|
If you have been playing poker for
any amount of time, then you have probably experienced
or been witness to beginners luck. There is nothing more
annoying than sitting there and seeing someone who has
no idea what they are doing rake in chips like they were
going out of style.
People have their superstitious ways
as well. One of mine happens to be the seat I choose
when I go to play at the local card room. This seat is
third to the left of the dealer, usually on the corner
of the table, depending on how many seats are actually
there. On a particularly busy night, I sat on the
waiting list for the $5/10 hold ‘em game for nearly two
hours. Getting impatient I just took the next available
seat at the table, which was right next to my favorite
seat.
After an hour, the seat opened up and
instead of requesting it I decided that I need to let my
superstitious ways go. Another guy sat down and after a
while it became obvious that this was the first time he
had played in a casino poker room. (He kept asking about
blinds and such.)
At first, I thought he might be
trying to put on an act, but realized that it was too
good to be an act. On his third hand, I sat and watched
as he bet recklessly to a flop of 2 of hearts, 5 of
spades and 9 of diamonds. After a turn of 5 of hearts, I
thought maybe he had a heart or 9 from the bets he put
in. The river card was an Ace of spades and I thought
maybe he had an A9 or a heart draw that missed. He bet
and re-raised his heads up opponent. When the other guy
turned over a 3-4 for a straight, I thought too bad
newbie, time to re-buy.
What does this newbie turn over? He
turns over a pair of fives to make his four of a kind.
All the while I am thinking - that’s my four of a kind!
Like a child who throws a tantrum, I silently screamed
in my head that it was my seat, not his. I re-learned a
poker virtue that night. Patience should not just come
in to play in waiting for good cards, but also in
waiting for your seat.
|