WHEN TO STICK TO YOUR RULES There are some circumstances when you can disobey every poker rule you ever set yourself about what kind of hole cards you will or won’t play. If I’m in a full table game online where I don’t recognise any of the names or a social game where I don’t know any of the faces, I’ll rarely act on hole cards below mid pair or high value suited connectors or the “big slick” (Ace-King). It’s kind of my personal bench mark poker rule.
WHEN TO BREAK THE RULES However, there are a handful of players I know very well who I will play in occasional serious heads up games. All of them are very different characters with different styles of play. One of them however is very conservative. A tight but well-heeled and very determined player if he has the right cards. Whenever this guy invites me over for a game I’ll usually break all of my rules when I play him. Here’s how our last encounter went and it’ll show you why you have to be flexible with rules and why intel about an opponent can be so valuable. I’d also like to point out that I have lost to this guy more times than I’ve won.
THE GAME My hole cards came 9 hearts-6 clubs (under almost any other circumstances a clear fold) but my opponent raises heavily pre-flop ahead of me. It doesn’t feel like a bluff. Everything is telling me he’s landed something strong. I call and the flop delivers 9 spades-6 hearts-2 hearts.
THE SURPRISE My opponent raises which surprises me as I’d put him on having Aces or Kings. I now figure he must have Ace-King of hearts. With the turn and the river to go I’m convinced he’s drawing to the flush that will crush my two pair if he makes it. I figure the odds and call again. The turn brings a 6 clubs. I can’t believe my luck and hope my recent botox injections prevent it from showing. My opponent raises again. I call again. The river gives Mr Well Heeled his flush courtesy of a 10 of hearts, not enough to demolish my Full House. Sometimes you can break the rules but it makes your palms sweat and re-creates the wrinkles you’re paying to lose.
THE MORAL The moral of the story is of course if you have the necessary information, poker is always more about “playing the player” than playing the cards. That’s Rule Number 1. I don’t break that one.
