on an Ace. As I bet he groaned saying I bet every flop (which was true). Turn was a 10 he checked I bet $50 he called quickly chirping “I call”. I put him solidly on AQ or AK, he showed none of the deliberate play or indecision associated with a monster like AJ. His new found gutshot made the call easier. River was a 4. He checked I announced in squeaky voice “a hunnerd” and tossed in 1 white chip I had sitting behind my stack, I tossed it weakly in the bikers direction. Now the biker began to think, lookin’ at his cards smiling looking at me, I needed a call here. So I took my glasses off and put them on top of my head and sat back. He called. I showed, he mucked and then said, “it was worth the $100 cause I have a tell on you now. For $50 I’ll tell you what it is.” I declined and he said I would regret it. I couldn’t wait for a chance to bet a big bluff at him and use the glasses off trick, but it never came up. Hopefully I’ll see him again someday and he’ll get a chance to read that tell.
Note about the play of the above hand. If I have AJ suited on the button in that situation I probably DON’T raise before the flop. I want players with lower flush draws coming in with me so I can break them. I also don’t want to risk the chance of getting limp re-raised and having to lay down a hand that is drawing to the nuts. If KJ gets raised it’s an easy fold with no regrets. In big bet I almost never limp in with flush draws that aren’t to the nuts, only if I see a weak player who’s deep getting ready to raise behind me.
DARK GLASSES
I am a big fan of dark glasses. I wear gold frame Dunhill’s with the gradient tint circa 1978. Besides looking stylish they help create an intimidating persona. Over many hours of play I found flop bluffs were more successful with glasses as opposed to without. Glasses also let you observe players without them knowing it. This comes in handy when someone beside you exposes their hole cards, you can peek without being caught. Glasses can also be used as a prop.
Once at the Bike I was playing $1-2 no limit and got in a hand with this know it all biker dude. He had a sweet mullet braided into a pony tail and after every hand he would claim he knew what people were holding. He and I got into a hand where 2 players limped and I raised to $13 on the button w/KJ suited. I figured this would get me heads up with the biker who was in the big blind, and it did. The flop was AJJ he checked I bet $25 he called, I’m putting him on an Ace. As I bet he groaned saying I bet every flop (which was true). Turn was a 10 he checked I bet $50 he called quickly chirping “I call”. I put him solidly on AQ or AK, he showed none of the deliberate play or indecision associated with a monster like AJ. His new found gutshot made the call easier. River was a 4. He checked I announced in squeaky voice “a hunnerd” and tossed in 1 white chip I had sitting behind my stack, I tossed it weakly in the bikers direction. Now the biker began to think, lookin’ at his cards smiling looking at me, I needed a call here. So I took my glasses off and put them on top of my head and sat back. He called. I showed, he mucked and then said, “it was worth the $100 cause I have a tell on you now. For $50 I’ll tell you what it is.” I declined and he said I would regret it. I couldn’t wait for a chance to bet a big bluff at him and use the glasses off trick, but it never came up. Hopefully I’ll see him again someday and he’ll get a chance to read that tell.
Note about the play of the above hand. If I have AJ suited on the button in that situation I probably DON’T raise before the flop. I want players with lower flush draws coming in with me so I can break them. I also don’t want to risk the chance of getting limp re-raised and having to lay down a hand that is drawing to the nuts. If KJ gets raised it’s an easy fold with no regrets. In big bet I almost never limp in with flush draws that aren’t to the nuts, only if I see a weak player who’s deep getting ready to raise behind me.