In Poker and Life, Plan to be Surprised

As an aspiring poker player, I can plead guilty to the fact that I spend the majority of my free time discussing with myself different strategies and situations in no-limit texas hold 'em. This "problem", as others may perceive it, has helped me conceive the appropriate title for my blog: "Waking Up On The Poker Side Of The Bed". I hope these columns can give a sense of appreciation to those who also share a deep infatuation for the cadillac of poker, while also extending some knowledge to those who hope to improve their play of no-limit texas hold 'em.

I find it very interesting how many situations that we encounter in our everyday life that we can use to both improve our play, and to further appreciate its existence. I spend a lot of my own time playing, watching, and analyzing poker. It is this phenomenon that I have coined: "Waking Up On The Poker Side Of The Bed".



I recently got the opportunity to watch the newly released film Dan in Real Life. It was a film that I really enjoyed, but more importantly it ended with a really interesting thought. Dan Burns (played by Steve Carell) is an accomplished journalist who always seems to have the right words. The movie closes with him reciting a passage from his most recent column. He begins discussing the idea of plans, and he concludes by saying that the best advice for planning, is plan to be surprised.

This quote rings very true for life, but is equally true in poker. Every hand has a uniqueness to it that no other hand has ever had. Every flop is a new learning experience, every call a new opportunity. One of the biggest problems that beginners face is they want to "understand" how to win. Many beginners search online and through published books, looking for guidelines to winning in poker. The truth is there is no place to find these guidelines. Every hand is a new surprise, and it is impossible for anyone to document every possible scenario. To become a truly great poker player, you must learn to "feel" the game. With every hand being a new surprise, you must be able to feel the hand and adapt before your opponent. It is this ability to adapt before your opponent that most clearly defines the line between winning and losing. These ways to adapt are the single most debated topics in poker, and can simply be called strategies. Since every hand is a unique combination of players, cards, boards, and bets, to master poker, you must learn how to trust your instincts. To be able to trust these instincts, you must first mold them in the proper way. This proper way is not a single, universal way to play. There are thousands of great poker players on this planet, and not one of them plays just like another. They have all formed their own set of opinions for certain situations. These opinions mold their instincts, which they use on every hand they play. Don't get me wrong, every great poker player uses his or her memory to become a better poker player, but since every hand is unique, they must rely heavily on their instincts.

So to become a great poker player, a beginner must learn how to mold these instincts. This is done through hours upon hours of practicing poker, watching poker, reading about poker, thinking about poker, and studying your opponents while you play. Once your instincts are built, you can get a "feel" for the game, and when you get to this point, you will be better equipped for the next surprise poker throws your way!


****PJ****