Poker Night!
Tasha and I have been playing poker lately at a local bar that offers free table stakes and house cash as prizes. It's a sweet deal - an excuse to go out and get a decent meal (their wings are the best we've had in ages!) and do some socializing.
"Socializing" has almost always equated to humiliation for me, however, and this Friday was no different. I made the mistake of reading up on poker during the preceding week - but not deeply enough. I learned how to rank the pocket card combinations and to fold most pockets and play aggressively on a very few. Well, I got the best pocket of all - double Aces - and man, did I play aggressively. Unfortunately, the fellow to my right flopped a straight and I never saw it. I can safely say that I barely saw the cards on the table; I was focused like a laser beam on those neon Aces and it cost me. I remember looking at those face cards at the flop and thinking, "Hmmm, maybe he's got a pair of Kings, or a pair of Jacks, or a pair of 10's - I win!" It cost me my entire stake because I simply kept raising the guy until I was all in. I have never been more shocked in my life than when I lost that hand.
Lesson learned: the strongest pocket in the world won't help you beyond the flop. Watch the table. I'll enjoy playing again. I just hope I can remember when I'm looking at another strong pocket.