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If You Can’t Spot The Sucker At The Poker Table…

…It’s probably you. Early on in my poker playing career (if you can call it that) I devoured book after book on the subject. You name it, I had it. Caro’s book of tells – got it.  How about Brunson’s Super System? I got it on the nightstand for a bit of strategy reading before I go to bed. Sklansky’s Theory of Poker, on my desk to read on breaks.   

You would figure, with such a large poker arsenal, how could I still lose?  Problem is I had logged a lot of “reading” time and not a whole lot of “playing” time.  On a trip out to Vegas, I wanted to get my feet wet and remembering all the things I had read from poker authors both offline and on and had mentally prepared a check list in my head:  Position is everything, watch for tells, don’t give any tells away.   

Walking to the sign up board, I asked to be placed in a 2-4 game. When I was called I calmly bought in for one rack and took my seat at the table. Sizing up the players, my ego had gotten the better of me and had already felt like I had won all the money on the table. 

After making some loose calls and folding on the flop a couple of times, I found myself dealt pocket Aces. I was drooling as I saw a bunch of people call. Instead of raising, I decided to slow play this hand.  On the flop a King ,2, and a 5 came. A lady in the game bets, I just call and everyone else folds. Thinking this lady has no idea what she’s up against; I am wondering how I can get a bunch of her chips. Turn card is a blank, she bets and I call. Bring your pair of Kings Lady. River card is another blank, she bets I raise, she re-raises. I am thinking, wow this lady is really dumb; my betting is telling her I have Aces!! We keep re-raising until I am almost down to half my chips. 

“Show em.” The dealer says. I flip my pocket Aces. “Thought so,” she says with a smile.  Wow, she just lost and she’s happy? She flips over pocket Kings and shows me her set.  My smile turns quickly into anger and humiliation. Gathering her chips, she tips out the dealer and heads out as she says “See you boys next week.” To which the dealer and several others say “See you later Lulu.” There’s a sucker born every minute. And for those few minutes it was me.