1. Pushing all-in with pocket Queens, Kings, and Aces pre-flop in the fi
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In the first round, pushing all-in pre-flop with pocket Aces, Kings and Queens is a losing play. You don't get these hands often, and you want to get the most value out of premium pairs. Not just win the blinds, right?
I don't get it.
2. Never defending on the big blind
Players in the big blind play way too tight to pre-flop raises. If the blinds are $50-$100 and a player raises to $250, there is $400 in the pot. It is going to cost $150 to win $400--more than 2-1. Hands like A-10 unsuited, A-5 suited, 10-8 suited or 2-2 should be calling these raises. Insta-folding on the big blind will also invite other players to attack, but it happens all the time.
I don't get it.
3. Playing poker like it's bingo.
If a player doesn't improve on the flop, he just insta-folds to the pre-flop raiser. It's like all he see's is a bingo card in front of him. No hit on the flop, no further play. This makes no sense to me since an opponent's c-bets often indicates a player's strength or weakness. Attack weakness, don't fold to it.
I don't get it.
4. Never firing a second bullet when an opponent has done nothing but call.
A player will raise pre-flop and get one caller. The flop is dealt and the pre-flop raiser makes a c-bet. His lone opponent calls. The turn card hits and the pre-flop raiser checks. Oh my! This player is either trying to keep the pot small or telling his opponent that neither the flop or turn helped his hand. But not firing that second bullet is an invitation to a bet which forces a fold. It's not good online poker.
I don't get it.
5. Not eliminating opponents at the final table.
At the final table, there will often be one or two players who have a lot of chips and a few players who are desperate to survive. When one of these desperate players moves all-in, a chip leader who is risking less than 10% of his chips on the big blind should be calling with a wide range of cards--perhaps any two cards. For example, the chip leader on the big blind has $100,000, the blinds are $1,000-$2,000, and a player under the gun moves in for $10,000. It's an insta-call not an insta-fold.
I don't get it.
I believe these are 5 losing plays in online poker MTT's. Agree or disagree?
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1 comment:
Your fifth rule is sound, however, if you call with any two cards, you're inviting a loss that could give a brink player more chips to run with. I'd caution any two 'decent cards.' Just one way of looking at it. Nothing carved in stone. I like your advice, good stuff. HocusSmokus
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