The Old West and Poker - Being Fearless

[WildBillHickok]

Doc was absolutely fearless...this is what made him so dangerous. He was willing to put his life on the line at any time, against anybody, anywhere. Probably the main reason he was fearless was that he was dying...he had the consumption (tuberculosis) probably didn't want to die in a hospital lying in a bed but would rather die with his boots on, going out in a blaze of glory. (J 10 suited against 3 other players preflop) Anyway, this is what made him FEARLESS. People usually gave him a wide path, sensing his death wish, not wanting to mix it up with him, given the stakes were so high. (Going all in close to the money or in the money and going for the top payouts in a tournament is a deadly weapon...most good players will throw away A10's, AJ's, 77,88, 99, fearing a bigger hand, like AK, QQ, KK, AA, and will give you a wide path when you go all in...if you have a pair of 2's, or A3, or KQ, and a few player limp in, with on the button...or after the flop, it gets checked around, but the last player bets the pot..., or the pot gets raised and 2 calls, and you have QQ...and everyone's on the bubble, go all in...see what FEARLESSNESS does for you...the Meek don't inherit the goods in poker)

There are many times in the Old West when a gunslinger had to be fearless and be willing to put it all on the line. (thus, all in , in NL poker) Most average people of those times were afraid, and rightfully so, or too timid to do this, so they never reached the top...most of the best, have this fearless attitude. You gotta be willing to put everything on the line, in order to reach the top.

Poor Doc, he was so good and fearless, that rarely did anyone challenge him...and so he DID end up dying in a hospital bed, with his boots off...up in Colorado in a little make shift hospital in Glenwood Springs. (Wyatt - "how are you today, Doc?" Doc - "I'm dying...how are you?" )

[MVPSPORTS]

WildBill... Love the stories...

Do you advise pushing on or near the bubble, or playing conservative?

Thanks...MVP...

[WildBillHickok]

...just between you and me MVP...i push'em, it goes a LONG way, (so long as almost everyone else is playing tight, which they usually do) you'll have more 1st, 2nd's place finishes, and less 4th's, (perhaps i'm talking SNG's here)...altho in mutlti's with top 20 paying, let's say, more people are also doing this, ...just depends on the composition of the table...that big'en down in CR, everybody and his brother was pushing them, on the bubble, so i played T I G H T...and moved up to the top 5 by playing only top 6 hands, or doing nothing( i could've just mucked all my hands, not looking at them and moved up)...
BTW, next month, May...take PLENTY of vitamin C, ginsing, and whatever else gives you energy...(tho you probably won't need it, depending on your age)

[WildBillHickok]

... i couldn't stand it...i'm heading down there, MVP, again, May 22...maybe i'll see you around...lotta guys there that like playing poker and, ahem, poker.

[MVPSPORTS]

Bill... is your date set in stone? I'm supposed to be goin May 11-15, I think, and would love to hang out and buy you a couple drinks... and BTW, I'm 26, and have already bought out 2 GNCs in anticipation ...
BTW, I have a buddy of mine who plays almost exclusively MTT and SNG, and he told me that he has an easier time with the more expensive ones ($50+ entry) than the cheapies... have you ever heard of anything like that...

Thanks... MVP

[Cactus Jack]

MVP, we've been discussing this issue in the SNG thread. The low level tourneys have become filled with ridiculous playing. The LAGs have become what flafishy calls "candy-asses." The limp, they mini-raise, the pass chips around the table. I don't have the BR to play much higher than $20/$30 SNGs, and lack the ability to do well in MTTs, for some reason. I have no doubt that the higher stakes are "easier" to play. We're finding you simply cannot stand up to the implied collusion. Is this what your friend has found, too?

[MVPSPORTS]

He's a really good technical player, if not a great "feel" player if that makes sense... the kinda guy, in blackjack, will double 11 no matter what the dealer has, K or A, because that's the way it's supposed to be done... Does that make sense... He says that he can read the players easier because most times when they raise they have something... He can read their possible hands easier... I think this fits your paradigm (sp?) Cactus... it's impossible to know what people are doing when they limp everything and pray for the best... I'm in Florida, and the only gambling we have is a horrible $2/2 limit game at the Seminole indians, and that's exactly what they do.. An old joke to old players that play there... worst hand is AA or KK, cause you can't chase anyone and it'll always get cracked...
MVP