The World Poker Tour hooked me (along with a universe of others) when it began broadcasting its now famous tournaments. What fascinated me most, and what I least understood, was how did the players know what cards to play when? What was the thought process behind their bets, raises and folds? Of course, the ability to see the hole cards made it even more fascinating (especially when someone would run a successful bluff).
Vince and Mike weren't (and really still aren't) that helpful in informing the uninformed viewing public the mechanics of the decision making process preferring, rather, trivial hyperbole over breaking a hand to down to cards, pot odds and psychology. They mention, perhaps, that a player is getting the right price to call, but say little else by way of explanation.
So here we are in Season III of the WPT. I've read a library full of poker books and played more than a couple of hands of poker and have a greater understanding of the game than I did at Season I, Episode I. I am very, very far from being an expert, though. Yet, I was pleased with my own analysis of one hand during this week's episode which differed from the commentary Sexton was giving at the time.
I wish I had written down the particulars of the hand - I had thought it was the hand where Juanda laid down the AQ, but when I reviewed the narrative at the website, that doesn't seem to be the case. If I recall correctly, at the flop, which had come down rags, one player (I think it was Elezra) made a moderate raise to Juanda's flop bet, of which Sexton commented that most players would then come over the top.
I then recalled the raise Negreanu made at Freddie Deeb during the final table of Championship Poker at the Plaza which was just enough to look like he wanted a call from Deeb. Deeb smelled a trap and laid down his hand - but he laid down the best hand to Negreanu's brilliantly reasoned bluff.
My thinking was different than Sexton's. As I watched Juanda ponder, I was thinking that he would see the raise as a trap and not fall for it - he'd put his opponent on a set and lay his hand down. About a second later, that's what Juanda did - he folded, to Sexton's surprise.
Now my deduction wasn't so remarkable. What was remarkable was that I applied something I'd learned about the game to deduce a player's decision - and it happened almost automatically. I then thought, wow, maybe I've learned something about this game after all.
My confidence then peeked out from where it had been hiding these last couple of weeks and said, "I didn't go anywhere. I've been right here all along - now get back in the game and play the way you know how to play...." And so I did. I've been playing at a new site, with an alias that will remain "incognito," if you will, so I can play unnoticed and unobserved. I felt this was necessary while I build up some steam and get back my game.
I've done ok at the ring games, but I'm still getting creamed at the $20 SnGs. I know what part of that problem is and it has more to do with distractions and lack of concentration then it does with actual play - easily fixed. I am also going to get serious about using tools like Poker Tracker to sharpen my game, and that will be a lot easier to do with the help of The Poker Tracker Guide - at least I hope so. Time will tell.
I want to thank my internet pals who took the time to e-mail or IM their words of encouragement - you know who you are - it meant the world to me. I've booked my filght for Vegas in June and I'm looking forward to the H.O.R.S.E Tourney at Full Tilt on the 13th. But I need a crash course! I need a tutor! Felicia, care to take me on as a student - lol?
