Poker Tips for Couples: Double Trouble
by Bodog Poker | Apr 22 2010
Poker dates are now a popular way for couples to spend an evening. The excitement of the game makes for a welcome change from the typical bars and movie theatres, and a night on the tables is usually a good time had by all.
The average night at the
poker room can be a profitable one if things go your way, but if they don't it can end up costing you a lot more money than a dinner and movie would have. Even if you practice strict
bankroll limits your night of poker can be over in a hurry, and then you're left with nothing to do for the rest of your date; although that could end up being a good thing I guess.
Playing poker in a partnership means that you share your bankroll. That way both of you must have a bad night at the tables for your bankroll to shrink considerably. If one of you wins and the other loses, your bankroll won't have a big fluctuation. If you both win it can grow considerably, so it's very important to always bring your A-game. If one of you has a run of bad luck and the other player is making a lot of mistakes, your bankroll will not be able to survive for very long. That's why both members of the partnership have to be at their best when they
play poker; if they're not they shouldn't play.
Playing your best game is not an easy thing for any player to achieve all the time. The ego gets in the way and often clouds the mistakes that we are making (and not noticing) because we'd rather blame other reasons for our losses. A partner can watch your play and point out where you may be straying from your best game. A good partner will take the criticism and realize that they have to plug up the leak in their game. Some players can go months or years repeating mistakes that they never notice because there was never anyone with a vested interest in their improvement to tell them what they were doing wrong.
If you notice that your partner is having a bad session on the tables you should find something else to do that night. There's no sense in dumping money when you can do something else. Find a way to convince your partner that it's you who doesn't feel like playing tonight, and save your bankroll for a night when you both want to be playing poker. If they are having a bad night it's unlikely that you will hear any protest from them about leaving.
Playing together still means playing smart. Help each other to learn more about the game and support each other through the ups and downs that you're both sure to experience. On those nights when you both win big, the experience will be a unifying memory.
