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Clonie,
I have been supporting my man to play poker for the
last year. I agreed to handle the day-to-day business
while he reads books, practices on the internet, and
goes to local tournaments. We are in the Real Estate
business, so we can arrange our own schedule. I agreed
to this as long as we got to go on great vacations and
visit casinos all over the world.
Now, here’s the thing: I also love to play, but
he now acts like it is just a guy’s game: “Women
are only allowed to our Friday Poker nights at our house
if they are topless!” I don’t care about
all that, but I just would like to play and learn in
tourneys as well.
From a woman’s point of view, what’s the
best way to approach this? I’d like to get good
and kick his butt! He’s gettin’ a bit arrogant.
Don’t get me wrong, I love him to death –
we’ll be together forever. I’d just like
to play too sometime before I die. Some of our friends
have coed games, but he goes by himself.
Maybe he is afraid the men will hit on me or something.Please
advise. ’Bet you never thought you’d be
the Anne Landers of poker, huh?
–Susan
Susan,
I am not the best person to ask about relationship
advice, because I don’t have a great track record
with men. I have been divorced twice. My first divorce
was due to my age; I was much too young, but my second
marriage lasted ten years. My second husband is a very
kind and loving man and will always be a good friend.
Without his love and support I would not be what I am
today.
Lots of men feel the same way as your husband –
it’s not that poker’s a man’s game,
it’s just that they want to spend some time away
from their wives. This is their time; it is like golf,
and they don’t want wives on the golf course or
on a hunting trip. But if single Joe from the office
is bringing his new hot girlfriend, well they don’t
have a problem with that! I have always played with
men, and I never had to be topless, nor would I ever
consider it.
My current boyfriend is a poker player and he likes
me to play poker with him, but doesn’t ever want
me to play without him, which kind of causes a slight
problem because we live 3,000 miles apart and I travel
on the poker circuit. I do what I need to do regardless,
which is probably why I’ve been divorced twice.
(I am noticing a pattern here.) I’m a very independent
person, which is not a trait most men like in women.
I do things my way, but I am willing to take the risk
that sometimes goes with it.
I don’t want to give you advice that will cause
friction in your relationship, but since you contacted
me, then you really know what needs to be done. You
are unhappy with the way things are, and you and only
you know what is right for your relationship.
– Clonie
Clonie,
I was wondering if I could get a pro’s advice
on a hand that I just played on Full Tilt. I have been
replaying it in my head and am still unsure. I was in
a $5 tournament with 80 players to go and had an average
stack. I had 5-5 and everyone folded to me in later
position (two from the button) and I limped in. One
call and the big blind checks. The flop comes 4-5-7.
Big Blind checks, I bet 500 and the other player folds.
Big Blind re-raises, I move all in and he calls. He
shows 6-8. No help on the turn or river and I’m
out. I am trying to decide whether I should have raised
pre-flop with 5-5, so that Big Blind wouldn’t
limp in, or was it just bad luck? I cannot decide which
play is best, so I am looking to a pro for some help.
Thanks so much!
– Jon Baugues
Jon,
You definitely should have raised pre-flop. If you
are going to play a pot, and it is folded around to
you in late position, you should always raise. It doesn’t
matter what your cards are; late position in a No Limit
Hold’em tournament, when everybody has already
folded to you, is a raise or fold scenario. By raising
here, the big blind would probably have folded his 6-8
and you would have won the pot. Pocket fives is an especially
vulnerable hand. There are not a lot of flops that are
going to help you, and most flops are going to look
dangerous.
– Clonie
Clonie,
Regarding heads-up play in No-Limit Hold’em.
Who has the big blind? I’ve gotten in many arguments
about this in local games and tourneys. They play that
the dealer is the big blind because the player left
of the dealer is always the small blind. My argument
is about position; the dealer always has position and
it doesn’t change in heads-up play. Who’s
right?
- Ryan Woodhouse
Ryan,
You are correct; the button is the small blind.
-Clonie
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