There was an old abandoned strip mine near my home in Western Pennsylvania where my friends and I used to hang out. Nobody went there except my buddies and me. It was outlaw country.
There we could smoke cigarettes and drink beer. We also had a dirt road where we could go drag racing. Since no cops were in the area, we could rev up our engines and make the cars go as fast as possible. Remember James Dean in 'Rebel Without A Cause'? That was us.
One thing I liked to do, and I practiced it a lot, was to be driving fast and suddenly wheel the car around in a reverse direction. It was dangerous. If you did it too fast, you ran the danger of tipping the vehicle over. Although I came close to doing it several times, it never happened. One moment I would be flying north, the next I would be heading south and I would do it in a wheeling, careening cloud of dust.
That teenage habit of defying rules and convention has carried over into my poker games.
Here's an example. Most of the strategy books on Omaha High-Low instruct players to stay away from playing high cards. The book authors reason that since the intent is to scoop the pot, you can't accomplish that with simply high cards so avoid them at all costs.
While I follow this policy most of the time, I will occasionally find myself playing seven-card stud high-low and my first three cards will be K-J-4 of spades, with the four as my upcard. When it's my turn to bet, I will raise the pot, representing three low cards. If I catch a spade on fourth street, say a 10, the other players will think my hand has been counterfeited and will come out betting only to have me raise the pot.
I reversed directions on them. They are now confused and don't have any idea what I am holding. This tactic has won some big pots for me.
Or I might be playing Texas Hold'em and find myself looking at a 9-2 offsuit. I am last to act and no matter how many players are in the pot, I raise. The flop comes 2-A-9, giving me two pairs. The players with aces come out betting and I raise. They call me to the river and lose. It's fun and it's profitable.
If you don't do this sort of thing too often, it can help increase your bankroll. Anytime you can deviate from the norm in poker, you are doing something different and it can pay off. Just refrain from over-doing it.
Remember in Omaha High-Low when you are last to act and most of the other players call, they are probably holding a combination of low cards. If you are sitting on K-Q-J-9 whether the cards are off-suit or suited, you may be holding a winning hand and it is probably worth a raise.
Poker is meant to be enjoyed. Reversing directions now and then add to the enjoyment and keeps you from getting bored. Try it. You'll like it and the results may pleasantly surprise you.
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 ).
