The Waiting Game.....

Waiting on Players to Make a Decision.

How many times have you played in a live tournament and you have that one guy at the table who has to think, what seems, forever to make a decision when another player bets? It happens far too often. Is it because they are actually trying to do the math or figure out what the other player has? Or is it because they see Pros do it all the time so they want to come off as a Pro? Whatever their reason is, it is recently annoying players.

I've been doing my best to keep up with everything that is going on at the WSOP this year and two things are making the experience horrible to new and returning players: The heat! And the players taking forever to make a decision. With these two combinations and when you add human nature, anger starts lurking its head into the scene.

When ever a player is faced with a monster decision because his/her opponent pushed all in, some brain power has to be utilized. Maybe the way the opponent played leading up to the river had the player thinking he was facing one type of hand and then the script flipped once the river came out. A players plan changes constantly during gameplay. Pre-flop, sitting on the button and dealt pocket Queens. Depending on the plays before him, a player could be thinking of limping in, 3+ betting, or all-in. Decision is made to 3 bet. One player calls. Flop hits: KQ9 rainbow. Caller checks. Player is now trying to figure out what does his/her opponent have? Two pair? Suited connectors? Did they get the straight???!!! An evaluation of the opponent's demeanor and previous plays (if available) must be placed into consideration. Player decides to check. (I know that's not a smart move, just go with it.) Turn comes out and its 4c. Opponent checks and player bets half the pot. Opponent calls. Players mind is going crazy at this point. River comes out 9h. Opponent pushes allin!

Now put yourself in this situation. Are you planning out all the way back at the preflop for this situation? Are you planning this situation during the flop or turn? You might be but when you reach the river, you are allotted some thinking time because that opponent just put you in for half your chips or more. 

Now lets go over the my Top 2 "No No" times to waste the table's time...

Pre-Flop and you have a mediocre hand UTG, with Level 1 blinds. Don't look down at J-10 suited and ponder this hand for over a minute.  Going into a tournament or any game, a player should already know what hands you play and in what positions. New players, like baby born new players, have an exception but that only last for like 3 rounds of the button.

When you have a hand you already know you are going to fold. This irritates players the most. Pre-flop, Post-flop, it doesn't matter. Once you receive a hand and know you have no chance of winning. Get rid of them. Do not sit there and think and think and think just to make your opponents nervous. You benefit nothing from that. 

Remember though, in the game of poker, we are all in the people business! We have absolutely no control over another human being. With that being said, this is one of the things we have to deal with when we play. Best of luck to ya!

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