Poker Sharing

[SunDancer]

With a rising interest in hold'em poker here, I like to use this thread as a "advice" or "tips" thread on the game and things you like to share in your experiences. Any advice on learning opponents? I think this is a good thread.

[KWhit]

I'd also love to hear some strategy on the game. I can't offer any because I suck at it, but maybe someone will throw out some pointers to help me out.

[panerd]

My problem is that I would like to learn the game more, but the online games and PC games lack any of the psychology that seem to be a fundamental part of hold em poker. I am not sure if getting drunk with my friends qualifies either. So basically I am left with playing at a tournament or a casino where I am sure to get my ass kicked.

[Airhog]

I am by no means a great poker player. but I would imagine a good portion of skill in poker is reading another player. You can read players online, and in real life. Look for certain players and their styles, and then take money from them. It doesnt hurt to understand the fundamentals of poker ethier. Like when the odds are in your favor and such.

[AnalBumCover]

After watching tonight's episode of World Poker Tour on Travel Channel and Jerry Buss' style of play, I know now what NOT to do. He should've been MUCH more aggressive pre-flop.

[Draft Dodger]

All I can offer is this.

If you are going to play strip poker with some hot Canadian chicks, and then start snapping pictures once everyone gets naked, for the LOVE OF GOD please please please please make sure you've got film in the motherfucking camera.

[SunDancer]

IS online poker good. I just learn to play at partypoker.com, but only for play money. What are you advice for playing online? Any ways to read other players?

[sabotai]

"If you are going to play strip poker with some hot Canadian chicks, and then start snapping pictures once everyone gets naked, for the LOVE OF GOD please please please please make sure you've got film in the motherfucking camera."

Please don't tell me this is from personal experience. You would be the world's dumbest man if this actually happened. :)

[Draft Dodger]

Originally posted by sabotai
"If you are going to play strip poker with some hot Canadian chicks, and then start snapping pictures once everyone gets naked, for the LOVE OF GOD please please please please make sure you've got film in the motherfucking camera."

Please don't tell me this is from personal experience. You would be the world's dumbest man if this actually happened. :)

Then my new title shall indeed be "world's dumbest man"

[AnalBumCover]

OK, I got a situational question.

I'm playing no-limit tournament (a home game among friends). Throughout the evening, the players around me are somewhat loose-passive players.

I'm in early position, holding Pocket Rockets (paired Aces in the hole). I raise modestly pre-flop, and scare everyone away except for the player on the button, who calls.

Flop comes 2-8-K. I make another modest bet, but large enough to try for another scare tactic. Button raises All-In. I have a large stack, so I still have enough to cover and remain top 3 in chip count.

What should I be thinking at this point and how should I play?

[Airhog]

its very possible that he has a three of a kind. If I was in that situation I would call with two pair too see the flop, unless it was a pair of dueces. he could be bluffing ya though, but given they are loose-passive it just dosent fit that style.

[TredWel]

ABC,

The question you have to ask is "Are you beat?" You've done all you can to scream to the table that you've got the goods, and yet he still wants to risk elimination in an attempt to double up. I'd expect him to have KK, 88, or even K8s or 22 if he was a bad player who just got lucky. He certainly isn't betting on a draw. This makes you about a 6-1 dog in this circumstance. You don't need to knock him out that badly. Run. If he turns up AKs, well, them's the breaks.

[AnalBumCover]

Here's how the hand played out:

I ended up calling. And we flipped over our cards. The other player had K8s vs my AA, which means she (yes, it was a girl!) flopped the top two pair, Kings and Eights. At this point, my only out was an Ace.

Turn came 4, no help. River came K, and thus I lost to a full house, Kings full of Eights.

Should I have been more aggressive pre-flop in early position? Would it have made a difference in a loose-passive game such as this? I'm sure I would have bought the blinds in a tighter game.

ABC

[sabotai]

"Then my new title shall indeed be "world's dumbest man""

AWWW...AWWWWWW. Dude....AWWWW. You're an idiot! I swear. :D

[cartman]

Originally posted by AnalBumCover
.

Should I have been more aggressive pre-flop in early position? Would it have made a difference in a loose-passive game such as this? I'm sure I would have bought the blinds in a tighter game.

ABC

Some folks will pay to see the flop, once they've made the decision to stay in, no matter what. So I don't think aggression in the pre-flop would have helped in this situation.

Not knowing how anything prior to this hand, if they went all in on the flop, then more than likely they had at least two pair. I know it's hard to dump Aces in the hole, but sometimes it has to be done.

[TredWel]

With AA, you don't want to settle for the blinds. You made her go in to a pot where you will win 83% of the time. The fact that she got luckier than than you on the flop isn't your fault, it's just the nature of poker. You played it right, this time just happened to be the one time out of 6 you don't get rewarded for that play.

[Radii]

Originally posted by AnalBumCover
I'm in early position, holding Pocket Rockets (paired Aces in the hole). I raise modestly pre-flop, and scare everyone away except for the player on the button, who calls.

Flop comes 2-8-K. I make another modest bet, but large enough to try for another scare tactic. Button raises All-In. I have a large stack, so I still have enough to cover and remain top 3 in chip count.


Something no one else has brought up is the sizes of your stacks. If your opponent is extremely short stacked, then he's in a position where he has to make a move at some point. Given a short enough stack, that player may well only have a pair of kings. If his stack is big enough that he can last a few more passes through the blinds, then you've got to decide whether you think he's a player who would go all in with top pair alone or not.

You also said your stack was large enough that you could call and still remain in the top 3. Assuming your oppenent has a signifigantly smaller stack than you, I would seriously doubt he's trying to bluff you out of the pot. The question is just whether you think he has 1 pair, 2 pair or trips after the flop. If you can confidently put him on 2 pair or better, well, you've only got two outs, and should probably fold.


Short answer: Stack size and your judgement of his past play dictate what you do here I would think.

Disclaimer: I'm still a novice at this game but playing it way too much for my own good. ;)

[ctmason]

Originally posted by AnalBumCover


Should I have been more aggressive pre-flop in early position? Would it have made a difference in a loose-passive game such as this? I'm sure I would have bought the blinds in a tighter game.

ABC

Why would you want the blinds with AA?

I agree with the comments about stack sizes, you haven't mentioned that. Given tight play and a short stack, I would have put her on KK, perhaps another high pair due to her lack of re-raise.

After the flop, I would have personally folded, IF I had a similar stack or slightly bigger stack than the opponent. Given a bigger stack, a check raise after the flop would have been ideal, or depending on the size of her bet, would have given you the opportunity to make a judgement call on staying in the pot.

I probably would have checked and folded if I had a large stack, but I've always been pretty conservative in tournaments, and been accused of "playing to the final table" rather than playing to win.

[mrsimperless]

Raise, always raise.

[SunDancer]

You guys enter any $/toruneys online? Any advice for playing online. I noticed they all play all the way with "pairs", and bluff alot, is it the same with real stakes and a toruney?

[RPI-Fan]

At the $5 Pokerroom tourneys, I've found the best strategy to just play real tight. It might not get you a win, but you're very likely to find your way into the money. People don't seem to pay enough attention at low levels, so I basically muck everything but TT or higher, or ATx or higher.

[SunDancer]

Care to go into more detail RPI fan?

[cuervo72]

Originally not posted by RPI-Fan
At the $5 Pokemon tourneys, I've found the best strategy to just play real tight. It might not get you a win, but you're very likely to find your way into a Pikachu.