Tag Archives: aggressive

On Home Tournaments

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Hello,

I’m planning to play holdem this coming weekend along with some close friends. We want to have fun and play all night, maybe for 5-6 hours. However, all of us don’t want to place big amount of money so we just all agreed that every participant will put in max of 40$.

I am actually expecting that because everyone wants to play for most of the evening, every player will more or less play tightly. Because of this, I’m now thinking to make the game a little more exciting. What if there’ll be 4 tournaments of 10$ each? And per tournament every player will be given about 800$ of chips? I believe that by doing this, the player will become more aggressive on the table. But on the better side, in the event he looses all his chips, there is still a big possibility that he will play more. What do you think?

By the way, your site is so great and helpful. Thanks a lot!

Barillari
Barillari,

You could also think about having a slow moving blind structure. Maybe with 30 minute levels and start the blinds low and then double them every half hour. This will allow for a lot more play. Your other option would be to have a Limit Holdem tournament. Fixed betting will all for some more action, but not so much where players will want to play like a rock all the time.

Just Too Passive at the Tourney

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Me and some colleagues played $20 SnG. Blinds were 100/200 and we’re down to 5 players. Player 1 who was me had 4672, player 2 had 4249, player 3 had 3172, player 4 who was the SB had 4545 and player 5 had 3362.

Back then, my opponent was actually player 4, the SB. I believe he played aggressively. In the event other players limp in or make min raises, he would raise preflop, and if weakness is just around the corner, he would raise.

It was mid-part when I was dealt Ad Ks UTG. Then I raised to 600, SB called, while BB folded. The pot at such point was $1200. Flop then came and brought 3d 6d 9d. Later, SB checked and I placed 700 bet. SB once again called. And so I thought he might have KdQd or an overpair with a diamond. He might also be considering the idea of stealing the pot which was $2600 then.

Turn came and brought 9c. SB then checked and so I placed 1500 bet. He then called. Pot then was already $5600. River came and was 4c. SB then checked and I followed. Revelation time came and he flipped over 5c 5s. I was surprised to be honest.

Now as I recall the said event, I was wondering if my mistake was with my turn bet. If I could have pushed more at some point, maybe I was able to take home the pot. Maybe if I could have also checked and taken a free card, perhaps I went home happy. What do you think?

In general, was it a misplay? At first, I thought he was the idiot but later I realize it could have been also me, who was the idiot or what.

Thanks in advance!

Brewer
Brewer,

That was a pretty strong call by your opponent. He may have felt that you were raising with an ace and just continuing on the flop. You tried to stay aggressive and he kept calling it down.

Your opponent may be somewhat of a calling station. I don’t think your play is bad in that spot, but I wouldn’t have tried it again on him.

On Different Views and Scenarios

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Hi,

I have several questions to ask. Hope you have time. Thanks in advance!

  1. In NL100, I oftentimes witness players buying in with $10, $15, $20 or may be $40. Well, I believe playing the short stack has its own advantages. However, I’m wondering if how should I deal and play with it when I have a full buy-in, at least. Any idea?

    Consider that I was in early position and with 88 I limped in. At middle position, with $20, I folded to a short stack. Such player raised to $4 and everyone else folded including both the small and big blinds. It was then my turn, but I don’t know what to do. I was considering if I’d call his raise or just re-raise him. If I’d call his raise, it would be a goodbye for my set on the flop and if I’d re-raise him, he might opt to go all in. At some point, I thought of folding. What do you think? I’m really sick and tired playing at a table full of short stacks, any advice?

  2. I really wonder if there’s any difference playing at NL tournaments than at cash games. I believe in NL tournaments, I have to lose first a lot of chips before I could have my set. And in a cash game, you can always reload, and there is always a chance to win back any losses.

    Because of the difference, I just always try to play big pairs and AK, AQ and may be KQ and AJ. I’ve always stayed away from suited connectors. And typically, I’m on all-in or fold mode. And in the event my hands are hold up, I go back to average or even above average at the later stage of the game. But sadly, I always end up with the least chips. Any advice for me? Is there any specific hand I should play?

  3. Professionals at High Stakes Poker on GSN tend to always play very loose cash games. In fact, there was one player who raises with A4o. He was then called by someone with K9s. Flop came and brought 9. The player with K9s earlier thought he had the best hand. I don’t know what’s going on. I believe they were just playing loosely then.

Thanks for your time.

Regards,
Raymond Feld
Raymond,

  1. Players with short stacks are going to try and push with big hands and try and double up. My suggestion is to try and play small ball poker and keep the pot small. The other option is to be aggressive and raise more often than normal and get out the way when they push with big hands.
  2. Tournaments are very different than cash games. You have to change your starting hand requirements based on what position that you are in on the table. I would recommend picking up a book or DVD on Texas Holdem. Phil Hellmuth and Howard Lederer have good DVD’s but Dan Harrington’s Harrington on Holdem is the best set of tournament books you can buy.
  3. Players on High Stakes Poker are very loose and very aggressive with their hands. You will also notice big fluctuations with their stacks overall. Watch some of the better players like Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, David Benyamine, and Jennifer Harman and you will see a good mix between loose and solid. Overall, those 4 are usually among the biggest winners around. This year Phil Ivey and David Benyamine are #1 and #2 in amount won online on Full Tilt Poker.