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Questions, Always More Questions

by Roy West |  Published: Sep 27, 2002

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Hi. Come on in. I picked up a baked chicken and a pound of fries. Start ripping.

After 17 years of teaching poker, here's a question I'm still asked quite often - too often. The question is usually asked rhetorically, because the inquisitor doesn't really want an answer. Most often, the question is really a gripe that is leading to a bad-beat story.

I try to frame my answer so as to not only provide information to this narrator of sad tales, but to knock the pins out from under his tale of woe. (After all, a bad-beat story untold is a bad-beat story unheard. Praise be!)

Now, let's move quickly to the question:

"Why is it that bad players are always the ones to draw out on good players - and never the other way around?"

First answer: Beware of any statement, question, or answer that contains the word "always" or "never." Very few things in this life are "always" or "never."

Second answer: It only seems that way.

Third answer: It seems that way because most of the time it is that way. And the reason is that good players are not drawing to long-shot hands unless the pot is offering them the proper odds to justify such a draw. Meanwhile, bad players are always - er, quite often - making long-shot draws. If they do it often enough, they are bound to be successful sometimes. The less-skilled, less-knowledgeable player has an advantage at such times over the skillful player, but this is a very short-term advantage.

In the long run, the skillful player gets the money. If you're into poker for the long run, become skillful so that you can get the money. Do it now. Yes, now!

Change of subject: Here are a couple of quotes that, if taken to heart, will contribute to your becoming a consistent winner.

"I'm into preparation. I strongly believe you're only as good as you prepare to be."

- Steve Young, former NFL quarterback

"It is my strong belief that if I don't have time to prepare mentally, I don't have time to play."

- Roy West, poker player

Change of subject: Here are a few items from my wish list:

• I wish I was as good a poker player as I think I am.

• I wish my opponents played as badly as I think they do.

• I wish everyone in the game would have to ante except me.

• I wish there were more poker rooms in Las Vegas with limits higher than $1-$5.

• I wish I was using this time for something constructive instead of sitting here making up wishes.

Change of subject: Here's another question you'll hear if you hang around with me: "Why are the games played more aggressively at the higher limits?"

First answer: The ante has a greater effect on play at the higher limits than at the low and medium limits. As the limits increase, the antes increase by a larger percentage than the increase in the limits. For example, a $10-$20 stud game in Las Vegas has a $1 ante. A $15-$30 stud game has a $2 ante. Notice that while the limits went up 50 percent, the ante went up 100 percent. That means that a player must be willing to gamble more - to be more aggressive. (But, many players take this as "permission" to splash around, so they go off the deep end.)

Second answer: Aggressive play is generally winning play no matter what the limit. So, aggressive players who win at the lower limits move up. Therefore, usually, those who move up in limits are the more aggressive players.

Good chicken. Take a leg to gnaw on while you're driving. And kill the light on your way out.diamonds

Editor's note: Roy West, author of the best-seller 7 Card Stud, the Complete Course in Winning (available from Card Player), continues to give his successful poker lessons in Las Vegas to both tourists and locals. Ladies are welcome. Get his toll-free 800 number from his ad.

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