Re: Husband wife collusion comments (from one who knows)
Stephen Blackstock (bozo_-_AT_-_world.std.com)
Thu, 11 Apr 1996 10:41:47 -0400
At 8:15 AM 4/11/96, Leslie Schenkel wrote:
>>From reading much of the mail I see that there is some concern about
>playing with a husband and wife at the same table, ie Karen & Jessie. I
>have played with both but never at the same table so I can't comment on any
>stunts they may or may not pull. However, as many of you know my wife
>Leslie (Dave talking here) is a fairly competant holdem player and
>occasionally we will find ourselves at the same lower limit game while I
>wait for a bigger limit.
>
>Now under no circumstances do Leslie and I overtly collude. We don't flash
>signals to each other to reveal cards or that one of us has the nuts.
>However, I taught Leslie to play, I know her style intimately and can
>absolutely put her on a hand. And I'll be honest, I view OUR money as one
>big bankroll. And THAT'S where the danger lies playing a married couple.
>Because when I'm certain she has a monster hand and I have a drawing hand
>that could possibly win (even though the odds may not be right), I will
>pump up the volume and the last place you want to be is sitting between us.
> At the showdown I will always turn over my cards to reveal a legitimate
>hand, but you can be sure I wouldn't have played it that way if my wife
>hadn't been in the pot.
>
>Since we don't signal each other on the strength of each other's hand, I'm
>not even sure that my style of play is technically or ethically wrong.
>However since it is not how I usually play and I don't like playing with
>Leslie anyway, I get the first available seat change or higher limit game
>that becomes available.
>
>My advice is to stay away from any game where a husband-wife combo are
>playing unless they are both fish. Even if they don't overtly team up
>there are subltle differences to they way they are likely to play when they
>are both in a pot that can make it difficult for you.
>
>David
>
Here's a question for you, and for anyone else who plays at the same table
as a significant other:
Suppose you are in middle position with 8h9h. Your wife is on the big
blind. You open-call, everyone else folds to the small blind, who calls.
Your wife raises from the big blind, you call, and the small blind calls.
The flop comes JhTs3s. Small blind bets, your wife raises.
You know your wife well enough that you figure she's probably on AA, KK, or
AsKs. (Actually, she doesn't need to be your wife for you to guess these
hands, but that's beside the point.) It's your turn to bet.
Here's the question: are you more likely to reraise in this situation than
if the person in your wife's position were a stranger?
I consider myself an ethical player, and I don't even think I could answer
this question with a "No". I might reraise here 20% of the time in any
event, because it's not *that* bad a play in the right company. I
represent two-pair, which scares AA or KK, and I hope to get a free turn.
Also, if the small blind folds here and the big blind has AK and doesn't
improve, I can steal on the river. The cons are that I may be in trouble
if a Q hits, and, of course, I may be up against AA or KK, against which I
cannot steal. But if I know, even subconsciously, that the worst I can do
is lose to my wife, I believe I'll be somewhat more likely to reraise,
which might cause a small-blind hand as good as QsJs to fold.
-Bozo
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen P. Blackstock "I used to think that the brain was
bozo_-_AT_-_world.std.com the most wonderful organ in my body.
Then I realized who was telling me this."
-- Emo Phillips