|
|
. |
. |
|
|
 |
Food
Speaks
By Aaron J. Moore
Posted: 3:30 am PDT 2006-09-12 |
Courtesy Of Internet Casino and Poker Room at WagerWeb.com |
|
There is no better sport than
poker. What other sport allows its participants to drink beer, smoke cigars and eat
hoagies during the action? It's a nice change of pace to play a game and not worry
about the problems associated with physical action and sweat. As satisfying as it is to
park yourself at a table all day and be concerned only with avoiding bed sores, there is a
risk if you literally plan on spending breakfast, lunch and dinner at the poker table.
Food at the poker might bring a player plenty of nourishment, but while he is eating a
meal, the other players are also satisfying their appetite for knowledge. As a good rule
of thumb, avoid eating at the poker table. The main issue with eating is not that it
might lead to a mess, but players who eat at the table are prone to giving away
significant tells.
Recently, I was playing in a tournament and involved in a hand with just one other
player. I had pocket Queens and was trying to slow play them (a mistake in
hindsight); after my opponent just kept calling my bets, the third diamond hit on the
river. After he saw that diamond, which also gave me top two pair, he made an over
bet, leaned back and devoured a large portion of cheese fries. I was contemplating
whether he had the flush or was just representing it in an attempt to buy the pot. I
ultimately folded my strong hand because of my feeling that he was so sure of his hand, he
could finally relax and dive into the plate of cheese fries that was just calling out his
name. If he was concerned about losing this large pot, he probably would've been too
nervous to ingest all that Cheez Whiz.
Thankfully, he showed his low flush, which validated my play.
If I had not seen him come to a level of ease and eat the food, I would have thought he
was bluffing and paid him off in the end. Mr. Cheese Fry could have added to the pot
if he just waited to eat. Of course, it is hard for anybody to say no to a piping hot
plate of artificial cheese, so why even be tempted and allow it at the table in the first
place?
Hunger pains felt during the course of a tournament or an extended stay at a cash game
should be treated as a strong signal that it is the perfect time to leave the table for a
much needed refresher. Consider taking breaks an important part of your strategy
since remaining at the table too long saps concentration and mental energy.
Another way food can distract a player is the moment following its arrival at the
table. A person eating is clearly craving food at that particular moment. Since
most people like to savor their food, the others at the table should be fairly confident
the one with the plate in front of him will only play premium hands. Playing a hand
with newly delivered food is a monumental tell. Since the player has a decision to
make - eat the food or play the hand? - The final selection will come down to what is
better. A hamburger is much better than J-4 unsuited, therefore that is an easy
decision, drop the cards and grab the quarter-pounder. A hamburger loses some appeal
when the cards next to it are pocket 10s. If a player all of a sudden loses interest
in his food and focuses entirely at his hand, everybody else at the table should only get
involved with a top-level starting hand.
Once again, the hungry man wouldn't be giving off that tell if he just decided to leave
the table for a brief food break.
If the combination of food and poker is so important to a player, then he should stick to
the anonymous world of online poker where opponents have no idea what everybody at the
table is doing. A player can be involved with a hand, eat dinner and write a story
about poker all at the same time. Physical tells don't exist online.
Djlaskfjlfkjsdflkjsdflsdkjflsdkfjsdljsdl/vksd.
Sorry about that, I just dropped my chilidog on the keyboard when I saw the pocket
rockets.
|
Visit These Fine Online Poker Sites
|
|
|
