Champions of Poker

Hello,

I’m about to play a casino tournament with 60-70 players and with a starting $2000, in chips. Blinds will be 25/50 and actually will move up every after 15 minutes. I don’t know how I would be playing in case. Anything to share?

Another one, I want to ask your thoughts on how I played a certain hand. Blinds were 100/200. I had about $4000 in chips and with AA in late position. I then raised to $600. There was big blind who went all in with short stack, I remember about $300. A certain player then called. Flop came and was K,9,4 rainbow. The other player checked and so I placed a $600 bet. He folded and great as the pot went to me.

Now, although I actually won over the pot, I’m still wondering if I should have checked the flop and bet the turn instead. What’s your opinion? Also, I would always bet out with a drawing flop however with no chances for draws I may have invited a bet on the turn. Or if not maybe he could have seen weakness if I check after the flop.

Thanks and great site!

All the best,
Markie
Markie,

In a tournament with a fast blind structure, you will either want to loosen up your requirements to try and win a lot of pots early, or really push your big hands. If you play tight and do not pick up any big hands by about level 3 or so, you need to loosen up your starting hand requirements.

As far as your hand is concerned, I would have checked the flop and see if he would bet out. If he didn’t, then I would bet the turn. Of course, what you did had value too since you wanted to make the pot with the all-in player heads up.

Either play in this case would be good in my opinion.

Hello,

I joined a certain NL tourney with 19 players at two tables the other day. Earlier part, it was just actually first round of blinds, I was dealt TT in middle position. Everyone else then folded. Three times the BB, I then raised and got two callers. Flop came and brought J98 all spades. I checked on what I have then and saw I have Ts.

Later, BB checked and I followed. A certain guy placed a very big bet, I believe it was about four times the pot. BB then folded and so am I.

Eventually, a guy I don’t know personally won the pot. He mucked his hand and luckily I was able to take a peek. He had Ad then. I wasn’t able to see the other card he had and he even refused to show me. Well, if he had A K or Q of spades, then sorry for me but if it was something else, maybe I could have won.

What do you think of how I’ve played the game? I think I should have called or have pushed all in, but I’m not sure. Any advice or comment perhaps?

Thanks!

Spike
Spike,

You did not have pot odds to make the call. You had probably 14 outs or 56% to win if you were behind to a pair. Your opponent bet four times the pot. You did not have the odds to call.

It was a good fold.

Hello,

I want to share with you the way I play. Hope to have some feedbacks from you about it. Thanks in advance.

I usually play tight the first level of the game. I want to create and then establish a tight image. I don’t want to lose chips of course so I always try not to be the underdog.

On the following levels, I will then try to loosen up. Make bluffs here and there and then will go all in after being dealt of AA, KK, Aks, or the like. I love when people don’t have any idea where I’m at and what I’m up to, most especially when they call though with not so good hands.

Honestly, I find the way I play sensible. It worked well. However, there’s one problem and that’s about bringing myself to play K10o when four people are left to act behind me. It’s so hard to do so.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Brent
Brent,

If you can limp in and see a cheap flop, you can play this type of hand on occasion and hope to hit the flop well. If you can’t get in cheap, fold.

Hi,

Before my question, I would like to share something first. Just recently, I hosted an 11 man home tourney. I remember there were some aggressive college students who came and then keenly watched.

Earlier, there were more all ins than usual. Good as I thought I was able to move up slightly. However, I found out afterwards that there was a trouble ahead. I found a little under-dressed, off-suit.

Eventually, I raised three times the big blind. Consequently, table folded around except for one player who pushed all in all the way. The said player was actually the big stack. I believe he was just making fun then with a low pair. Later, I called all in while he flipped pocket sevens. On the flop, he was able to catch his 7 and so I was then busted out.

Now, I’m curious because of some stuff. When facing the big stack, should I consider folding A-K off thinking that I might be in a coin flip situation at some point? Also, do you think I should wait to push a smaller stack all-in in order for me to later on see where I stand considering the cards I have?

Another thing, I believe I am a much better player and so because of this I should have reduced volatility. What’s your thoughts on this?

Your help will be much appreciated.

Thanks and nice site!

Regards,
John Eastwood
John,

A-K against a chip leader is a tricky hand. Some people think it is great, but is really just a glorified drawing hand. I would have folded this hand preflop after the reraise unless I was short stacked. If I was short stacked, then I would have played it. Being all in short for a coin flip is not that bad a situation.

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 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,

What’s the best thing to do when you have a really good hand however you are into multiple all ins? I have no idea on this one. Please help me.

Thanks!

Richard Groth
Richard,

It depends on your hand. I honestly would only call multiple all ins with a really strong hand preflop like A-A, K-K, or Q-Q. Now if the multiple all-ins are short stacks and you have a lot of chips, you can modify this, but realize that you are probably gambling hoping to knock out opponents and that you are behind.

Hi,

I believe I’m doing good in home tournaments that me and my friends have every week. In fact, I usually belong to the final 3 players. However, I feel that I’m into trouble when with regards to dealing with heads up.

Well, most of the time my opponent raises and I don’t have the top pair, I just can’t call. I hate when this happens as I’m not working on the right track.

On the good side, I’m doing relatively good when it comes to trapping. I can earn a lot of chips because of successfully trapping down a player.

My question now is, how do you play heads up? Is there any strategy I need to know and eventually master?

Thank you so much!

Sigmund Karlsen
Sigmund,

You need to play a little looser heads up. Try and see a lot of cheap flops with various hands and punish them when you connect. Don’t just call down with top pair. Sometimes middle and even bottom pair are just as good. Don’t be afraid to draw a little more.

Last Sunday, I was in a tournament with blinds 50/100. I remember I had about 4k in chips. Player at middle position also had approximately 4k. At some point, he joined and then raised four times the BB. With 77, I called. Small and big blind then folded.

Flop came and brought 2d 3d 7c. Then I placed a very small bet and he on the other side called. Turn came and was Kc. I then placed a bet which was about the size of the pot he called. River card came and brought 10c. For about 3/4 the pot, I then bet and he went all in with approximately the size of my stack.

Later, after so many pondering stuff, I folded however putting him on something like Ac 3c first. However, some of my friends who were there said I should have called as my hand wasn’t obvious at all. But still I’ve learned from Dan Harrington’s book that you should not fold your set to a possible flush on the board. What’s on your thoughts?

Thanks!

Tyler Edwards
Tyler,

If you opponent did have a flush, then he played very poorly. My guess he most likely had a big pair, such as Aces. He may have had kings and turned a set of kings.

I don’t think I am folding my set there since the person would have had to catch runner-runner flush to beat me.

Hi,

In a recent home game I was into, a hand came up. Back then, players were divided, some were good but some were not. Blinds were 100/200, about to move to 200/400.

There was one guy who had almost the same amount of money as I do. And under the gun, I saw pocket aces and so I then made it 600 to go. Afterwards, I got three callers. Flop came and brought A-10-6 rainbow. Blinds then folded so it was again my turn to act first. I checked and so the pot then was $2400.

A player just near me then placed a min raise of $200. Eventually, player 2 called when it came to me. I then raised to $700. Player 1 called while 2 folded. Pot then was $4200. Turn came and was Q. Thinking of all the possibilities, I then opened for $1700.

Eventually, he called the bet. I then thought that draws and 2nd pair were not already possible. River then came and was a non-flush Jack. Afterwards, I placed another $2000 as my bet while he called. At showdown, he flipped over K-10 and so wins the pot because of his straight.

Now, do you think I played properly? If not, maybe you could me even a piece of advice then?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Johnston
Johnston,

I would have raised more on the flop. You didn’t raise enough to push people out of the pot. On the turn, if I bet, I’m going to bet close to the size of the pot to chase out any potential draws.

On the river, I am going to have to check there since it is clear that someone may have a straight. I am surprised you didn’t get raised.