Tyler Nals - The Perfect Range

Thats a strange title for a chapter, huh? I actually didnt know what to call this chapter, then it just hit me. But you probably want to know why I didnt know what to call this chapter. Simple Answer: I didnt know it was going to be in this book.

In other words, when I played in this 2/5 No Limit session, I had no idea that the experience would be written about. That wasnt my intention at the time. Thats also the case for the second chapter in this book. However, theres a big difference between my first and second sessions covered here. You will see what I mean soon.

In this session (my first of the calendar year), I walked up to the cage at the Harrahs Cherokee Poker Room, bought-in for $200 (the minimum buy-in for 2/5 at this poker room), and made my way to one of the cushioned WSOP chairs. I only bought in for $200 because I planned on playing in a small buy-in tournament two hours later, but at the time, I didnt know what was about to happen. And it happened fast!

I folded junk on the first hand. On the second hand, I was dealt Qc 9c in middle position. Even though I had only been there a very short period of time, I could tell it was a soft table. I raised to $20. In most cases like these, I would raise to $15. This would lead to several folders and build the pot while allowing me to take the lead on the flop, but it wouldnt build the pot too much, which could lead to the hand getting out of control. I raised to $20 in order to disguise my hand. I wanted it to look like AK.

I had two callers. One was in the big blind (old quiet guy wearing glasses). The other was directly to my right (friendly Asian guy who greeted me when I sat down).

Flop: 4s Th 8h.

The Asian man to my right checked. I placed a continuation bet of $30. By betting approximately half the pot, you usually keep the strength of your hand disguised. These bets can mean anything from a bluff to a monster. The old guy in the big blind folded. The Asian guy to my right called. I didnt like this, but I obviously couldnt reveal that.

Turn: 3d.

An absolute dud. Now I had to figure out what my opponent was holding. His action would provide a hint. He checked. I had several clues. He called a $20 bet pre-flop. Therefore, he had to have decent hole cards. He didnt strike me as a maniac. I had only played one hand with him, but sometimes you can just tell by someones aura. Another clue was that he remained interested on the flop despite my $30 bet. If he had top pair (tens), then he probably would have raised me on the flop. An open-end straight draw was possible, but he didnt strike me as someone who would call a $20 pre-flop raise with J9, even if it was suited. The only other realistic possibilities were a pocket pair or a flush draw. And if it was a flush draw, it had to be something like A5-suited. If it was AQ-suited or something along those lines, his demeanor would have been different.

With only one card to go, I would be happy if he had a flush draw. He wasnt going to call a big bet. If it was a pocket pair, I felt good about that as well because he could be moved off the hand. If he had JJ or better, he would have raised pre-flop, so that was unlikely. It was more likely that he held 99, 77, or 66. He could have been slow-playing a set of eights, but he didnt seem that cunning.

I bet $80 this time. To my surprise and disappointment, he called.

River: Jd.

Miracle card. This turned my stone-cold bluff into a straight. The best part about this was that my opponent would never put me on this hand. Thats unless he pegged me as a donkey, but donkeys usually stick to 1/2 No Limit or 2/4 Limit. They prefer not to venture into 2/5 territory, so I assumed he hadnt pegged me as a donkey.

He checked, and I shoved my remaining chips into the middle. He debated with himself out loud, talking about everything from the hand and what I might have to why he shouldnt have visited the poker room that day to wanting to go home and watch Game of Thrones . When people start talking out loud like this, it means theyre attempting to save face when they know theyre making a bad call. And he did call.

I showed the straight. He shook his head and flipped over KK. I was shocked, but pleased nonetheless. Fortunately for me, he played that hand way too timidly. If he had raised on any street, I would have been gone. I understand limping with KK once in a while, but you cant limp the whole way. Nevertheless, I wasnt complaining. He still had a few chips (he hadnt realized he still had chips), and he simply stated, Good hand.

I liked this guy already. Not just because he donked off some chips to me, but because he lost with class. I did have to listen to some hoodie kid on the other side of the table talk about how insane it was that I was betting to hit a gut-shot. I didnt even bother explaining that it was a bluff the whole way, and that it just happened to turn into a hand. But, in case you havent heard, A piggy bank with only a few coins makes a lot more noise than a full piggy bank.

Soon after doubling-up, I was moved to another table. This table only had five players, and what an interesting crowd it was. In addition to myself, there was a grumpy and dangerous old man to my right (slumped shoulders, glasses, and check-raises), a 20-something kid (continuously stared me down for no reason, even when I wasnt in the hand), a quiet Asian man (a lot of chips), and an Asian woman (played almost every hand).

The old man directly to my left was a slick player. By accident, I didnt get involved with him, but Im glad it worked out that way. He was probably the best old poker player I have ever come across in my poker career. And he was downright crotchety. When Quiet Asian Man was debating a $30 call, Downright Crotchety said, It takes you that long to decide on thirty dollars? Its thirty dollars! Who gives a shit! Either call, raise, or fold. If thirty dollars is going to bother you, then youre in the wrong game. Quiet Asian Man folded, and it seemed as though he felt pressured by Downright Crotchety.

I soon got into a tango with Quiet Asian Man myself. Ill give you the simple version. I played AJ-off strong pre-flop, flop, and turn. I bet each time, and he called each time. I attempted a relatively big bluff on the river, and he called with top pair. Now I was down to less than my buy-in.

I was dealt 66 on the very next hand. Once again, I raised pre-flop. And, once again, Quiet Asian Man called. And I missed the flop. This movie played itself out again. I bet; he called. I missed the turn and bet; he called. But, fortunately, this movie had a different ending. The River: 6. I moved all-in, attempting to make it look like a bluff. He called with two pair. Now I was back in plus territory. 20-Something Kid across the table said, Wow. A two-outer.

All I could think was: Do these people not get it? But I let it go.

20-Something Kid kept staring at me. And it was a hate-filled stare. This didnt make sense to me. The only thing that came to mind: Does he know Im Tyler Nals? Did he read my books and hate them?

Nobody had detected me yet, and nobody has since. It would be extremely difficult since I play under a different name and my author picture is somewhat misleading. I prefer to play under the radar. So, that wasnt the likely reason he kept hissing at me without making any noise. When I drive home in my car after a poker session, I can usually reflect on what I did right and what I did wrong, then unravel the mysteries and figure out what was really happening. In this case, I still have no clue. Maybe he was just trying to get me on tilt. If thats the case, it didnt work.