Hand reading is about trying to narrow down the range of hands an opponent is playing against you. If you can improve your hand reading ability you will improve your results at the poker table.
Here are some exercises to help improve your hand reading ability.
Importantly, You will lose your money in some of these exercises, so select lower limits. However, don't let the blind levels be so low that no one ever folds to a raise pre-flop.
1. Play a low blind, limit poker cash game and raise every hand pre-flop.
This is an exercise that Daniel Negreanu introduced many year ago and used to improve his play--he calls it Nutbar. This exercise will put you in a situation where the action and play revolves around you. You will feel the power of being in charge. It will also put you in the position of having to make difficult decisions.
2. Play in a small no-limit poker tournament, and raise pre-flop once out of every three hands.
Again, you will see how players respond to you. You will learn to be creative and build your hand reading skills. If you don't want to go this far, then widen your range of raising hands to any Ace-x hand, two picture cards, any pair, and any connector suited or not.
3. Watch a table of limit or no-limit poker for an hour and try to identify betting patterns and put players on hands.
Think about how you would have played against players, or what you would have done. This is easier to do online.
4. Do some player mapping.
The next time you play in a tournament, actually write down notes about your opponents, especially their betting patterns. See if they hold true, and if it helps you to play better. Again, this is easier to do online.
As you get better at putting your opponents on hands, your poker results will also improve.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
How to Make Tournament Poker Easier For You To Beat...Maybe? Yes, You Need Luck & Avoid Bad Beats
In the last post, I reviewed how to evaluate a poker situation based on the pot odds compared to the odds of winning in different heads-up poker situations.
Let's see how that works out and in order to make your future decisions easier.
1. Common All-in Hands
You raise with A-K or a small pair but a player moves all-in on you. What should you do?
A) You have A-K.
Common hands and odds of A-K versus:
Q-Q: 43%
6-6: 45%
9d-Td: 58%
A-A: 7%
If you have to put in 10k to win 20k or 1 to 2=33% pot odds, a call is usually a good idea. In fact, this is why it is so difficult to get away from A-K. The pot odds will look good enough to call.
B)You have a weak pair like 5's.
Common hands and odds:
A-K: 55%
9d-8d: 49%
K-T: 47%
9-9: 19%
If you have to put in 10k to win 30k or 1 to 3=25% pot odds, a call is usually a good idea. This is why players move all-in with small pairs, and why more and more players are not calling a raise with small pairs but re-raising pre-flop. Therefore, with a medium pair, it may be a good idea to usually re-raise pre-flop since you only have two outs on the flop to improve.
2. Common heads-up situations
There are common heads-up face-offs, where you should know the odds. When you are playing poker the approximate odds are often good enough.
A-K vs a pair is a pair is a coin flip. For example, against 2-2 it is 50%. Against a pair like J-J, it is 44%.
While pocket Jacks are often losers, pre-flop they are ahead of most hands. Like against A-Q, it is 57%.
A suited connector is a slight favorite against a low pair, like Ts-Js vs 2-2 is 53%. But, against, an overpair it will be a dog, like 9d-8d vrs JJ is 20%.
There are also those situations which players call dominated hands. For example, an A-T vrs A-9 is 67%. If you have the A-9, the pot odds are 1 to 2 or 33%.
3. Difficult In-game decisions.
The test of knowing your odds really comes down to those other times, where you have a good but not great hand, and you are trying to make the right decision. The right decision is not based on the outcome but based on the math.
K-T is a hand that is good but not great. Here are the odds against many others:
A-A: 14%
A-K: 26%
Q-Q: 29%
A-Q: 38%
A-9: 42%
A-5: 43%
5-5: 47%
Q-8: 64%
Q-T: 71%
If you have to put in 10K to win 16k or 1 to 1.6=38%, a call is the right play even if your opponent has A-Q! Of course, a decision to call is not that simple. You want to think about the probability your opponent is holding A-Q, as well as hands that are better like A-K and worse like a small pair such as 5-5.
4. Defending the Blind.
One of the things that Gus Hansen does a lot is calling raises in the BB and even the SB.
In general, you will be in a situation of getting 1 to 2 pot odds, or 33% in the BB. Suited connectors and connectors in general tend to be worth a call.
If you have a hand like 9-7 suited, your odds are better than you think:
Q-J: 38%
A-K: 40%
5-5: 49%
J-J: 20%
Even if they are not suited, your odds are about the same (as a rule, you lose about 3 percentage points):
Q-J: 34%
A-K: 37%
5-5: 46%
J-J: 16%
Maybe those calls by Gus are not that crazy after all.
5. End Game All-ins
When should you push all-in? You are bleeding chips with a low stack and blinds are increasing. Well, I have reviewed the concept of M in a prior post. But, you may be surprised at the range of hands you can be pushing given the odds.
Any Ace push. If you push with A-3 and get called, you are not in that bad a shape. If you are against, K-J, you are a slight favorite at 57%.
If you get called by premium pair, you will be a big dog like Q-Q at 28%--but that doesn't happen often AND you will still win about 1 in 4 times! You will probably be up against a pair like 5-5, and be at 30% or almost 1 to 2.
Any King push. Of course, the fact is that when you go card dead, you don't even see an Ace. What if you push with that weak King? If your opponent calls with A-Q, you are at 34%.
Any Queen push. Yesterday, I pushed with Q-8 on the cutoff and lost against A-3. I was at 42%. If my opponent had A-Q, I would have been dominated and therefore, at 25%.
6. Pot odds and the percentages.
Let me try to make your decision easier, by doing the pot odds math for you:
1 to 1: 50%
1 to 1.1: 48%
1 to 1.2: 45%
1 to 1.3: 43%
1 to 1.4: 42%
1 to 1.5: 40%
1 to 1.6: 38%
1 to 1.7: 37%
1 to 1.8: 36%
1 to 1.9: 34%
1 to 2: 33%
1 to 2.5: 29%
1 to 3: 25%
1 to 4: 20%
The more money you are risking compared to the size of the pot you can win, the better your hand vs hand odds need to be in order to make that call.
Conclusion and An Exercise
You should have a general idea about these situations and the respective odds. It is interesting in that there are more hands you should consider defending in your big blind, and there are more hands that you should be pushing with based on a low M.
One of the things that has gone away in no limit tournaments are the all-in specialists. These were players who just moved all-in pre-flop, with the objective of either building a big chip stack early or simply getting knocked out. I believe one day these type of players will come back into the game. Maybe you should be that player?!
The Exercise:
In Sklansky's book Tournament Poker for Advanced Players, he developed an all-in system. Here it is.
1. If someone else has raised in front of you, move all-in with pocket Aces, pocket Kings, or Ace-King suited. Otherwise fold.
2. If no one else has raised in front of you, move all in with any pair, any Ace-x suited, Ace-King, or two suited no gap connected cards, except 4-3 and 3-2.
You may want to try this in a few low buy-in events. It may be a great learning experience and you may even win an event!
NOTE: I believe he updated this system at a later date. If I find it, I will post. If you find it, please let me know what it is. Heck, you may want to refine it, and play that way. It may work! Thanks.
UPDATE: I did try Sklansky's System a few times. It was way too boring and it didn't work out at all. The move-in specialists that I played against many years ago were much smarter on when to make their all or nothing moves. The system doesn't take into account limpers, position, and especially your table image--as players slow play big hands to trap you. Don't waste your time with the Sklansky System.
Let's see how that works out and in order to make your future decisions easier.
1. Common All-in Hands
You raise with A-K or a small pair but a player moves all-in on you. What should you do?
A) You have A-K.
Common hands and odds of A-K versus:
Q-Q: 43%
6-6: 45%
9d-Td: 58%
A-A: 7%
If you have to put in 10k to win 20k or 1 to 2=33% pot odds, a call is usually a good idea. In fact, this is why it is so difficult to get away from A-K. The pot odds will look good enough to call.
B)You have a weak pair like 5's.
Common hands and odds:
A-K: 55%
9d-8d: 49%
K-T: 47%
9-9: 19%
If you have to put in 10k to win 30k or 1 to 3=25% pot odds, a call is usually a good idea. This is why players move all-in with small pairs, and why more and more players are not calling a raise with small pairs but re-raising pre-flop. Therefore, with a medium pair, it may be a good idea to usually re-raise pre-flop since you only have two outs on the flop to improve.
2. Common heads-up situations
There are common heads-up face-offs, where you should know the odds. When you are playing poker the approximate odds are often good enough.
A-K vs a pair is a pair is a coin flip. For example, against 2-2 it is 50%. Against a pair like J-J, it is 44%.
While pocket Jacks are often losers, pre-flop they are ahead of most hands. Like against A-Q, it is 57%.
A suited connector is a slight favorite against a low pair, like Ts-Js vs 2-2 is 53%. But, against, an overpair it will be a dog, like 9d-8d vrs JJ is 20%.
There are also those situations which players call dominated hands. For example, an A-T vrs A-9 is 67%. If you have the A-9, the pot odds are 1 to 2 or 33%.
3. Difficult In-game decisions.
The test of knowing your odds really comes down to those other times, where you have a good but not great hand, and you are trying to make the right decision. The right decision is not based on the outcome but based on the math.
K-T is a hand that is good but not great. Here are the odds against many others:
A-A: 14%
A-K: 26%
Q-Q: 29%
A-Q: 38%
A-9: 42%
A-5: 43%
5-5: 47%
Q-8: 64%
Q-T: 71%
If you have to put in 10K to win 16k or 1 to 1.6=38%, a call is the right play even if your opponent has A-Q! Of course, a decision to call is not that simple. You want to think about the probability your opponent is holding A-Q, as well as hands that are better like A-K and worse like a small pair such as 5-5.
4. Defending the Blind.
One of the things that Gus Hansen does a lot is calling raises in the BB and even the SB.
In general, you will be in a situation of getting 1 to 2 pot odds, or 33% in the BB. Suited connectors and connectors in general tend to be worth a call.
If you have a hand like 9-7 suited, your odds are better than you think:
Q-J: 38%
A-K: 40%
5-5: 49%
J-J: 20%
Even if they are not suited, your odds are about the same (as a rule, you lose about 3 percentage points):
Q-J: 34%
A-K: 37%
5-5: 46%
J-J: 16%
Maybe those calls by Gus are not that crazy after all.
5. End Game All-ins
When should you push all-in? You are bleeding chips with a low stack and blinds are increasing. Well, I have reviewed the concept of M in a prior post. But, you may be surprised at the range of hands you can be pushing given the odds.
Any Ace push. If you push with A-3 and get called, you are not in that bad a shape. If you are against, K-J, you are a slight favorite at 57%.
If you get called by premium pair, you will be a big dog like Q-Q at 28%--but that doesn't happen often AND you will still win about 1 in 4 times! You will probably be up against a pair like 5-5, and be at 30% or almost 1 to 2.
Any King push. Of course, the fact is that when you go card dead, you don't even see an Ace. What if you push with that weak King? If your opponent calls with A-Q, you are at 34%.
Any Queen push. Yesterday, I pushed with Q-8 on the cutoff and lost against A-3. I was at 42%. If my opponent had A-Q, I would have been dominated and therefore, at 25%.
6. Pot odds and the percentages.
Let me try to make your decision easier, by doing the pot odds math for you:
1 to 1: 50%
1 to 1.1: 48%
1 to 1.2: 45%
1 to 1.3: 43%
1 to 1.4: 42%
1 to 1.5: 40%
1 to 1.6: 38%
1 to 1.7: 37%
1 to 1.8: 36%
1 to 1.9: 34%
1 to 2: 33%
1 to 2.5: 29%
1 to 3: 25%
1 to 4: 20%
The more money you are risking compared to the size of the pot you can win, the better your hand vs hand odds need to be in order to make that call.
Conclusion and An Exercise
You should have a general idea about these situations and the respective odds. It is interesting in that there are more hands you should consider defending in your big blind, and there are more hands that you should be pushing with based on a low M.
One of the things that has gone away in no limit tournaments are the all-in specialists. These were players who just moved all-in pre-flop, with the objective of either building a big chip stack early or simply getting knocked out. I believe one day these type of players will come back into the game. Maybe you should be that player?!
The Exercise:
In Sklansky's book Tournament Poker for Advanced Players, he developed an all-in system. Here it is.
1. If someone else has raised in front of you, move all-in with pocket Aces, pocket Kings, or Ace-King suited. Otherwise fold.
2. If no one else has raised in front of you, move all in with any pair, any Ace-x suited, Ace-King, or two suited no gap connected cards, except 4-3 and 3-2.
You may want to try this in a few low buy-in events. It may be a great learning experience and you may even win an event!
NOTE: I believe he updated this system at a later date. If I find it, I will post. If you find it, please let me know what it is. Heck, you may want to refine it, and play that way. It may work! Thanks.
UPDATE: I did try Sklansky's System a few times. It was way too boring and it didn't work out at all. The move-in specialists that I played against many years ago were much smarter on when to make their all or nothing moves. The system doesn't take into account limpers, position, and especially your table image--as players slow play big hands to trap you. Don't waste your time with the Sklansky System.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
This May Be My Most Important Post About Winning Tournament Poker Strategy
This may be my most important post because it should help you in 2 areas:
1. How to make a critical decision during a poker tournament based on the math.
2. How raising or re-raising pre-flop is better than calling or limping.
This winning approach is based on Gus Hansen's 2nd day at the Aussie Millions, which he won.
1. You Will Make Better Decisions If You Know The Math!
Hand 42
Blinds: 500/1000/100
Position: SB
Hand: 7h-7d
Chips: 68k
Button raises to 4000, and Gus re-raises to 12600. His opponent moves all-in for $45.3k.
Decision:
Step 1. What is Gus' winning chance?
He has to put in 33k to win 60k which is 1 to 1.8.
That means his opponent has a 1.8/2.8=64% winning chance,
A 36% winning chance for Gus.
Step 2: What is his chance of winning given common hand matchups?
Against an overpair he has an 18% chance
Against a hand like AQ or AK he has a 55% chance
Step 3: Which hand does your opponent have?
A raise and re-raise looks like an overpair, so Gus needs
more than a 36% chance of winning but it seems like he
only has an 18% chance.
Decision: Fold.
Hand 60
Blinds: 600/1200/200
Position: BB
Hand: Ah-7s
Chips: 143.4k
The player under the gun moves all-in for 11700. Everyone folds to Gus.
Decision:
Step 1. What is Gus' winning chance?
He has to put in 10.1k to win 15.7k which is 1 to 1.6.
That means his opponent has a 1.6/2.6=61% winning chance,
A 39% winning chance for Gus.
Step 2: What is his chance of winning given common hand matchups?
Gus isn't sure how strong his opponent is, since he
may be desperate.
If his opponent has a pair higher than 7's, he has only a
29% chance of winning.
Step 3: Which hand does your opponent have?
Since he isn't sure, he likes the 39% winning chance.
Decision: Call. He loses as his opponent wins with JJ.
Hand 63
Blinds: 800/1600/200
Position: 2nd
Hand: Ac-Qc
Chips: 133.5k
The player under the gun raises to 6100, Gus calls, the SB calls, but the BB moves all-in for 37600 more. It is folded to Gus. He knows the SB will fold.
Decision:
Step 1. What is Gus' winning chance?
He has to put in 37k to win 57k which is 1 to 1.6.
That means his opponent has a 1.6/2.6=61% winning chance,
A 39% winning chance for Gus.
Step 2: What is his chance of winning given common hand matchups?
As before, Gus isn't sure of his opponent's hand.
Step 3: Which hand does your opponent have?
But he thinks his hand is strong here.
Decision: Call. He wins as his opponent has AJ.
2. Raising versus Calling: This Time I'll Do The Math for Gus' Day 2 Play:
He raised or re-raised: 53 times
Number of times he won: 41 times
% Win Rate: 77%
He limped or called a bet: 19 times
Number of times he won: 10 times
% Win Rate: 53%
If a hand is good enough to call--especially those medium pairs--it may good enough to raise or even re-raise.
To get inside the mind of Gus Hansen, get his book Every Hand Revealed here. The above analysis is from reviewing his book.
1. How to make a critical decision during a poker tournament based on the math.
2. How raising or re-raising pre-flop is better than calling or limping.
This winning approach is based on Gus Hansen's 2nd day at the Aussie Millions, which he won.
1. You Will Make Better Decisions If You Know The Math!
Hand 42
Blinds: 500/1000/100
Position: SB
Hand: 7h-7d
Chips: 68k
Button raises to 4000, and Gus re-raises to 12600. His opponent moves all-in for $45.3k.
Decision:
Step 1. What is Gus' winning chance?
He has to put in 33k to win 60k which is 1 to 1.8.
That means his opponent has a 1.8/2.8=64% winning chance,
A 36% winning chance for Gus.
Step 2: What is his chance of winning given common hand matchups?
Against an overpair he has an 18% chance
Against a hand like AQ or AK he has a 55% chance
Step 3: Which hand does your opponent have?
A raise and re-raise looks like an overpair, so Gus needs
more than a 36% chance of winning but it seems like he
only has an 18% chance.
Decision: Fold.
Hand 60
Blinds: 600/1200/200
Position: BB
Hand: Ah-7s
Chips: 143.4k
The player under the gun moves all-in for 11700. Everyone folds to Gus.
Decision:
Step 1. What is Gus' winning chance?
He has to put in 10.1k to win 15.7k which is 1 to 1.6.
That means his opponent has a 1.6/2.6=61% winning chance,
A 39% winning chance for Gus.
Step 2: What is his chance of winning given common hand matchups?
Gus isn't sure how strong his opponent is, since he
may be desperate.
If his opponent has a pair higher than 7's, he has only a
29% chance of winning.
Step 3: Which hand does your opponent have?
Since he isn't sure, he likes the 39% winning chance.
Decision: Call. He loses as his opponent wins with JJ.
Hand 63
Blinds: 800/1600/200
Position: 2nd
Hand: Ac-Qc
Chips: 133.5k
The player under the gun raises to 6100, Gus calls, the SB calls, but the BB moves all-in for 37600 more. It is folded to Gus. He knows the SB will fold.
Decision:
Step 1. What is Gus' winning chance?
He has to put in 37k to win 57k which is 1 to 1.6.
That means his opponent has a 1.6/2.6=61% winning chance,
A 39% winning chance for Gus.
Step 2: What is his chance of winning given common hand matchups?
As before, Gus isn't sure of his opponent's hand.
Step 3: Which hand does your opponent have?
But he thinks his hand is strong here.
Decision: Call. He wins as his opponent has AJ.
2. Raising versus Calling: This Time I'll Do The Math for Gus' Day 2 Play:
He raised or re-raised: 53 times
Number of times he won: 41 times
% Win Rate: 77%
He limped or called a bet: 19 times
Number of times he won: 10 times
% Win Rate: 53%
If a hand is good enough to call--especially those medium pairs--it may good enough to raise or even re-raise.
To get inside the mind of Gus Hansen, get his book Every Hand Revealed here. The above analysis is from reviewing his book.
5 Free Online Poker Tools to Improve Your Poker Game Today
How To Get Better Results
The purpose of this blog continues to try to help you improve your results. I want you to do better and win poker tournaments. But, if you want to improve your poker results, you need to do more than just play the game. You need to spend more time studying and thinking about your game.
To date, I believe I have written over 200 articles and posts about tournament poker strategy. I think there is more that I can learn, and as I uncover more information I will pass it along in my blog.
5 Free Online Poker Tools
Here are five of the top online poker tools that are totally free and can help you improve your poker game now.
1. Cardplayer.com
This site has an excellent archive of free articles on poker strategy from a range of pros and poker authors. They recently updated their site so you can review strategy articles by author, concept and type of game.
In addition, they have a poker odds calculator so you can know for sure how big a favorite you were when you took that bad beat...again.
2. ProPokertools.com
When it comes to poker tools my favorite site is ProPokertools.com. This site provides hand simulations for Hold'em, Omaha Hi, Omaha Hi/Lo, and even Razz poker.
3. Pokerlistings.com
I believe this site has been adding more and more solid poker strategy articles. I wasn't that impressed when I checked them out over a year ago, but I've been impressed with the latest work.
4. Bob Ciaffone web site
Bob is the leading authority on poker rules and has shared all the rules you want to know at his site pokercoach.us. His "Robert Rules of Poker" book is free. I include this site since a lot of players just don't know the rules.
An example, the "show one, show all rule." This does not mean that if you show one hole card you have to show your other hole card. It means that if you show one player your hole cards, everyone at the table has the right to see these cards as well.
5. Free Poker IQ test
I developed a Free Poker IQ test on my Tournament Poker: 101 Winning Moves web site. The key to this test is to help you find holes in your poker game. Over 1,500 poker players have taken my Poker IQ test. When you have a few minutes, please check it out.
More?
If there are other sites that provide excellent tournament poker tools, please let me know. I want to share them with everyone. Thanks!
The purpose of this blog continues to try to help you improve your results. I want you to do better and win poker tournaments. But, if you want to improve your poker results, you need to do more than just play the game. You need to spend more time studying and thinking about your game.
To date, I believe I have written over 200 articles and posts about tournament poker strategy. I think there is more that I can learn, and as I uncover more information I will pass it along in my blog.
5 Free Online Poker Tools
Here are five of the top online poker tools that are totally free and can help you improve your poker game now.
1. Cardplayer.com
This site has an excellent archive of free articles on poker strategy from a range of pros and poker authors. They recently updated their site so you can review strategy articles by author, concept and type of game.
In addition, they have a poker odds calculator so you can know for sure how big a favorite you were when you took that bad beat...again.
2. ProPokertools.com
When it comes to poker tools my favorite site is ProPokertools.com. This site provides hand simulations for Hold'em, Omaha Hi, Omaha Hi/Lo, and even Razz poker.
3. Pokerlistings.com
I believe this site has been adding more and more solid poker strategy articles. I wasn't that impressed when I checked them out over a year ago, but I've been impressed with the latest work.
4. Bob Ciaffone web site
Bob is the leading authority on poker rules and has shared all the rules you want to know at his site pokercoach.us. His "Robert Rules of Poker" book is free. I include this site since a lot of players just don't know the rules.
An example, the "show one, show all rule." This does not mean that if you show one hole card you have to show your other hole card. It means that if you show one player your hole cards, everyone at the table has the right to see these cards as well.
5. Free Poker IQ test
I developed a Free Poker IQ test on my Tournament Poker: 101 Winning Moves web site. The key to this test is to help you find holes in your poker game. Over 1,500 poker players have taken my Poker IQ test. When you have a few minutes, please check it out.
More?
If there are other sites that provide excellent tournament poker tools, please let me know. I want to share them with everyone. Thanks!
Friday, June 26, 2009
If You Play Online Poker You Need To Know This!
Here is an example that illustrates the difference between online and live play. It effects your play and your attitude.
No limit tournament
$55 buy-in
400 players
Hand 1:
Blinds: $5-$10
Position: SB
Hand: Ad-10d
Chips: $2,000
A late position player limps for $10. You raise to $60. The BB and limper call.
There is $180 in the pot.
The flop is As-7c-5h.
You bet $120. The BB moves all-in! The limper folds.
What should you do?
You call. The BB shows 5-4. The turn is a 5 and you get knocked out.
You can go on tilt or just realize that it is online poker.
In Online poker, unlike in live play, you need to know that players:
Will make crazy plays since another game will start in seconds.
There is no humiliation factor to making stupid plays like this one by the BB.
There is no long drive home if the play doesn't work for the BB.
Since there are more of these bizarre head-to-head face-offs online, there are more
bad beats online.
Conclusion
Overall, I believe that online poker must be regulated, licensed and taxed. While these type of bad beats will still happen online (and more often than in live play), I would feel a lot better if an independent source reviewed the RNG and outcomes. While the sites claim that they have independent firms do this work, they are NOT independent...they are paid by the poker sites.
I know many players disagree with me, but the fact is that the concept of "Trust, but verify" works. The ones who do the verifying should not have their financial compensation come from those they are auditing, IMO.
No limit tournament
$55 buy-in
400 players
Hand 1:
Blinds: $5-$10
Position: SB
Hand: Ad-10d
Chips: $2,000
A late position player limps for $10. You raise to $60. The BB and limper call.
There is $180 in the pot.
The flop is As-7c-5h.
You bet $120. The BB moves all-in! The limper folds.
What should you do?
You call. The BB shows 5-4. The turn is a 5 and you get knocked out.
You can go on tilt or just realize that it is online poker.
In Online poker, unlike in live play, you need to know that players:
Will make crazy plays since another game will start in seconds.
There is no humiliation factor to making stupid plays like this one by the BB.
There is no long drive home if the play doesn't work for the BB.
Since there are more of these bizarre head-to-head face-offs online, there are more
bad beats online.
Conclusion
Overall, I believe that online poker must be regulated, licensed and taxed. While these type of bad beats will still happen online (and more often than in live play), I would feel a lot better if an independent source reviewed the RNG and outcomes. While the sites claim that they have independent firms do this work, they are NOT independent...they are paid by the poker sites.
I know many players disagree with me, but the fact is that the concept of "Trust, but verify" works. The ones who do the verifying should not have their financial compensation come from those they are auditing, IMO.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
What should you do? Using M To Guide Your Critical Tournament Poker Decisions
Lets build on this concept and how it can help you improve your tournament results.
1. What is M?
M is your chip stack divided by the total of the blinds and antes. It tells you the number of rounds of the table you can survive before getting blinded off.
It is also a good idea to know a) how much time is left in the round since the size of the blinds/antes will reduce your M and b)your opponents M and how that will effect their play
2. The Zones based on your M, the strategies and some examples:
In general, the M tends to come into play towards the end of a tournament. Of course, if you've taken a big hit on your stack, you may need to use it earlier. Also, the M comes into play earlier on many online one table satellites, especially those turbo events.
Here is a brief review of the strategies using M and examples:
Green Zone: M is 20 or more.
You can play your style as you have ample chips.
Yellow Zone: M is 10 to 20.
You need to be somewhat more aggressive with high pairs and high card hands.
With small pairs and small connectors be more conservative.
Example:
Blinds $400/$800/$50 antes
Position: Button
Cards: 9c-8s
Chips: $26900.
One late position player with $18300 calls. What should you do?
Your M is about 16. Harrington says to call given your odds of 3-1 and you have position. Without the antes, he recommends a fold.
Orange Zone: M is 6 to 10.
You need to open with more hands and try a small ball approach.
Again, be more careful with those small pairs and suited connectors.
However, if you are considering opening with an all-in move, the small pairs and suited connectors are playable.
Example:
Blinds $50/$100
Position: 5th
Cards: Tc-7c
Chips: $1040
The player under the gun calls, and everyone folds to you. What should you do?
You have an M of 7. You have a weak hand. Just fold.
Example:
Blinds $50/$100
Position: 2 from button
Cards: Ah-8h
Chips: $1300
Everyone fold to you. What should you do?
You have an M between 8 and 9. Raise here. More than three times the big blind. (Note: What is interesting is that Harrington said to use a small ball approach here. Perhaps he meant compared to an all-in bet.)
Red Zone: M is 2 to 5.
Move all-in with a wide range of cards, like two face cards, small pairs or better, suited connectors.
Your position at the table doesn't matter.
Keep in mind the concept of first in vigorish; this means that when no one is in the pot, the player who makes the first pre-flop raise has the initiative. Therefore, when your M is 3, if there is a 50% chance your opponents will fold, move all-in first pre-flop with almost any two cards.
Example:
Blinds $6000/$12000/$2000 antes
Position: 1st
Cards: Ks-Qh
Chips: $135000
What should you do?
You have an M of 3.5. Move all-in! Even though you have more than 10 times the BB!
Example:
Blinds $600/$1200/$75 antes
Position: 3rd
Cards: Kd-Qh
Chips: $135000
First two players fold. What should you do?
You have an M of 5. While Harrington says moving all-in is reasonable, he prefers a raise to $6000 since it looks more threatening.
You have an M of 3.5. Move all-in! Even though you have more than 10 times the BB!
Example:
Blinds $50/$100
Position: BB
Cards: Ad-2c
Chips: $750
The button with $1300 raises to $350, what should you do?
You have an M of 5. But you don't have first-in vigorish. If you move all-in your opponent has odds to call and only your Ace will play, so fold. If you had an A-7 or A-8, you should move all-in.
Example:
Blinds $75/$150
Position: BB
Cards: Ad-4s
Chips: $1200
A player moves all-in with $820, and another player with $2300 calls. What should you do?
Your M is 5 but you don't have first-in vigorish. Fold. Only call here with A-K or A-Q.
Example:
Blinds $1000/$2000/$300 Ante
Position: 3rd (7 handed table)
Cards: Ad-4s
Chips: $16000
Only 2 tables left in the event.
It's folded to you. What should you do?
You have an M of 3. This is an actual hand I played at the club. I moved all-in. I got called by a player with Q-Q.
The flop was 2-5-J. The turn was an Ace! But the river was a Queen. Ouch!
Did I make a mistake?
Dead Zone: M is below 2.
Move all-in with ALMOST anything....any Ace, King, Queen, two medium cards that are suited or connected.
Try to be the first to enter a pot.
Auto-Fold=two unsuited.
Example:
Blinds $600/$1200/$75 ante
Position: 2nd
Cards: Qd-6s
Chips: $4600
What should you do?
You have an M under 2. Move all-in! You need chips.
Additional points on M
Know your opponents M since these players will be pushing the action. And your positional advantage of acting last will decrease.
Effective M is a way to adjust for short tables. To calculate your M when the table is short simply take your M and multiply it by the number of players left/10. So, if your M is 8 and there are 5 players left, your effective M is really 8 multiplied by .5 or 4. The result is that you need to be taking more chances. Also at a short table, your weak cards plus good pot odds really equals a playable situation.
Conclusion
Give M a try in your next few tournaments. To read more on this concept, get Harrington's book Volume 2 here. Most of the summary above is from reviewing his book.
1. What is M?
M is your chip stack divided by the total of the blinds and antes. It tells you the number of rounds of the table you can survive before getting blinded off.
It is also a good idea to know a) how much time is left in the round since the size of the blinds/antes will reduce your M and b)your opponents M and how that will effect their play
2. The Zones based on your M, the strategies and some examples:
In general, the M tends to come into play towards the end of a tournament. Of course, if you've taken a big hit on your stack, you may need to use it earlier. Also, the M comes into play earlier on many online one table satellites, especially those turbo events.
Here is a brief review of the strategies using M and examples:
Green Zone: M is 20 or more.
You can play your style as you have ample chips.
Yellow Zone: M is 10 to 20.
You need to be somewhat more aggressive with high pairs and high card hands.
With small pairs and small connectors be more conservative.
Example:
Blinds $400/$800/$50 antes
Position: Button
Cards: 9c-8s
Chips: $26900.
One late position player with $18300 calls. What should you do?
Your M is about 16. Harrington says to call given your odds of 3-1 and you have position. Without the antes, he recommends a fold.
Orange Zone: M is 6 to 10.
You need to open with more hands and try a small ball approach.
Again, be more careful with those small pairs and suited connectors.
However, if you are considering opening with an all-in move, the small pairs and suited connectors are playable.
Example:
Blinds $50/$100
Position: 5th
Cards: Tc-7c
Chips: $1040
The player under the gun calls, and everyone folds to you. What should you do?
You have an M of 7. You have a weak hand. Just fold.
Example:
Blinds $50/$100
Position: 2 from button
Cards: Ah-8h
Chips: $1300
Everyone fold to you. What should you do?
You have an M between 8 and 9. Raise here. More than three times the big blind. (Note: What is interesting is that Harrington said to use a small ball approach here. Perhaps he meant compared to an all-in bet.)
Red Zone: M is 2 to 5.
Move all-in with a wide range of cards, like two face cards, small pairs or better, suited connectors.
Your position at the table doesn't matter.
Keep in mind the concept of first in vigorish; this means that when no one is in the pot, the player who makes the first pre-flop raise has the initiative. Therefore, when your M is 3, if there is a 50% chance your opponents will fold, move all-in first pre-flop with almost any two cards.
Example:
Blinds $6000/$12000/$2000 antes
Position: 1st
Cards: Ks-Qh
Chips: $135000
What should you do?
You have an M of 3.5. Move all-in! Even though you have more than 10 times the BB!
Example:
Blinds $600/$1200/$75 antes
Position: 3rd
Cards: Kd-Qh
Chips: $135000
First two players fold. What should you do?
You have an M of 5. While Harrington says moving all-in is reasonable, he prefers a raise to $6000 since it looks more threatening.
You have an M of 3.5. Move all-in! Even though you have more than 10 times the BB!
Example:
Blinds $50/$100
Position: BB
Cards: Ad-2c
Chips: $750
The button with $1300 raises to $350, what should you do?
You have an M of 5. But you don't have first-in vigorish. If you move all-in your opponent has odds to call and only your Ace will play, so fold. If you had an A-7 or A-8, you should move all-in.
Example:
Blinds $75/$150
Position: BB
Cards: Ad-4s
Chips: $1200
A player moves all-in with $820, and another player with $2300 calls. What should you do?
Your M is 5 but you don't have first-in vigorish. Fold. Only call here with A-K or A-Q.
Example:
Blinds $1000/$2000/$300 Ante
Position: 3rd (7 handed table)
Cards: Ad-4s
Chips: $16000
Only 2 tables left in the event.
It's folded to you. What should you do?
You have an M of 3. This is an actual hand I played at the club. I moved all-in. I got called by a player with Q-Q.
The flop was 2-5-J. The turn was an Ace! But the river was a Queen. Ouch!
Did I make a mistake?
Dead Zone: M is below 2.
Move all-in with ALMOST anything....any Ace, King, Queen, two medium cards that are suited or connected.
Try to be the first to enter a pot.
Auto-Fold=two unsuited.
Example:
Blinds $600/$1200/$75 ante
Position: 2nd
Cards: Qd-6s
Chips: $4600
What should you do?
You have an M under 2. Move all-in! You need chips.
Additional points on M
Know your opponents M since these players will be pushing the action. And your positional advantage of acting last will decrease.
Effective M is a way to adjust for short tables. To calculate your M when the table is short simply take your M and multiply it by the number of players left/10. So, if your M is 8 and there are 5 players left, your effective M is really 8 multiplied by .5 or 4. The result is that you need to be taking more chances. Also at a short table, your weak cards plus good pot odds really equals a playable situation.
Conclusion
Give M a try in your next few tournaments. To read more on this concept, get Harrington's book Volume 2 here. Most of the summary above is from reviewing his book.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Here is the Simple Secret to Winning a Poker Tournament
Here is the secret: Raise. It's that simple. Raise, raise & raise again.
If you are not raising, you are not winning.
Starting at the Middle of the Tournament
In a poker tournament there are opportunities starting from the middle of the tournament to accumulate chips by simply raising without big hands. One reason is that many players want to survive and play it safe. Another reason is that after a long time period, players who know winning poker is aggressive poker, revert back to their comfort zone of playing a smart, cautious style.
When you notice you have fallen into the trap of playing it safe for a long time period, you have an opportunity to raise and steal pots. When you notice that your opponents have fallen back into this style, you have an opportunity to raise and steal pots. You need to accumulate chips, and you can't do that by folding.
Remember that tight, safe play gives you the right to raise and accumulate chips because you have a tight table image. So raise and accumulate chips with a wide range of starting hands.
What about your opponents? Have they tightened up their play? A clear signal of a tight table is when most hands are won without ever seeing the flop. If so, that is another signal for you to raise with a wider range of starting hand.
It takes courage to raise without premium hands but that is exactly what the poker pros do to win a poker tournament.
Early In The Tournament
After reviewing Day 1 of Gus Hansen's Aussie Millions win, I found that only one time did Gus limp early on and win a pot! Of the 40 hands he played that day, just one limp took down the pot! The other times he limped into a hand he lost--and yes, that was only 5 times. (Note: I did not include the times he was in the BB and got to see a flop for free.)
Gus built his starting chip stack from $20,000 to $66,700 on Day 1 by raising. And, he raised with a wide range of hands based on position, cards and his opponents.
So next time you find yourself limping into hands, stop doing it! Raise, raise and raise again.
If you are not raising, you are not winning.
Starting at the Middle of the Tournament
In a poker tournament there are opportunities starting from the middle of the tournament to accumulate chips by simply raising without big hands. One reason is that many players want to survive and play it safe. Another reason is that after a long time period, players who know winning poker is aggressive poker, revert back to their comfort zone of playing a smart, cautious style.
When you notice you have fallen into the trap of playing it safe for a long time period, you have an opportunity to raise and steal pots. When you notice that your opponents have fallen back into this style, you have an opportunity to raise and steal pots. You need to accumulate chips, and you can't do that by folding.
Remember that tight, safe play gives you the right to raise and accumulate chips because you have a tight table image. So raise and accumulate chips with a wide range of starting hands.
What about your opponents? Have they tightened up their play? A clear signal of a tight table is when most hands are won without ever seeing the flop. If so, that is another signal for you to raise with a wider range of starting hand.
It takes courage to raise without premium hands but that is exactly what the poker pros do to win a poker tournament.
Early In The Tournament
After reviewing Day 1 of Gus Hansen's Aussie Millions win, I found that only one time did Gus limp early on and win a pot! Of the 40 hands he played that day, just one limp took down the pot! The other times he limped into a hand he lost--and yes, that was only 5 times. (Note: I did not include the times he was in the BB and got to see a flop for free.)
Gus built his starting chip stack from $20,000 to $66,700 on Day 1 by raising. And, he raised with a wide range of hands based on position, cards and his opponents.
So next time you find yourself limping into hands, stop doing it! Raise, raise and raise again.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
How Good Are The Poker Super Stars?
Have you ever wondered how much better the Poker "Super Stars" are compared to other players?
Yesterday I checked out pokerlistings.com and put in names of some of the top star players--Negreanu, Hansen, Lindgren, Hellmuth, and others. What I found was rather interesting. These stars may not all be that super. For some reason, my perception was that these players were winning a lot more often than they really have been.
It is the big payday wins that set these players apart. Winning a major poker event once is a big deal financially. Winning a big twice is even bigger. A third win is unreal. And being on TV is a huge opportunity to cash-in even more.
Hansen's three WPT wins is amazing. Indeed, all these super stars had big paydays.
Embrace The Risk
That's why when you play a poker tournament, I keep writing that you need to "embrace the risk" in the game. Because the game is about winning, not cashing. (Check out Hellmuth on Pokerlistings.com and you can see the difference in his numerous cashes versus a win. While he has cashed the most at the WSOP, I am sure he would trade all those small cashes into another bracelet.)
There are years where some of these star players had few cashes, never mind wins.
Wouldn't it be nice to know how many events they each entered and how often they failed to cash. In baseball, if you get a hit three times in 10 at bats, you will probably be in the Hall of Fame. What is the hit rate in poker? 1 in 20? 1 in 40? (What about online? How many tables do the online poker elite play every day, every week, every month?)
The Bad, the Good, & The Ugly
Overall, it has to be tougher to win today because:
* The competition is better
* The fields are bigger
* There is more luck in the game or Hellmuth would win them all:)
On the other hand, there has to be less pressure because:
* The top stars get sponsored and risk no money in the events
* The top stars are their own brand and can run and market themselves like a business
(Clearly Hellmuth, Negreanu and Hansen are great examples. While Lindgren, Flack and other star players may not be taking full advantage.)
* This stardom also leads to other deals or appearance fees (Annie Duke for example.)
If you check out Chris Moneymaker's poker record, you can see why the rumor every year at the WSOP is that he is broke. He has really done nothing since 2003--that's a lot of losing. Oh, the win was $2.5 million, but he only got half of that, and the IRS took at least another 30%...so he had over $800,000. And, everyone says he has or had other deals in place, so maybe he is not broke.
There are many players who you see win one event--and never see them win again. Is that because they just got lucky or is that because they don't play all the time? I don't know.
You Can Be The Next Poker Star!
My conclusion--and please let me know what you think--is that the top Poker Stars are better than you and me. They have an edge in that they have more experience, play all the time, risk little or no money, and therefore, less pressure in the risks they push during the game. They deserve credit for being the best before other players understood the game as well as them. And they deserve credit for being at the right place at the right time.
However, I believe that you can win a big poker tournament if you study the game, get experience, and get lucky. The challenge ends up in being able to afford the buy-in into these big events--and that is why satellites are so important for so most players. Of course, satellites tend to be even more difficult to win since they may be more luck driven or require a different skill set.
Yesterday I checked out pokerlistings.com and put in names of some of the top star players--Negreanu, Hansen, Lindgren, Hellmuth, and others. What I found was rather interesting. These stars may not all be that super. For some reason, my perception was that these players were winning a lot more often than they really have been.
It is the big payday wins that set these players apart. Winning a major poker event once is a big deal financially. Winning a big twice is even bigger. A third win is unreal. And being on TV is a huge opportunity to cash-in even more.
Hansen's three WPT wins is amazing. Indeed, all these super stars had big paydays.
Embrace The Risk
That's why when you play a poker tournament, I keep writing that you need to "embrace the risk" in the game. Because the game is about winning, not cashing. (Check out Hellmuth on Pokerlistings.com and you can see the difference in his numerous cashes versus a win. While he has cashed the most at the WSOP, I am sure he would trade all those small cashes into another bracelet.)
There are years where some of these star players had few cashes, never mind wins.
Wouldn't it be nice to know how many events they each entered and how often they failed to cash. In baseball, if you get a hit three times in 10 at bats, you will probably be in the Hall of Fame. What is the hit rate in poker? 1 in 20? 1 in 40? (What about online? How many tables do the online poker elite play every day, every week, every month?)
The Bad, the Good, & The Ugly
Overall, it has to be tougher to win today because:
* The competition is better
* The fields are bigger
* There is more luck in the game or Hellmuth would win them all:)
On the other hand, there has to be less pressure because:
* The top stars get sponsored and risk no money in the events
* The top stars are their own brand and can run and market themselves like a business
(Clearly Hellmuth, Negreanu and Hansen are great examples. While Lindgren, Flack and other star players may not be taking full advantage.)
* This stardom also leads to other deals or appearance fees (Annie Duke for example.)
If you check out Chris Moneymaker's poker record, you can see why the rumor every year at the WSOP is that he is broke. He has really done nothing since 2003--that's a lot of losing. Oh, the win was $2.5 million, but he only got half of that, and the IRS took at least another 30%...so he had over $800,000. And, everyone says he has or had other deals in place, so maybe he is not broke.
There are many players who you see win one event--and never see them win again. Is that because they just got lucky or is that because they don't play all the time? I don't know.
You Can Be The Next Poker Star!
My conclusion--and please let me know what you think--is that the top Poker Stars are better than you and me. They have an edge in that they have more experience, play all the time, risk little or no money, and therefore, less pressure in the risks they push during the game. They deserve credit for being the best before other players understood the game as well as them. And they deserve credit for being at the right place at the right time.
However, I believe that you can win a big poker tournament if you study the game, get experience, and get lucky. The challenge ends up in being able to afford the buy-in into these big events--and that is why satellites are so important for so most players. Of course, satellites tend to be even more difficult to win since they may be more luck driven or require a different skill set.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Gus Hansen's Winning Tournament Strategy Revealed
Learning from my analysis of Gus Hansen's Day 1 Play from his Aussie Millions victory!
1. Strategy: Be aggressive in tournament play. Play your position. Play your opponents. Be aware that an aggressive table image can get opponents to make big mistakes against you.
Tactics:
Cut-off is a good place to try to steal, but if get re-raised just fold.
Raise under the gun with K-Q offsuit.
Raise with a mediocre hand first in, when in late position.
Raise first in on the SB raise, even with suited connectors.
Look to steal on the button and cutoff.
Steal on the button with a standard sized raise (although this hand is worth a raise).
On button, raise more than the size of the pot to try to take down a pot with all limpers.
On paired flops, make a half pot sized bet against the blind limpers.
Raising with K-9 suited in early position is an acceptable move, especially when the table has shown a tendency to limp and fold to raises pre-flop.
If players are hesitant to enter pots--since they want to survive another day--you can also be more aggressive.
2. Strategy: Take small risks to win big pots.
Tactics:
Limp with pairs in early position.
Limp in with suited connectors in early rounds to risk few chips to win a big pot.
Limp in back position with suited connectors, and call a raise behind you if the pot odds are big enough (over 3 to 1).
Call a raise with pairs if the implied odds are favorable and you're taking little risk with your stack.
Calling a re-raise with medium pairs is an acceptable play given the implied odds.
Use a C-bet heads-up in position with more than half sized bet.
In BB, call a SB raise first in that gives you 2-1 odds with suited connectors.
Gus calls a lot of pre-flop raises in the BB with suited connectors given the implied odds.
3. Strategy: Avoid taking big risks with mediocre hands.
Tactics:
Fold if you may be drawing dead when three cards of the same suit flop and you have a mid-level card of that suit.
When hit a pair on flop, check raise to determine if you have best hand.
If c-bet gets called and turn is not a scare card, check your hand.
If someone makes a play at you heads-up before you can make your c-bet, analyze the upside and downside of calling the flop bet and evaluate your opponent's strength or weakness.
4. Strategy: Know the pot odds and your chances of winning.
Tactics:
Know your chance of winning given the bet size compared to the pot size, and then compare it to the number of cards you need to win compared to the number of the remaining cards. If actual odds are higher than the cards percentage, you should fold.
Call a raise HU if odds are right (over 3 to 1).
Call with suited connectors when the pot odds are right (2.5 to 1).
Calling a raise with a flush draw on the flop is a good play with over 4 to 1 odds. (1800 to win 7550)
You can stretch your calls when you have a huge chip stack if you think your
implied odds are excellent.
Don't give your opponent a free card on the flop if you know he will check a hand behind you like AK or AQ, and you have a big drawing hand.
5. Strategy: Avoid taking big risks with big but not premium hands against tight, early position raisers.
Tactics:
Just call A-J offsuit when there is an early position raise and one caller.
Don't risk everything when you only have 2nd pair, if an opponent bets out and you are going to have to guess if you are beat or not. Wait for a better opportunity.
Check the turn when you think you may be in trouble when middle card pairs or it completes flush draw. If opponent checks, than bet the river when a rag falls as a value bet--about half the pot.
6. Strategy: Look to surprise your opponents with an out-of-the normal play. Just realize it will be more difficult to play your hand since your opponent won't know the strength of your hand (you probably sent out a message you were weak and not strong).
Tactics:
Bet out rather than check when you hit the flush on the turn.
It's okay to mix up your game and check a hand you would raise with pre-flop and bet with on the flop.
7. Strategy: Make an over-sized bet on the turn when you know you are ahead and your opponent is drawing--you don't want to be drawn-out on the river.
Tactic:
If you put your opponent on a draw, make an over-sized bet to get him to fold on the turn (putting him all-in if necessary).
8. Strategy: Know when to bluff--especially when you know your opponent is weak. There are chips in the pot waiting for you to grab.
Tactics:
Bluff on river if opponent checks twice after you call his c-bet and scare cards come on turn and river.
When it is two checks to you, make a stab at the pot.
9. Strategy: Attack late position by re-raising with hands that are usually calling hands.
Tactics:
If you think your opponent is making a play on the button, raise with A-x. And make the raise about three times the button raise.
Attack late position raisers in the big blind with even K7 offsuit.
10. Strategy: Know your opponent stack sizes at all times as it can help you to size your bets--that is, to get your opponent to fold.
Tactic:
Put your opponent all-in on the flop when the flop is favorable and a call on a pot sized bet on the flop will naturally mean he must also be all-in on the turn.
11. Strategy: Slow-play the nuts on turn.
Tactic:
When you hit the nuts on the turn, check to allow your opponents to catch something or bluff the river.
12. Strategy: When you spot weakness, re-raise your opponent off his hand.
13. Strategy: Bet sizing: Bet your premium hands the same amount as your steals.
14. Strategy: Miscellaneous
Tactics:
Call if opponent is desperate for chips, you have a strong hand, and it won't cost you more than 20% of your stack.
When antes increase (especially a 4:1 ratio between SB and ante) be more aggressive. Also figure out the cost of a round when blinds and antes go up. The average stack compared to your stack.
Sometimes you will fold the best hand.
You don't always have to make a c-bet--especially if your opponent has been playing very tight. In general, Gus aims at making a c-bet about 80% of the time.
This is the winning strategy and tactics used by Gus Hansen. If you want to buy his book "Every Hand Revealed," please go to this page.
1. Strategy: Be aggressive in tournament play. Play your position. Play your opponents. Be aware that an aggressive table image can get opponents to make big mistakes against you.
Tactics:
Cut-off is a good place to try to steal, but if get re-raised just fold.
Raise under the gun with K-Q offsuit.
Raise with a mediocre hand first in, when in late position.
Raise first in on the SB raise, even with suited connectors.
Look to steal on the button and cutoff.
Steal on the button with a standard sized raise (although this hand is worth a raise).
On button, raise more than the size of the pot to try to take down a pot with all limpers.
On paired flops, make a half pot sized bet against the blind limpers.
Raising with K-9 suited in early position is an acceptable move, especially when the table has shown a tendency to limp and fold to raises pre-flop.
If players are hesitant to enter pots--since they want to survive another day--you can also be more aggressive.
2. Strategy: Take small risks to win big pots.
Tactics:
Limp with pairs in early position.
Limp in with suited connectors in early rounds to risk few chips to win a big pot.
Limp in back position with suited connectors, and call a raise behind you if the pot odds are big enough (over 3 to 1).
Call a raise with pairs if the implied odds are favorable and you're taking little risk with your stack.
Calling a re-raise with medium pairs is an acceptable play given the implied odds.
Use a C-bet heads-up in position with more than half sized bet.
In BB, call a SB raise first in that gives you 2-1 odds with suited connectors.
Gus calls a lot of pre-flop raises in the BB with suited connectors given the implied odds.
3. Strategy: Avoid taking big risks with mediocre hands.
Tactics:
Fold if you may be drawing dead when three cards of the same suit flop and you have a mid-level card of that suit.
When hit a pair on flop, check raise to determine if you have best hand.
If c-bet gets called and turn is not a scare card, check your hand.
If someone makes a play at you heads-up before you can make your c-bet, analyze the upside and downside of calling the flop bet and evaluate your opponent's strength or weakness.
4. Strategy: Know the pot odds and your chances of winning.
Tactics:
Know your chance of winning given the bet size compared to the pot size, and then compare it to the number of cards you need to win compared to the number of the remaining cards. If actual odds are higher than the cards percentage, you should fold.
Call a raise HU if odds are right (over 3 to 1).
Call with suited connectors when the pot odds are right (2.5 to 1).
Calling a raise with a flush draw on the flop is a good play with over 4 to 1 odds. (1800 to win 7550)
You can stretch your calls when you have a huge chip stack if you think your
implied odds are excellent.
Don't give your opponent a free card on the flop if you know he will check a hand behind you like AK or AQ, and you have a big drawing hand.
5. Strategy: Avoid taking big risks with big but not premium hands against tight, early position raisers.
Tactics:
Just call A-J offsuit when there is an early position raise and one caller.
Don't risk everything when you only have 2nd pair, if an opponent bets out and you are going to have to guess if you are beat or not. Wait for a better opportunity.
Check the turn when you think you may be in trouble when middle card pairs or it completes flush draw. If opponent checks, than bet the river when a rag falls as a value bet--about half the pot.
6. Strategy: Look to surprise your opponents with an out-of-the normal play. Just realize it will be more difficult to play your hand since your opponent won't know the strength of your hand (you probably sent out a message you were weak and not strong).
Tactics:
Bet out rather than check when you hit the flush on the turn.
It's okay to mix up your game and check a hand you would raise with pre-flop and bet with on the flop.
7. Strategy: Make an over-sized bet on the turn when you know you are ahead and your opponent is drawing--you don't want to be drawn-out on the river.
Tactic:
If you put your opponent on a draw, make an over-sized bet to get him to fold on the turn (putting him all-in if necessary).
8. Strategy: Know when to bluff--especially when you know your opponent is weak. There are chips in the pot waiting for you to grab.
Tactics:
Bluff on river if opponent checks twice after you call his c-bet and scare cards come on turn and river.
When it is two checks to you, make a stab at the pot.
9. Strategy: Attack late position by re-raising with hands that are usually calling hands.
Tactics:
If you think your opponent is making a play on the button, raise with A-x. And make the raise about three times the button raise.
Attack late position raisers in the big blind with even K7 offsuit.
10. Strategy: Know your opponent stack sizes at all times as it can help you to size your bets--that is, to get your opponent to fold.
Tactic:
Put your opponent all-in on the flop when the flop is favorable and a call on a pot sized bet on the flop will naturally mean he must also be all-in on the turn.
11. Strategy: Slow-play the nuts on turn.
Tactic:
When you hit the nuts on the turn, check to allow your opponents to catch something or bluff the river.
12. Strategy: When you spot weakness, re-raise your opponent off his hand.
13. Strategy: Bet sizing: Bet your premium hands the same amount as your steals.
14. Strategy: Miscellaneous
Tactics:
Call if opponent is desperate for chips, you have a strong hand, and it won't cost you more than 20% of your stack.
When antes increase (especially a 4:1 ratio between SB and ante) be more aggressive. Also figure out the cost of a round when blinds and antes go up. The average stack compared to your stack.
Sometimes you will fold the best hand.
You don't always have to make a c-bet--especially if your opponent has been playing very tight. In general, Gus aims at making a c-bet about 80% of the time.
This is the winning strategy and tactics used by Gus Hansen. If you want to buy his book "Every Hand Revealed," please go to this page.
How Does Gus Hansen Do on Day 1? Hands 30-40.
Hand 30:
Blinds 300/600/75
Position: 1st
Hand Ah-Qs
Chips: 66.7k
Gus opens for 1850, and the short-stacked player moves in for 11000. Gus calls. His opponent has Ac-5c. He hits runner-runner 5's to win pot.
Learning:
Call if opponent is desperate for chips, you have a strong hand, and it won't cost you more than 20% of your stack. Frankly, I'm not sure what the learning is here.
Hand 31:
Blinds 300/600/75
Position: 2 off button
Hand Ac-Td
Chips: 54k
Gus opens for 1800, and button and BB calls. Flop is 10s-8d-3s. Gus bets 4800 into 6450 pot and button calls. 8s on the turn and Gus checks as does his opponent. The river is 6c and Gus wins after his 6300 bet is called on the river.
Learning:
Check the turn when you think you may be in trouble when middle card pairs or it completes flush draw. If opponent checks, than bet the river when a rag falls as a value bet--about half the pot.
Hand 32 and Hand 33 are just pre-flop raises that don't get called. Nothing new.
Hand 34:
Blinds 300/600/75
Position: BB
Hand 5c-7c
Chips: 71.3k
Gus calls the early position raisers bet of 1800. He misses the flop and folds when opponent bets.
Learning:
Gus calls a lot of pre-flop raises in the BB with suited connectors.
Hands 35, 36 and 37 are again pre-flop raises that don't get called. The only interesting thing is that Gus raised 2 off the button with 5-3 offsuit, and the reason is the learning below:
Learning:
When antes increase (especially a 4:1 ratio between SB and ante) be more aggressive. Also figure out the cost of a round when blinds and antes go up. The average stack compared to your stack.
If players are hesitant to enter pots--since they want to survive another day--you can also be more aggressive.
Hand 38:
Blinds 400/800/100
Position: 2 off the button
Hand Jc-3c
Chips: 73.4k
Gus raises to 2500 and gets called by the BB. The flop is Jh-8c-6s, and his opponent bets 6000. Gus folds top pair and his opponent shows pocket 10's.
Learning:
Sometimes you will fold the best hand.
If someone makes a play at you heads-up before you can make a c-bet, analyze the upside and downside of calling the flop bet and evaluate your opponent's strength or weakness.
Hand 39:
Blinds 400/800/100
Position: SB
Hand Th-9h
Chips: 69.6k
Gus calls a raise of 2400. The flop is 8h-7-h-5c. Gus leads out since he doesn't want to give a free card. Gus bets 5000 into the 8000 pot and wins. He notes that he is 43% against a set, 57% against an overpair, and 69% against an A8. He is willing to gamble with the hand.
Learning:
Don't give your opponent a free card if you know he will check a hand behind you like AK or AQ on the flop.
Hand 40:
Blinds 400/800/100
Position: 3rd
Hand Ah-Jh
Chips: 74.8k
Gus raises to 2600 and is called by the SB. The flop is Qs-8h-6s. The SB checks and Gus checks thinking his opponent has a big hand--he has played very tight.
The turn is Qc and Gus bets when his opponent checks. However, his opponent check raises and forces Gus to fold.
Learning:
You don't always have to make a c-bet--especially if your opponent has been playing very tight.
When it is two checks to you, make a stab at the pot.
This ended Day 1.
My previous posts show the learning from the other hands on Day 1. I will summarize to better understand Gus' play.
Blinds 300/600/75
Position: 1st
Hand Ah-Qs
Chips: 66.7k
Gus opens for 1850, and the short-stacked player moves in for 11000. Gus calls. His opponent has Ac-5c. He hits runner-runner 5's to win pot.
Learning:
Call if opponent is desperate for chips, you have a strong hand, and it won't cost you more than 20% of your stack. Frankly, I'm not sure what the learning is here.
Hand 31:
Blinds 300/600/75
Position: 2 off button
Hand Ac-Td
Chips: 54k
Gus opens for 1800, and button and BB calls. Flop is 10s-8d-3s. Gus bets 4800 into 6450 pot and button calls. 8s on the turn and Gus checks as does his opponent. The river is 6c and Gus wins after his 6300 bet is called on the river.
Learning:
Check the turn when you think you may be in trouble when middle card pairs or it completes flush draw. If opponent checks, than bet the river when a rag falls as a value bet--about half the pot.
Hand 32 and Hand 33 are just pre-flop raises that don't get called. Nothing new.
Hand 34:
Blinds 300/600/75
Position: BB
Hand 5c-7c
Chips: 71.3k
Gus calls the early position raisers bet of 1800. He misses the flop and folds when opponent bets.
Learning:
Gus calls a lot of pre-flop raises in the BB with suited connectors.
Hands 35, 36 and 37 are again pre-flop raises that don't get called. The only interesting thing is that Gus raised 2 off the button with 5-3 offsuit, and the reason is the learning below:
Learning:
When antes increase (especially a 4:1 ratio between SB and ante) be more aggressive. Also figure out the cost of a round when blinds and antes go up. The average stack compared to your stack.
If players are hesitant to enter pots--since they want to survive another day--you can also be more aggressive.
Hand 38:
Blinds 400/800/100
Position: 2 off the button
Hand Jc-3c
Chips: 73.4k
Gus raises to 2500 and gets called by the BB. The flop is Jh-8c-6s, and his opponent bets 6000. Gus folds top pair and his opponent shows pocket 10's.
Learning:
Sometimes you will fold the best hand.
If someone makes a play at you heads-up before you can make a c-bet, analyze the upside and downside of calling the flop bet and evaluate your opponent's strength or weakness.
Hand 39:
Blinds 400/800/100
Position: SB
Hand Th-9h
Chips: 69.6k
Gus calls a raise of 2400. The flop is 8h-7-h-5c. Gus leads out since he doesn't want to give a free card. Gus bets 5000 into the 8000 pot and wins. He notes that he is 43% against a set, 57% against an overpair, and 69% against an A8. He is willing to gamble with the hand.
Learning:
Don't give your opponent a free card if you know he will check a hand behind you like AK or AQ on the flop.
Hand 40:
Blinds 400/800/100
Position: 3rd
Hand Ah-Jh
Chips: 74.8k
Gus raises to 2600 and is called by the SB. The flop is Qs-8h-6s. The SB checks and Gus checks thinking his opponent has a big hand--he has played very tight.
The turn is Qc and Gus bets when his opponent checks. However, his opponent check raises and forces Gus to fold.
Learning:
You don't always have to make a c-bet--especially if your opponent has been playing very tight.
When it is two checks to you, make a stab at the pot.
This ended Day 1.
My previous posts show the learning from the other hands on Day 1. I will summarize to better understand Gus' play.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
More on Gus Hansen's Winning Plays: Hands 21-29
Hand 21:
Blinds 150/300/25
Position: 1st
Hand 5c-5h
Chips: 58.2k
Gus is first and limps. A player raises to 800 (he has 12000 in chips), and Gus calls. After Gus calls the c-bet of 1000 on the flop, the hands are checked down to the river with a board of 10c-10d-9h-As-Kd. His opponent wins with J-J.
Learning:
Limp with pairs in early position.
Call a raise with pairs if the implied odds are favorable and you're taking little risk with your stack.
Bluff on river if opponent checks twice after you call his c-bet and scare cards come on turn and river.
Hand 22:
Blinds 150/300/25
Position: BB
Hand Ac-8h
Chips: 55.7k
The button raises to 1200 and Gus re-raises to 4300. His opponent folds.
Learning:
If you think your opponent is making a play on the button, raise with A-x. And make the raise about three times the button raise.
Hand 23:
Blinds 150/300/25
Position: 2 off the button
Hand Ks-Qd
Chips: 58.1k
Gus raises to 1000, and the big blind calls (he has 6000 left). The flop is Jc-10s-2h. Gus wins the pot with a 6600 bet--which would put his opponent all-in.
Learning:
Put your opponent all-in on the flop when the flop is favorable and a call on a pot sized bet on the flop will naturally mean he must also be all-in on the turn.
Hand 24:
Blinds 200/400/50
Position: BB
Hand 5d-4c
Chips: 59.3k
Gus notes the importance of being more aggressive when antes are 25% of the SB.
Gus calls a raise to 1200 by an early position player, and one caller. He is betting 800 to win 3500 (over 4 to 1). The flop is 5c-4d-3d. It is checked around.
The turn is the 5s. Gus bets the nuts and everyone folds. Gus admits this was a bad play.
Learning:
When you hit the nuts on the turn, check to allow your opponents to catch something or bluff the river.
Hand 25:
Blinds 200/400/50
Position: BB
Hand Kc-7d
Chips: 61.5k
A player raises to 1300 on the cutoff and Gus re-raises to 4500 to win the pot.
Learning:
Attack late position raisers in the big blind with even K7 offsuit.
Hand 26:
Blinds 200/400/50
Position: Button
Hand 5c-4d
Chips: 63.1k
2 off the button a player raises to 1200. Gus senses weakness and raises to 4600. Everyone folds.
Learning:
When you spot weakness, re-raise your opponent off his hand.
Hand 27-29:
Gus raises first in on the button with Jc-7h to 1250, and wins.
Gus raises first in on the cutoff with As-3s to 1250, and wins.
Gus raises first in 3 off the button with Qd-Qc to 1250, and wins.
Learning:
Look to steal on the button and cutoff.
Bet your premium hands the same amount as your steals.
See the previous post for the learning from hands 1-20. I will summarize the learning after hand 40--or Day 1 for Gus.
Blinds 150/300/25
Position: 1st
Hand 5c-5h
Chips: 58.2k
Gus is first and limps. A player raises to 800 (he has 12000 in chips), and Gus calls. After Gus calls the c-bet of 1000 on the flop, the hands are checked down to the river with a board of 10c-10d-9h-As-Kd. His opponent wins with J-J.
Learning:
Limp with pairs in early position.
Call a raise with pairs if the implied odds are favorable and you're taking little risk with your stack.
Bluff on river if opponent checks twice after you call his c-bet and scare cards come on turn and river.
Hand 22:
Blinds 150/300/25
Position: BB
Hand Ac-8h
Chips: 55.7k
The button raises to 1200 and Gus re-raises to 4300. His opponent folds.
Learning:
If you think your opponent is making a play on the button, raise with A-x. And make the raise about three times the button raise.
Hand 23:
Blinds 150/300/25
Position: 2 off the button
Hand Ks-Qd
Chips: 58.1k
Gus raises to 1000, and the big blind calls (he has 6000 left). The flop is Jc-10s-2h. Gus wins the pot with a 6600 bet--which would put his opponent all-in.
Learning:
Put your opponent all-in on the flop when the flop is favorable and a call on a pot sized bet on the flop will naturally mean he must also be all-in on the turn.
Hand 24:
Blinds 200/400/50
Position: BB
Hand 5d-4c
Chips: 59.3k
Gus notes the importance of being more aggressive when antes are 25% of the SB.
Gus calls a raise to 1200 by an early position player, and one caller. He is betting 800 to win 3500 (over 4 to 1). The flop is 5c-4d-3d. It is checked around.
The turn is the 5s. Gus bets the nuts and everyone folds. Gus admits this was a bad play.
Learning:
When you hit the nuts on the turn, check to allow your opponents to catch something or bluff the river.
Hand 25:
Blinds 200/400/50
Position: BB
Hand Kc-7d
Chips: 61.5k
A player raises to 1300 on the cutoff and Gus re-raises to 4500 to win the pot.
Learning:
Attack late position raisers in the big blind with even K7 offsuit.
Hand 26:
Blinds 200/400/50
Position: Button
Hand 5c-4d
Chips: 63.1k
2 off the button a player raises to 1200. Gus senses weakness and raises to 4600. Everyone folds.
Learning:
When you spot weakness, re-raise your opponent off his hand.
Hand 27-29:
Gus raises first in on the button with Jc-7h to 1250, and wins.
Gus raises first in on the cutoff with As-3s to 1250, and wins.
Gus raises first in 3 off the button with Qd-Qc to 1250, and wins.
Learning:
Look to steal on the button and cutoff.
Bet your premium hands the same amount as your steals.
See the previous post for the learning from hands 1-20. I will summarize the learning after hand 40--or Day 1 for Gus.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Gus Hansen-winning playing style after 20 hands
Here is a review of hands 16-20, and the learning after 20 hands. I think we have an excellent portrait of Gus' winning playing style after just these hands. In addition, we start to get into the math that Gus uses to guide his decisions.
Hand 16:
Blinds 100/200/25
Position: Button
Hand Ad-6d
Chips: 26.1k
Gus is first and raises on the button to 600? Blinds fold.
Learning:
Steal on the button with a standard sized raise (although this hand is worth a raise).
Hand 17:
Blinds 100/200/25
Position: 2 off the button
Hand Jc-5c
Chips: 26.6k
Gus is first in and raises to 600. The button min raises to 1200, and Gus calls with great pot odds. Flop is Kc-9s-3c. Gus checks and opponent checks.
The turn is an 8c. Gus hit his flush. Gus bets out to 2000 and his opponent raises to 6000. His opponent either has KK or 99. Gus moves all-in for 19,375 and gets called. His opponent does have 99 for a set. River is a 4h. Gus doubles up.
Learning:
Bet out rather than check when you hit the flush on the turn.
Hand 18:
Blinds 150/300/25
Position: 2 off the button
Hand Kd-Qs
Chips: 53.2k
Player in early position limps, Gus limps (although he would normally raise), and blinds call as well. The flop is Kc-6h-2s.
Gus checks top pair after opponents check. Turn is 2h. BB bets to 500, limper raises to 2000 and only Gus calls. The river is a 3s.
Opponent bets 3000 into the 6000 pot, and Gus calls.
Learning:
It's okay to mix up your game and check a hand you would raise with pre-flop and bet with on the flop. But, realize, that your job of reading your opponents will be tougher since you sent out a message you were weak and not strong.
Hand 19:
Blinds 150/300/25
Position: 4th
Hand Ac-4c
Chips: 59.6k
Gus limps after under the gun limper. Blinds calls. Flop is 2h-5d-Kc. The limper bets 800 into 1425 pot.
Gus has a gut shot straight draw, backdoor flush draw, and Ace high. Since he has lots of chips he calls. Blinds fold. Turn is a Jc.
Opponent bets 2200, and has 7000 left. Gus has to call 2200 to win 5200 or a 30% winning chance. (Important: His winning chance is 2200 divided by the total of 2200+5200 or 7400.) Gus figures he has 10 outs of 44 remaining cards or 22.7%, meaning he should fold. But he calls given the implied odds.
The river is a 5h. Opponent bets and Gus folds.
Learning:
You can stretch your calls when you have a huge chip stack if you think your
implied odds are excellent.
Know your chance of winning given the bet size compared to the pot size, and then compare it to the number of cards you need to win compared to the umber of the remaining cards. If actual odds are higher than the cards percentage, you should fold.
Hand 20:
Blinds 150/300/25
Position: 2 off the button
Hand Jc-Tc
Chips: 55.7k
Gus opens for 1000 and only the BB calls. The flop is Jd-9d-8h. Gus bets 1200 and BB calls. The turn is a 4s.
There is 4800 in the pot and opponent has 12,000. If Gus bets 300 and his opponent calls, and the Kd hits on the river, Gus will have a tough decision. Gus does not like tough decisions. He puts his opponent on a draw and bets 13,000. His opponent folds.
Learning:
If you put your opponent on a draw, make an over-sized bet to get him to fold on the turn (putting him all-in).
Learning after 20 hands:
Limp in with suited connectors in early rounds to risk few chips to win a big pot.
Fold if you may be drawing dead when three cards of the same suit flop and you have a mid-level club.
First in on the SB raise.
Limp in back position with suited connectors, and call a raise behind you if the pot odds are big enough (over 3 to 1).
On paired flops, make a half pot sized bet against the blind limpers.
Raise with a mediocre hand first in, when in late position
Use a C-bet heads-up in position with more than half sized bet.
In BB call a SB raise first in that gives you 2-1 odds with suited connectors.
When hit a pair on flop, check raise to determine if you have best hand.
Raise from SB first in with suited connectors.
Call a raise HU if odds are right (over 3 to 1).
Just call A-J offsuit when there is an early position raise and one caller.
Raise under the gun with K-Q offsuit.
If c-bet gets called and turn is not a scare card, check your hand.
Call with suited connectors when the pot odds are right (2.5 to 1).
Cut-off is a good place to try to steal, but if get raised just fold.
On button, raise more than the size of the pot to try to take down a pot with all limpers.
Don't risk everything when you only have 2nd pair, if an opponent bets out and you are going to have to guess if you are beat or not. Wait for a better opportunity.
Raising with K-9 suited in early position is an acceptable move, especially when the table has shown a tendency to limp and fold to raises pre-flop.
Calling a raise with a flush draw on the flop is a good play with over 4 to 1 odds. (1800 to win 7550)
An aggressive table image can get opponents to make big mistakes against you.
Calling a re-raise with medium pairs is an acceptable play given the implied odds.
Steal on the button with a standard sized raise (although this hand is worth a raise).
Bet out rather than check when you hit the flush on the turn.
It's okay to mix up your game and check a hand you would raise with pre-flop and bet with on the flop. But, realize, that your job of reading your opponents will be tougher since you sent out a message you were weak and not strong.
You can stretch your calls when you have a huge chip stack if you think your
implied odds are excellent.
Know your chance of winning given the bet size compared to the pot size, and then compare it to the number of cards you need to win compared to the umber of the remaining cards. If actual odds are higher than the cards percentage, you should fold.
If you put your opponent on a draw, make an over-sized bet to get him to fold on the turn (putting him all-in).
Hand 16:
Blinds 100/200/25
Position: Button
Hand Ad-6d
Chips: 26.1k
Gus is first and raises on the button to 600? Blinds fold.
Learning:
Steal on the button with a standard sized raise (although this hand is worth a raise).
Hand 17:
Blinds 100/200/25
Position: 2 off the button
Hand Jc-5c
Chips: 26.6k
Gus is first in and raises to 600. The button min raises to 1200, and Gus calls with great pot odds. Flop is Kc-9s-3c. Gus checks and opponent checks.
The turn is an 8c. Gus hit his flush. Gus bets out to 2000 and his opponent raises to 6000. His opponent either has KK or 99. Gus moves all-in for 19,375 and gets called. His opponent does have 99 for a set. River is a 4h. Gus doubles up.
Learning:
Bet out rather than check when you hit the flush on the turn.
Hand 18:
Blinds 150/300/25
Position: 2 off the button
Hand Kd-Qs
Chips: 53.2k
Player in early position limps, Gus limps (although he would normally raise), and blinds call as well. The flop is Kc-6h-2s.
Gus checks top pair after opponents check. Turn is 2h. BB bets to 500, limper raises to 2000 and only Gus calls. The river is a 3s.
Opponent bets 3000 into the 6000 pot, and Gus calls.
Learning:
It's okay to mix up your game and check a hand you would raise with pre-flop and bet with on the flop. But, realize, that your job of reading your opponents will be tougher since you sent out a message you were weak and not strong.
Hand 19:
Blinds 150/300/25
Position: 4th
Hand Ac-4c
Chips: 59.6k
Gus limps after under the gun limper. Blinds calls. Flop is 2h-5d-Kc. The limper bets 800 into 1425 pot.
Gus has a gut shot straight draw, backdoor flush draw, and Ace high. Since he has lots of chips he calls. Blinds fold. Turn is a Jc.
Opponent bets 2200, and has 7000 left. Gus has to call 2200 to win 5200 or a 30% winning chance. (Important: His winning chance is 2200 divided by the total of 2200+5200 or 7400.) Gus figures he has 10 outs of 44 remaining cards or 22.7%, meaning he should fold. But he calls given the implied odds.
The river is a 5h. Opponent bets and Gus folds.
Learning:
You can stretch your calls when you have a huge chip stack if you think your
implied odds are excellent.
Know your chance of winning given the bet size compared to the pot size, and then compare it to the number of cards you need to win compared to the umber of the remaining cards. If actual odds are higher than the cards percentage, you should fold.
Hand 20:
Blinds 150/300/25
Position: 2 off the button
Hand Jc-Tc
Chips: 55.7k
Gus opens for 1000 and only the BB calls. The flop is Jd-9d-8h. Gus bets 1200 and BB calls. The turn is a 4s.
There is 4800 in the pot and opponent has 12,000. If Gus bets 300 and his opponent calls, and the Kd hits on the river, Gus will have a tough decision. Gus does not like tough decisions. He puts his opponent on a draw and bets 13,000. His opponent folds.
Learning:
If you put your opponent on a draw, make an over-sized bet to get him to fold on the turn (putting him all-in).
Learning after 20 hands:
Limp in with suited connectors in early rounds to risk few chips to win a big pot.
Fold if you may be drawing dead when three cards of the same suit flop and you have a mid-level club.
First in on the SB raise.
Limp in back position with suited connectors, and call a raise behind you if the pot odds are big enough (over 3 to 1).
On paired flops, make a half pot sized bet against the blind limpers.
Raise with a mediocre hand first in, when in late position
Use a C-bet heads-up in position with more than half sized bet.
In BB call a SB raise first in that gives you 2-1 odds with suited connectors.
When hit a pair on flop, check raise to determine if you have best hand.
Raise from SB first in with suited connectors.
Call a raise HU if odds are right (over 3 to 1).
Just call A-J offsuit when there is an early position raise and one caller.
Raise under the gun with K-Q offsuit.
If c-bet gets called and turn is not a scare card, check your hand.
Call with suited connectors when the pot odds are right (2.5 to 1).
Cut-off is a good place to try to steal, but if get raised just fold.
On button, raise more than the size of the pot to try to take down a pot with all limpers.
Don't risk everything when you only have 2nd pair, if an opponent bets out and you are going to have to guess if you are beat or not. Wait for a better opportunity.
Raising with K-9 suited in early position is an acceptable move, especially when the table has shown a tendency to limp and fold to raises pre-flop.
Calling a raise with a flush draw on the flop is a good play with over 4 to 1 odds. (1800 to win 7550)
An aggressive table image can get opponents to make big mistakes against you.
Calling a re-raise with medium pairs is an acceptable play given the implied odds.
Steal on the button with a standard sized raise (although this hand is worth a raise).
Bet out rather than check when you hit the flush on the turn.
It's okay to mix up your game and check a hand you would raise with pre-flop and bet with on the flop. But, realize, that your job of reading your opponents will be tougher since you sent out a message you were weak and not strong.
You can stretch your calls when you have a huge chip stack if you think your
implied odds are excellent.
Know your chance of winning given the bet size compared to the pot size, and then compare it to the number of cards you need to win compared to the umber of the remaining cards. If actual odds are higher than the cards percentage, you should fold.
If you put your opponent on a draw, make an over-sized bet to get him to fold on the turn (putting him all-in).
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Review of Gus Hansen's winning moves: hands 11-15
This continues the in-depth analysis of Gus Hansen's play in his WPT win in order to develop an overall game plan for NL tournaments. Earlier posts review hands 1-10.
Learning after 10 hands:
Limp in with suited connectors in early rounds to risk few chips to win a big pot.
Fold if you may be drawing dead when three cards of the same suit flop and you have a mid-level club.
First in on the SB raise.
Limp in back position with suited connectors, and call a raise behind you if the pot odds are big enough (over 3 to 1).
On paired flops, make a half pot sized bet against the blind limpers.
Raise with a mediocre hand first in, when in late position
Use a C-bet heads-up in position with more than half sized bet.
In BB call a SB raise first in that gives you 2-1 odds with suited connectors.
When hit a pair on flop, check raise to determine if you have best hand.
Raise from SB first in with suited connectors.
Call a raise HU if odds are right (over 3 to 1).
Just call A-J offsuit when there is an early position raise and one caller.
Raise under the gun with K-Q offsuit.
If c-bet gets called and turn is not a scare card, check your hand.
Hand 11:
Blinds 100/200
Position: BB
Hand Jc-9c
Chips: 10.22k
Player on button raises to 800 after two early limpers. Only Gus calls. Gus wins a big hand as the flop has a J, as does the turn. He just calls the c-bet of 1,200 into the 2,000 pot and check raises all-in on the turn.
Learning:
Call with suited connectors when the pot odds are right (2.5 to 1).
Hand 12:
Blinds 100/200
Position: Cut-off
Hand Ks-6s
Chips: 15.225k
Gus tries to steal but the BB re-raises him off his hand.
Learning:
Cut-off is a good place to try to steal, but if get raised just fold.
Hand 13:
Blinds 100/200/25
Position: Button
Hand As-7h
Chips: 14.1k
Antes come into play, which favors aggressive players. Gus gets moved to a new table and he doesn't know his opponents so he folds the next 5 hands.
After 4 people limp, Gus raises to 1,350. Gus says he would have made this move without the Ace--it is a common move from pros (yes, it's even in my book). Only player calls. Time for a c-bet.
The flop is Js-7s-2c. Before he can make a c-bet, his opponent bets 6,000 into the 4,000 pot. Gus folds.
Learning
On button, raise more than the size of the pot to try to take down a pot with all limpers.
Don't risk everything when you only have 2nd pair, if an opponent bets out and you are going to have to guess if you are beat or not. Wait for a better opportunity.
Hand 14:
Blinds 100/200/25
Position: 1st
Hand Kd-9d
Chips: 12.6k
Gus raises to 600 and gets 2 callers. The flop is 8d-6s-3d. Gus makes a c-bet of 1200 into the 2150 pot. One opponent calls and the other raises to 3000. Gus calls as does the other player.
The turn is a 6d. There is 11,150 in the pot. First player checks and Gus moves all-in. The raiser folds but the other player calls with Jc-8s. Gus doubles up thanks to a bad play by his opponent.
Learning
Raising with K-9 suited in early position is an acceptable move, especially when the table has shown a tendency to limp and fold to raises pre-flop.
Calling a raise with a flush draw on the flop is a good play with over 4 to 1 odds. (1800 to win 7550)
An aggressive table image can get opponents to make big mistakes against you..
Hand 15:
Blinds 100/200/25
Position: 4th
Hand 7d-7h
Chips: 28.85k
Gus raises to 650 in middle position. Player on cutoff raises to 2300 and Gus calls.
The flop comes with three overcards and Gus folds when his opponent checks.
Learning:
Calling a re-raise with medium pairs is an acceptable play given the implied odds.
Learning after 15 hands:
Limp in with suited connectors in early rounds to risk few chips to win a big pot.
Fold if you may be drawing dead when three cards of the same suit flop and you have a mid-level club.
First in on the SB raise.
Limp in back position with suited connectors, and call a raise behind you if the pot odds are big enough (over 3 to 1).
On paired flops, make a half pot sized bet against the blind limpers.
Raise with a mediocre hand first in, when in late position
Use a C-bet heads-up in position with more than half sized bet.
In BB call a SB raise first in that gives you 2-1 odds with suited connectors.
When hit a pair on flop, check raise to determine if you have best hand.
Raise from SB first in with suited connectors.
Call a raise HU if odds are right (over 3 to 1).
Just call A-J offsuit when there is an early position raise and one caller.
Raise under the gun with K-Q offsuit.
If c-bet gets called and turn is not a scare card, check your hand.
Call with suited connectors when the pot odds are right (2.5 to 1).
Cut-off is a good place to try to steal, but if get raised just fold.
On button, raise more than the size of the pot to try to take down a pot with all limpers.
Don't risk everything when you only have 2nd pair, if an opponent bets out and you are going to have to guess if you are beat or not. Wait for a better opportunity.
Raising with K-9 suited in early position is an acceptable move, especially when the table has shown a tendency to limp and fold to raises pre-flop.
Calling a raise with a flush draw on the flop is a good play with over 4 to 1 odds. (1800 to win 7550)
An aggressive table image can get opponents to make big mistakes against you.
Calling a re-raise with medium pairs is an acceptable play given the implied odds.
Learning after 10 hands:
Limp in with suited connectors in early rounds to risk few chips to win a big pot.
Fold if you may be drawing dead when three cards of the same suit flop and you have a mid-level club.
First in on the SB raise.
Limp in back position with suited connectors, and call a raise behind you if the pot odds are big enough (over 3 to 1).
On paired flops, make a half pot sized bet against the blind limpers.
Raise with a mediocre hand first in, when in late position
Use a C-bet heads-up in position with more than half sized bet.
In BB call a SB raise first in that gives you 2-1 odds with suited connectors.
When hit a pair on flop, check raise to determine if you have best hand.
Raise from SB first in with suited connectors.
Call a raise HU if odds are right (over 3 to 1).
Just call A-J offsuit when there is an early position raise and one caller.
Raise under the gun with K-Q offsuit.
If c-bet gets called and turn is not a scare card, check your hand.
Hand 11:
Blinds 100/200
Position: BB
Hand Jc-9c
Chips: 10.22k
Player on button raises to 800 after two early limpers. Only Gus calls. Gus wins a big hand as the flop has a J, as does the turn. He just calls the c-bet of 1,200 into the 2,000 pot and check raises all-in on the turn.
Learning:
Call with suited connectors when the pot odds are right (2.5 to 1).
Hand 12:
Blinds 100/200
Position: Cut-off
Hand Ks-6s
Chips: 15.225k
Gus tries to steal but the BB re-raises him off his hand.
Learning:
Cut-off is a good place to try to steal, but if get raised just fold.
Hand 13:
Blinds 100/200/25
Position: Button
Hand As-7h
Chips: 14.1k
Antes come into play, which favors aggressive players. Gus gets moved to a new table and he doesn't know his opponents so he folds the next 5 hands.
After 4 people limp, Gus raises to 1,350. Gus says he would have made this move without the Ace--it is a common move from pros (yes, it's even in my book). Only player calls. Time for a c-bet.
The flop is Js-7s-2c. Before he can make a c-bet, his opponent bets 6,000 into the 4,000 pot. Gus folds.
Learning
On button, raise more than the size of the pot to try to take down a pot with all limpers.
Don't risk everything when you only have 2nd pair, if an opponent bets out and you are going to have to guess if you are beat or not. Wait for a better opportunity.
Hand 14:
Blinds 100/200/25
Position: 1st
Hand Kd-9d
Chips: 12.6k
Gus raises to 600 and gets 2 callers. The flop is 8d-6s-3d. Gus makes a c-bet of 1200 into the 2150 pot. One opponent calls and the other raises to 3000. Gus calls as does the other player.
The turn is a 6d. There is 11,150 in the pot. First player checks and Gus moves all-in. The raiser folds but the other player calls with Jc-8s. Gus doubles up thanks to a bad play by his opponent.
Learning
Raising with K-9 suited in early position is an acceptable move, especially when the table has shown a tendency to limp and fold to raises pre-flop.
Calling a raise with a flush draw on the flop is a good play with over 4 to 1 odds. (1800 to win 7550)
An aggressive table image can get opponents to make big mistakes against you..
Hand 15:
Blinds 100/200/25
Position: 4th
Hand 7d-7h
Chips: 28.85k
Gus raises to 650 in middle position. Player on cutoff raises to 2300 and Gus calls.
The flop comes with three overcards and Gus folds when his opponent checks.
Learning:
Calling a re-raise with medium pairs is an acceptable play given the implied odds.
Learning after 15 hands:
Limp in with suited connectors in early rounds to risk few chips to win a big pot.
Fold if you may be drawing dead when three cards of the same suit flop and you have a mid-level club.
First in on the SB raise.
Limp in back position with suited connectors, and call a raise behind you if the pot odds are big enough (over 3 to 1).
On paired flops, make a half pot sized bet against the blind limpers.
Raise with a mediocre hand first in, when in late position
Use a C-bet heads-up in position with more than half sized bet.
In BB call a SB raise first in that gives you 2-1 odds with suited connectors.
When hit a pair on flop, check raise to determine if you have best hand.
Raise from SB first in with suited connectors.
Call a raise HU if odds are right (over 3 to 1).
Just call A-J offsuit when there is an early position raise and one caller.
Raise under the gun with K-Q offsuit.
If c-bet gets called and turn is not a scare card, check your hand.
Call with suited connectors when the pot odds are right (2.5 to 1).
Cut-off is a good place to try to steal, but if get raised just fold.
On button, raise more than the size of the pot to try to take down a pot with all limpers.
Don't risk everything when you only have 2nd pair, if an opponent bets out and you are going to have to guess if you are beat or not. Wait for a better opportunity.
Raising with K-9 suited in early position is an acceptable move, especially when the table has shown a tendency to limp and fold to raises pre-flop.
Calling a raise with a flush draw on the flop is a good play with over 4 to 1 odds. (1800 to win 7550)
An aggressive table image can get opponents to make big mistakes against you.
Calling a re-raise with medium pairs is an acceptable play given the implied odds.
My New Poker Rule: What do you think? Do you have a new rule?
Here is a new poker rule I think needs to be added into tournament play.
You are all-in pre-flop against one or more opponents who are also all-in. The hole cards are revealed and you are clearly ahead. For example, pocket Kings against pocket 10's.
If a player who is not in the hand makes a comment to you like "nice hand," "I like your hand," or "you're ahead." And, you subsequently lose the hand, you are allowed to penalize the player who spoke by the following:
a) Penalizing that player who spoke one round
b) Using that player's chips instead of your own to payoff the loss
c) Smacking that player who spoke across the head
d) All of the above
I will let you decide the penalty. Yeah, getting all-in pre-flop and losing after someone tells me how they like my hand is happening way too often and making me ill. And, no, I have not said a word to the player who spoke those words above.
In fact, I think we should extend this rule to all-in on the flop or turn as well.
Any other new tournament poker rules that you think should be added into the game?
You are all-in pre-flop against one or more opponents who are also all-in. The hole cards are revealed and you are clearly ahead. For example, pocket Kings against pocket 10's.
If a player who is not in the hand makes a comment to you like "nice hand," "I like your hand," or "you're ahead." And, you subsequently lose the hand, you are allowed to penalize the player who spoke by the following:
a) Penalizing that player who spoke one round
b) Using that player's chips instead of your own to payoff the loss
c) Smacking that player who spoke across the head
d) All of the above
I will let you decide the penalty. Yeah, getting all-in pre-flop and losing after someone tells me how they like my hand is happening way too often and making me ill. And, no, I have not said a word to the player who spoke those words above.
In fact, I think we should extend this rule to all-in on the flop or turn as well.
Any other new tournament poker rules that you think should be added into the game?
Tournament Poker: Often You Will Lose Even If You Play Perfect
Just a quick thought...
Even if you play "perfect" poker during a poker tournament, the fact is that often the cards just run against you.
Sometimes that means that you go card dead. But, as noted in a previous post, there are ways to try to counter that awful situation.
The more frustrating way to me is when you play great but run into situations where your edges just don't pan out. Usually, I have found that I can handle one bad outcome, but two are tough too overcome and three are usually fatal.
For example, if you are playing great, raise with pocket Aces and a player moves all-in with A-K suited. If your opponent beats you with a flush, well, your stack will probably take a 25-50% hit (it depends on stack sizes, but I am assuming you are beating your opponents up to this point and building your stack.)
If you lose another tough one, like JJ against 99 (as I did recently), a few hands later, well, your stack is going to be nearly crippled or you will be out.
If you are crippled, you will be moving in with a big range of hands and hoping for the best.
The net of this is the following: It was just not meant to be. You can play great or even "perfect" poker, but the poker gods may be against you that day. I guess that's poker.
Note: I don't know how to define "perfect" poker. Phil says that he would win every tournament if it wasn't for luck. But, the other day at the WSOP, I read that Phil Hellmuth limped under the gun with pocket Queens and got upset when his opponent beat him with two random cards (a hand he would fold against a raise). So, if Phil is perfect, wh no raise?:-)
Even if you play "perfect" poker during a poker tournament, the fact is that often the cards just run against you.
Sometimes that means that you go card dead. But, as noted in a previous post, there are ways to try to counter that awful situation.
The more frustrating way to me is when you play great but run into situations where your edges just don't pan out. Usually, I have found that I can handle one bad outcome, but two are tough too overcome and three are usually fatal.
For example, if you are playing great, raise with pocket Aces and a player moves all-in with A-K suited. If your opponent beats you with a flush, well, your stack will probably take a 25-50% hit (it depends on stack sizes, but I am assuming you are beating your opponents up to this point and building your stack.)
If you lose another tough one, like JJ against 99 (as I did recently), a few hands later, well, your stack is going to be nearly crippled or you will be out.
If you are crippled, you will be moving in with a big range of hands and hoping for the best.
The net of this is the following: It was just not meant to be. You can play great or even "perfect" poker, but the poker gods may be against you that day. I guess that's poker.
Note: I don't know how to define "perfect" poker. Phil says that he would win every tournament if it wasn't for luck. But, the other day at the WSOP, I read that Phil Hellmuth limped under the gun with pocket Queens and got upset when his opponent beat him with two random cards (a hand he would fold against a raise). So, if Phil is perfect, wh no raise?:-)
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Winning Tournament Plays From Gus Hansen's WPT Victory
Learning to date:
Learning after 5 hands:
Limp in with suited connectors in early rounds to risk few chips to win a big pot.
Fold if you may be drawing dead when three cards of the same suit flop and you have a mid-level club.
First in on the SB raise.
Limp in back position with suited connectors, and call a raise behind you if the pot odds are big enough (over 3 to 1).
On paired flops, make a half pot sized bet against the blind limpers.
Hand 6:
Blinds 50/100
Position: 2 off the button
Chip Stack: 18.55K
Hand: Qh-9h
Raises to 300 first in. Only the BB calls. The flop is 7h-6c-5s.
Gus uses a c-bet for $400 and gets called. The turn is 3d.
Pot is 1,450, and Gus bets 900. He gets check-raised to 2,900, and folds.
Learning:
Raise with a mediocre hand first in, when in late position
Use a C-bet heads-up in position with more than half sized bet.
Hand 7:
Blinds 50/100
Position: BB
Chip Stack: 16.95K
Hand: 2s-3s
Gus calls a 300 bet from the SB. The flop is Qh-7s-2c.
Opponent bets 400 into the 600 pot. With bottom pair, Gus raises to 900 but he folds when he gets re-raised to 4,000.
Leaning:
In BB call a SB raise first in that gives you 2-1 odds with suited connectors.
When hit a pair on flop, check raise to determine if you have best hand.
Hand 8:
Blinds 100/200
Position: SB
Chip Stack: 15.65K
Hand: 5s-7s
Gus opens with 600 raise from SB, and gets re-raised another 900. Gus calls the 900. The flop is 10h-6c-2s. Gus folds to a bet.
Learning:
Raise from SB first in with suited connectors.
Call a raise HU if odds are right (over 3 to 1). 600 to win 2,100.
Hand 9:
Blinds 100/200
Position: BB
Chip Stack: 14.15K
Hand: As-Jh
Player in 3rd position raises to 600, next player calls, and Gus calls. Still 10 handed. Flop is Qd-4c-2d. Gus folds to a bet.
Learning:
Just call A-J offsuit when there is an early position raise and one caller.
Hand 10:
Blinds 100/200
Position: 1st
Chip Stack: 13.45K
Hand: Kh-Qh
Gus opens with 600. The BB calls. The flop is Jh-Jc-4c.
Gus makes a c-bet and gets called. The turn is a 5s. Gus bets 1625 into a 2650 pot and gets called.
River is 5d. Both players check, and opponent wins with pocket 8's. Gus admits he should have checked the turn.
Learning:
Raise under the gun with K-Q offsuit.
If c-bet gets called and turn is not a scare card, check your hand.
Gus has lost 50% of his stack after only playing 10 hands! I would not be a happy camper at this point in the game.
Learning after 10 hands:
Limp in with suited connectors in early rounds to risk few chips to win a big pot.
Fold if you may be drawing dead when three cards of the same suit flop and you have a mid-level club.
First in on the SB raise.
Limp in back position with suited connectors, and call a raise behind you if the pot odds are big enough (over 3 to 1).
On paired flops, make a half pot sized bet against the blind limpers.
Raise with a mediocre hand first in, when in late position
Use a C-bet heads-up in position with more than half sized bet.
In BB call a SB raise first in that gives you 2-1 odds with suited connectors.
When hit a pair on flop, check raise to determine if you have best hand.
Raise from SB first in with suited connectors.
Call a raise HU if odds are right (over 3 to 1).
Just call A-J offsuit when there is an early position raise and one caller.
Raise under the gun with K-Q offsuit.
If c-bet gets called and turn is not a scare card, check your hand.
More tomorrow.
Learning after 5 hands:
Limp in with suited connectors in early rounds to risk few chips to win a big pot.
Fold if you may be drawing dead when three cards of the same suit flop and you have a mid-level club.
First in on the SB raise.
Limp in back position with suited connectors, and call a raise behind you if the pot odds are big enough (over 3 to 1).
On paired flops, make a half pot sized bet against the blind limpers.
Hand 6:
Blinds 50/100
Position: 2 off the button
Chip Stack: 18.55K
Hand: Qh-9h
Raises to 300 first in. Only the BB calls. The flop is 7h-6c-5s.
Gus uses a c-bet for $400 and gets called. The turn is 3d.
Pot is 1,450, and Gus bets 900. He gets check-raised to 2,900, and folds.
Learning:
Raise with a mediocre hand first in, when in late position
Use a C-bet heads-up in position with more than half sized bet.
Hand 7:
Blinds 50/100
Position: BB
Chip Stack: 16.95K
Hand: 2s-3s
Gus calls a 300 bet from the SB. The flop is Qh-7s-2c.
Opponent bets 400 into the 600 pot. With bottom pair, Gus raises to 900 but he folds when he gets re-raised to 4,000.
Leaning:
In BB call a SB raise first in that gives you 2-1 odds with suited connectors.
When hit a pair on flop, check raise to determine if you have best hand.
Hand 8:
Blinds 100/200
Position: SB
Chip Stack: 15.65K
Hand: 5s-7s
Gus opens with 600 raise from SB, and gets re-raised another 900. Gus calls the 900. The flop is 10h-6c-2s. Gus folds to a bet.
Learning:
Raise from SB first in with suited connectors.
Call a raise HU if odds are right (over 3 to 1). 600 to win 2,100.
Hand 9:
Blinds 100/200
Position: BB
Chip Stack: 14.15K
Hand: As-Jh
Player in 3rd position raises to 600, next player calls, and Gus calls. Still 10 handed. Flop is Qd-4c-2d. Gus folds to a bet.
Learning:
Just call A-J offsuit when there is an early position raise and one caller.
Hand 10:
Blinds 100/200
Position: 1st
Chip Stack: 13.45K
Hand: Kh-Qh
Gus opens with 600. The BB calls. The flop is Jh-Jc-4c.
Gus makes a c-bet and gets called. The turn is a 5s. Gus bets 1625 into a 2650 pot and gets called.
River is 5d. Both players check, and opponent wins with pocket 8's. Gus admits he should have checked the turn.
Learning:
Raise under the gun with K-Q offsuit.
If c-bet gets called and turn is not a scare card, check your hand.
Gus has lost 50% of his stack after only playing 10 hands! I would not be a happy camper at this point in the game.
Learning after 10 hands:
Limp in with suited connectors in early rounds to risk few chips to win a big pot.
Fold if you may be drawing dead when three cards of the same suit flop and you have a mid-level club.
First in on the SB raise.
Limp in back position with suited connectors, and call a raise behind you if the pot odds are big enough (over 3 to 1).
On paired flops, make a half pot sized bet against the blind limpers.
Raise with a mediocre hand first in, when in late position
Use a C-bet heads-up in position with more than half sized bet.
In BB call a SB raise first in that gives you 2-1 odds with suited connectors.
When hit a pair on flop, check raise to determine if you have best hand.
Raise from SB first in with suited connectors.
Call a raise HU if odds are right (over 3 to 1).
Just call A-J offsuit when there is an early position raise and one caller.
Raise under the gun with K-Q offsuit.
If c-bet gets called and turn is not a scare card, check your hand.
More tomorrow.
Friday, June 12, 2009
How to Deposit into PokerStars for US Players: Now that eChecks is no longer an option
UPDATE: It worked! I bought a Visa All-Access Gift Card NetSpend card. It is the NetSpend card only! You activate it online and deposit it into PokerStars!
Since the US blocked eChecks and I can not reload with Click2Pay, I asked PokerStars for help. Below is the excellent response. I will let you know if I have any luck.
I am sure PokerStars is looking for another alternative since the ones below are limiting. They must be losing a lot of money given the Attorney General in New York probably lost a bunch of money playing online poker and is taking it out on other poker players. These attorneys really hate freedom, don't they?
Here is the email:
Dear Mitchell,
I apologize for the troubles you have experienced, these things sometimes feel more difficult than they should be.
Due to processing problems, our eCheck option is currently unavailable.
Please try using another deposit method to fund your PokerStars
account. I recommend to you to use an All Access pre-paid VISA and MasterCard gift cards to deposit money into PokerStars.
Although pre-paid cards have become a popular deposit option for many players at PokerStars, there are a limited number of pre-paid cards that are working with us. One such card available in the US is the "All Access" pre-paid card.
You can buy "All Access" pre-paid cards at many local stores or gas stations. Please visit https://www.netspend.com/account/index.m to see a list of locations near you where you can buy either a gift or re-loadable card (please keep in mind that All Access ATM cards will not work on our site).
The "All Access" re-loadable card charges up to $1.00 for purchases made with it. When depositing with a re-loadable card, please try for $1.00 less than the balance of the card to account for this charge. There is no charge for purchases made with the gift cards, but they have some fees you may need to consider for balances remaining, phone enquiries and others. To find out more about their fees please visit: https://www.allaccessgift.com/gift/faq.m
****Important notice about the All Access reloadable cards****, please be aware that when you make a deposit using a prepaid reloadable card, the transactions are settled with your card issuer. This usually happens a few business days after the actual purchase was made; a second charge for the same amount may appear on your online statement, leaving one of the charges "On hold" for up to seven days for purchases under $100 and for up to thirty days for purchases over $100. This may occur even if the transaction is rejected.
For online gaming transactions NetSpend, the issuer company of these cards will not remove this hold until the hold expires. Please be aware that this is something out of our control and there is nothing we can do to facilitate the removal of held funds in such cases. Once the hold period expires, the funds will return automatically to your reloadable card balance.
Please keep in mind that in order to use these cards for online purchases they require activation, which can be done at the store, by calling the number on the back of the card or online at https://www.netspend.com/account/activation.m. It will take around 30 minutes for the card to become active.
As we have no agreements with the financial institution that issue these cards, we cannot guarantee that they will continue working indefinitely. Such companies can implement restrictions for on-line gaming transactions without notice.
If you use such a card to make a deposit at PokerStars you will be able to withdraw funds through a Cashier's Check which will be sent according to your instructions.
Regarding your query about click2pay, please note that click2pay are available only for all US players with 800+ LTFPPs and players who held Click2Pay accounts prior January 2007. Since, you are not eligible to use this option you may try to get an All Access pre-paid VISA and MasterCard gift cards for you to be able to make a succesfull deposit into PokerStars. Please note that since the law againts online gaming transaction had been passed in the US most Poker companies had changed their merchants status in order for them to get a deposit from a credit or debit cards that has a restriction in the US. That is the reason why your card was able to work on the other sites because they are not coded with online gaming business.
In the case of PokerStars we are coded as an on-line gaming business and therefore the majority of financial institutions have imposed restrictions regarding credit card purchases at our site.
PokerStars prides itself on its high standard of integrity, which includes compliance with the applicable laws in the countries where we operate. This, along with holding a license from the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission, is intended to give our customers confidence in the integrity of our games, as well as the safety of their money.
If you would like information on any of our other deposit options, please visit:
http://www.pokerstars.com/realmoney.html
Beginning June 1, PokerStars is giving you the chance to play as many "$300,000 Reload Freerolls" as you want by simply reloading your account.
Once you complete your deposit and enter the code "RF300", you will automatically be issued with a tournament ticket that will allow you to enter multiple daily freerolls. If you finish in the top 400 positions in one of the daily freerolls, you will win cash, plus entry into one of five June 28 finals.
There will be five freerolls daily from June 8th - 27th at 10:30, 13:30, 16:30, 19:30 and 22:30 ET; each with a prize pool of $2,000.
Follow this link for further details:
http://www.pokerstars.com/poker/promotions/reload-freerolls/
For further deposit related assistance, please send your phone number and an appropriate time to call, to dad@pokerstars.com.
Thank you for choosing PokerStars.
Regards,
Edelyn F
PokerStars Deposit Assistance Team
Since the US blocked eChecks and I can not reload with Click2Pay, I asked PokerStars for help. Below is the excellent response. I will let you know if I have any luck.
I am sure PokerStars is looking for another alternative since the ones below are limiting. They must be losing a lot of money given the Attorney General in New York probably lost a bunch of money playing online poker and is taking it out on other poker players. These attorneys really hate freedom, don't they?
Here is the email:
Dear Mitchell,
I apologize for the troubles you have experienced, these things sometimes feel more difficult than they should be.
Due to processing problems, our eCheck option is currently unavailable.
Please try using another deposit method to fund your PokerStars
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A Winning Game Plan: Based on Gus Hansen
Post #2:
See previous blog entry to understand the concept of developing a Winning Game Plan based on Gus Hansen's play.
Learning to date:
Limp in with suited connectors in early rounds to risk few chips to win a big pot.
Hand 2:
Blinds 50/100
Position: BB
Hand: 8c-7h
Stack: 19.75K
Four players limp and you check your BB. Flop is 9c-6c-4c.
Open ended straight draw and an 8 high flush draw. Button bets 600.
Gus folds.
Learning:
Fold if you may be drawing dead when three cards of the same suit flop and you have a mid-level club.
Hand 3:
Blinds 50/100
Position: SB
Hand: 8h-7s
Stack: 19.65K
Everyone folds. Gus raises in SB (we don't know how big a raise.) The BB folds.
Learning
First in on the SB raise.
Hand 4:
Blinds 50/100
Position: Cut-off
Hand: 9c-7c
Stack: 19.4K
Everyone folds. Gus limps. Button raises to 350, and the BB calls. With 850 in the pot, Gus calls. Flop is Qh-Jh-5s. Gus folds after the flop is bet.
Learning:
Limp in back position with suited connectors, and call a raise behind you if the pot odds are big enough (over 3 to 1). Here he is betting 250 to win 850 or getting 3.4 to 1.
Hand 5:
Blinds 50/100
Position: 2 off button
Hand: 6d-7d
Stack: 19.15K
Gus limps along with the blinds. The flop is Jc-Js-Kd. The pot is 300 and Gus bets out 150. He gets raised and folds.
Learning:
On paired flops, make a half pot sized bet against the blind limpers.
Learning after 5 hands:
Limp in with suited connectors in early rounds to risk few chips to win a big pot.
Fold if you may be drawing dead when three cards of the same suit flop and you have a mid-level club.
First in on the SB raise.
Limp in back position with suited connectors, and call a raise behind you if the pot odds are big enough (over 3 to 1).
On paired flops, make a half pot sized bet against the blind limpers.
More tomorrow.
See previous blog entry to understand the concept of developing a Winning Game Plan based on Gus Hansen's play.
Learning to date:
Limp in with suited connectors in early rounds to risk few chips to win a big pot.
Hand 2:
Blinds 50/100
Position: BB
Hand: 8c-7h
Stack: 19.75K
Four players limp and you check your BB. Flop is 9c-6c-4c.
Open ended straight draw and an 8 high flush draw. Button bets 600.
Gus folds.
Learning:
Fold if you may be drawing dead when three cards of the same suit flop and you have a mid-level club.
Hand 3:
Blinds 50/100
Position: SB
Hand: 8h-7s
Stack: 19.65K
Everyone folds. Gus raises in SB (we don't know how big a raise.) The BB folds.
Learning
First in on the SB raise.
Hand 4:
Blinds 50/100
Position: Cut-off
Hand: 9c-7c
Stack: 19.4K
Everyone folds. Gus limps. Button raises to 350, and the BB calls. With 850 in the pot, Gus calls. Flop is Qh-Jh-5s. Gus folds after the flop is bet.
Learning:
Limp in back position with suited connectors, and call a raise behind you if the pot odds are big enough (over 3 to 1). Here he is betting 250 to win 850 or getting 3.4 to 1.
Hand 5:
Blinds 50/100
Position: 2 off button
Hand: 6d-7d
Stack: 19.15K
Gus limps along with the blinds. The flop is Jc-Js-Kd. The pot is 300 and Gus bets out 150. He gets raised and folds.
Learning:
On paired flops, make a half pot sized bet against the blind limpers.
Learning after 5 hands:
Limp in with suited connectors in early rounds to risk few chips to win a big pot.
Fold if you may be drawing dead when three cards of the same suit flop and you have a mid-level club.
First in on the SB raise.
Limp in back position with suited connectors, and call a raise behind you if the pot odds are big enough (over 3 to 1).
On paired flops, make a half pot sized bet against the blind limpers.
More tomorrow.
Strategy & Tactics for Winning a Poker Tournament: Play like Gus Hansen & Win Millions
I had an idea which could help your tournament poker results.
There are many great books on playing tournament poker. My favorites are from Harrington and Hansen, and of course, the only reference book of 101 winning moves--which is mine.
In marketing, we develop objectives, strategy and tactics for achieving business goals. When these work, we duplicate and adjust our plans accordingly.
Why not use the same approach for winning a poker tournament?
Play Like Gus
The only book that reveals how a poker champion plays the game is from Gus Hansen, Every Hand Revealed. I am going to analyze every hand in this book in order to develop a complete plan with the objective of winning a no limit poker tournament.
I don't know how well this will work, but it can't hurt. Don't be afraid that you don't play crazy like Gus Hansen, because after reading his book you'll realize he may be aggressive but he is not crazy...at least, not most of the time. Of course, if crazy means winning millions in poker tournaments, you should only wish to be that crazy!
It is true that Gus provides some analysis of his play at the end of the book. However, that does not offer enough insight to develop a Game Plan. In fact, at the end of the analysis of his play, I hope to provide a Winning Game Plan to Tournament Poker that is based on the Gus Hansen approach to tournament poker.
How will this work?
It is a major tournament, with an entry fee of $10,000. Unlike many events you enter, especially online, the blinds progress slowly so you have time to play poker. You get $20,000 in chips and there are 10 players at your table.
You haven't played the first round so your stack is down to 19.85K
Hand 1:
Blinds 50/100
Position: 4th
Hand: 7s-5s
Everybody folds, and Gus limps as do the blinds and one other player.
Flop: Qh-10s-3c.
Gus checks, a player bets and Gus folds.
This looks innocent enough, but we already learn the following:
Limp in with suited connectors in early rounds to risk few chips to win a big pot.
Developing Your Tournament Poker Game Plan
I will add new posts which will provide for a comprehensive approach to playing and winning a major poker tournament. The end result may be useful for the games you compete in or it may not. At the very least, you may discover a few strategies and tactics that you can add into your game.
Here goes...
There are many great books on playing tournament poker. My favorites are from Harrington and Hansen, and of course, the only reference book of 101 winning moves--which is mine.
In marketing, we develop objectives, strategy and tactics for achieving business goals. When these work, we duplicate and adjust our plans accordingly.
Why not use the same approach for winning a poker tournament?
Play Like Gus
The only book that reveals how a poker champion plays the game is from Gus Hansen, Every Hand Revealed. I am going to analyze every hand in this book in order to develop a complete plan with the objective of winning a no limit poker tournament.
I don't know how well this will work, but it can't hurt. Don't be afraid that you don't play crazy like Gus Hansen, because after reading his book you'll realize he may be aggressive but he is not crazy...at least, not most of the time. Of course, if crazy means winning millions in poker tournaments, you should only wish to be that crazy!
It is true that Gus provides some analysis of his play at the end of the book. However, that does not offer enough insight to develop a Game Plan. In fact, at the end of the analysis of his play, I hope to provide a Winning Game Plan to Tournament Poker that is based on the Gus Hansen approach to tournament poker.
How will this work?
It is a major tournament, with an entry fee of $10,000. Unlike many events you enter, especially online, the blinds progress slowly so you have time to play poker. You get $20,000 in chips and there are 10 players at your table.
You haven't played the first round so your stack is down to 19.85K
Hand 1:
Blinds 50/100
Position: 4th
Hand: 7s-5s
Everybody folds, and Gus limps as do the blinds and one other player.
Flop: Qh-10s-3c.
Gus checks, a player bets and Gus folds.
This looks innocent enough, but we already learn the following:
Limp in with suited connectors in early rounds to risk few chips to win a big pot.
Developing Your Tournament Poker Game Plan
I will add new posts which will provide for a comprehensive approach to playing and winning a major poker tournament. The end result may be useful for the games you compete in or it may not. At the very least, you may discover a few strategies and tactics that you can add into your game.
Here goes...
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Poker Quiz: Early Rounds of Tournaments
The Anatomy of a Poker Tournament
Early Rounds: A simple concept of low risk for high return
Let's say you have $5,000 in starting chips.
Questions:
1. Blinds $25-$50. You are in early position with 8-9 offsuit. What should you do?
2. Blinds $25-$50. You limp in an early position with 8-9 offsuit. Two payers limp. But the big blind raises. There is $225 in the pot, and the big blind raises to $300. What should you do?
3. Blinds $25-$50. You limp in an early position with 8-9 offsuit. Two payers limp. But the big blind raises. There is $225 in the pot, and the big blind raises to $100. What should you do?
4. Blinds $25-$50. You limp in a late position with 8-9 offsuit after two players limp. The big blind raises to $200. The two limpers call. What should you do?
5. Blinds $25-$50. A player upfront raises to $150. Everyone folds to you in the big blind. You have pocket 2's. What should you do?
6. Blinds $25-$50. A player upfront raises to $150. The small blind re-raises to $600. You have pocket 2's in the big blind. What should you do?
7. Blinds $25-$50. You raise in late position to $150 as the first player in the pot with pocket 2's. The big blind calls. What are you thinking?
Answers:
1. You are going to see the flop for only $50.
2. Fold. It is too expensive to call the raise, especially with players behind you.
3. You have to call since it is only going to cost you another $50.
4. There is $675 in the pot, and it will cost you $150 more to call. Call and take the risk; although it would have been easier to make this call if your cards were suited.
5. You don't fold. You call. You want your opponent to have pocket Aces, so if you hit the 2 you will win a big pot.
6. Fold! It's too much money and the original bettor may raise again.
7. I tried to steal with my small pair and it didn't work. I don't want to lose more chips in this hand. What range of hands does the big blind have? How much is in the pot? How much does the big blind have in chips? What will I do with a good flop--I hit my set? What about a bad flop--most likely there will be three overcards?
Key Strategy In Early Rounds
Your strategy is to look to play a marginal hand rather than fold a hand early in the event. Consider risking 20% of your stack for small risk, big reward plays. Here, you will use $1,000 to take these small risks.
Early Rounds: A simple concept of low risk for high return
Let's say you have $5,000 in starting chips.
Questions:
1. Blinds $25-$50. You are in early position with 8-9 offsuit. What should you do?
2. Blinds $25-$50. You limp in an early position with 8-9 offsuit. Two payers limp. But the big blind raises. There is $225 in the pot, and the big blind raises to $300. What should you do?
3. Blinds $25-$50. You limp in an early position with 8-9 offsuit. Two payers limp. But the big blind raises. There is $225 in the pot, and the big blind raises to $100. What should you do?
4. Blinds $25-$50. You limp in a late position with 8-9 offsuit after two players limp. The big blind raises to $200. The two limpers call. What should you do?
5. Blinds $25-$50. A player upfront raises to $150. Everyone folds to you in the big blind. You have pocket 2's. What should you do?
6. Blinds $25-$50. A player upfront raises to $150. The small blind re-raises to $600. You have pocket 2's in the big blind. What should you do?
7. Blinds $25-$50. You raise in late position to $150 as the first player in the pot with pocket 2's. The big blind calls. What are you thinking?
Answers:
1. You are going to see the flop for only $50.
2. Fold. It is too expensive to call the raise, especially with players behind you.
3. You have to call since it is only going to cost you another $50.
4. There is $675 in the pot, and it will cost you $150 more to call. Call and take the risk; although it would have been easier to make this call if your cards were suited.
5. You don't fold. You call. You want your opponent to have pocket Aces, so if you hit the 2 you will win a big pot.
6. Fold! It's too much money and the original bettor may raise again.
7. I tried to steal with my small pair and it didn't work. I don't want to lose more chips in this hand. What range of hands does the big blind have? How much is in the pot? How much does the big blind have in chips? What will I do with a good flop--I hit my set? What about a bad flop--most likely there will be three overcards?
Key Strategy In Early Rounds
Your strategy is to look to play a marginal hand rather than fold a hand early in the event. Consider risking 20% of your stack for small risk, big reward plays. Here, you will use $1,000 to take these small risks.
Monday, June 8, 2009
10 Key Actions to Use in a Poker Tournament: Learning from the Rio
Here is a list of things I learned or re-learned from playing in the 7pm tournaments at the Rio this past week. It may help you in your game.
1. Be prepared.
I was not ready for the events. I needed to have more live tourney experience before playing at the Rio. I needed to have no outside pressures when at the Rio. I needed to be better rested and slept at least 7 hours.
2. Have a strategy going in that works.
My strategy was to build chips early, and then slow down and wait for solid hands to enter pots. Unfortunately, this strategy failed on a couple of levels: 1) When I lost early, I had to take risks by the third or fourth round ($100-$200 blinds--starting chips at $5,000). 2) When I built a huge stack early, the cards did not come and by the $800-$1,600 level and $1,000-$2,000 level with antes, my $30,000 stack was at a tough level to play against all-in stacks.
3. The strategy: Embrace the risk throughout the event and be fearless!
Put fear into the hearts and minds of your opponents. Don't let them put fear into your mind or they will win pots you should be winning.
Here are tactics to this strategy:
Look to play a marginal hand rather than fold a hand early in the event. Objective is to risk small amounts to win big pots. Even 7-8 offsuit is worth a limp early on in the event.
Consider using 20% of your starting chips to win with marginal hands.
Later in the event these marginal hands are worth a raise, if played. Don't call with them.
When you re-raise pre-flop, don't make them a standard 3x re-raise as players tend to call. Instead, make it 4 or 5 times and put the pressure on your opponent.
Look to raise first in from a late position. If you are first in, it is usually better to raise than to limp.
Look to make a move against your opponent. Example:
Raise pre-flop, BB calls. Flop misses you. You both check--don't always make a c-bet. Turn misses you but gives you a draw. When your opponent bets into you, with a fearful bet (small amount compared to the pot) put in a big raise.
Call moves made against you, especially on the flop all-ins. Example:
Raise pre-flop and BB calls. Flop misses you. Opponent check raises your c-bet all-in. Why so much? Assume your opponent doesn't have top pair. Can your hand beat Ace high? What about a flush draw? Lean toward calling rather than folding.
Pre-flop re-raise late position raisers from the button and blinds with good but not great hands. Example:
You have K-J in the small blind. The player two off from the button raises pre-flop. Don't call with your lousy position. Re-raise big, to get him to fold his hand. It saves you money if he does have a hand, since he will make a third raise with a premium hand. Might as well get away from your hand pre-flop, and not lose a huge stack when the flop comes J high and you are against pocket Kings.
Mix up your play to confuse your opponents--and set up traps:
• Power of the check to trap your opponent. Example:
Opponent raises you on button. You call with weak Ace. Flop comes with Ace. Check, call your opponent on flop. Check the turn. When opponent checks, you should check the river. When opponent bets river--thinking you are weak--call. Another example is checking the flop when you hit your ace.
• A raise on the turn is a very powerful play. Example:
Opponent under the gun, who is tight, raises. You have Q-Q and decide to mix up your play, and just call. There is one other caller. The flop comes 10 high. The raiser bets, and you call. The third player folds. Heads-up the turn is a rag. Your opponent bets, and you put in a big re-raise. To your opponent, it looks like you flopped a set.
Know that players will use your table image against you. Example:
If you are seen as a tight player, players will muscle you out of pots. You raise with K-10 pre-flop and the SB re-raises you. You need to make this call if your opponent is a good player. You will have position, and will have to call or raise his c-bet on the flop.
Small bets indicate fearful bets by your opponent. If your opponent is not a small ball player, you can call and raise on the flop or the turn.
If you are going to call an all-in move pre-flop, consider moving all-in pre-flop. Example:
Late in tourney, you have $26,000. Everyone folds to you on the cutoff. Blinds are $1,000-$2,000. You have pocket Jacks. If you raise here, will you call an all-in bet? If yes, just shove all-in with this hand and take down the blinds and antes to build your stack.
4. When poker tourneys become a luck-fest.
At some point the blinds increase so much, that you need to look to push. Don't wait for big hands. A key concept is "first-in" vigorish. The first player who moves all-in pre-flop can win when everyone folds or when you outflop your opponent.
Also, you don't need the best hand pre-flop to win--in fact, since you know the best hand doesn't always win you can even call raises with any Ace. Or, two suited 10+ cards (like K-10 suited). Or, any two connectors (like 8-5 suited).
Finally, review the Harrington on M post, since it may be the best way to evaluate these "inflection points." I know that I need to review this again.
5. Be ready for your play before the dealer flops the community cards.
At the very least, put your opponents on a range of hand, know the pot size, and what action you will take on a good and bad flop for your hand.
6. Min-raises against you on flop or turn often indicate a big hand. Pre-flop, it may be aces, and on flop, it could be a set. Players use these min raises to get more money in the pot and give you the odds to call a raise.
7. Know the difference between the types of bets.
A min raise bet on turn, indicates a set or the nuts. While a big check raise on the flop, will often mean two pair.
8. Know your opponents betting/playing style at your table.
Most players believe in survival poker and will fold often. Other players will be raising pre-flop with a big range of hands to take away the pot from limpers. And, other players will be super-aggressive and be making plays to steal a pot. Example:
A player in third position calls. You raise with K-Q. Everyone folds back to the limper and he re-raises big. Does he really have Aces or is he making a move on you? Since he will be the flop no matter what, what should you do? Maybe move all-in in this spot? Or, maybe just fold?
9. A few players look to take "shots" to win hands. Example:
The small stack moves all-in. Since it is a small raise, the button and big blind calls. The BB subtly indicates he will be checking his hand down, and checks flop. You miss on flop and turn, and dutifully check behind the BB. On the river, the BB bets out, and you miss and fold. When the BB reveals his hand, he has nothing and loses the main pot but wins the side pot.
10. Negreanu versus Hansen style of play
Daniel clearly relishes putting players on hands, while Gus is very mathematical in his decision making. My suggestion is that you work on reading opponents hands--but avoid making big laydowns--if the pot is big, the math is right, and/or you invested a lot of chips.
I lean on making big laydowns, and I should be using a mathematical approach for these decisions. I found that I made some good calls, but I also made one awful laydown when my read was wrong.
Overall, I hope this post helps you to reinforce or rethink your ideas about tournament play. I will be adding more things in my next entry.
The fact is that you should play a tournament to win. While survival poker can work. It is very dependent on getting big hands, and getting them at the right time. That is difficult when there are many opponents, blinds increase and the game goes from poker to a luckfest, when the count by the dealer in all-ins slow the number of hands you will see each round, by bad beats, etc.
1. Be prepared.
I was not ready for the events. I needed to have more live tourney experience before playing at the Rio. I needed to have no outside pressures when at the Rio. I needed to be better rested and slept at least 7 hours.
2. Have a strategy going in that works.
My strategy was to build chips early, and then slow down and wait for solid hands to enter pots. Unfortunately, this strategy failed on a couple of levels: 1) When I lost early, I had to take risks by the third or fourth round ($100-$200 blinds--starting chips at $5,000). 2) When I built a huge stack early, the cards did not come and by the $800-$1,600 level and $1,000-$2,000 level with antes, my $30,000 stack was at a tough level to play against all-in stacks.
3. The strategy: Embrace the risk throughout the event and be fearless!
Put fear into the hearts and minds of your opponents. Don't let them put fear into your mind or they will win pots you should be winning.
Here are tactics to this strategy:
Look to play a marginal hand rather than fold a hand early in the event. Objective is to risk small amounts to win big pots. Even 7-8 offsuit is worth a limp early on in the event.
Consider using 20% of your starting chips to win with marginal hands.
Later in the event these marginal hands are worth a raise, if played. Don't call with them.
When you re-raise pre-flop, don't make them a standard 3x re-raise as players tend to call. Instead, make it 4 or 5 times and put the pressure on your opponent.
Look to raise first in from a late position. If you are first in, it is usually better to raise than to limp.
Look to make a move against your opponent. Example:
Raise pre-flop, BB calls. Flop misses you. You both check--don't always make a c-bet. Turn misses you but gives you a draw. When your opponent bets into you, with a fearful bet (small amount compared to the pot) put in a big raise.
Call moves made against you, especially on the flop all-ins. Example:
Raise pre-flop and BB calls. Flop misses you. Opponent check raises your c-bet all-in. Why so much? Assume your opponent doesn't have top pair. Can your hand beat Ace high? What about a flush draw? Lean toward calling rather than folding.
Pre-flop re-raise late position raisers from the button and blinds with good but not great hands. Example:
You have K-J in the small blind. The player two off from the button raises pre-flop. Don't call with your lousy position. Re-raise big, to get him to fold his hand. It saves you money if he does have a hand, since he will make a third raise with a premium hand. Might as well get away from your hand pre-flop, and not lose a huge stack when the flop comes J high and you are against pocket Kings.
Mix up your play to confuse your opponents--and set up traps:
• Power of the check to trap your opponent. Example:
Opponent raises you on button. You call with weak Ace. Flop comes with Ace. Check, call your opponent on flop. Check the turn. When opponent checks, you should check the river. When opponent bets river--thinking you are weak--call. Another example is checking the flop when you hit your ace.
• A raise on the turn is a very powerful play. Example:
Opponent under the gun, who is tight, raises. You have Q-Q and decide to mix up your play, and just call. There is one other caller. The flop comes 10 high. The raiser bets, and you call. The third player folds. Heads-up the turn is a rag. Your opponent bets, and you put in a big re-raise. To your opponent, it looks like you flopped a set.
Know that players will use your table image against you. Example:
If you are seen as a tight player, players will muscle you out of pots. You raise with K-10 pre-flop and the SB re-raises you. You need to make this call if your opponent is a good player. You will have position, and will have to call or raise his c-bet on the flop.
Small bets indicate fearful bets by your opponent. If your opponent is not a small ball player, you can call and raise on the flop or the turn.
If you are going to call an all-in move pre-flop, consider moving all-in pre-flop. Example:
Late in tourney, you have $26,000. Everyone folds to you on the cutoff. Blinds are $1,000-$2,000. You have pocket Jacks. If you raise here, will you call an all-in bet? If yes, just shove all-in with this hand and take down the blinds and antes to build your stack.
4. When poker tourneys become a luck-fest.
At some point the blinds increase so much, that you need to look to push. Don't wait for big hands. A key concept is "first-in" vigorish. The first player who moves all-in pre-flop can win when everyone folds or when you outflop your opponent.
Also, you don't need the best hand pre-flop to win--in fact, since you know the best hand doesn't always win you can even call raises with any Ace. Or, two suited 10+ cards (like K-10 suited). Or, any two connectors (like 8-5 suited).
Finally, review the Harrington on M post, since it may be the best way to evaluate these "inflection points." I know that I need to review this again.
5. Be ready for your play before the dealer flops the community cards.
At the very least, put your opponents on a range of hand, know the pot size, and what action you will take on a good and bad flop for your hand.
6. Min-raises against you on flop or turn often indicate a big hand. Pre-flop, it may be aces, and on flop, it could be a set. Players use these min raises to get more money in the pot and give you the odds to call a raise.
7. Know the difference between the types of bets.
A min raise bet on turn, indicates a set or the nuts. While a big check raise on the flop, will often mean two pair.
8. Know your opponents betting/playing style at your table.
Most players believe in survival poker and will fold often. Other players will be raising pre-flop with a big range of hands to take away the pot from limpers. And, other players will be super-aggressive and be making plays to steal a pot. Example:
A player in third position calls. You raise with K-Q. Everyone folds back to the limper and he re-raises big. Does he really have Aces or is he making a move on you? Since he will be the flop no matter what, what should you do? Maybe move all-in in this spot? Or, maybe just fold?
9. A few players look to take "shots" to win hands. Example:
The small stack moves all-in. Since it is a small raise, the button and big blind calls. The BB subtly indicates he will be checking his hand down, and checks flop. You miss on flop and turn, and dutifully check behind the BB. On the river, the BB bets out, and you miss and fold. When the BB reveals his hand, he has nothing and loses the main pot but wins the side pot.
10. Negreanu versus Hansen style of play
Daniel clearly relishes putting players on hands, while Gus is very mathematical in his decision making. My suggestion is that you work on reading opponents hands--but avoid making big laydowns--if the pot is big, the math is right, and/or you invested a lot of chips.
I lean on making big laydowns, and I should be using a mathematical approach for these decisions. I found that I made some good calls, but I also made one awful laydown when my read was wrong.
Overall, I hope this post helps you to reinforce or rethink your ideas about tournament play. I will be adding more things in my next entry.
The fact is that you should play a tournament to win. While survival poker can work. It is very dependent on getting big hands, and getting them at the right time. That is difficult when there are many opponents, blinds increase and the game goes from poker to a luckfest, when the count by the dealer in all-ins slow the number of hands you will see each round, by bad beats, etc.
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