In the service of our country in a land far, far away during the last century but also in the last millennium as well, we occasionally experienced what was called a “Mad Minute.” The excitement was quiet for days on end and then, in a startling moment of noise and chaos, hell would break loose. You never knew when these would happen; sometimes others initiated them, occasionally by us. But they happened, and it was rare that the situation or status quo ever remained the same. As one of our rules so aptly stated: No plan survives first contact with the opposition.
Driving to the local poker emporium any time I am told to “go play poker and win us some money.” (Guys, I am partnered with the best lady in the world; not only does she allow me to play poker just about any time I wish, there are times I am kicked out of the house to go play. Whatever my sins were in the past, they were all forgiven when I met her…but that’s another story.) I talk to myself and attempt to develop a plan of attack for that days’ festivities. I pump myself up for the coming combat, I tell myself what range of cards I will play in various positions and repeat the old poker mantras: “Selective Yet Aggressive” and “Patience, Position, Power.”
So I found myself at the Pokertorium sitting down at a $1 – $2 No-limit game Monday afternoon knowing a few people at the table and seeing others who were as yet unmade as poker players. Meaning: I had yet to ascertain and divine their style of play and define their level of aggression. They were the focus of my attentions for the first half-hour or so. Well, within that period I fairly well defined the table; there were three players who would bet out large at any sign of table weakness, three who would bet only if they caught the top of any flop and the others were all tight, passive players. I felt I was a shark swimming amongst the minnows.
Except for the fact that the minnows were catching cards and stifling the attacks of said shark: If I had two pair someone else had caught their card to make a set. If I bet out on a nut draw, it never materialized and middle pair won. Frustrating experiences, to say the least! Have you ever been there, knowing you’re the best player at the table and yet not being able to get anything going? I’m reminded of an old flying story where a WWII German ace many times over happens to be shot down. He meets the American pilot who brought him to captivity: “I am Ernst Kessler, I haf schott down über zixty airplanes! How many haf you schott down?” “Just one, sir” is the answer. I was feeling like Kessler right then.
And then came the “Mad Minute”…really, a “Magic Minute.” I had bought into the game for $200 and was down to my last $60. Sure, I could rebuy; but sharks don’t do that – we eat the fishies, they don’t feed on us. I found myself with five opponents in an unraised pot, in late position, with 10-9 suited; an excellent place to see a flop, so I called. The flop came 10-9-4 rainbow and I was feeling like this could be the point when a plan DID survive contact with the opposition. There was a bet of $5 with four callers: I felt that no-one could have a set at that point and there were perhaps some straight draws out there interspersed with a pair and good kickers. So I just called to see what the turn brought and to more closely define my hand versus the competition.
The turn was a two, still rainbow. One bet of $10, two callers, two drop-outs, and my call; I was down to $43 in my stack. The river was a six; anyone who had stayed with 7-8 now had a straight but it was check-check to me. I went all-in for my last $43 and got two callers! I showed my top two pair, one player showed me his A-10 and the other mucked. In one hand, after an hour and twenty minutes of frustrating nothingness I had regained virtually all of my initial buy-in. In one ‘mad minute’ I devastated the opposition, regained my equilibrium, my momentum and table presence. From there it was no looking back.
I ended the night cashing in for $733. With $3 as a toke to the cashiers at the front desk I walked away that night netting $530. The situation changed all at once, in that instant. I am pleased that I was able to recognize and then capitalize on the effect of that brief point in time. It just goes to show you what just a “Mad Minute” can do – it can change everything virtually at an eye blink: All because one remains ever alert – no matter what – thinking about poker.
