Taking it Back

Game selection. I hear it over and over again - choose your games (read: your opponents) wisely.

Last night we had a super secret after hours at work game - though the boss actually knows about it and has given permission for us to play. As the lineup of players started to take shape, I couldn't help but think to myself "I stand to win tonight, all but one of these players I consider inferior to me." It was true, looking at the five other guys - they were all (save for one) dead money.

If we'd had our usual gang, Sven, Cali, etc. I'd be about even money. But with TG, DG, FK and HS in the lineup, I knew I would not be going home in the negative. The only one of the bunch I give respect to is MP, and I'm still actually better at hold-em than he is, though he rules me at stud. Running into good cards helped, but I knew very early on in the hands when they had something and I could get away. Conversely, when I had strong hands, I knew I was bound to get paid.

It all sounds so mean spirited, but it's actually at the heart of what makes for a "profitable" poker player. When I sit down with pre-schoolers, even though I'm only barely in the first grade, I make money. When I associate with my fellow classmates, or even some of the bigger kids, it's much more of a gamble, and even potentially a negative value situation. True, sometimes I hold my own, or even win (Saturday nights tournament win against Cali, wytrabbit, and pitboss respectively); but even then I didn't feel nearly as invincible as I did last night.

I feel good about my abilities against most of the people who attend my home game, but honestly I feel not so hot about many players in the online group these days. If I was playing strictly for financial profit, I'd have to reassess my status in that group. Deep down, I still feel I'm one of the best there, but I have to fight my inner doubt every step of the way. Last night, it was easy to be Superman, because there was not a shred of doubt where I stood. I was table captain. Good times.

The money that I dumped over the weekend in the cash games, was quickly taken back (and then some) last night. Nice.