You Gotta Know When to Fold ‘Em – Life lessons in spades (hearts, clubs, and diamonds, too)

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I have devoted more than a few hours of time over the past several years learning the game of Texas Hold ‘Em Poker. I consider myself an above-average player (yeah, who doesn’t?). I have put in the time learning the game from myriad books written by poker pros with names like Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson. I have observed the pros in tournament play. I have learned a lot about reading people through my years of experience in advertising, publishing, music, and politics. I have played in cash games and tournaments from here to Las Vegas. And I may have played my last hand ever of Texas Hold ‘Em.

On trips to Las Vegas, I have done relatively well in poker play, making money in cash games and making final tables in tournaments at Binion’s and the Bellagio. My most recent trip started with a good day in a cash game at Caesar’s Palace. Then, the poker world I knew turned upside down over four hands in two days – four hands of the Apocalypse that left me reeling over how bad things can happen to good poker players.

The first apocalyptic hand of the trip ended my participation in a tournament at Binion’s one otherwise fine afternoon. I was “blessed” with pocket Queens (a pair of Queens as my hole cards). I raised the pre-flop bet and was then raised all-in by a guy who had been playing very loose. I called his all-in bet and was relieved to see when he turned over his Jack-Ten unsuited. My relief turned to sheer disappointment as the flop came down Jack-Deuce-Jack. There were no other Queens forthcoming, and my tournament day was over. Stuff happens. I shook hands and planned my next tournament.

Fast-forward 24 hours to the next tournament at Binion’s. The game is going very well, and I have made the final table. One of five players remaining, I had one of the top two chip stacks and was cruising right along. I felt good, especially when I was raised all-in while holding pocket Kings. Cowboys. I called the bet from the guy with a chip stack half my size. He turned over a pair of Sixes. As the flop came out King-Deuce-Ace, I was fully expecting my three-of-a-kind to prevail. Unfortunately, when the turn and river cards both came out as sixes, my full house did not prevail over his four-of-a-kind. Half of my chip stack disappeared quicker than you can say Bad Beat.

I was still in the tournament, however, and I was still very much alive. I played on, won a couple more hands, and things were turning around when I was again raised all-in while holding a pair of Aces. Pocket Rockets! The best pre-flop hand! I called, and was almost excited when my opponent turned over his 8-9 off suit. The nascent excitement turned into a nauseous disgust as the flop came out – and I am not making this up – 8-9-9. Another tournament day had ended, and no Binion’s championship was there for me.

Like a punch-drunk MMA fighter who just doesn’t know when not to get back in the octagon, I searched out a cash game later that night to “turn my luck around.” I ended up doing a lot more folding than holding, as the cards just wouldn’t come. I was about to cash in my chips when I got a decent hand – pocket Tens. I raised pre-flop, and the only person I got to call was the big blind. The flop comes out 9-2-4 unsuited. The Tens still look good. Thinking my opponent has a high card or perhaps a decent pair, I place a protection bet and expected either a raise or a fold. Just a call comes. The turn card comes up a 2. I bet again and get called again – not raised. The river card is a 7. There are no straight or flush possibilities on the board. I am holding two pair, Tens and Deuces. I bet, get called, and then get beaten by my opponent’s Deuce-7 off-suit hole cards – the worst starting hand in Texas Hold ‘Em.

For the record, I would not have changed my play on any of these four hands. But this unfortunate turn of events started me thinking about poker and life. Most of the things I have done in my life bring something of value to others, whether it’s playing music that uplifts a person’s spirits, helping local businesses get recognition through advertising and promotion, or volunteer work through Rotary and the Chamber. Each of these is rewarding for all parties concerned – true win-win scenarios. To be an ultimate winner at Texas Hold ‘Em Poker means that everyone else has to lose.

Why should I devote more of my life to this?

 

Very few towns or cities could ever claim that their Mayor was a smokin' hot guitar player. The island city of Marathon in the Florida Keys is one of those towns. While politics is a temporary call to service, music is a life sentence. John Bartus, a more-than-four-decade full-time professional musician, singer, and songwriter, continues to raise the bar with his groundbreaking solo acoustic show. It’s easy to catch John on one of his more than 200 shows a year throughout the Keys on his Perpetual Island Tour. His CD releases include After The Storm, Keys Disease 10th Anniversary Remaster, and Live From the Florida Keys Vol. 2. John’s music is available wherever you download or stream your music.