Recently I took a break from my poker game because of finals, and I decided I needed to analyze my game from top to bottom in order to figure out why I was doing well sometimes, while other times getting myself on tilt from making bad decisions. Well I got my answers from a very unlikely source. I sat down this weekend and watched the U.S. Open because I used to play golf and still do when I have the time, and I have always followed it. After only watching for a little over an hour, I started to realize how much golf was like poker. <READMORE>Here it is, the biggest tournament of the year. All the professionals are in it, and also a lot of unknown amateurs trying to become known have squeaked in through preliminary tournaments.

Everyone has the same mindset going into day one; make it through the day with a score that puts you in as a big contender. The first tee shot soars off the tee, and the tournament begins. Every player scrambles all day, attempting to read every shot and putt perfectly, trying not to let a bad hole get to them, and most of all, trying to become the leader. They also watch the golfer they are matched up with to see how he approaches each shot, in order to help create a plan about his own. At the end of day one, some professionals are in contention but some unknowns are as well. As I turned off the TV, I realized all of a sudden that this day one of the golf tournament was almost exactly like day one of the 10k buy-in main event in the WSOP. Many professionals are toward the top of chip counts, as well as a bunch of unknown amateurs making a nice run. Every player is trying to create a big enough chip stack to stay in contention of being a big threat, and aren't letting a bad beat take them down and affect how they play. They are also making critical reads and moves to win some crucial sized pots which are just some of the many similarities.

As day two arises, the golfers start to become comfortable with the course, but have to create new reads as the flag stick position on the course changes. Nevertheless, they are ready to take chances, such as trying to drive the green in two on a par five, to take a chance to get an eagle and run away from the field. The risks they take either put them at the top of the leader board or take them completely off the leader board. They hope every shot works out, and if it lands in the deep rough and they know they have an extremely hard shot coming up that ends up dropping in for a double bogey(+2), they don’t allow it to get to them. Instead they start thinking about how they can get those two shots back on the upcoming holes. Day two comes to an end with most of the unknowns dropping out of contention, but some still up on the leader board and creating a Cinderella story in the making. The professionals are still hanging in there, knowing that if they can get to the final day on the leader board, they have an advantage over the rest of the field. In the WSOP, the second day you have to readjust your reads as you are moved from table to table and the field narrows. You know the chip stack you have now will not be in contention at the end of the day, so you are ready to take risks and chances based on your reads to try to keep building your stack. Also when the bad beats hit you, you stay strong and keep confident that you can build your stack back up within the next hour or so.

Day three is just like day two, making new reads but becoming more comfortable with the tournament, and you know what you need to do to be in it come final round. For poker, you grind it out trying to improve your chip stack to a very respectable stack when final table hits.

The day you have been waiting for all year finally comes, you have made it to the final day. You know you can not lose your focus for one second. After you make your final adjustments and reads with the final round starting, you get into your mindset. You know exactly what you have to do to bring the title home. Some big shots go your way and some big shots don’t go your way, but you keep battling through it, believing that you can finish at the top. The final holes come before you know it, and you realize you are right there, tied for the lead. Every shot and read you make can be the difference between first and second. You watch your opponent very closely, because you know if he messes up, it will give you a little room for error also. Walking up to the final green, you know you have a shot at the title. There is just a five foot put that is in your way of your championship title. As you read the putt, you think about everything you have learned in the past rounds about this green, the speed, the break, the distance. Approaching your ball you feel confident that the putt will drop. You take a nice easy stroke and watch the ball fall nicely into the cup. Your life has just changed because you worked hard every day, never giving up on yourself, being confident on every read you needed to make for each shot you took.

The final table in the WSOP is no different. Your reads are the best they can be at this point. You know every hand you're in can be the difference between first and ninth place, depending on your cards and reads of each and every opponent. As the players slowly get eliminated, you get more nervous and realize how much more important each pot is. You make it to the final two; you have a 2:1 chip lead and know you have a great shot at winning the big title. The flop gives you mid pair and you bet out; your opponent re-raises all in. You have a decision that can change your life. Thinking about every single read you have on your opponent, you finally realize one that you had almost forgotten about, and you are confident your mid pair is good. As soon as you call, your opponent’s face goes from a stone cold face to a face of disgust, and he flips over his ace high. The mid-pair holds up, and you win the championship. Your whole bankroll and life has just changed, because you kept your focus throughout the tournament and took very detailed mental notes of each player’s tells at your table.

Earlier, I said I got the answers I was looking for to improve my game by watching this tournament. I realized that these players kept amazing focus throughout each hole, knowing that every hole affected their final outcome. I realized that I was not keeping that focus, and if I was just an average stacked player, I would usually watch poker on the TV, not taking note of each player’s tendencies in each hand. Also, whenever I took a bad beat, I would basically give up and just look for anything that resembled a hand to go all-in with. I am very excited for the end of the week to come, as it will be the end of finals and I can start playing as much as I used to everyday.

If you have any comments or suggestions, I’d greatly appreciate them. Email me at Poker24_7@yahoo.com.
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