From my experience at the smaller stake tables (Blinds 1-2), I play these hands different than most. The tables I tend to play at are very aggressive tables. Pre-flop raises with crap hands like K-J suited are very common. I try to maximize value pre-flop by check-raising and min raising raisers.
So If i am in early position, I will limp with AA, KK. hoping the pot will get raised after me. If it is a small raise 7-10$, I will usually push all in when the action comes back around to me. If it is a decent raise 12-24 range, I will min raise them back if i have the stack (100-300$), and give them a smile. 9/10 they will re-raise me back all in. Some will fold. But this is what I want. Mainly I want as much of the other peoples money in the pot as I can get, while still eliminating them pre-flop. this gives me a greater return on the pot, than just heads up 1:1 would give. Sure double up's are nice, but why not get the extra cash?
Late position, it really is a feel it out. If its limped pot, I will raise the pot, (ie 6 lipmpers would be 12$ + 3$ blinds = $15 raise) either will get re-raised or folded most of the time, Not many people can call $17-25 preflop with nothing, and they will try to steal a steal with a all-in. If its just me and the blinds, I will go all-in hoping they put me on a steal and pay me off, other wise might as well just get the hand over with. Not worth playing a few dollar pot and letting them catch up.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Table image for Begginers
Dealing in a tournament yesterday, I started to focus on one player. She did not play many pots, but seemed pretty easy target, she was woman in her 30's, seemed new to the game, and was drinking heavily. She got called on all her big bets early. (3X-BB or more). She had no respect at the table. After she showed AA, AK (Flop 2 pair all-in), another AK with top pair, and a 2 pocket pairs she flopped sets on, all in the first 1hr of the tournament. The players started giving her respect, treating her big bets like the nuts, and not wanting to risk their stack. What they were doing is playing her "Table Image"
How to use this to your advantage in a free-roll or low buy-in tournament. Make big plays with big hands early. Fold all your crappy hands. A sucker is always a sucker. i.e. if you try to suck-out once and hit, no one will forget it and keep calling your marginal hands.
The beauty of what this lady did was starting to raise her marginal hands (A-8S, K-Qo - 4-4) and was getting players to fold. Too bad she wasn't smart enough not to show every hand. But even after showing top pair, 8 kicker, players were still folding because they knew she old raised with a legitimate hand.
Beginners confuse table image with a read on a player, so try to see if you can use this to your advantage in the next free-roll you play!
How to use this to your advantage in a free-roll or low buy-in tournament. Make big plays with big hands early. Fold all your crappy hands. A sucker is always a sucker. i.e. if you try to suck-out once and hit, no one will forget it and keep calling your marginal hands.
The beauty of what this lady did was starting to raise her marginal hands (A-8S, K-Qo - 4-4) and was getting players to fold. Too bad she wasn't smart enough not to show every hand. But even after showing top pair, 8 kicker, players were still folding because they knew she old raised with a legitimate hand.
Beginners confuse table image with a read on a player, so try to see if you can use this to your advantage in the next free-roll you play!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Low Pocket Pair -- Pre-Flop
Small pocket pairs, 2-2 through 7-7 are often overplayed pre-flop. This is the most common mistake I see beginers make. If your in early possition, (UTG - 3rd to act) I'd dump them, or limp if you have a decent stack. They are just not going to be profitable unless you hit your set. According to http://www.texasholdem-poker.com/odds1 , You have a 12% chance to get them on the flop, and if not on the flop? I round it up to 5% or 20:1 . You see here. Your pair just isnt likly to win. That is assuming no other player has one of your cards in thier hand.
Reason I dump these pre-flop is that unless I am already winning and trying to "gamble" on a limp, there is no reason to play these for profitablilty. You cant really call a raise, unless you put a weak player on AK or less, and then you'd have to re-raise that player to isolate and hope he doesnt pair up. (26% or 4:1 that he does) so even then your ahead but not by much. With the lowest pocket pairs, 2-2 - 5-5, if the board double pairs above your pocket pair you loose as well. While you must play your opponents, and can possibly win with them, they are defintly not profitable and begginers should stay away especcialy in early possition.
Reason I dump these pre-flop is that unless I am already winning and trying to "gamble" on a limp, there is no reason to play these for profitablilty. You cant really call a raise, unless you put a weak player on AK or less, and then you'd have to re-raise that player to isolate and hope he doesnt pair up. (26% or 4:1 that he does) so even then your ahead but not by much. With the lowest pocket pairs, 2-2 - 5-5, if the board double pairs above your pocket pair you loose as well. While you must play your opponents, and can possibly win with them, they are defintly not profitable and begginers should stay away especcialy in early possition.
Welcome!
Hello Everyone,
Thank you for visiting my blog. I am a Poker Room Manager in South East Michigan. I have been dealing No-Limit Hold-em, Pot limit Omaha, and 7-Card Stud for a year prior to that. As well as playing poker since I turned 16. So you will have the full perspective of my experience from observing play, getting tells, and acting on them. Also I play small limit tournaments online, and it is amazing how different it is without a life opponent sitting next to you!
I will have a series of blogs about hands I see, and how to avoid traps and capatlize on your opponents mistakes! Great for begginers and advanced players alike. Again Welcome!
Thank you for visiting my blog. I am a Poker Room Manager in South East Michigan. I have been dealing No-Limit Hold-em, Pot limit Omaha, and 7-Card Stud for a year prior to that. As well as playing poker since I turned 16. So you will have the full perspective of my experience from observing play, getting tells, and acting on them. Also I play small limit tournaments online, and it is amazing how different it is without a life opponent sitting next to you!
I will have a series of blogs about hands I see, and how to avoid traps and capatlize on your opponents mistakes! Great for begginers and advanced players alike. Again Welcome!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)