The Poker Clinic with Dr Tom - Don't Mix Your Drinks with Poker

The Poker Clinic with Dr Tom - Don't Mix Your Drinks with Poker

Monday, 3 November 2008

Dear Dr Tom,

Everyone I speak to says never play drunk, but I seem to play better when I’ve had a few pints. What’s the deal with that?

Jon,
Brighton



Dr. Tom says:

Jon,

In order of likelihood, your alcohol advantage can be explained by:

1. Faulty memory – you just forgot how much you actually lost by the end of the night. My advice: keep careful records.

2. Variance – the poker gods are not prudish about drinking round the baize and will dole it out to you for a bit, just to nark the sober players. My advice: keep separate records for sober and drunk play and have a look after three months.

3. Relative advantage – you play worse after a drink but your opponents play even worse. My advice: don’t play on the internet on a weekday afternoon.

4. You actually do play better drunk. My advice – find out what it is you do when drunk and do it better sober. Cheers!

Dr Tom

Got a question for Dr. Tom? Email him on drtom@bluffeurope.com



Tags: Tom Sambrook, Strategy,