Process Essay: Playing Poker
Chris Harrington
ENC 1101/M & W
Bryant
Process Essay
Sept 14, 2012
“There are few things that are so unpardonably neglected in our country as poker. The upper class knows very little about poker. Now and then you find ambassadors who have sort of a general knowledge of poker, but the ignorance of the people is fearful. Why, I have known clergymen, good men, kind-hearted, liberal, sincere, and all that, who did not know the meaning of a "flush". It is enough to make one ashamed of the species.” -- Mark Twain. Texas Hold`Em, a style of poker playing, has become very popular in the last few years. It is so popular that it is even featured as a sport on sporting channels. People play to win very big money in these types of tournaments, …show more content…
Betting strategies are difficult to understand and figure out, because most betting strategies are based on emotion. In my own words, “To master ones betting, you have to master others emotions.” For example, if a player is having a hard time with the game and losing a lot then that person is likely to be betting heavily to try to discourage players from calling. On the other hand, that person may not want to bet at all, even if he or she may have a great hand, for fear of losing all their money. Usually when you want someone to call you, you’re not going to bet big enough to make the others fold. Reading expression is by far the hardest thing to pick up. It is all about body language. Nervous tapping, excessive blinking, biting lips, heavy breathing, and body position, they are all things we in the poker world like to call “tells.” Every little thing you do and don’t do is a tell. Observation and attention to detail are the only ways to pick them up and use them. Don’t be discouraged if the first time you sit down at the table and you can’t figure out the tells or you make a mistake. It take a lot of time, practice, and patience to get all the details
ENC 1101/M & W
Bryant
Process Essay
Sept 14, 2012
“There are few things that are so unpardonably neglected in our country as poker. The upper class knows very little about poker. Now and then you find ambassadors who have sort of a general knowledge of poker, but the ignorance of the people is fearful. Why, I have known clergymen, good men, kind-hearted, liberal, sincere, and all that, who did not know the meaning of a "flush". It is enough to make one ashamed of the species.” -- Mark Twain. Texas Hold`Em, a style of poker playing, has become very popular in the last few years. It is so popular that it is even featured as a sport on sporting channels. People play to win very big money in these types of tournaments, …show more content…
Betting strategies are difficult to understand and figure out, because most betting strategies are based on emotion. In my own words, “To master ones betting, you have to master others emotions.” For example, if a player is having a hard time with the game and losing a lot then that person is likely to be betting heavily to try to discourage players from calling. On the other hand, that person may not want to bet at all, even if he or she may have a great hand, for fear of losing all their money. Usually when you want someone to call you, you’re not going to bet big enough to make the others fold. Reading expression is by far the hardest thing to pick up. It is all about body language. Nervous tapping, excessive blinking, biting lips, heavy breathing, and body position, they are all things we in the poker world like to call “tells.” Every little thing you do and don’t do is a tell. Observation and attention to detail are the only ways to pick them up and use them. Don’t be discouraged if the first time you sit down at the table and you can’t figure out the tells or you make a mistake. It take a lot of time, practice, and patience to get all the details