I mean, do you really want your photo linked with Full Tilt Poker and the US Department of Justice?
Showing posts with label Gus Hansen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gus Hansen. Show all posts
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Gus Hansen, why not get your picture removed here?
I mean, do you really want your photo linked with Full Tilt Poker and the US Department of Justice?
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Wanna Win More Money Playing Poker? Forget About The Money!
Poker Reality: Sure It's Money You Are Risking But...
While there is information about bankroll starting requirements and bankroll management, I think another important issue is the meaning you put into the money you are risking.
What is your emotional state given the amount of money that you are putting in play at a specific game and/or in a specific hand?
You will be a much better player if the money you are gambling with is TOTALLY inconsequential to you. If the money has meaning to you, you will not play nearly as well. It is true in cash games and it comes into play even with tournament chips that have no face value.
Example:
A couple of years ago, I took a vacation and the flight had a 2 hour layover in Las Vegas (what a nice coincidence). I was not going to wait at the airport. I went outside, hopped on the first van and when the driver asked, "Where you going?" I replied, "Your first stop."
The first stop was the Monte Carlo casino. I walked in, found the poker room, and asked for a seat at any table. The seat was a $2-$4 limit hold'em game. I hate $2-$4 limit since everyone in the Bay Area plays no fold'em hold'em.
I took my seat, bought a rack and emotionally the money meant absolutely nothing to me. I was ready to lose the $100 rack.
To my surprise, players folded to my raises in this low level limit game. I could only stay one hour, but almost every play I made worked. If I had nothing at the river, opponents folded. If I had the nuts, I would get called. Without any great run of premium starting hands I won almost $200.
When I got back on the van to the airport, I asked myself, "Why did I do so well?"
Another example:
I read an article by Daniel Negreanu about Nutbar--his name for an exercise to improve your hand reading. In every hand you play, you raise pre-flop and try to outplay your opponents from that point. He warned that the money you were going to play with, would most likely be lost. But the idea was to learn how you could take control of a table, and the importance of reading your opponents in order to bet in a way to win pots.
I bought into a $6-$12 limit game and got a $200 rack. In the first 10 hands I was up about $150, but eventually I went broke .
Daniel was right in learning about Nutbar. But when I left that table, I realized that something else was going on. When I put that money into play, it was lost. I had no emotional connection. I could play better poker because of it. But I believe my game changed once I was winning. Now the chips became money. I actually started to think the money since I was ahead so much in such a little amount of time.
One more example in tournament play:
I see the same thing happen in tournament poker even though the buy-in of $20 or $200 is long gone. At a certain level of blinds, players get hesitant with their chips. It's like they think they can cash in the 10,000 in tournament chips for $10,000. There is an emotional connection to the chips that was not there before. "I'm getting close to cashing, so I better be more careful now." I am at fault as well, in thinking about the payouts as I get close to the bubble. That's why there has been so much written to bubble play.
Your Emotional Connection to Money
My point to all of these examples are this:
1. If you are playing poker and the amount of money you have in play has any consequence to you emotionally, then you should not be in the game. You just won't play at your best.
2. If you are playing in a poker tournament forget about the chips as something you should protect to survive and cash. They are chips and have no value. As you get deeper in the tournament, don't get emotionally involved with potential payour because it will effect your play.
Suggestion
Forget about having any emotional connection to the cash or chips you have in play. You will play better if you think of these things as, well, maybe just things. Heck, chips are suppose to make you forget about the cash backing them in the first place.
Do you think the top pros are linked to their money in the game like you or me? Of course not. I just watched Gus Hansen lose over $200,000 in an online game of Omaha, which maybe took 30 seconds. How would you feel? My guess is that Gus was bummed for a moment. You or I would be sick...a lot more than sick, really.
That $200,000 is going to buy as much stuff in Gus' pocket as it would in yours. But Gus is not linking that money to his emotions in the same way you would. You think and feel different. To Gus, they are just chips to be wagered. To you (and me), it's $200,000 freaking dollars just lost.
While bankroll management is important, maybe you need to think about your emotional connection to the money you put into play. If it has any consequence to you emotionally, then you will not play optimum poker. It doesn't matter that the $20 or $200 has no real meaning to you financially. It is the emotional connection that is underlying your decisions.
There is that expression "don't gamble with money you can't afford to lose." That's fine. But, maybe you shouldn't gamble at a level where your emotions are getting in the way of your poker decisions. You will never be a great player until the money you risk is TOTALLY inconsequential.
What do you think?
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While there is information about bankroll starting requirements and bankroll management, I think another important issue is the meaning you put into the money you are risking.
What is your emotional state given the amount of money that you are putting in play at a specific game and/or in a specific hand?
You will be a much better player if the money you are gambling with is TOTALLY inconsequential to you. If the money has meaning to you, you will not play nearly as well. It is true in cash games and it comes into play even with tournament chips that have no face value.
Example:
A couple of years ago, I took a vacation and the flight had a 2 hour layover in Las Vegas (what a nice coincidence). I was not going to wait at the airport. I went outside, hopped on the first van and when the driver asked, "Where you going?" I replied, "Your first stop."
The first stop was the Monte Carlo casino. I walked in, found the poker room, and asked for a seat at any table. The seat was a $2-$4 limit hold'em game. I hate $2-$4 limit since everyone in the Bay Area plays no fold'em hold'em.
I took my seat, bought a rack and emotionally the money meant absolutely nothing to me. I was ready to lose the $100 rack.
To my surprise, players folded to my raises in this low level limit game. I could only stay one hour, but almost every play I made worked. If I had nothing at the river, opponents folded. If I had the nuts, I would get called. Without any great run of premium starting hands I won almost $200.
When I got back on the van to the airport, I asked myself, "Why did I do so well?"
Another example:
I read an article by Daniel Negreanu about Nutbar--his name for an exercise to improve your hand reading. In every hand you play, you raise pre-flop and try to outplay your opponents from that point. He warned that the money you were going to play with, would most likely be lost. But the idea was to learn how you could take control of a table, and the importance of reading your opponents in order to bet in a way to win pots.
I bought into a $6-$12 limit game and got a $200 rack. In the first 10 hands I was up about $150, but eventually I went broke .
Daniel was right in learning about Nutbar. But when I left that table, I realized that something else was going on. When I put that money into play, it was lost. I had no emotional connection. I could play better poker because of it. But I believe my game changed once I was winning. Now the chips became money. I actually started to think the money since I was ahead so much in such a little amount of time.
One more example in tournament play:
I see the same thing happen in tournament poker even though the buy-in of $20 or $200 is long gone. At a certain level of blinds, players get hesitant with their chips. It's like they think they can cash in the 10,000 in tournament chips for $10,000. There is an emotional connection to the chips that was not there before. "I'm getting close to cashing, so I better be more careful now." I am at fault as well, in thinking about the payouts as I get close to the bubble. That's why there has been so much written to bubble play.
Your Emotional Connection to Money
My point to all of these examples are this:
1. If you are playing poker and the amount of money you have in play has any consequence to you emotionally, then you should not be in the game. You just won't play at your best.
2. If you are playing in a poker tournament forget about the chips as something you should protect to survive and cash. They are chips and have no value. As you get deeper in the tournament, don't get emotionally involved with potential payour because it will effect your play.
Suggestion
Forget about having any emotional connection to the cash or chips you have in play. You will play better if you think of these things as, well, maybe just things. Heck, chips are suppose to make you forget about the cash backing them in the first place.
Do you think the top pros are linked to their money in the game like you or me? Of course not. I just watched Gus Hansen lose over $200,000 in an online game of Omaha, which maybe took 30 seconds. How would you feel? My guess is that Gus was bummed for a moment. You or I would be sick...a lot more than sick, really.
That $200,000 is going to buy as much stuff in Gus' pocket as it would in yours. But Gus is not linking that money to his emotions in the same way you would. You think and feel different. To Gus, they are just chips to be wagered. To you (and me), it's $200,000 freaking dollars just lost.
While bankroll management is important, maybe you need to think about your emotional connection to the money you put into play. If it has any consequence to you emotionally, then you will not play optimum poker. It doesn't matter that the $20 or $200 has no real meaning to you financially. It is the emotional connection that is underlying your decisions.
There is that expression "don't gamble with money you can't afford to lose." That's fine. But, maybe you shouldn't gamble at a level where your emotions are getting in the way of your poker decisions. You will never be a great player until the money you risk is TOTALLY inconsequential.
What do you think?
Friday, July 31, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Gus Hansen on How to Play Medium and Small Pairs
Playing Small and Medium Pairs Based on Gus Hansen
Now that I reviewed Daniel's advice on these hands, I thought it would be interesting to see how Gus Hansen approaches these hands at a full table. For my analysis I am using play from his book Every Hand Revealed.
Hand 15:
Pocket 7's
In middle position he raises the 100/200/25 blind to 650. The cut-off raises to 2300 and he calls the re-raise. Gus has 28,850 in chips, so he is risking about 7% of his stack. He folds when the flop has three overcards.
Hand 21
Pocket 5's.
He limps and in first position, and gets raised to 800. He calls. Gus now has 58200.
The flop is 10-10-9. Gus check-calls. The turn is an Ace. Gus check-calls. He admits he should have folded.
Hand 33
Pocket 8's.
He raises from the 3rd position and gets no callers. His raise was a little over 3x's the big blind, given the ante.
Hand 42
Pocket 7's.
The button raises to 4000, with blinds at 500/1000/100. Gus is in the small blind with 68000. He re-raises to 12600. His opponent re-raises to 45300. Gus folds.
Hand 45
Pocket 4's.
Gus limps in the third position and only the BB is in on the flop. Gus hits his set and wins after checking the flop and betting the turn.
Hand 49
Pocket 3's.
He limps and folds when he missed on the flop.
Hand 67
Pocket 9's.
A player raises in early position to 3800. The blinds are 600/1200/200. The next player calls. Gus is 2 off the button and says he will either call or re-raise. He doesn't want to call since he doesn't like to hit sets when he "doesn't need to." He re-raises to 13200 and everyone folds.
Conclusion
Not surprising, but Gus is more aggressive than Daniel.
Gus limps with small pairs, but is much more aggressive with middle pairs.
With medium pairs, if he gets re-raised pre-flop, he will call a small percentage of his stack in hopes of hitting a set. If there is a raise in front of him, he will re-raise putting pressure on his opponent to fold rather than hoping to hit a set. This is something that Daniel does not recommend.
Now that I reviewed Daniel's advice on these hands, I thought it would be interesting to see how Gus Hansen approaches these hands at a full table. For my analysis I am using play from his book Every Hand Revealed.
Hand 15:
Pocket 7's
In middle position he raises the 100/200/25 blind to 650. The cut-off raises to 2300 and he calls the re-raise. Gus has 28,850 in chips, so he is risking about 7% of his stack. He folds when the flop has three overcards.
Hand 21
Pocket 5's.
He limps and in first position, and gets raised to 800. He calls. Gus now has 58200.
The flop is 10-10-9. Gus check-calls. The turn is an Ace. Gus check-calls. He admits he should have folded.
Hand 33
Pocket 8's.
He raises from the 3rd position and gets no callers. His raise was a little over 3x's the big blind, given the ante.
Hand 42
Pocket 7's.
The button raises to 4000, with blinds at 500/1000/100. Gus is in the small blind with 68000. He re-raises to 12600. His opponent re-raises to 45300. Gus folds.
Hand 45
Pocket 4's.
Gus limps in the third position and only the BB is in on the flop. Gus hits his set and wins after checking the flop and betting the turn.
Hand 49
Pocket 3's.
He limps and folds when he missed on the flop.
Hand 67
Pocket 9's.
A player raises in early position to 3800. The blinds are 600/1200/200. The next player calls. Gus is 2 off the button and says he will either call or re-raise. He doesn't want to call since he doesn't like to hit sets when he "doesn't need to." He re-raises to 13200 and everyone folds.
Conclusion
Not surprising, but Gus is more aggressive than Daniel.
Gus limps with small pairs, but is much more aggressive with middle pairs.
With medium pairs, if he gets re-raised pre-flop, he will call a small percentage of his stack in hopes of hitting a set. If there is a raise in front of him, he will re-raise putting pressure on his opponent to fold rather than hoping to hit a set. This is something that Daniel does not recommend.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
How Poker Stars Hansen, Lisandro, Griffin, Raymer and Brad Garrett Got Eliminated From the Main Event of the WSOP
How Famous Poker Players Got Knocked Out of the Main Event
Here are a few players that I was rooting for, but didn't make it. All of this information is taken from cardplayer.com.
Gus Hansen: Out on Day 2A
Hansen: Ac-Js
Flop: Kc-Qs-3d. Hansen called a bet from opponent.
Turn: 10d. Hansen raised, and re-raised all-in. He called with his straight. Opponent shows 3-3.
River: Kd.
Ouch! Rivered!
Gavin Griffin Out
Griffin: Kc-Js. Move all-in. Called by one opponent.
Opponent: Ah-Kd
Ouch!
Board: Qh-8s-2h-7h
River: 5s
Greg Raymer Out
Raymer moves all in after a raise pre-flop. He gets called.
Raymer: 10h-10d
Opponent: As-Ad
Ouch! He gets no help and is out.
Jeffrey Lisandro Out
Board: 9d-8d-5d
Opponent checks. Lisandro moves all-in for his last 43,000 with 100,000 in the pot. Opponent calls.
Lisandro: Kh-Kc
Opponent: Jd-7d
Ouch!
Turn: 2h
River: 4h
And For Fun...Brad Garrett: Out on Day 2A
Garrett: Qd-Jh
Board: Qs-4h-3d-Ac-9d.
Opponent bet and after a long while, Brad calls.
Opponent shows Qc-9c.
Ouch! Rivered!
Here are a few players that I was rooting for, but didn't make it. All of this information is taken from cardplayer.com.
Gus Hansen: Out on Day 2A
Hansen: Ac-Js
Flop: Kc-Qs-3d. Hansen called a bet from opponent.
Turn: 10d. Hansen raised, and re-raised all-in. He called with his straight. Opponent shows 3-3.
River: Kd.
Ouch! Rivered!
Gavin Griffin Out
Griffin: Kc-Js. Move all-in. Called by one opponent.
Opponent: Ah-Kd
Ouch!
Board: Qh-8s-2h-7h
River: 5s
Greg Raymer Out
Raymer moves all in after a raise pre-flop. He gets called.
Raymer: 10h-10d
Opponent: As-Ad
Ouch! He gets no help and is out.
Jeffrey Lisandro Out
Board: 9d-8d-5d
Opponent checks. Lisandro moves all-in for his last 43,000 with 100,000 in the pot. Opponent calls.
Lisandro: Kh-Kc
Opponent: Jd-7d
Ouch!
Turn: 2h
River: 4h
And For Fun...Brad Garrett: Out on Day 2A
Garrett: Qd-Jh
Board: Qs-4h-3d-Ac-9d.
Opponent bet and after a long while, Brad calls.
Opponent shows Qc-9c.
Ouch! Rivered!
Friday, July 10, 2009
We Have A Winner! My Poker Book Was Some Help!
Here is an email I received from a happy and winning customer!
My congratulations to you, Nerio! Keep up the great results!
Thanks,
Mitchell
Hi Mitchell
I've read all the books you've mentioned Incl. Harrington's cash games, but I still believe that Gus's book and your book are the best I've read so far and profited from. If you need to take your game to a different level, you need to figure out the "thinking" of the expert mind......and Gus' book does just that. (Currently I'm reading " Check Raising the Devil" which is Mike Matusow's biography.)
I was on Royal Caribbean's Baltic cruise last month and I won the poker tournament there, thanks to some of the books I read and also the TV programs I've seen. Unfortunately, there were insufficient players so I had to settle for a cash prize, otherwise they give a seat for the caribbean poker tour.
Enjoy your blog. Keep it going.
Cheers!
Nerio Vakil
My congratulations to you, Nerio! Keep up the great results!
Thanks,
Mitchell
Hi Mitchell
I've read all the books you've mentioned Incl. Harrington's cash games, but I still believe that Gus's book and your book are the best I've read so far and profited from. If you need to take your game to a different level, you need to figure out the "thinking" of the expert mind......and Gus' book does just that. (Currently I'm reading " Check Raising the Devil" which is Mike Matusow's biography.)
I was on Royal Caribbean's Baltic cruise last month and I won the poker tournament there, thanks to some of the books I read and also the TV programs I've seen. Unfortunately, there were insufficient players so I had to settle for a cash prize, otherwise they give a seat for the caribbean poker tour.
Enjoy your blog. Keep it going.
Cheers!
Nerio Vakil
Thursday, July 2, 2009
How to Triple Your Chip Stack in a Poker Tournament
On Day 1 of the Aussie Millions, Gus Hansen went from $20k to $66.7k. How did he triple his chip stack?
It is interesting to find that he increased his stack primarily on 4 hands. Would you play them the same way?
Hand 11: From 10.22k to 15.23k
Blinds: 100/200
Position: BB
Hand: Jc-9c
2 players limp and another player raises to 800. There is 1500 in the pot, and it will cost 600 more for Gus to call. He has suited connectors and is getting over 2 to 1. He calls. The limpers fold.
Flop: Jh-6s-3h. Gus check calls, the 1200 bet into the 2100 pot.
Turn: Js. Gus check raises all-in. His opponent folds.
Conclusion: Standard play.
Hand 14: From 12.6k to 28.85k
Blinds: 100/200
Position: 1st
Hand: Kd-9d
Gus raises to 600 and gets two callers.
Flop: 8d-6s-3d. Gus bets, one player calls, and another check raises to 3200. He calls as does the other player.
Turn: 6d. The chec-raiser checks, and Gus moves all-in. The BB calls with Jc-8s!
River: 2s.
Conclusion: A loose pre-flop raise under the gun by Gus. The BB made a very strange call on the turn--thinking Gus was bluffing.
Hand 17: From 26.6k to 53.2k
Blinds: 100/200/25
Position: 2 off button
Hand: Jc-5c
Gus raises to 600 and the button makes it 1200. Gus calls--since this is a min raise which looks like he wants a call.
Flop: Kc-9s-3c.
Gus and the min raiser checks.
Turn: 8c.
Gus bets 2000, his opponent raises to 6000, and Gus moves all with his flush. His opponent calls with a set of 9's.
River is 4h. Gus wins.
Conclusion: A loose pre-flop raise leads to a big win. I've been in the position of the player with the set, and I called even though I was 99.9% sure my opponent had the flush. I lost as well.
Hand 31: From 54k to 68.8k
Blinds: 300/600/75
Position: 2 off button
Hand: Ac-Td
Gus opens for 1800. The button and BB call.
Fop 10s-8d-3s. Gus bets 4800 into the 6450 pot and the button calls.
Turn 8s. Both players check.
River: 6c. Gus bets 6300 and gets called. He wins as his opponent mucks after seeing Gus' hand.
Conclusion: Pretty standard play. His opponent could have tried to bluff a flush by betting the turn and the river.
Overall, it is interesting to see that Gus won big pots twice by playing hands that most players would not play, and of course, entering the pot with a raise.
It is interesting to find that he increased his stack primarily on 4 hands. Would you play them the same way?
Hand 11: From 10.22k to 15.23k
Blinds: 100/200
Position: BB
Hand: Jc-9c
2 players limp and another player raises to 800. There is 1500 in the pot, and it will cost 600 more for Gus to call. He has suited connectors and is getting over 2 to 1. He calls. The limpers fold.
Flop: Jh-6s-3h. Gus check calls, the 1200 bet into the 2100 pot.
Turn: Js. Gus check raises all-in. His opponent folds.
Conclusion: Standard play.
Hand 14: From 12.6k to 28.85k
Blinds: 100/200
Position: 1st
Hand: Kd-9d
Gus raises to 600 and gets two callers.
Flop: 8d-6s-3d. Gus bets, one player calls, and another check raises to 3200. He calls as does the other player.
Turn: 6d. The chec-raiser checks, and Gus moves all-in. The BB calls with Jc-8s!
River: 2s.
Conclusion: A loose pre-flop raise under the gun by Gus. The BB made a very strange call on the turn--thinking Gus was bluffing.
Hand 17: From 26.6k to 53.2k
Blinds: 100/200/25
Position: 2 off button
Hand: Jc-5c
Gus raises to 600 and the button makes it 1200. Gus calls--since this is a min raise which looks like he wants a call.
Flop: Kc-9s-3c.
Gus and the min raiser checks.
Turn: 8c.
Gus bets 2000, his opponent raises to 6000, and Gus moves all with his flush. His opponent calls with a set of 9's.
River is 4h. Gus wins.
Conclusion: A loose pre-flop raise leads to a big win. I've been in the position of the player with the set, and I called even though I was 99.9% sure my opponent had the flush. I lost as well.
Hand 31: From 54k to 68.8k
Blinds: 300/600/75
Position: 2 off button
Hand: Ac-Td
Gus opens for 1800. The button and BB call.
Fop 10s-8d-3s. Gus bets 4800 into the 6450 pot and the button calls.
Turn 8s. Both players check.
River: 6c. Gus bets 6300 and gets called. He wins as his opponent mucks after seeing Gus' hand.
Conclusion: Pretty standard play. His opponent could have tried to bluff a flush by betting the turn and the river.
Overall, it is interesting to see that Gus won big pots twice by playing hands that most players would not play, and of course, entering the pot with a raise.
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.
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.
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.
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
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...
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.
Friday, May 15, 2009
How to Play Ace-King: From the Experts--Gus Hansen
The countdown continues...
Gus Hansen is my favorite no limit tournament player. I reviewed the hands where he played Ace-King from his book Every Hand Revealed.
Gus Hansen and A-K
Gus is not as aggressive as I expected with this hand. Of course, he will raise with A-K pre-flop. If he gets one caller, he will make a continuation bet even when he misses on the flop. If that player check-raises him, he will look at the situation and decide to call, fold or re-raise. If he thinks he is ahead, he is willing to push all-in and put this check-raiser to the test; especially, if the play will not hurt his stack if he is wrong.
If he gets re-raised pre-flop, he will be careful before deciding his next action.
If that re-raise is a player who moves all-in, he will call the opponent if the all-in raise will not hurt his staff (20% or less of his chips). If he gets an opponent whose all-in move will hurt his stack he is willing to fold. This is very important in tournament poker! If you think your opponent has a pocket pair, and you have a big stack and playing better than your opponents, you should fold and wait for a more favorable situation--even with A-K.
If an opponent re-raises him a small amount, he will call that small raise given the pot odds. If the flop misses him and his opponent bets, he will fold.
Another scenario is when a player raises pre-flop in front of him. If he senses weakness or it comes from a late position steal, he will re-raise. That re-raise will be bigger than normal, such as 5 times the initial raiser.
It's interesting that the best tournament players tend to use A-K to build their chips with raises and re-raises, but they also are careful not to overplay Ace-King and lose a lot of chips with this drawing hand.
Gus Hansen is my favorite no limit tournament player. I reviewed the hands where he played Ace-King from his book Every Hand Revealed.
Gus Hansen and A-K
Gus is not as aggressive as I expected with this hand. Of course, he will raise with A-K pre-flop. If he gets one caller, he will make a continuation bet even when he misses on the flop. If that player check-raises him, he will look at the situation and decide to call, fold or re-raise. If he thinks he is ahead, he is willing to push all-in and put this check-raiser to the test; especially, if the play will not hurt his stack if he is wrong.
If he gets re-raised pre-flop, he will be careful before deciding his next action.
If that re-raise is a player who moves all-in, he will call the opponent if the all-in raise will not hurt his staff (20% or less of his chips). If he gets an opponent whose all-in move will hurt his stack he is willing to fold. This is very important in tournament poker! If you think your opponent has a pocket pair, and you have a big stack and playing better than your opponents, you should fold and wait for a more favorable situation--even with A-K.
If an opponent re-raises him a small amount, he will call that small raise given the pot odds. If the flop misses him and his opponent bets, he will fold.
Another scenario is when a player raises pre-flop in front of him. If he senses weakness or it comes from a late position steal, he will re-raise. That re-raise will be bigger than normal, such as 5 times the initial raiser.
It's interesting that the best tournament players tend to use A-K to build their chips with raises and re-raises, but they also are careful not to overplay Ace-King and lose a lot of chips with this drawing hand.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Negreanu and Small Ball Strategy
Small Ball Strategy
I read the small ball strategy chapter in his Power Hold'em Strategy book and decided to use it in my Sunday NL tournaments for the past two months.
My overall conclusion: Small Ball Strategy Needs Lots of Chips To Work
His strategy simply does not work for my Sunday events since the chips are not deep enough and the rounds are not long enough. I've probably lost over $2,000 the past two months testing small ball.
The positives to the strategy is that it does allow you to play more hands, and hope to hit good to bust an opponent. It also helps you to understand the importance of implied odds, managing pot size and playing your opponent's hand from the flop.
However, it doesn't allow for eliminating opponents when you are raising 2 1/2 times the big blinds in these events. And, it also ends up being costly to be raising with suited connectors and players coming over the top, forcing you to fold.
Example:
Yesterday, first hand. I have J-9 suited. Each player starts with $2,500 and blinds at $25-$50. A player under the gun raises to $150. I call in a back position. The button calls. The small blind moves all in for $2,500. I have to fold, of course.
I'm not too happy to see the flop comes with J-9-9.
The player who moved all-in had A-K.
My Next Step
Learn from Daniel, but revert back to the Gus Hansen aggressive style of play. It is not only more fun and challenging for me, but it also enables me to be more feared at the table.
Daniel's style at the higher buy-in events work of course. However, I do believe that with fewer chips and fast blind increases it is simply a difficult way to add chips.
I have written a summary of Gus Hansen's playing style on this blog.
I read the small ball strategy chapter in his Power Hold'em Strategy book and decided to use it in my Sunday NL tournaments for the past two months.
My overall conclusion: Small Ball Strategy Needs Lots of Chips To Work
His strategy simply does not work for my Sunday events since the chips are not deep enough and the rounds are not long enough. I've probably lost over $2,000 the past two months testing small ball.
The positives to the strategy is that it does allow you to play more hands, and hope to hit good to bust an opponent. It also helps you to understand the importance of implied odds, managing pot size and playing your opponent's hand from the flop.
However, it doesn't allow for eliminating opponents when you are raising 2 1/2 times the big blinds in these events. And, it also ends up being costly to be raising with suited connectors and players coming over the top, forcing you to fold.
Example:
Yesterday, first hand. I have J-9 suited. Each player starts with $2,500 and blinds at $25-$50. A player under the gun raises to $150. I call in a back position. The button calls. The small blind moves all in for $2,500. I have to fold, of course.
I'm not too happy to see the flop comes with J-9-9.
The player who moved all-in had A-K.
My Next Step
Learn from Daniel, but revert back to the Gus Hansen aggressive style of play. It is not only more fun and challenging for me, but it also enables me to be more feared at the table.
Daniel's style at the higher buy-in events work of course. However, I do believe that with fewer chips and fast blind increases it is simply a difficult way to add chips.
I have written a summary of Gus Hansen's playing style on this blog.
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