Texas Holdem Poker

Men need to be careful when playing women. Before some of you give me the “Yeah, we know this” look, let me convey a story. I was playing in a Pot Limit holdem tournament in 2007 in Las Vegas. There was a very well endowed middle aged woman that a lot of men liked to flirt with. This woman was not drop dead gorgeous or anything like that, but she had a certain feisty way about her that men were drawn to.

This woman was sitting to my right for a good portion of the second half of the tournament. A lot of her raises went unchallenged preflop. If they were challenged past the flop, she almost always won the pot on the river. There were a couple of times that she literally flirted her way out of a guy betting into her. One time a guy was reaching for Poker chips, she looked at the guy, reached down and squeezed her breast together and gave the guy a sly look. The guy laughed so hard that he decided to check. Of course, the river card completed her draw and she won the hand.

Well later on, this woman and I were in a hand together. I happened to flop a straight, but there was a potential flush draw on the board. She bet out and I went to raise. She touched my arm and went, “You would raise little old me would you?” My reply, “Pot.” She just gave me a look as to say, “I can’t believe you did this?” She called the bet. The turn fell a blank and the bet was checked to me. I potted again and the woman folded.

Shortly afterwards we all went on break. The woman and I got back early and she started talking to me and was trying to flirt with me. Now, this woman was a good 10 to 12 years older than me at the time so it really wasn’t phasing me any. I happened to mention that I liked the breast squeeze move that she did against another opponent. She looks at me and said, “It didn’t work on your huh?” By this point most of the players at our table were taking their seats. My reply to her was, “Nope. You stopped being a woman the moment you sat down at the table.”

The other guys at the table looked at me like I was a fool. The woman knew exactly what I meant however. She looked at me and said, “I understand.” I had been paying close attention and knew that she was a local and played regularly at a different casino. A lot of the players here did not know her. I didn’t know her either but I know her type. She is the type who can actually play poker, but also likes playing the men at the table.

Unfortunately for the men, she has worked her routine so well that they fall for it. The men at the table commented for a few minutes that “We know she is a woman” etc. That was fine by me. The guys didn’t notice the boyfriend that was sitting on the rail constantly watching her progress. I did. One thing that the other guys didn’t notice afterwards is that she didn’t play in a hand with me at all unless she had a really strong hand. She had lost her edge and knew she had to play to beat me. She was a very competent player and actually finished 3rd in the tournament.

What is the point of my little story above? Women in Online Poker today have not only learned how to play the game, but some have begun to play the player by using men’s own hormones against them. Women even recommend that other women use this as a tactic. Annie Duke mentioned in her biography that other women should use this tactic.

I actually agree with Annie. If you are capable of competently playing the ditzy, flirty poker player that is just there to have fun, feel free.

When you see a fairly attractive woman sit down at your table, watch a few things about her if she is overly flirty or chatty with the other men. Pay attention to when she talks to them and whether she changes the way she acts while she is in a hand. I have seen women do everything from start somewhat distracting conversations to give puppy dog eyes to their male opponents. The puppy dog eyes were actually quite cute, as was the face when I bet into her. (Of course, it was a limit game so she called.)

Older women will actually try certain “friendly” techniques to try and distract their male opponents or younger opponents. I have heard the “you wouldn’t bet your grandmother” or “you wouldn’t bet an old lady would you” more times than you would believe. I actually know this older woman player in Atlantic City that is the master of “playing friendly.” She is actually a very nice lady away from the table, but I have seen her draw more free cards by smiling and talking polite than any other person I know. She even has a little “friendly check” that she does. Of course, when she wants to bet she goes from friendly to the “you better not call me” face. I enjoy playing with her and when I want free cards, I give her the “friendly check” right back.

Of course not all women are going to use these types of tactics. Some will try and hold their own with the men at the table because of either ego or because they want to earn your respect. As with all things poker, every situation is different. These examples were given to help you look out for some potential pitfalls when playing against female opponents. Women can be just as tricky as us guys. The difference is that women usually have more self control and have a few more tricks that their male opponents.