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Chubby Checkers sang, “Come on baby, let’s do the
twist”. It was a fun song and a fun dance if you still have the knees
for it. However, when I refer to the “twist” in a casino game, there is
no rock and roll. It is more like a rock and a hard place.
When in a “twist”, you are playing “second best”.
Poker comes to mind as the clearer example. Your two pairs are beat by
three of a kind. When you hold three of a kind, you lose to a full
house. You draw a good hand, but second best is the best that you can
do.
The big problem with playing the “twist” is that you
do not lose as fast. This means your situation is not always obvious. It
is painfully frustrating, playing seemingly good hands that just miss. I
call it a “twist” because it is like wringing out a hand-washed garment.
The water is wrung out over a series of several twists. It takes a bit
of effort and some time, but eventually the excess moisture is squeezed
out. When playing a casino game, being in a “twist” is similar. You win
just enough hands to keep you interested, while all along you are being
wrung dry, losing when it looked so good.
For the dice player, it’s like this; the game is
teasing you. A few passes complete. You get your bets up and the numbers
begin to roll. Just when you think you can light up a smoke and slug
back a drink, (otherwise, enjoy the game) seven-out is called and you
feel a tightness creeping over you. You dig in your heels and commit to
the game, only to run into a small profit hand, a push and then a quick
out. Somewhere in all this the game changes into a challenge to catch
that long hand the one that will make it all good. The player fights the
“twist”, consciously or unconsciously. He or she attacks the game
perhaps with an attitude of “I’m not going to let them get away
with this.” By the way, there is no them, and it is not even the
dice that is being fought. It’s fighting the “twist”. In the same way
that you cannot fight the current of a river that’s just the way it is.
At the blackjack table, second place is common
enough. You hold an ace-8 against the dealer’s up-card, a 9. You figure
for a push. The dealer rolls the “hole card”, an ace, and you lose.
Next, you have a pressed bet, the count is favorable. Your first card is
a six. It is not the expected face card. Oh, but for the joy, your
second card is a five. Double down! Even better, the dealer’s up card is
a six. You should catch your double down card and the dealer should
bust. Right? Not tonight, not in a “twist”. You pull the ten-count card
for 21, but the dealer has a 5 under, for the “hole card”, and draws a
ten count card as well. You push, having the exact same hand as the
dealer.
Okay, the bet was not lost. Another rock and roll
song kicks in, this time from Lenon and McCartney, “Hit young Rocky in
the eye. Rocky didn't like that, he said I'm gonna get that boy”. The
second best game is on for Rocky, who is not willing to relinquish to
the “twist”. Eventually he collapses in the corner. Poor Rocky Boy!
I am going to limp in with a Texas Hold’em example. I
certainly have not played the game enough, but I have committed myself
to study, read and practice the game. In fact, it was during a practice
session that I became inspired to write this article, that and a shot of
Tequila. I was drawing starting hands like pocket Aces and pocket Kings
and losing. Bit by bit I went from a profit situation to being seriously
behind in chips. I started to pull ahead on small pots only to be
knocked back further with great second place hands. Unconsciously, I
said to myself, “I’m in a real twist.” I caught myself chasing a game
that had me in the wringer. I was talking myself into a continued loss
because I could not accept the reality that I was in a losing phase. No
matter how good my starting hand was, second best was my lot for that
session of play.
Granted I was practicing on software, so I was
playing at no financial risk. You will have to take my word that I was
that emotionally involved in getting back my pretend losses. In reality,
is it any different in a real game when chasing a loss?
No matter your game when gambling, each session will
develop a signature or a personality during your time playing. There are
as many game personalities as there are people playing them. Play alert
to the kind of persona exhibited in your session. Playing in a “twist”
is just one example. Without the recognition of what is going on and
having the discipline to cut the losses when in a “twist”, the game will
wring you dry.
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Author’s Note: Texas Hold’em stuff. I have been
reading different Texas Hold’em books and practicing at home. I
recommend Bill Burton’s book Get The Edge at Low Limit Texas Hold’em.
I have read plenty of books on gaming and I really like the way Bill
presents his information. I think it is the best book for Texas Hold’em.
I also like the fact that he references other experts in the game as
resources for his learning experience. I get the feeling that Bill, in
his book, collects the best of the best from other experts in game. I
met Bill at Beau Parker’s (Dice Coach) one-year anniversary a few years
ago. A very personable gentleman. I heard him speak at a gaming
convention in Albuquerque a year ago. If you are into Texas Hold’em
Poker check out this book, I recommend it!
Copyright © 2005
Michael Vernon |
