How I Won Sunday's Oaks Tournament

Image via WikipediaHow I Won Sunday's Oaks Tournament

Overall, I was very lucky. Yeah, I used a few moves from my Tournament Poker book. But, the truth is that I don't recall having such a great run of luck at a poker tournament.

It didn't start well, as on the second hand of the event, I flopped top pair holding K-Q but my opponent flopped a set of 7's. From that point on, my luck changed for the better...much better!

Here is a summary of how I won:

1. I put a couple of bad beats on my opponents.

K-Q versus A-K. The flop was K-K-7. I bet out in the big blind and one player called. I check raised all in on the turn. My opponent thought for a while and called with his A-K. I hit my Q on the river taking down a big early pot.

When we were down to three tables, I raised with 9-9. My opponent moved all-in with J-J. Flopped the 9.

2. Key flops hit my hand hard.

I had pocket sixes, and hit a 6 on the flop. My opponent missed but he made a continuation bet. I won a decent sized pot when he folded.

I called a raise from the button with T-9 offsuit. My opponent was aggressive and had a big stack, as did I. The implied odds in these situations make it the right play. If you don't take these risks, it is a mistake.

The flop was K-Q-J....I moved in after he bet out. He called with K-J and did not improve. A huge pot for me.

I limped with T-2 in the small blind. The big blind called. The flop was T-7-2. I bet out and the big blind, with a decent sized stack moved all in. I called. He had J-T and did not improve. His over sized push all-in was an awful play (this is not online poker:-) )

When it was three handed, the button raised my big blind 2x's. I called with Q-4 clubs. I would have called with any two cards given the implied odds. The flop came with three clubs. He was aggressive so I checked and raised him all-in on the flop. He called. I don't know what he had, as I didn't bother to look. I knew I would win.

He had a huge stack, as did I. It made me the big chip leader. It was a bad pre-flop play on his part.

3. Timing of my big hands

I had K-K and raised. Another player moved all in with A-K. He did not improve.

A player moved all in with 8-8. I called in the big blind with J-J and won.

Timing in these situations is key to building a chip stack. And, having your hand hold-up, of course.

4. The hands I lost were to players pushing with much smaller stacks.

When we were down to three tables, I had a big chip lead. So, I could gamble a little more with the big stacks.

For example, I could call with K-7 in the big blind against an opponent who was desperate and moved all-in with A-5.

5. I did not experience that bad beat that cripples your stack or knocks you out.

This is the way we all get eliminated, right?

6. The tough calls were easier since the pot odds were present for me to make the call a no-brainer.

When you have a big stack you don't want to get hurt. But players push with a wide range of hands when they don't have a big enough stack compared to the big blinds. I had one tough decision when I player with a big stack moved all-in with a big stack. I thought about folding until unrealized that I had to call given the odds.

I called and he had K-J. I had raised with an A-8. I called since I was getting 2-1. Neither one us improved and I added quite a few chips

Summary

Frankly, I did not play extraordinary poker. Things just worked out for me. I was able to steal in late position more often since the players to my left tended to be very tight or afraid of being knocked out due to my big stack.

But, the reason for my win was, well, I give credit to the luck granted to me by poker gods. Good thing these gods don't require attendance in anything other than a poker room or I would go to hell.

Why You Should Not Play In Another Poker Tournament

Image via WikipediaWhy You Should Not Play In Another Poker Tournament

I believe that no limit tournament poker has changed for good and if you don't understand what is going on, you shouldn't bother to enter one ever again.

I would describe the key change as Blind Aggression. Players are willing to take on significantly more risk than ever before and make plays without (what appears as) much thought. Some examples...

• Players who will raise and re-raise preflop with inferior holdings.
• Players that will call a pre-flop raise with any two cards.
• Players who make big bets or move all-in on the flop or turn even though they know they are behind.

I describe this aggression as being blind because these players will suck out to win and often declare "I knew I was behind." And, these players will often be the ones with huge chip stacks at start, middle and at the end of an event.

Why the Shift to Take on More Risk

1. More players.

With more players come a bigger disparity in skill levels. Many inexperienced players need to find a way to counter the advantage of more skilled players. The best way to beat a pro is to move all-in pre-flop. It is high risk, but one that eliminates his opponent's advantage on other streets.

2. Online poker.

While online poker allows players to experiment and quickly gain experience, the key is the ability to multi-table. A player who is in 6 events at the same time, has a goal of building a big stack in one event. This allows for blind aggression since more risk leads to more rewards/bigger stacks. With multi-tabling, you can now place your bets on more games, and if you can build that a big stack in one event, you can even afford to slow down. In tournament poker, always remember that it is better to win one event than to take home small wins in all six.

3. Poker on TV.

To make viewers at home more likely to watch poker, the program needs to be exciting. What is more than watching a bad beat (assuming you are not the player taking one)? When a poker player sees the worst hand winning often enough, it leads to thinking that a) any two cards can win b) they are a better player than the ones on TV.

There our other factors in this shift to take on significantly more risk, such as: blind levels increasing too fast, fewer starting chips, "tells" being of less value online, personally experiencing bad beats as the giver and the taker, and the desire to be noticed.

Go Big or Go Home

When it comes to tournament poker you need to realize that you must go for the win. Be bold.

"Risk is good" is the underlying principle in my tournament poker book with 101 winning moves. But, risk in my book is about knowing how to manage it. The game today has taken the level of risk to a higher level.

My advice: Be bolder than you've ever been before. Someone is giving other poker players bad beats. Why shouldn't it be you?

I recommend you try this new approach to poker, since it may open your eyes to the way the game is being played today. You may decide this style is one you want to adopt as your own.
Or, you can try my new approach.

My New Strategic Approach to Tournament Poker

I have been working on a way to counter this blind aggression. To date, I have used my strategy in five events and won one. My strategy is higher risk than before, but it still provides for a way to manage it.

While I have written about it in my previous post, let me give you a brief overview:

1. Early Stage: You play a solid game. Understand implied odds; that is, how you can come in with suited connectors and other drawing hands to win a big pot. Slowplay premium hands. Minimize the A-K losses.
2. Middle and Late Stages: Open up your game and be more aggressive. Look to raise or fold, preflop. You can't win by calling. If you get a top hand, even if you are almost 100% sure your opponent has you beat when he moves all-in, you have to go with it when your stack is declining and this hand may be the best you'll see.
3. Final Table: Play tight until 4 players have been eliminated.

By the way, I know that this blind aggression in tournament poker has been part of the game for the past year or so. However, I really had not figured out a smart way to counter it. I believe my new approach may be the answer. It attempts to counter blind aggression with smart aggression. Give it a try...

Please let me know what you think.

A Poker Stars Double Shoot-Out

The countdown continues...

Poker Stars Double Shoot-out

I decided to try something new today. It was a low buy-in event on PS where you needed to win two shoot-outs to get a seat for Sunday's $750,000 event. Poker Stars has so many satellites, I decided that I needed to work on these kind of games.

Shoot-out Number 1

This first shoot-out only had 7 players. I played fairly tight until I needed to make some steals to chip up along with the blind increases. My goal was to get in a heads-up situation since I feel confident that I will win in these situations.

The first thing I try to do at any table is to identify player types. Most players simply play their cards. Their calls mean calling hands, and their raises mean premium cards. The tougher players are those who are more aggressive and tricky. I try to stay away from these players unless I have a big hand.

If I have a weakness in my game it is when a game gets down to three players. I tend to be too loose and aggressive. I have learned to let the cards and the situation dictate my play more.

In this shoot out I didn't have to worry about playing three handed since my opponent took out two players in one hand--leaving it heads-up. As a result, I was looking at being behind in chips 6-1 as we got heads-up.

My opponent was not a good heads-up player as he played way too tight. I used his betting pattern to my advantage and I was able to turn it around completely. I now had a huge lead.

Two times I got him all-in where I "dominated" his hand. The hands were A-Q versus A-4 and K-Q versus K-5. Both times he won! Ughh...

Finally, though, I won the match and moved on to the second shoot-out.

Shoot Out Number 2

This was 9-handed and there was only one tricky and aggressive player I was concerned about three seats to my left. As players got knocked off one by one, I was playing tight and making pre-flop raises as needed based on position and/or the cards.

Fortunately, the player to my right knocked out the aggressive opponent that concerned me. The guy to my right slow played pocket Aces all the way to the river--and almost folded his winning hand. When it got three handed, he also took out the other opponent.

Once again it was heads-up. And once again, my opponent was playing was too passive. Yes, he had a big chip lead but he folded too often.

I slowly chipped away at his stack. Now, he only had a slight chip lead. I think that heads-up when you take away an opponent's big lead, it weighs on him emotionally. It is depressing to see what appears to be an easy win, slip away.

I was feeling good about winning now, and the following hand came up:

On the button, I was dealt Ah-4d. I raised and my opponent called. The blinds were big and it was now an all-in or nothing move on the flop. The flop was a great one for me, 2h-5h-8h. I had a nut flush draw, a straight draw, and I thought pairing my Ace was also good. That gave me 15 outs, which would make me a favorite.

I pushed and my opponent paused for a long time. Oh no, I thought, this is the same pause he did when he had pocket Aces. Finally he called. He turned over two black Jacks...which did not hurt my outs.

The turn and river missed my hand---and oh well, I didn't win the seat.

I went over to Bodog and decided to enter a 200 player no limit MTT event. It got down to heads-up and I made a mistake. I pushed all-in pre-flop against an opponent I would beat heads-up if I was patient. I pushed with A-10 and he called with K-J. He hit his K and I was out. At least it was an $800 win.

Funny, but I may not have played the Bodog event if I didn't lose the seat on Poker Stars.

What do you think of this poker play?

At the Oaks...

There was a player who people view as very tight at the no limit tournament today. He took advantage of his image with a very interesting move.

He would limp in with a range of hands. If the board was paired on the flop he would bet the turn making it look like he has three of a kind.

If he went to the turn, and the board paired, he would bet into the aggressor with big bets. Example: Flop 9-8-2 He calls one opponents bet. The turn is an 8, and he moves all-in or makes a big bet.

After watching this for almost 90 minutes, he was building a big stack.

He finally lost an all-in bet against me. Under the gun, I had to make a move and moved all-in with A-J. He called with Q-Q. I hit the Ace on the river. That cut his stack in half.

But, the question is: What do you think of this play--specifically the play on the turn when the board pairs on the turn, and he acts first and bets into his opponent?

It worked all day long. Maybe I'll have to add it as move #102.

Let's win at the WSOP: Countdown Day 60-Planning Ahead

60 Days to the WSOP: Planning Ahead

This will be the first in a series of articles to help you improve you chances of winning at the WSOP. Even if you are not going to the WSOP these articles may help you prepare for any no limit tournament.

My goal is to win a bracelet this year. A long shot? Absolutely. Frankly, I was ready last year since I had reviewed about 10 years worth of poker literature and wrote my book. Unfortunately, the one event I went to enter, got sold out. A major bummer, especially since I had read no event would be sold out like the year before.

Live and learn. I did play in 4 no limit events while in Vegas and I finished at the final table in 2 of them...not too bad.

Planning Ahead

Let's start this 60 day countdown, with the most boring part of the process. Planning ahead.

There are some things I want to go over to help you prepare:

1. Your health.
I know this sounds stupid, but you need to start taking care of yourself. The WSOP events are grueling. They start at noon and can last 12 hours or more. I recommend that you plan some type of exercise and diet routine. Build up your endurance with exercise and start to reduce the calories.

2. Get in a routine for sleep.
Again, sounds absurd since we are all adults, but you need to start getting enough sleep. A pattern of rest is a good idea. One of the biggest problems I have going to Vegas is getting a good night of sleep. It depends on where you stay, and if you are going alone or with someone else.

I have stayed at hotels where the air conditioner made noise on and off during the night, and where it even broke down. It is just not good. My suggestion is that you stay at the Rio (there are special rates for WSOP events at all the Harrah owned hotels) or if the room doesn't matter try the Gold Coast. I like the Gold Coast because I am almost never in the room, its a great deal and it just across the street from the Rio.

I have stayed at the nicer hotels during the WSOP, and taking a shuttle or a cab can be a problem. The reason I may have missed the event last year is that the cab I took from Harrah's to Rio actually got pulled over by some taxi commission cop. The cop had me get out and wait for another cab--about 15 minutes. Not good.

If you plan to stay longer than a week or so, you may google longer stay accomodations for better deals. However, the hotel casino deals this year are unbelievable!

3. Vegas, baby.
When you are in Vegas, there are all sorts of distractions. It is a party town and if you like to party, drink, gamble, etc. you may be lured by the dark side.

One of the reasons the local Pros have an edge is that they live nearby. They can sleep in their own bed. They are used to the madness. In sports, home teams always have the advantage. The same is true at the WSOP--although not to the same extent.

4. Free yourself of problems.
You need to clear your head of things that trouble you about family and friends. One year a player at my table had to leave the game because his wife was about to give birth. Why he entered that day is beyond my comprehension.

Try to get things that may bother you taken care of in the next 60 days. Clear your mind. These events need your total attention. And if you can't commit 100% to the event, due to family, friends or work, don't enter it.

5. Evaluate the structure of the event.
You need to find out the structure of the event. How many chips will you start with in the event? How long are the rounds? How much do the blinds increase each round?
How many players do you anticipate at the event? This information is vital on how to set up your game plan.

6. Develop your game plan.
The structure often determines your game plan. Will you need to be aggressive or passive? Are you going to let the cards determine your play at the start? How are you going to plan ahead for the actual event?

7. Practice, practice, practice.
Another huge edge the poker pro has is that the game is his livelihood. He or she plays it every day. If a poker pro had to do your job once per week, he or she would not be nearly as good as you. The same is true in poker.

Play the game every day. Read books. Study. Improve your game. Aim to peak when you get to the WSOP. Try to win a satellite to enter the WSOP, or win enough cash so you can "freeroll." I have been very lucky in that every year I have entered the WSOP, I had poker winnings I used to play.

Admittedly, I lost most or all of my winnings at most of the WSOP years I attended. But I learned and improved. And, to some extent, I can tell myself it was a "freeroll." (I really don't see it that way, but many players do.). Keep playing--if possible, try to play a no limit event every day!

I will continue the planning process in more detail next time.

Poker Tells-Daniel Negreanu Small Ball Strategy: Part 5

Four Tells To Look For (Part of Turn Play):

1. Early Reachers
Some players reach for their chips prematurely. Give yourself a few extra seconds before making your play, and you may find out some free information. Of course, some players reach for chips to discourage you from betting.

2. Speed of Their Action
The time it takes an opponent to call a bet on the turn may reveal some patterns like
he is on a draw, or discouraging you to bet the river, or something else. You need to figure what the speed of the action is telling you.

3. Card Protectors
Identify a pattern based on whether where his card protect is being placed. For example, if he normally has the protector on the cards, and this time he doesn't, it may mean he isn't going to play. Again, you need to figure this out.

4. Quick Checkers
Quick checks on the turn may be that he is going to check-raise or he is on a draw. Again, each player is different so you need to figure it out.

Next: River Play

From the book: Daniel Negreanu's Power Hold'em Strategy

Interview with winner of #tpt @mac_zealot

Interview with last week's #tpt Winner

Share with us a little about who you are?

Well, my name is Brian Hughes. I live and work in Hanover, NH, at Dartmouth College. Dartmouth happens to also be where I graduated from, back in 1989/90. I had spent a little over a year working as a student computer consultant and pretty much fell into my first job right after I finished up. I've been working there, since then.

When did you start playing poker?

I've pretty much been around poker just about all of my life. Back when I was a kid, growing up on Long Island, my mother moved back in with her parents (my grandparents) when I was 3. My grandparents used to host a weekly home poker game, which they did pretty much all the way through my college graduation. I think my grandmother taught me the basics of poker when I was about 9 or so and I played a bunch while I was attending Dartmouth in the late '80s, but I didn't start playing NL Hold'em until around late 2001, back when Pokerroom.com started getting popular.

What is your favorite poker game? Why?

Hmm... I'm not sure I have a favorite. I try to play all the usual forms, but No Limit Texas Hold'em is definitely my best game. It's the one that I've studied the most and put the most time into improving, but I'm also a pretty big fan of Pot-Limit Omaha.

Do you play in many poker tournaments? Is so, where?

Yes, I play in live tournaments, quite regularly. In addition to taking one to two trips out to Las Vegas, each year for the past few years, along with a few trips to Foxwoods and Turning Stone Casino (in upstate NY), as luck would have it, poker is legal in New Hampshire! I'm a fairly well known regular in 3 or 4 of the poker rooms that operate in the state and try to play every weekend, bankroll permitting, of course. :)

What is the most valuable poker lesson you've ever learned?

Wow. I don't know if I could single out any one lesson, but I would have to rank understanding proper bankroll management, even when I don't always practice it, pretty high up on the lessons learned list. Fortunately, I've only gone "poker broke" a couple of times, not actually broke.

Did you have a strategy when you play the #tpt?

Not right at the start. My initial plan was to test the waters with a few hands to see if I could pick up some chips. Turns out that didn't go as well as I wanted and was actually one of the short stacks early on. But I got a couple of good hands in the mid stages which really let me open my game up and I pretty much used good pre-flop aggression, and catching some hands in key spots, to outlast everyone at the final table.

Were there any hands that you recall in the #tpt which were key to you winning?

I have to say that there were 2 hands that really stood out for me. The first was in the mid-late stages, when I was around the chip average, with $3145, it's 100/200 blinds. I had been pretty active at the table, raising before the flop. I'm in the SB with 66 and it's folded all the way around. In the BB is cprpoker, who is a good player, but hadn't had much to play, so he'd been folding behind my raises most of the tourney.

I raise to $600 and cprpoker, who has $2820 behind his $200 BB, pushes all in. I think for a bit and put him on making a move, since I'd been so active, but this looks like a great spot for me to possibly double up, to a really healthy stack, and get a good player off my immediate left. So I type into the chat "lets race" and call. Fortunately, cprpoker has 33 and my hand holds up for a really nice pot.

The second hand happened, right towards the end, when we were 3 handed. I finally picked up pocket aces, in the BB. I just called Street3's pre-flop raise, the flop came out K high, he shoved, I called and had way the best of it, since he didn't even have a pair, yet. I had Street covered, my hand held up and put me in a great spot to go heads up with jordie21. I didn't realize it was only going to be 2 hands of heads up, but I had the chip lead when jordie21 re-raised all in, pre-flop. I called with A Q, he had 8 8 and I flopped a Q.

Do you have any poker goals?

I don't know if I have any specific goals, really. Obviously, I'd love cash big, or win (naturally :) a big money tournament. But I know that's somewhere down the road, when I'm in a better bankroll position to take that kind of shot. However, I know I still have a lot to learn and plenty of leaks to plug.

Brian, thanks so much for taking the time to share your story with us. Thanks!
-Mitchell

2/19-Won the Twitter Poker Tournament #tpt

I know this isn't much of a cash win since it's only $5.50 buy-in with 40+ players, but I thought I would get down my thoughts of how I played before I forgot. Also, I hope that it helps you to improve your poker game.

Stage 1-Early Stages

At the start of an event I put aside about 20% for speculative hands. Tonight, I ended being down almost $500 from my original stack of $1,500--down 33% is not good.

A few hands later I was on the button and was the first in the pot. I was going for a blind steal--so I put in a small raise. Both the small and big blind called.

The flop came down 7 high with 2 cards for a flush draw. The small blind checked, and the big blind bet about half the pot. I had nothing. The way I used to play poker is to just fold. But, I don't play poker that way anymore. When I miss on the flop, I am thinking:

1. Play my opponent's hand. What does my opponent have?
2. Given my opponent's hand and looking at the flop, can I steal this pot on the turn?

I figured the big blind either had top or 2nd pair. Therefore, I thought with an overcard or third card to a flush, I could steal the pot. It sounds crazy but I really believed given my position, I was going to win this hand! I called. To my surprise the small blind also called.

The turn was a Q--not of the same suit as the other two cards, but it was an overcard.

Both blinds checked and I bet 3/4th of the pot. Both blinds folded.

I was now back to around $1,500. Did I get lucky? Maybe.

I slowly continued to accumulate chips by winning small pots uncontested. Either a small raise pre-flop and everyone folded, or a continuation bet on the flop if the flop looked harmless. I don't always make a continuation bet on the flop.

Middle Stages

I called a 3x pre-flop raise on the button with 3-4 suited. I know it's a lousy hand, but I was looking at the implied odds. My opponent had about $2,500 and I had about the same. Maybe I'd get lucky. After I called, the big blind also called.

The flop came A high--with a flush draw. I did not have the cards of the same suit, and I had the worse hand. The big blind checked, and the pre-flop raiser bet half the pot. Hmmm...I have air but that's irrelevant to me..(see above thinking).

This is a weak flop bet to me. If I call here and he doesn't have an Ace, he will check the turn and I will win with a bet. And if he does have an Ace and a 3rd card to a flush hits the turn, I believe I can take the pot away.

What about the big blind? Based on the prior hands, I was sure he would bet out if he had an Ace. So...yes, I called...and the big blind folded.

On the turn the flush card came. My opponent checked, and I bet half the pot. He folded quickly. It was a nice pot.

Then, I went card dead for a while..

At the $50-$100 blind level, the player under the gun raised to $350, another player called for $350, and I found K-K. The pot was $850. I wanted to win a big pot. What to do?

I decided that one of these players had to have a big pair; hopefully, the first raiser didn't have Aces. But, if he did..that's poker. I moved all-in to make it look like I had A-K. I typed in the chat box "fold, fold, fold" not expecting to see it appear--I thought when I player is all-in the chat box is disabled (am I wrong?).

Once I saw that players could read it, I typed it in a few more times as the first raiser couldn't decide his play. He did make the call and had J-J. The other opponent folded. I doubled up.

Later Stages

At one point my table was short-handed for a while. I raised pre-flop with a wide range of hands winning without any callers. It was strange how often I was stealing so late in the tournament. My stack kept growing.

If I got resistance, I would decide what to do based on the flop. But this was rare.

Final Table

I entered the final table with around $9,000-$10,000 in chips. It was one of the bigger stacks, I believe. But it was not the biggest stack.

I went card dead for a while at the final table. This wasn't too bad since other players were getting knocked out.

I did get a hand or two to build my stack. But, no hand comes to mind now.

When I believe it was 6 or 5 handed. I had A-7, and called a pre-flop raise from @zonetrap, and I believe there was one other player behind me who called. The flop came A high, and zonetrap bet very small relative to the pot. I thought I was ahead, and moved all-in. The other player folded and zonetrap had trapped me--as he had A-10.
Excellent play on his part!

I got lucky when my 7 hit the river. It was also a big jump in chips.

Heads-Up

Heads-Up I was playing @ffcowboy76. I believe he had a lead of about $40,000 to $25,000.

There were two things I was thinking playing heads-up against him.

1. ffcowboy had been beating me when we played blind against blind at this final table. I was the small blind and he was the big blind. One time I even called him down with K high because I couldn't believe he was hitting his hand. I was wrong as he had a big hand--and I lost a decent sized pot at the time.

2. I love heads-up poker. And there is no way I will lose heads-up. Why do I think this?

When I play heads-up poker, I find that players betting patterns become more obvious. The key for me is to figure out the betting pattern, and play against it. Also, if the player is strong and aggressive, you have a better opportunity to win big pots. Believe me, ffcowboy is a strong and aggressive player.

The problem with finding out betting patterns though is that almost every heads-up match I play, I end up being behind at the start. The reason is that I like to play very passive and observe betting patterns.

The match began. And he was beating me. Over and over again.

Once I had a sense for how my opponent was playing, I changed.

I changed my betting pattern to counter my opponent.

I took a lead, and decided to get passive again hoping to hit something ugly. I was going for a trap. Unfortunately, it wasn't happening and ffcowboy was clearly outplaying me with his bets on the flop and turn.

Now ffcowboy had the lead, and he really was showing himself to be a better player than me.

I once again changed my play to reflect his betting patterns on the flop and turn. It meant being more aggressive with raises and check-raises--not all of the time, of course. But, when my opponent bet size seemed off or weak to me.

I picked my spots and I was slowly making my way back. ffcowboy was too good a player to let me just walk away with a win.

I had K-7, and called the pre-flop raise. The flop came down with two Kings and a rag, and a possible flush draw. I knew that if I check-called the flop, my opponent would slow down on the turn. Instead, I wanted to win a big pot. I figured he had something like A high or a pair given his pre-flop raise. So I moved all in.

After I moved all-in, ffcowboy thought for a while and finally called. He had pocket 4's. I now had a big lead...

But, he didn't go away and he started to win back his chips in the next few hands.

Finally, I had 9-3 and we both called pre-flop. The flop came K-9-6 with 2 spades.

I bet the flop and my opponent raised. Now, he didn't move all-in which most players would do here. Instead, he left about $1,500 behind. What does this mean?

Funny, but I've written about this play in my book! It is one of my favorite plays. In this situation moving all-in makes it look like you are weak and trying to hit your flush draw. Leaving a few chips behind makes it seem that you want the action, and have top pair or better.

I was about to move ffcowboy all in, when I was wondering if he may really have the King. No, I thought, he is an excellent player. This is a great bet.

I moved him in for his remaining stack. He called, of course.

He had a 6 for the third pair on the board and the other card he had didn't help...I was way ahead.

The turn was a 6! Unreal...he hits the miracle card...putting him back in the..

The river was a 9! Talk about suck and re-suck...

I win the #tpt event.

Anyway, I hope this analysis helps everyone who plays. I apologize if I am off on the specifics of the above hands, or forgetting other hands. I also apologize if I offended anyone. Frankly, I thought ffcowboy played better than me most of the time we competed heads-up. I just got luckier than him at the right time.

How to take advantage of poker odds to win big pots

You probably know what pot odds and implied odds are in poker, but do you know how to take full advantage of this knowledge in a no limit poker tournament?

As a reminder, pot odds are the ratio of the size of the pot to the size of the bet. If the pot has $400 in it, and your opponent bets $400, the pot is $800. Since you need to call with $400, the pot odds are $800 to $400 or 2-1.

Implied odds are based on the amount you believe you may win at the end of the hand, if you make your hand and win.

For example, the pot has $1,000 after your opponent bets $500 on the flop. You have a straight draw, and the pot odds are $1,000 to $500 or 2-1. Which is not favorable for drawing to a straight.

However, if you hit your straight on the next card, you believe that you may end up winning $4,000. Therefore, your estimate of your implied odds is $4,000 to $500 or 8-1 and you can call the bet.

While it's important to know these odds, it's even more important to know how to take advantage of the odds. Here's an example:

You are in a no limit poker tournament. It is the first hand with the blinds $25-$50. Everyone starts with $4,000 You are in the big blind.

The player under the gun raises to $150. Everyone folds to you. You have the pot odds of $100 to call the bet. Your pot odds are $225 to $100, or slightly over 2-1.

You look down at your cards and you have 8-7 suited. What should you do?

The correct play in this situation is to call the bet since you are getting excellent implied odds. If your opponent has a big hand like pocket Kings, and you hit your hand, you could win a much bigger pot.

What happens in this situation is that right before you call the raise, your opponent picks up his cards to look at them. By accident he flashes his cards to you. He has pocket Aces! Now what should you do? Does this change your original decision?

Not at all. Call the bet.

As a general rule, when you are in the big blind consider calling a bet if you are getting 2-1 pot odds or better, have much bigger implied odds (due to deep stacks) and have a drawing hand or better.