| Have you noticed that in an online Multi Table | | | | enemy when playing poker. But I have seen thousands |
| Tournament (MTT) the field is pared by about half | | | | of times when in the first couple of hands, players |
| within the first hour? If you are patient through this | | | | have their whole stack on the line with AJ suited after |
| opening session you will be able to sit back like a | | | | the flops comes Jack high. Yes, they do win often, but |
| Prince and watch all your soldiers go to war while | | | | lose just as much to someone on a silly draw, or a |
| witnessing a few that will emerge with a chip stack. I | | | | made set. It goes along with the philosophy of needing |
| rarely play hands during this hour and watch in | | | | to double up early, or just not play the tournament. This |
| amazement as player after player risk their whole | | | | is simply foolish. |
| stacks on draws, low pairs, connectors, and especially | | | | Bullying is a negative childish behavior that percolates |
| top pair. | | | | into adulthood. Some players take that aggression to |
| Therein lays a game critical weakness of an | | | | the poker table and feel that since they had the best |
| inexperienced player. They are quick to risking their | | | | starting hand, it is only right that it deserves to win the |
| whole stack on top pair - I refer to this as the Top Pair | | | | pot. Let me tell you this if you don't already know, the |
| Syndrome. Here are some likely symptoms of Top | | | | flop gives the whole world a new look and can render |
| Pair Syndrome. The player in question has an urgent | | | | any hand useless. ANY HAND! But forcing your will |
| inner desire to double up. The player in question is | | | | with over-cards to a made hand is lunatic fringe. |
| simply impatient. The player in question has a tendency | | | | Finally, many internet players truly misjudge the |
| to bully other people. Finally the player in question | | | | strength of their hands, frequently overplaying such |
| doesn't understand the true value of his cards. Keep in | | | | holdings as JQs, KQs, A10, AJ, and low pairs. Had they |
| mind that Top Pairolitis is a result of limit ring game | | | | been using a poker calculator like Holder Pirate, it would |
| action, where in that venue, you are often paid off with | | | | recommend folding such hands to a raise, while some |
| top pair - top kicker, making it a positive EV play. The | | | | others with looser settings and value pots would |
| virtual opposite is true in tournaments, save for specific | | | | maybe, say call. I have seen many players in the early |
| situations. | | | | rounds let their tournament ride with AQ, 66, and even |
| We are all susceptible to impatience; it is an inner | | | | 22! |