There are few things more satisfying than to defeat bullies at a poker table.
But danger exists when you challenge them, as I have experienced in Las Vegas and Phoenix, AZ. where I currently play. Poker can become a very emotional game and it gets even worse when you are losing.
Let's get into the subject of raising. I was playing Omaha High-Low at The Orleans casino in Las Vegas. There were two Oriental women at the table who were definitely pros when it came to using intimidation tactics. I would find myself looking at pocket aces with a deuce three, double suited -- a near perfect Omaha High-Low hand. I would raise, one of the women would re-raise, and the other female would re-raise her bet. I would get belligerent and cap the raises.
The flop would come K-K-10. I would think, 'Not a bad flop for me,' and come out betting. One of the girls would call and the other would raise. Subdued, I would just call, and the female who had just called my bet would re-raise. I would lose the pot when the second girl who had raised my bet would turn over three kings on a K-J-J-9 hand.
Now if you are thinking what I am thinking -- collusion -- you might be right on target.
I am Italian-Russian and a Taurus as well. That's a dangerous combination when it comes to temper. I don't back down from bullies and maybe that's a mistake. It has certainly cost me money gambling and it has won me money on some occasions in the past. But it hasn't won me more money than I have lost.
No, dear readers, I have concluded that the best way to handle bullies is to avoid them.
Like the other night when I was playing my usual Omaha High-Low game at Talking Stick casino. I was seated at a table that had two young players with stacks of chips. They seemed to know each other (both were Vietnamese or Cambodian) and they got into the habit of capping the raises, especially when I was in the pot.
I challenged their raises and won a couple of good-sized pots against them. But then my luck changed and I began losing to their bullying tactics. I came dangerously close to going on tilt.
I called a floor man.
When he arrived at our table, I whispered in his ear, 'Get me another game.' He nodded. Five minutes later my name was called and I went to another table. The bullies were obviously annoyed that I had escaped their clutches. They made a derisive remark or two as I exited the table. I didn't care. The game did not have a pleasant atmosphere and I was happy to go.
The story gets better. My luck changed almost immediately at the new table. The other players were passive callers, leaving me as the only aggressive player at the table. I would raise, they would call, I would win the pot. It happened over and over again and when I left the table, I had a substantial profit for the evening.
As I walked by the table where the bullies were sitting to cash out, I noticed their chip stacks had increased considerably -- but they hadn't gotten the chips from me. I smiled inwardly. Maybe I had turned coward, but by doing so I had revamped my battle strategy and won the war.
If you are losing consistently at poker, you could be running into the dead card syndrome. But a better guess would be that you are playing at the wrong table. Change tables. Even change games. It could be a good change that would restore your bankroll and put a smile on your face.
Author: Geno Lawrenzi Jr.
(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter and poker player who lives in Phoenx, AZ. He has published 2,000 articles in 50 magazines and 125 newspapers. If you want to share a gambling story or book idea with him, send an email to glawrenzi@gmail.com ).
