When the Student Becomes the Teacher
By Susie Isaacs

In my last article I wrote about how thrilling it was to watch my student win a poker tournament. I also mentioned what an ego builder it was to be asked to teach someone to play correctly. Now I'm finding that I'm becoming the student and my student is becoming the teacher.

It isn't always easy to follow your own advice, especially under pressure and in the midst of a tournament. I always seem to know what to tell my student, but I don't always follow my own advice. While sweating my student, I can evaluate situations that I can't always do when I'm the one involved in the hand -- in the heat of battle, so to speak.

My student is now coaching me and pointing out situations at the poker table that I may not be aware of. I have found this to be extremely helpful. It's like four eyes and two brains playing at the same time.

The stress level becomes a real factor the closer you get to the money. There is a lot to take into consideration. This is not the time to make a mistake or overlook an opportunity. If my student is sweating me, she always lets me know where I stand chip wise. She plays as many, if not more tournaments as I do and her knowledge of players and their style of play can be very helpful if I'm not familiar with them myself. This is important if you've never played against someone before. Knowing whether they are a tight player, a loose player, or if they bluff a lot can make a difference in how you play them. The advantage to knowing this going in, without having to learn it at the final table, is vital to how you play that player. Remember, as I said in my last article, Debbie has gained a tremendous amount of knowledge of many tournament players firsthand by writing the final table synopsis at various major tournaments. One word of advice from her about a certain player, such as "tight," loose," "big bluffer," "maniac," and so forth, can often make a crucial difference.

I used to only be interested in making the money. My attitude has changed slightly. My first goal is still to make the winner's circle, but now my main goal is to win first place. Therefore, my "late stages of tournament play" is different. I find myself taking more chances that will make the difference in a payday or a win. Slipping into the money with hardly any chips is something I have done many times in the past, giving me little opportunity for the 1st place money. You must have powerful ammunition to hunt the big game. Now I make my move or change gears before that critical moment. I try not to get so short-stacked that an attempt at bluffing will just result in two or three callers trying to take me out. I want to make my move when I can still damage the player who is debating whether to call me.

Confidence and determination are a huge factor heading toward the final table. This is also where my student coach is helpful. She keeps me from losing confidence after a bad beat or showing a defeatist attitude after losing a big pot. You have to continue to stay focused after a loss, you can't give up because you are short-stacked. As long as you have a chip and a chair, you still have a chance to win.

Over the years I have prided myself on being an excellent short-stacked player and I am often rewarded for the patience I exude during a tournament. This patience has saved me thousands of dollars by getting me to final table play. On the other hand, it may have been preventing me from the big-bucks and the 1st place finishes.

I have always been more than willing to make a deal at the final table until recently. I'm not saying I won't make a deal, but I have been advised by my student coach not to be the initiator and not to always be so anxious when it comes to wheeling and dealing. She has helped me realized that this mind set can sometimes be a sign of weakness to the other players at a final table. I was mostly concerned with making a deal that would put more money in my pocket. Now I wait for someone to make the initial offer and that makes me feel better and builds my confidence. If they are asking me to deal then maybe they are a little intimidated by my play. That puts me in the driver's seat and I just might be able to take control of the situation. The deal can go more in your favor if you are not the initiator.

Being content with just making the money was getting old and I felt I needed to change my play. The truth is, my play hasn't changed but my timing has. I now change gears, take an occasional gamble, or take risks sooner than I used to. Making money is my secondary goal. My primary goal is to win first-place.