The other day I was waiting to get into a side game at the Rio, when a
young man asked if he could talk to me alone. I said, "Sure," and we
separated ourselves from everyone.
Once we were alone he explained that a few nights ago he had
The other day I was waiting to get into a side game at the Rio, when a
young man asked if he could talk to me along. I said, "Sure," and we
separated ourselves from everyone.
Once we were alone he explained that a few nights ago he had played in
a tournament and was lucky enough to win it. He went on to say that he
didn't exactly win it. He explained that they chopped the money and then
played one hand of showdown for the trophy. I said, "Well, good for you.
So what's the problem?" He told me that since then he had heard all over
the club that he really didn't win the tournament.
Now at this point I knew right where the young man was coming from. I
went on to explain to him the gist of the fly in the ointment theory. I
didn't come up with it, but I think it's pretty accurate. I have heard it for
years, but only in the last few years did I come to fully appreciate it.
Basically, it is used when someone accomplishes something, only to have
that accomplishment diminished by something negative attributed to the
success.
An example in the everyday world would be when several people are in
line for a promotion at a company. The promotion is given to Joe. Joe is
feeling great about the promotion, but alas, here comes the fly in the
ointment. Joe overhears comments such as, "Yeah, Joe got the promotion
but you know that he bowls on the same bowling team every week with
the boss," and "Yeah, Joe got the promotion but he was in the same
college fraternity with the boss."
Now I'm going to tell you how all this relates to poker. I have been
playing tournament poker for about 11 years now, and it seems to me
that whatever has been accomplished by anyone in the business,
someone will find a reason to belittle the accomplishment. They will find a
fly in the ointment. Let's see if I can give you some example of what I
have heard over the past 11 years:
• Jim just won the $10,000 event at Binion's—
Yeah, but he only had 40% of himself.
• Joe won that super satellite last night—
Yeah, but he rebought eight times.
• Mike won the 1979 WSOP—
Yeah, but only 60 people played in the event.
• Pete won the Limit Hold-em event last night—
Sure, he was just rolled up three times at the last table.
• Tony won the tournament last night—
It's about time, that's the first tournament Tony's won in four years.
• Linda won the tournament last night—
Well, did you see that last table? There wasn't a player in the whole
bunch.
• Al won the tournament last night—
You're kidding, they chopped it four ways and he got the least money.
• Bob won $30,000 in the tournament last night—
Don't worry, he'll be broke in two weeks.
I guess I could go on with examples, but I'm sure you get my point. The
next time you are at a tournament, see if you can find cases of when you
do not hear about the fly in the ointment. I bet you won't hear too many.
So for all of the newcomers into the poker world, take a word from the
wise: Don't get upset when you win your first tournament or make a
great showing and overhear a remark that tends to diminish your
accomplishment. It is just that old, pesky fly in the ointment. There just
has to be one. It is a truism in the world, especially in the poker world.
For what it's worth ...
young man asked if he could talk to me alone. I said, "Sure," and we
separated ourselves from everyone.
Once we were alone he explained that a few nights ago he had
The other day I was waiting to get into a side game at the Rio, when a
young man asked if he could talk to me along. I said, "Sure," and we
separated ourselves from everyone.
Once we were alone he explained that a few nights ago he had played in
a tournament and was lucky enough to win it. He went on to say that he
didn't exactly win it. He explained that they chopped the money and then
played one hand of showdown for the trophy. I said, "Well, good for you.
So what's the problem?" He told me that since then he had heard all over
the club that he really didn't win the tournament.
Now at this point I knew right where the young man was coming from. I
went on to explain to him the gist of the fly in the ointment theory. I
didn't come up with it, but I think it's pretty accurate. I have heard it for
years, but only in the last few years did I come to fully appreciate it.
Basically, it is used when someone accomplishes something, only to have
that accomplishment diminished by something negative attributed to the
success.
An example in the everyday world would be when several people are in
line for a promotion at a company. The promotion is given to Joe. Joe is
feeling great about the promotion, but alas, here comes the fly in the
ointment. Joe overhears comments such as, "Yeah, Joe got the promotion
but you know that he bowls on the same bowling team every week with
the boss," and "Yeah, Joe got the promotion but he was in the same
college fraternity with the boss."
Now I'm going to tell you how all this relates to poker. I have been
playing tournament poker for about 11 years now, and it seems to me
that whatever has been accomplished by anyone in the business,
someone will find a reason to belittle the accomplishment. They will find a
fly in the ointment. Let's see if I can give you some example of what I
have heard over the past 11 years:
• Jim just won the $10,000 event at Binion's—
Yeah, but he only had 40% of himself.
• Joe won that super satellite last night—
Yeah, but he rebought eight times.
• Mike won the 1979 WSOP—
Yeah, but only 60 people played in the event.
• Pete won the Limit Hold-em event last night—
Sure, he was just rolled up three times at the last table.
• Tony won the tournament last night—
It's about time, that's the first tournament Tony's won in four years.
• Linda won the tournament last night—
Well, did you see that last table? There wasn't a player in the whole
bunch.
• Al won the tournament last night—
You're kidding, they chopped it four ways and he got the least money.
• Bob won $30,000 in the tournament last night—
Don't worry, he'll be broke in two weeks.
I guess I could go on with examples, but I'm sure you get my point. The
next time you are at a tournament, see if you can find cases of when you
do not hear about the fly in the ointment. I bet you won't hear too many.
So for all of the newcomers into the poker world, take a word from the
wise: Don't get upset when you win your first tournament or make a
great showing and overhear a remark that tends to diminish your
accomplishment. It is just that old, pesky fly in the ointment. There just
has to be one. It is a truism in the world, especially in the poker world.
For what it's worth ...
The Fly in the Ointment
By Vince Burgio
By Vince Burgio
