Like It Is

As well as playing Poker I watch quite a lot of it on TV. In fact, if our TV is on at all, it’s on a Poker game. I find Poker a fascinating game that always has something I can learn.

Today I was watching the Womens Poker UK Open, a rare opportunity to see all women poker play. Personally, I prefer mixed poker tables but this was worth watching. I always bemoan the dearth of women Poker players particularly on the international circuit. It was because of this that our own social ladies Poker night was created – with some great women players. There are thousands of Poker players the world over, however relatively few of them are women, and even fewer are women who play in the world tournaments. I’m not sure why this is.

I’ve heard some women say they prefer playing only with other women because they don’t like the testosterone round the table when men play and sometimes they feel intimidated, and they also prefer to play socially. I’ve heard other women say they prefer playing mixed games and that it boosts their confidence hugely when they give the guys a run for their money. Because they are just as good. And I have watched some great women poker players, for example Barbara Enright, Kathy Liebert, Cindy Violette, Jennifer Harman, and Annie Duke. These women are hugely successful, highly respected and have won millions in prize money, as well as the coveted WSOP (World Series of Poker) bracelets and trophies. They play with the best of them. And some, like many of the men, play for a living. Some women object to women only poker tournaments, saying that it’s a backward step that damages women’s chances of progressing further in poker and levelling the playing field. The jury is still out on that one. I think it is a comfort thing. I also think that as more women poker players enter and win tournaments, the need for women only tourneys will decrease.

I play in both a women’s Poker group and a men’s poker group. Both are social, which means we play for low stakes and it’s more about the social element. The difference is that with the guys we play Texas Hold ‘Em Sit and Go tournaments, while with the girls we tend to play Dealer’s Choice. Both are fun, but very different. I also play on-line poker (there are several sites where you can use play money) which I find is an excellent way to learn and improve my game with players from all over the world.

Watching the Women’s Poker UK Open today though, I was struck by the difference in the style of play between women and men. There were six contestants from all over the world all vying for a place in the international finals. This was the 4th Heat. The grand prize is about $40,000 a trophy and a diamond ring. All good players, some were professional poker players, some were amateur. So it really was battle Royal. This was no social game. I’ve watched many such contests with either men only or mixed tables and I’ve learnt that Poker is not about many of the mis-conceptions non-poker players have about the game. It’s not just about having good cards, or just about bluffing, or even just about the cards you hold. Among other things poker is about making the right decision quickly learning as much about your opponents weaknesses and strengths so that you can turn it to your advantage and win. It’s about being disciplined, patient and observant, and willing to learn And being aware that you can make the right decision and still have the wrong outcome. That’s poker.

I found it very interesting to watch how the contestants in the all women World Open played. While men tend not to give away any “tells” if they could possibly help it (tells are clues as to what cards you hold, particularly when you have a good hand), the women tended to give away lots of them. I’ll say this: It is hard to keep a poker face, it usually has to be practised, a lot. Still, you need to give away as little as possible otherwise you might as well tell your opponents what you have. The women also tended to be content to survive in the game, rather than bet aggressively, even though their instincts were very good. Being too quick to bet when they had a good hand was also another give-away and failing to raise rather than simply call was another.

But the worst thing, in my opinion was, when one of the women on winning a big hand and a huge pot ,kept saying sorry to the person whom she beat in the hand!! . And kept on saying sorry. And then, because she felt sorry for the loser, showed her cards! Telling your opponent you’ve got a pair when trying to make a decision… Aaargh! Stop!! I have never, in all the tournaments I’ve watched, ever seen a guy do any of those things.Ladies - Never say you’re sorry at the Poker table! Poker is war and don’t forget it. Empathy isn’t a bad thing. But it just doesn’t belong at the tournament poker table when you’re playing to win big money. So if you feel sorry when you win, you really shouldn’t sit down at the Poker table.

You have to be bold, aggressive and ready to play the game, whether you’re a guy or a girl. In a Tournament (or Freeze Out as it’s also called) you must play your position and you must play to win. Poker doesn’t have any favourites.