Evolution
When the FAPA boys started playing NL Hold 'Em some five months ago, used to be that we'd go through three, sometimes even four rounds of table stakes a night, averaging just under two hours for a round.
You'd have Ricky more often than not being the early big stack, and pushing people out of most pots. Nik would be the "tighty-whitey" and play infrequently, and betting small at that. You'd have calls and raises on all sorts of pocket cards, few of them counting among Phil Helmuth's Top 10 Hands.
That was then.
Now, we'd be lucky to get two rounds in a night. Everyone seems to be playing better, playing smatter. People are questioning their play, questioning the play of others too. Chan even had his existential episode last weekend, which I'm sad to have missed.
That's what poker's all about. Playing, learning, playing some more.
We're glad to have come across Nick G's South Metro Group, and the dude's (and babe) at Solar Sports too. Our wider (and widening) poker world here in Metro Manila now gives us the opportunity to match wits with a diverse group of players, with skills ranging from absolute beginner to expert (BarbieManila's online playing career is an inspiration to many of us. If only we could be that successful online -- and if they'd only take our credit cards!).
More than anything, its playing against people outside our crew that has contributed to our poker education.
Imagine if we never got the chance to play against others, we'd still be raising on 2/4 suited!
We may have lost against our new friends, and we'll probably lose to them again, but that's all part of our tuition fee. Though sometimes, I kick myself for losing as much as I sometimes do. Oh well, tuition fee...
As WPT Champ Antonio Esfandiari says: "If you hit the target every time, that target's too damn big or too damn close."
You'd have Ricky more often than not being the early big stack, and pushing people out of most pots. Nik would be the "tighty-whitey" and play infrequently, and betting small at that. You'd have calls and raises on all sorts of pocket cards, few of them counting among Phil Helmuth's Top 10 Hands.
That was then.
Now, we'd be lucky to get two rounds in a night. Everyone seems to be playing better, playing smatter. People are questioning their play, questioning the play of others too. Chan even had his existential episode last weekend, which I'm sad to have missed.
That's what poker's all about. Playing, learning, playing some more.
We're glad to have come across Nick G's South Metro Group, and the dude's (and babe) at Solar Sports too. Our wider (and widening) poker world here in Metro Manila now gives us the opportunity to match wits with a diverse group of players, with skills ranging from absolute beginner to expert (BarbieManila's online playing career is an inspiration to many of us. If only we could be that successful online -- and if they'd only take our credit cards!).
More than anything, its playing against people outside our crew that has contributed to our poker education.
Imagine if we never got the chance to play against others, we'd still be raising on 2/4 suited!
We may have lost against our new friends, and we'll probably lose to them again, but that's all part of our tuition fee. Though sometimes, I kick myself for losing as much as I sometimes do. Oh well, tuition fee...
As WPT Champ Antonio Esfandiari says: "If you hit the target every time, that target's too damn big or too damn close."
posted by denis at 3:59 PM
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