Keeping Score

There are many tricks a poker player can use to end a losing streak. I recently went through a series of small losses and decided it was time to get back to my winning ways, so I used one of my old tricks to get back on track.

I started keeping score.

How does a poker player keep score? Simple. You get a sheet of paper and a pencil or pen and you make notes.

I was playing Omaha High-Low against some shrewd players at Talking Stick Casino. Now these guys know odds and they know how to maximize the value of their cards, even against a raiser. They are not easy to beat.

The problem with most Omaha High-Low players is they waste too many chips on mediocre hands. They call a bet with one of the worst hands, say a J-10-3-4. You need a miracle flop to make a hand like that work. In most cases, you are simply throwing away chips.

My secret to winning at any high-low game is to limit the number of hands I play. In this way, I take advantage of premium hands like A-A-2-3 or A-A-K-K double-suited. Both of these hands are worthy of a raise, thanks to the pocket aces.

I keep score by making a mark on a sheet of paper each time I am dealt a hand. If the good cards are coming to me, I won't make many marks before I play a hand. But if I go through 20 hands without playing one, I realize I am sitting at a dead seat and will often change seats the first chance I get.

By keeping score, you will only play premium hands that have a good chance of improving. There are many Omaha High-Low players who will play almost any four cards hoping for a miracle flop. Most of the time they will not get that flop, but their hand will improve just far enough to get them into a world of trouble.

Other players, of course, notice me taking notes and sometimes they will ask what I am doing. I don't exactly lie to them. I simply tell them I am a writer taking notes for future stories and generally that is enough to satisfy their curiosity.

Each time you play a hand you can mark a zero on your pad and then start all over again. The marks mean you did not jeopardize any of your chips on poor hands. Every player eventually will receive a premium hand and that is when your stack should grow if you play the hand properly.

A disciplined poker player usually turns into a winner. An undisciplined player often loses, although that player will occasionally overcome the odds and book a winner.

Keeping score works in cash games as well as tournaments. Remember in a tournament, you cannot get back those chips you squander foolishly. In a cash game, of course, if you have a bankroll, you can always replenish your stack of chips.

Practice your discipline by keeping score. It will improve your game and preserve your bankroll. Trust me, it works. Good luck and let the games begin.

Author: Geno Lawrenzi Jr.

(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter and poker player who lives in Phoenx, AZ. He has published 2,000 articles in 50 magazines and 125 newspapers. If you want to share a gambling story or book idea with him, send an email to glawrenzi@gmail.com ).