Uk-Poker.co.uk

Disappointment and frustration are no strangers to international and UK poker tournaments, regardless as to whether they happen to be played live or online. Most players, however, are able to control their emotions at the table. In fact, the ability to master both negative and positive feelings is an integral quality of some of the game’s greatest ever players.

Whereas emotional outbursts can be permitted to an extent when playing online, in a real world tournament they are unacceptable if only because they reveal a player’s vulnerabilities; indeed, sweaty palms, greasy foreheads and armpits floating on the Caspian Sea are no greater giveaways than the emotional outbursts of otherwise cool customers.

At the European Poker Tour (EPT) Monte Carlo last week, a good-spirited high rollers event turned sour when UK pro Luke ‘Fullflush’ Schwartz moved all-in on his big blind with pocket tens against Dori Yacoub’s king-queen suited (clubs). King-queen suited is not, contrary to what many poker novices might believe, generally a hand worth going all-in for; unless the blinds are such that a player has no choice but to risk their short stack. Pocket tens, by contrast, is a hand worth playing. However, as with any hand in poker, there is no guarantee that such a hand will prevail over any other. Unfortunately, it would seem that nobody told Schwartz.

According to sources at the event, Schwartz sniped, “what a donk call”, after Yacoub revealed his hand. On the flop, much to Schwartz’s dismay, a king appeared and suddenly Yacoub held the advantage. Much to the surprise of other players, Schwartz failed to keep his head upon catching sight of the king and instead chose to hurl his stack of chips across the table. After failing to catch a ten on the river, a visibly angry Schwartz was ushered away by security guards – a situation UK online poker players need never deal with over the internet.