The learning sessions

I think all poker players don't immediately start off as winners. I certainly didn't. Throughout the first half of 2005, I found myself a net loser of about $1,800 at the poker table. I started off playing $4/$8 limit hold 'em for the most part as that was the only game I felt comfortable playing at the time. The casino at which I was playing did offer a no limit game, but the blinds were $2 and $5 and there was no maximum buy in. I didn't want to play on scared money, so I avoided the no limit game and stuck with the limit games. This probably wasn't the best thing for me as I was used to thinking about hold 'em hands in a no limit context, not a limit context.

After losing a bit at $4/$8, I tried the $6/$12 game. Friends of mine told me that the play was better at $6/$12 and that all of the bad players that always seemed to get lucky against me wouldn't be playing $6/$12. My luck at $6/$12 wasn't any better than it was at $4/$8. I also learned that in multi way pots in limit games, it is rarely correct to slow play. I called a raise from the big blind with K-J in a $6/$12 game as there were already 5 players in behind me. The flop comes A-Q-10. I had the absolute nuts. My plan was to check-raise the flop, but none of my opponents cooperated by betting for me. The turn brought a second heart to the board so I fired out a bet at the pot and got two callers. Of course, the river was yet another heart and I fired another bet at the pot. One opponent folds and another raised me. I was pretty sure I was beat, but I paid off the flush anyway. I know I got a bit unlucky when my opponent caught runner-runner to beat me, but I was more upset that I paid off a bet that I shouldn't have. I think check-calling would have been the better play on the river.