Champions of Poker

Hello,

Two intriguing hands appeared the other night. The first one came up earlier. Blinds were 5/10 then and with 9s7s I was on the button. On the flop then, there were four players. Flop came and brought K42 all spades. Small blind then placed a 10 bet while big blind raised to 40. Other player called. Later, I folded as I thought one of the players had a flush which was far better.

Second hand followed. At such point, blinds were 25/50 and on heads up. I had 350 left back then and was actually the big blind. My opponent on the other side had approximately 1000. I remember he was an aggressive type, calling everything and going all in pre flop.

For another time he went all in again. I then saw A3 suited. I was looking forward then that my opponent would have KQ or KJ. And though he had a better A, I can still take chances and eventually have a flush, straight, or even a 3.

Will it be a good move to call at such point, if you were me?

Any thoughts about the two hands?

Thanks!

Clint
Clint,

I think you should have folded and waited for a better spot. Since you were big blind, you would have 300 left. Even if you fold the next hand in the small blind, you still have 275, which is still enough to either force people to fold or double up to a reasonable stack for the blind level. I would have waited for a better hand or a better situation. If you are going to go all-in, its better if you are the aggressor.

Hi,

I played no limit tournament just at home the other day. A very intriguing hand came up at some point.

In the big blind then with Q3 I checked to see the flop against a not so aggressive player. Flop came and brought QJ2. Then he placed a bet and so I called considering I had top-pair and weak kicker. Turn followed and was another Q. He went all in, quite disturbed as he had larger stack.

Eventually, I called. I then discovered he only had a J and was just having fun all along. Later, I was so glad as I was able to double up and then had him out after few hands.

Any thoughts regarding how I played?

Thank you in advance.

Fraser
Fraser,

Considering your kicker, you played that about as well as you could hope for. I would have called his all in there too. He could have had A-Q or a hand such as was shown.

You were big blind, flopped well, turned a set, and then took his stack. Not bad for a big blind special.

Hi there!

I’m having problems now with regards to winning at live tournaments specifically those friendly ones.

Monday night I played and in the big blind had 7-6. Flop came and was 5-8-9. Thus, I then got a straight. My opponent back then was obviously a newbie and so my focus was not much to him but to the pot instead. I wanted to have as many chips into the pot actually. Luckily, I was able have a few.

Then turn came and was a K. My opponent afterwards went all in, well, it was because of my convincing power. River followed and was a Q. He then was able to have a straight, a straight that was far better than mine.

Just to share with you another incident. Last night in a certain event I had A-10. Flop came and was Q-10-3. My opponent then placed a big amount while I placed him on a bluff. I thought he would fold then and so I raised all in. Unfortunately, I was wrong as he didn’t fold instead he called with K-7o.

With those two events, what do you think was wrong with me? Have I played too aggressively? Any advice?

Thanks!

Best regards,
Hutchin
Hutchin,

In the first hand, you just got unlucky. You had your opponent all-in and your were ahead.

The second hand you did play a little aggressive, but you were indeed ahead when he called you. I’m assuming that the player caught a king as you asked what you did wrong there.

In both cases you were ahead when the player went all-in. For situations like those, you can only get your money in as a favorite and hope the cards cooperate to keep you ahead until the end.

Hello,

I participated in a home tourney with initially nine players. Eventually, it was trimmed down to three, me, the SB, and the player on the button.

Back then, I had near $30,000 in the BB, SB had $90,000, while the player on the button had$40,000, all in chips. By the way, blinds were $1500/$3000, Ante $400.

At certain point, player on the button folded while SB called. I then raised to $12,000 with A-9 unsuited. Once again, SB called. Flop came and brought 10-7-K rainbow. At such instance, SB checked to me. Because I believe SB didn’t have the King, for around $20k, I raised all in. SB then called and then had Q-10 unsuited.

Both turn and river came but of no sense at all. I was then confused as I don’t know what to do next. I could make a tough and right call but I was not so sure as I’ve already showed strength preflop and post flop. I could also go all in or check, but I had $20,000 left and the pot was $24,400, in the event he opt to bet, it would be somewhere $8,000-$14,000. Well, I could re-raise all in, however only $6,000- $12,000 considering the pot was somewhere $32,400-$38,400. What do you think?

I hope to hear from you.

Thank you very much in advance.

Butler
Butler,

The raise from the big blind was not a bad raise. The call from the small blind was a bad call. The fact that he hit the flop and then called your bet was unfortunate. If you are going to bet on the flop in that spot, you will probably want to bet what you did to pressure your opponent. He risked a big portion of his stack with middle pair.

Personally, I would have waited and saw the flop for free. I don’t know if I would have raised preflop there. I may have, but when I am three handed, I am going to see cheap flops and hope to get lucky. If you did that, you may have been able to get away from the hand on the flop. You could have bet about 4,000, which would have been a good portion of the pot if not raised preflop. If your opponent raised, you fold.

Hi,

Before anything, I would like to commend you for having a great site!

Well, I am actually here now because I want to clarify something. For two times in just three months, this situation happened to me. In a small buy-in freeze-out tournament with around 90 players, I would try to play tightly and aggressively. At certain point, I will then have a-k and j-j. I would then raise four times the big blind and then have three or four callers. Flop would appear but not that significant, therefore I’ll be kicked off. Gradually, my stack will decrease. Then when blinds were 30 and 60 and I had 120 points left, I will go all in with a pair of 8’s, some other time a pair of 6´s. Later, two callers would appear with two over cards so obviously, I can’t anymore take home the pot.

I’m not so sure with the way I played. Anything in mind?

Thanks!
Agren
Agren,

A-K is a drawing hand at best. It must hit in order to be strong. Otherwise, it’s ace high and not that powerful. If the flop did not produce overcards, I am surprised you were folding Jacks so easily. Unless there was significant action from other players, there is no reason to believe that Jacks are beat.

As far as your middle pairs getting beat, the problem here is that you are waiting to long to push with a hand. When you do, it will not scare opponents off and they will take coin flips with you to eliminate you, especially if they have plenty of chips.

Hi,

Several weeks ago, I played low limit for the first time. At the table, there was one player who was said to be “straddling the bet” by which actually appeared to me as a blind raise by the player to the left of the BB.

I don’t totally understand what “straddling the bet” means. Can you please explain it to me?

Thanks!

Doeddler
Doeddler,

“Straddling the bet” means that the player to the left of the big blind is putting in a blind raise equal to twice the big blind. This is done to make more action in a pot. Honestly, in a low limit game, this is a little silly, but it is quite common in higher stakes games.

You can think of it as a blind raise if you wish. It is really the same thing.