The Usual Suspects

[Fonzi]

The Usual Suspects

Whether you're playing online, in someone's basement, or in a casino, there is a danger that quite a few players face on a regular basis. You end up getting to know other 'regulars' at your table. And over time, they get to know you.

Playing with the 'usual suspects' can be good, or it can be bad. If you tend to have a positive expectation against that particular crowd, you would probably love to sit down with them every day. As long as you continue to win and they seem fine with giving you their money, you have no reason to distance yourself. However, if one or two players in your little group have your number, and you find yourself losing to them, then you have a dilemma. This sort of thing can happen where your choices are limited by your physical location. For example, if you live near Foxwoods, is there really any point trying to find another game further away from home? Another example would be having to move your bankroll from one online casino to another, and thus having to pay any sort of money handling fees. It might be worthwhile in the long run, but the decision to uproot is a difficult one in these cases.

On the positive side of the coin, there are a couple of things to watch out for. First of all, never kill the geese that are laying those golden eggs. Don't insult, belittle, or make life hell for the players who are signing your pay checks. And while the temptation might be there to win big and ditch, you need to put your time in with these kinds of people. Keep playing for another round or two, as a show of good faith. You don't need to lose anything back to them as such, just don't burn and ditch. If you do take their money and run on a regular basis, these players WILL find other games.

On the flip side, if you're losing slowly to the same old crowd, you need to do one of two things. You can either change up your game, or find a new one. You can change your game by learning your opponents inside out, and improving in the areas where your game has holes. But if there is easier prey available, you may need to change your habits in order to find them. Change the times and days that you show up for your game, or switch venues. I've gone so far as to switch games! In fact, if you're a HORSE player, your most viable option is usually to switch over to Omaha or Razz. You'll usually see a whole new sea of faces out there, because poker players are creatures of habit. See how you do at your backup game... you may find it more profitable than anything you were doing before!

The example I like to throw out there as the poster boy for doing well in games that have the usual suspects? Mike Sexton. Whenever he's in a game, even with the top players in the world, he looks comfortable. Since he has studied so many professionals over the years, he knows their moves. He knows their tells. Frankly, they should count their blessings that he doesn't specialize in cash games these days! When a table gets short handed, Mike has an even bigger edge; he can focus on the one or two players that he has seen a hundred times before on the WPT or in the World Series. He plays with them on Poker After Dark AND Poker Superstars. That's why he was the 2006 Tournament of Champions winner.

Of course, in order to know what your situation is with your group of usual suspects, you need to keep tight books. If your record keeping isn't up to snuff, this article isn't going to help you much. Then again, nothing is going to help you much if you can't keep track of your winnings and your losses!

Bill Ricardi ? Internet Gaming Guru