I have an opportunity to play some live poker again with western teachers in the UAE. I played once before with them earlier this month, in a game where I won about a hundred bucks, largely by flopping top set against the big loser of the night.
The funniest part of that night actually was how the biggest loser acted. He wanted to play pineapple, omaha, and another game, all of which he was clearly familiar with, and he talked about how he was able to win consistently playing online.
Okay, fine. Within the first fifteen minutes, he had been stacked twice, both on questionable plays.
Anyhoo, things went along like that for a while, until he had lost four or five buyins--about $800 or so. He dropped out of the game for a little while, during which he skyped his wife. He asked her to show us all his poker trophies. So she did.
He turned his laptop screen toward us and we made complimentary sounds.
All the while I'm thinking, Poker trophies? I'd never heard of poker trophies before. What kind of tournament awards a poker trophy?
When his wife wasn't showing us his poker trophies, he was busy telling us what his salary was in Qatar.
He was the picture of insecurity. The rest of us just smiled and accommodated him, hoping that he'd get back into the game.
He finally did, only to get stacked a fifth time.
It was the only time I've played live poker where everyone at the table--we were six-handed--won at least a buyin and there was only one loser.
Tonight, we will be playing on a real poker table at another dude's house, a guy who regularly hosts the game. Unfortunately, Mr. Poker Trophy will not be there. He's back in Qatar.
Some of the players from the first night will be there. If the new faces are anything like the guys I played with last time, all nice guys, I guarantee you that it is not a brag to say that I will be the best player at the table.
Which reminds me of law school. A bunch of classmates wanted to start a regular poker game. Now, if there's any reliable characteristic of law school students, it is ultra-competitiveness. I won big the first three times I played, and then they stopped inviting me.
Once again, not a brag. I'm a 2NL to 25NL player. That's the extent of my ability. I know that I'm not a good player.
Poker is such a blessing because so many other poker players don't know this.
I probably just cursed myself. I'll come back tonight reporting that I donked off all the money that I showed up with.
The funniest part of that night actually was how the biggest loser acted. He wanted to play pineapple, omaha, and another game, all of which he was clearly familiar with, and he talked about how he was able to win consistently playing online.
Okay, fine. Within the first fifteen minutes, he had been stacked twice, both on questionable plays.
Anyhoo, things went along like that for a while, until he had lost four or five buyins--about $800 or so. He dropped out of the game for a little while, during which he skyped his wife. He asked her to show us all his poker trophies. So she did.
He turned his laptop screen toward us and we made complimentary sounds.
All the while I'm thinking, Poker trophies? I'd never heard of poker trophies before. What kind of tournament awards a poker trophy?
When his wife wasn't showing us his poker trophies, he was busy telling us what his salary was in Qatar.
He was the picture of insecurity. The rest of us just smiled and accommodated him, hoping that he'd get back into the game.
He finally did, only to get stacked a fifth time.
It was the only time I've played live poker where everyone at the table--we were six-handed--won at least a buyin and there was only one loser.
Tonight, we will be playing on a real poker table at another dude's house, a guy who regularly hosts the game. Unfortunately, Mr. Poker Trophy will not be there. He's back in Qatar.
Some of the players from the first night will be there. If the new faces are anything like the guys I played with last time, all nice guys, I guarantee you that it is not a brag to say that I will be the best player at the table.
Which reminds me of law school. A bunch of classmates wanted to start a regular poker game. Now, if there's any reliable characteristic of law school students, it is ultra-competitiveness. I won big the first three times I played, and then they stopped inviting me.
Once again, not a brag. I'm a 2NL to 25NL player. That's the extent of my ability. I know that I'm not a good player.
Poker is such a blessing because so many other poker players don't know this.
I probably just cursed myself. I'll come back tonight reporting that I donked off all the money that I showed up with.
You're a rare breed -- a poker player who actually knows how good he really is.
ReplyDeleteGL tonight.
Thanks. I agree with you if you replace the word "good" with "bad."
DeleteIn home games for money that really means nothing, I love to just goof off and have fun with no care towards winning for the first few invites.
ReplyDeleteI love being able to call someone down with 39 (suited of course) because I hit my 3 and know that they have AK and tell them I just felt like they were bluffing.
They think I play horribly and salivate at the chance to win my money and I have a great time while drinking a few beers and usually leave even or down just a little.
Now I want to accelerate my plans to have a game at my house!
Yeah, that's how it is. It was pretty fun, and most players were playing most hands. Very relaxed. Some didn't drink, some overindulged--like yours truly--and suffered the next day. Definitely a good time.
Delete