Paying Attention

Why is it so important to pay attention? I cannot for the life of me understand the player who is reading a magazine while playing cards. Or playing a video game... or some other such nonsense. If you wanted to read a magazine, curl up on the couch at home and read a magazine? These people are losing so much information to be had from the table in front of them. And it doesn't matter that it's a poker magazine because that poker mag is not making you any money while you are playing cards.

I played $4-$8 limit hold-em last night at the Belle. Now, I know this is low stakes, but I like to pay attention. It's good practice for when it's not a low stakes game and any little bit I win in low stakes and furher my bankroll for a bigger stakes game! So one hand in particular, I held A7. The flop came KT9. I was in early position, and there were 4 of in the hand. Everyone checked. The turn brought another K. We all checked to an older man in last position who bet. Now, I decided that he wouldn't have checked top pair on the flop in last position. And he wouldn't have some other pair that he is now betting. So even though I read him as a tight player, I decided he did not have anything and called. Everyone else folded. The river brought another K. When he did not bet here, I knew I was right. He turned over A8 and we chopped the pot. If I had been reading magazine and playing only my cards and not the player I would have lost a half pot here.

Another example from the same session. In this case I had something goofy like A4. I really don't remember what was on the board. Maybe a possible straight, but I do remember that a 5 hit the river. We all checked all streets. Again a tight player leads out on the river with a bet. I decide that he could have a 5 here or he could have nothing at all. As he is holding his cards I see a T flash in his hand. So that means that he doesn't have a straight. Again, maybe a 5. But a tight player wouldn't bet just a pair of 5's here. So it's more likely that he has nothing and is just trying to steal the pot. I call. All else fold and he holds his cards close to him, looks at the dealer who confrims to him that someone called him, and he mucks his hand - no show. I win the pot with my Ace high by calling down a bluff with a bluff call and I don't even have to show my hand. Another pot I would have lost by reading a poker magazine or playing a video game.

I left $140 ahead on the night. Tomorrow I am going to take a shot at winning a seat into the NOLA WSOP Circuit main event. It costs $135 to win a $1600 seat. I can do.  My reads are good. My focus is strong. I have done it before. I expect to win!