Many poker books ago for me to remember which one, an author described playing poker as being similar to dancing the tango. That analogy stuck in my mind. Even today, I can see players apparently involved in a synchronized ritual of leading and following. Then leading the way. Absent romance, of course.
At that time, I also became a fan of Bruce Lee. And, another analogy flourished. In the film, Enter the Dragon, Lee describes his martial arts style as expanding when his opponent contracts and contracting when his opponent expands. Do you see the similarity in poker? Bruce Lee was a remarkable person. Although small framed, he managed to hit a much larger opponent with a punch just half an inch away. Friends, that’s what this is about. He was as mentally and physically attuned as a human can achieve.
Is there a poker lesson in all these things about dancing and fighting? You bet. In tango, if you let your body get too far in front of your feet QQ Online, you fall flat on your face. In martial arts, if you expand when you should hire, you will have a bloody face. In poker, if you push when you should fold, you lose face (and your stack).
In a sit n go hold’em tournament, there is a rhythm and there are partners. Learning when to lead and when to follow is practically the essence of a winning style of play. Mainly, however, we must develop a good sense of timing and balance. These ingredients seem to be the key to winning the game in a tournament. Because when my timing and balance are right, my game is going extremely well. When I’m out of sync, nothing goes right. And this is where I find myself wishing I was left out of this.
Time talks about issues of doing the right thing at the right time. For example, consider pushing or folding. It should be obvious that success in pushing or folding is largely a matter of perceptual time. Obviously, there are considerations like stack size, opponent’s playing style, level of blinds and more. But ultimately, there is only one question to be answered. Is the time right?
Balance is a more difficult concept to describe. The balance is finding that perfect style of play, not just for the situation, but throughout the tournament. And it’s more than just shifting gears. It is the myriad of micro-reproduction adjustments that must take place to follow a rough, winding, tumultuous and unmarked path to victory. Balance is the product of patience, common sense, logical thinking and intuition.
Moment and balance. Successful qualities that are important to the dancer, martial artist and tournament poker player.