Rounders

I’ve recently just learnt how to play poker. Rob taught me about a month ago. I’m not a gambler or anything like that. It’s just that I’ve watched too many movies in which they play poker and they’ve always made it look so cool and so much fun.

I’ve played a couple times since Rob’s taught me with varying success. But one thing I picked up is how similar poker is to life, at least mine. At the end of the day, I reckon it’s about making the best of the hand that you’ve been dealt. You could have the best possible hand but still lose out if you don’t know how to use it. Conversely, you could get the crappiest of hands and still come out tops.

I think the key is knowing when to fold, call or raise.

Take a situation I’m in for example. Last week I got chatted up by a chick that works in a music store I buy a lot of my cd’s from. Let’s call her Heather. Since then we’ve called and seen each other a couple of times. She’s a really nice chick and I could tell from the onset that she digs me a lot.

On Monday we kissed for the first time. If it had been up to her, I’m sure we would have done it a lot soon than that. But I knew I had a good hand so I made her sweat it out a little.

Anyway, yesterday she sent me a text saying me that some guy that she works with told her that I’m a womanizer and that I used to want this chick that used to work at their store last year. Anyone who’s ever seen the chick he was referring to wouldn’t blame me for it. She was hot and I wanted her, so what? The only thing I denied was the womanizer bit. I’m not. Honestly…(as if I’d say I am).

Heather believed me and everything was back to normal. We made plans for the weekend and by plans... I mean plans. It’s amazing what you can make someone say when you have a good hand (in the literal sense of the word. Please pardon the pun).

This morning she obviously spoke to the guy again when she got to work because I received a text saying that I lied to her and that she doesn’t think we should see each other again.

Crappy hand! What do I do? Nothing. I didn’t respond. I think that upset her because a couple of minutes later she raised her bet. She texted me to tell me that I must return the cd’s that she’s lent to me.

Now what? Do I fold like a little wimp or do I call her bluff? The latter. I’ll see her and raise her. In fact I’m double raising her. I’m putting all my chips on the table. I’ll return her cd’s. Just not personally . There’s a hot chick that I work with that’s Heather’s seen me with and is a bit jealous of. I’m sending her. That should put a spanner in the works...

I know she likes me so if this works, it’s gonna work big. I won’t just be playing poker with her, I’ll be playing pokeHer. If it doesn’t, I’m bust.

I mentioned earlier that I've had varying success in poker. The same thing's happened in life too and I think the more experience I gain in both, the better my future success rate will be. It's all about trial and error but the most important thing is knowing when to fold.