Sometimes Lower Is Better

I received two emails this week from poker players who are in a blue funk because they are in a losing streak that they can't seem to shake.

Joe P. lives in Hollywood, CA. and Frankie L. makes his home in Kansas City. Both play no limit Texas Hold'em and they say their opponents are eating them alive. They want to know what they can do to change their luck.

I have been where Joe and Frankie find themselves and it is not a good place to find yourself.

Losing streaks don't happen to just bad players

They can hit good players who have been making a good living at the game for a long time. Some players are stunned when their luck reverses itself. They go into depression, lose their appetites, and some even give up the game, which I think is a foolish permanent solution to a temporary problem.

I have a solution for these two players that will work. They may not like it, but here is what I suggest.

Forget no limit

Stop playing the game and go back to basics by playing the lowest limit game in your casino for a week. A $4-8 game would be fine, but $3-6 would be even better.

People who play S3-6 poker are beginners who don't really play well. They understand the basics of the game but don/t know the trick moves that no-limit players use as a matter of course.

You can play real poker in a relaxed setting in a low limit game. You won't be risking big money and you can still win a substantial amount when the cards are running well for you.

No limit poker can turn into a brutal, bloody, costly brawl

It can take the fun element out of poker and send you to the parking lot in a daze as you wonder what happened to your bankroll.

When you find you are winning regularly at the lower limits, you can return to no-limit poker if that is your choice. Some of you, frankly, won't do it.

It's easy to fall in love with low limit poker. The game satisfies your passion for action even though the pots are considerably smaller than the pots in no-limit. But you will find yourself winning your fair share of those pots and that will sharply improve your admiration for the game.

On a golf course...

...you would not want to compete with a golfer whose handicap is one or two when yours is eight or 10. You have little chance of beating that golfer. He's just too good for you.

Poker players don't have handicaps but there is no doubt that some are substantially better than the average player. Realize that and choose your foes well. It could make all the difference in the world by helping you play poker for fun and profit.

I hope Joe and Frankie take this advice to heart and I know my regular readers will benefit from it.

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 ).