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Switching gears used to mean nothing more to me than the excitement of riding my first 10-speed.

These days, however, switching gears helps me build mountains of chips.

Any time you change your style of play at the poker table, you're switching gears.

If you're folding everything that comes your way, reluctant to pay for a flop unless you have pocket aces, you're playing tight.

If you're in every pot, always willing to see what comes next, your game is loose.

If suddenly — but strategically — you go from one extreme to the other, you've just switched gears.

For example, if your loose play has cost you most of your chips, you may want to hold off for a while.

On the other hand, if you have yet to win a pot because you have yet to play one, your opponents will nickel-and-dime you out of the game.

That was the case when I made my first final table at a free tournament.

Striving for survival, I played just enough to pay for blinds. Though I was one of the last two standing, my opponent's chips towered over me after he eliminated most of the table. Inevitably he swept me aside as well.

I vowed not to make the same mistake last week when I was among the elite eight after playing fairly tight most of the night.

After folding the first few hands of the final table, I had outlasted two players. The following hand, I moved in decisively and knocked out two players at once, giving me the chip lead. I used that advantage to eventually knock out two more players.

When two of us remained, I had a 6-to-1 chip lead over Marian, who had already survived several all-in hands.

On the first hand dealt to us, the flop gave me a flush draw (Jocelyn can fill you in below). So I bet enough to put Marian all-in. The flush never came and she doubled up.

Trying to regain the momentum two hands later, I went all-in on a gutshot straight draw.

She called with a pair, and I flinched a bit when the turn didn't help. But my aggressive play paid off when the river completed my straight and brought me a title.

That's why these free tournaments are great. They give you the perfect chance to practice switching gears. And it's less work than riding a 10-speed.

Moneymaker in KC

Chris Moneymaker, the aptly named 2003 World Series of Poker champion, is in town. A few lucky patrons at Harrah's will be selected to play some cards with the guy they've been watching on ESPN reruns for the last year.

I've been asked to play some warm-up hands with Moneymaker just for fun. I've been told that fans can watch him play at 5 p.m. Sunday in the Harrah's poker room.

Source: KC Star

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