I have
never wanted to actually punch someone while playing poker. And well, I never felt like I wanted to throw the table over either. Hell, I didn't even know that poker could bring up that kind of anger in me!
So the energy at the table was light and fun at first. We were all joking with one another...then the clock started, and our table was transformed into the table from hell. Blinds are $100, $200--we start with close to $40,000 in chips---so there really is no reason to overbet---unless you are an ass.
Well, there was a first timer at our table. Meaning it was his first time to play poker at this location. From the first hand, he started betting $5000, $10000 and $15000. Naturally everyone folded practically everyhand. He was getting dirty looks from pretty much everyone. You could just feel everyone getting pissed off. Did he think he was at the final table?
I decided that I wasn't going to put any money in the pot unless I was big blind and it hadn't been raised by Mr. Ass. Well, finally, I had the opportunity. And I guess the Universe was looking out for me....cause it was just us two in the hand, and I flopped a full house. So knowing that Mr. Ass was going to try to bet me out....I raised very minimally and of course, he raised by $5000 which I happily called. On the turn, I decided I was going to push him...and so I bet $10,000. Now people that know me know that I
never bet like that---especially if the blinds are in the hundreds. He mumbled some possible hands that I might have...and folded saying well even if you are bluffing its a good bluff. So I happily showed my cards, which caused him to mumble a bit more.
Finally, we got broken up and sent to other tables. I think I had played two hands total at the first table. Thankfully, I got placed at a very fun, light table. And slowly but surely my stack started to grow. Fast forward to the final table. Three of us from the original table are at the final table. Wooooohoooo!
I would have never imagined that I would make it to the final table since the game had started out so shitty! What was the best though....is that at one point, Mr. Ass got up and came over to the final table to see who was playing. He literally raised his eyebrows in surprise when he saw that the other two and me (two women and a man) had made it and he didn't! I ended up 4th.
The second game, I got lucky and sat at a fun table. Not so lucky was M. who is a wonderful kind woman in her 60's. She got seated with Mr. Ass again. Needless to say, at the break, she decided to surrender her chips and go home. She had had enough---she said she wanted to punch him too!
So, again, I had to reframe my thinking and just focus on my cards and be patient...and let the bullies battle it out. I ended up third at the second game, so overall I was pleased with how I played.
Afterall, poker attracts all kinds of people and in order to succeed, I am going to have to be in control of my emotional state---regardless of how many Mr. or Ms. Asses show up at the table.
