Oh yes they are at every table, every tournament, and in every cash game. They are the animal most feared by the best players in the world. I am referring to the proverbial “Donkey.”

How do you defend against the Taliban like tactics of a Donkey? They come out of nowhere. They play bad cards in all the wrong places. Yet, they seem to win pot after pot. Some of them even manage to get deep into tournaments making poor decision after poor decision only to have the deck bail them out time after time. Get in with the best hand against a Donkey and they manage to hit that inside straight draw at just the “right” time.

Sickening?

Perhaps.

Frustrating?

Absolutely!

Playing against a bad player is the absolute worst scenario a poker player can encounter. Why? Because using your brain no longer gives you an advantage. As any skilled player will tell you it’s all about out thinking and out playing your opponent. A bad player is not sophisticated enough to understand complex plays and therefore is too dumb to understand it and fold his hand. Ultimately, he will make sporadic calls, moves, and plays when he shouldn’t and, unless you have the “nutz”, your complex play may send you right to the rail with a few four letter words spewing from underneath your breath on the way.

So here is a bit of advice when playing against a Donkey:

1. Make sure you have a hand before getting involved with him.
2. Don’t get all of your chips in the middle unless you are sure you have the best hand.
3. Don’t try to make sophisticated moves on bad players. They will not understand and may possibly call when you think it’s obvious they should fold.
4. Be patient. Once you have identified the donkey you don’t necessarily have to make it your mission to knock him out. If someone else does it. So be it. The bottom line is that he is no longer at your table.

There you have it. Take your time, identify the Donkey, and play accordingly. Believe me they are not hard to find. Just make sure it’s not you.

Heeeeeeeeeeee Haw!!!!!!!!

Decues,

CIII

“…the only game I know is DO or DIE!”