Too many poker books ago for me to recall which one, an author described playing poker as being similar to dancing the Tango. That analogy has stuck in my mind. Even today, I can visualize players seemingly embraced in a staccato, synchronized ritual of leading then following. Following then leading. Absent the romance, of course.
About that time, I also became a Bruce Lee fan. And, another analogy blossomed. In the movie, Enter the Dragon, Lee describes his martial arts style as expanding when his opponent contracts, and contracting when his opponent expands.
See the poker similarity?
Bruce Lee was a remarkable person. Although small framed, he could floor a much larger opponent with a punch from only one-half inch away. Friends, that is what focus is all about. He was as mentally and physically fine tuned as a human can achieve.
Is there a poker lesson in all of this stuff about dancing and fighting?
You bet. In the Tango, if you let your body get too far ahead of your feet, you fall on your face. In martial arts, if you expand when you should contract, you get a bloody face. In poker, if you push when you should fold, you lose face (and your stack).
In a sit n go hold'em tournament there is a rhythm, and there are partners.
Learning when to lead, and when to follow is practically the essence of a winning style of play. Mostly though, we should develop a fine sense of timing and balance. These ingredients seem to be key to winning play in a tournament.
Because, when my timing and balance are right, my game goes exceedingly well. When I am out of sync, nothing goes right. And, that is when I find myself wishing that I had sat this one out.
Timing speaks to matters of doing the right thing at the right time.
For example, consider the matter of pushing or folding. It should be obvious that success with pushing or folding is largely a matter of perceptive timing. Of course, there are considerations like stack sizes, opponent playing style, blind level, and more. But, ultimately there is only one question to be answered. Is the time right?
Balance is a more difficult concept to describe.
Balance is about finding that perfect style of play not only for the situation, but through out the entire tournament. And, it is about more than simply shifting gears. It is the myriad of micro playing adjustments that must occur in order to follow a rough, winding, tumultuous, unmarked path to victory. Balance is the product of patience, good judgment, logical thinking, and intuition.
Timing and balance. Qualities of success that are important to the dancer, to the martial artist, and to the tournament poker player.
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Read my Article Review of this article, The Dance of Poker.
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Copyright 2009 R. Steve McCollum
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