What condition are you in during a poker game? In some circles, poker and alcohol go hand in hand in a live game. Does alcohol help or hinder your performance? Interesting question. Many of us have been in a situation where you called a bet you never would have considered if you were sober. You might feel lucky and play more hands. You might be the tight player that starts playing every hand. You recognize these players almost immediately when you sit down. The inebriated player might announce his intentions to the table. His announcement may include an expletive or two. This move tells the rest of the table; I don't have the best hand, but I'm drunk and don't care....all in....hiccup.
In this situation the intoxicated player surrenders to the table by alcohol instead of by card play. He will be eliminated because a strong player will sit back and wait for the right cards to take advantage of an impaired player. You could conclude that as the alcohol level goes up, your patience will dwindle. Patience is an important element of the game no matter what your style. I'm sure you have observed a short-stacked player come back from nowhere. They wait for the right hands and make the right bets in the right situation. They are usually sober or close to it.
If you are under the influence of alcohol, you're trying to make the situation. You will hit a hand here and there, but in the end, the rest of the table has figured out your game plan and that bulls eye is on your back. Do you want to be the player that everyone is gunning for?
On the other hand, has alcohol been the silver bullet in your game. No pun intended. Does it give you the courage to make that call against the chip bully? Whether your sipping Jack Daniels, a fuzzy navel or your locally brewed beer, at some point during a poker game, alcohol gives the most timid player the confidence of ten men.
It's not some miracle drug, but about letting go of your inhibitions. Has alcohol stripped away your well-honed playing style and turned you into a calling station? This might be you or you have witnessed a player call everything because he has to see it. Either way, loose players make the game interesting. What would the game be if all the action were pure textbook play? Well, we all have good intentions when we sit down, and then Mr. Alcohol comes knocking at the door. He wants to play too.
I'm not saying poker and alcohol don't mix, but it's about maintaining a balance between the game that you love to play and having a good time without compromising your poker strategy. So the next time you sit down to play a tournament or cash game with your friends, be sure to buy the table a round.
M Scandle is a contributer to several poker websites, including the poker room review site ==>Turning Trips.com
In this situation the intoxicated player surrenders to the table by alcohol instead of by card play. He will be eliminated because a strong player will sit back and wait for the right cards to take advantage of an impaired player. You could conclude that as the alcohol level goes up, your patience will dwindle. Patience is an important element of the game no matter what your style. I'm sure you have observed a short-stacked player come back from nowhere. They wait for the right hands and make the right bets in the right situation. They are usually sober or close to it.
If you are under the influence of alcohol, you're trying to make the situation. You will hit a hand here and there, but in the end, the rest of the table has figured out your game plan and that bulls eye is on your back. Do you want to be the player that everyone is gunning for?
On the other hand, has alcohol been the silver bullet in your game. No pun intended. Does it give you the courage to make that call against the chip bully? Whether your sipping Jack Daniels, a fuzzy navel or your locally brewed beer, at some point during a poker game, alcohol gives the most timid player the confidence of ten men.
It's not some miracle drug, but about letting go of your inhibitions. Has alcohol stripped away your well-honed playing style and turned you into a calling station? This might be you or you have witnessed a player call everything because he has to see it. Either way, loose players make the game interesting. What would the game be if all the action were pure textbook play? Well, we all have good intentions when we sit down, and then Mr. Alcohol comes knocking at the door. He wants to play too.
I'm not saying poker and alcohol don't mix, but it's about maintaining a balance between the game that you love to play and having a good time without compromising your poker strategy. So the next time you sit down to play a tournament or cash game with your friends, be sure to buy the table a round.
M Scandle is a contributer to several poker websites, including the poker room review site ==>Turning Trips.com
