I took a trip with some friends back in January of this year and we were staying at one of the Harrah's properties. As I wandered to the poker room, I realized that the only no limit hold 'em that they were spreading was $2/$5. The $2/$5 game at my local casino does not have a maximum buy in so it is usually the big game and people usually play with very deep stacks. All of my $1/$2 play does not involve deep stack poker as most players are short stacked. I was glad to hear that there was a minimum buy in of $200 and a maximum buy in of $300. However, if you were at the main table, the maximum buy in was 75% of the big stack.
I bought in for $300 and quickly doubled up a player when he flopped a flush and I flopped aces up. I called a raise with 5-5 and caught a player bluffing on an eight high flop. After that, I gained the respect of the table and gradually built my stack up and left about a $250 winner. The next day, I played a long session during the afternoon. I was at the main table but it had just opened up, so nobody was sitting with a whole lot of chips. I had won a few small pots and was about $100 winner on my initial $300 buy in. I noticed a player try to buy in to the game for $1,000. The dealer quickly informed him that he could not do so. Instead he bought in for about $450. It was obvious that this guy had money and he wasn't afraid to throw it around. He was getting involved in pots with junk and was trying to bully the table a bit. I knew I could bust him if the right hand came up.
Under the gun, I picked up As-Jc and raised to $15. Normally, I would raise more than 3 times the big blind, but I figured I would get respect from an under the gun raise. I get two callers, one of which is the bully. The flop came J-7s-2s. I led out with a bet of $40 into a $52 pot. I get raised to $100 by the bully. Two pair did not seem like a possible holding and neither did an over pair. The only hands I was really worried about was a flopped set. However, I just didn't think this guy had it. I reraised him all in. He called quickly stating that he had me on the flush draw. He turned over J-5 of hearts and didn't improve. What a donkey. Even if I had a hand like As-Ks, he is only about even money with his jack against my over cards and flush draw. Needless to say, he went broke a few hands later and I left that session a $500 winner.
I played one $2/$5 no limit hold 'em session later on that evening. I was taking advantage of inexperienced players who were showing weakness. If I felt weakness on a hand, I was usually raising and taking down the pots. I made a few minor mistakes, but still managed to end that session about a $300 winner or so. All in all, it was a good trip as I made more than enough to cover hotel and travel expenses.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Straight Flush
I was playing in a small buy in heads up pot limit omaha tournament recently. I had over a 2-1 chip lead when the following hand came up. I limped in with 6c-8c-4-4. This is certainly not a powerful hand, but you are usually drawing live. I had straight possibilities along with a pair and clubs. I flopped a flush. The flop came 2c-7c-10c. I also had a gutshot straight flush draw. My opponent checked and I checked as well. I usually bet out with weak flushes in omaha, but with my chip lead, I wanted to see if my opponent would make a mistake. I turned the nuts when the 9 of clubs hit. I was now hoping that my opponent also had a flush. My opponent led out and bet and I smooth called. The river was a blank and I knew I held the nuts. With the board not being paired, I figured I wouldn't get much action unless I was up against a flush. My opponent led out at me again and I decided to raise the minimum.
I was surprised when I got reraised. I now knew what I was up against. It became clear that my opponent flopped the ace high flush. His check on the flop and bet on the turn combined with the big reraise of my raise on the river told the story. My only decision was to figure out how to get all of his chips. Making another minimum raise might be a bit too obvious. I raised the pot to put him all in. He called and I won the match.
I was surprised when I got reraised. I now knew what I was up against. It became clear that my opponent flopped the ace high flush. His check on the flop and bet on the turn combined with the big reraise of my raise on the river told the story. My only decision was to figure out how to get all of his chips. Making another minimum raise might be a bit too obvious. I raised the pot to put him all in. He called and I won the match.
Friday, April 20, 2007
A Donkey move
Let's face it--nobody is perfect. That is especially true when it comes to poker. I make mistakes every time I sit down at the table. I just try to minimize the amount and magnitude of the mistakes. I normally post about hands that I played well. This was a hand that I did not play well but ended up getting very lucky for a split.
I was in my regular $1/$2 no limit hold 'em game and picked up 9-9 in early position and raised to $10. After one caller, a tight and solid player raised me to $35. Normally, this is a very easy fold for me as I am quite familiar with the way my opponent plays. However, something told me that he was making a move of some kind. He had recently won a few pots and built his short stack back up to a respectable level. My read was that he had A-K at best. I also knew that he knew that I knew his game. This made me a likely target for him to try a bluff. Since I play a solid game as well, he knows that I can't call a raise unless I have a big hand. Since he knows that and he also knows that I know he is a solid player, my logic should tell me that he has a monster when he reraises me.
I over thought the hand. It was as simple as that. I was sitting on about $300 and my opponent had about another $100 after his raise. I reraised all in and was instantly called. Whoops. I made a bad read. He turned over Ah-As. I had 9c-9h. The flop came with 3 diamonds. The turn was a diamond. The river was a 9--the 9 of diamonds. We chopped the pot. In retrospect, this move wasn't as much of a donkey move as you might think. A donkey would certainly not be thinking on the level that I was. I made a bad read and followed through on it. You have to have the courage to follow through on a read if you think your opponent is weak. I did that and was fortunate enough to split the pot. I kidded with the dealer that I made my set on the river as she was splitting up the pot.
I was in my regular $1/$2 no limit hold 'em game and picked up 9-9 in early position and raised to $10. After one caller, a tight and solid player raised me to $35. Normally, this is a very easy fold for me as I am quite familiar with the way my opponent plays. However, something told me that he was making a move of some kind. He had recently won a few pots and built his short stack back up to a respectable level. My read was that he had A-K at best. I also knew that he knew that I knew his game. This made me a likely target for him to try a bluff. Since I play a solid game as well, he knows that I can't call a raise unless I have a big hand. Since he knows that and he also knows that I know he is a solid player, my logic should tell me that he has a monster when he reraises me.
I over thought the hand. It was as simple as that. I was sitting on about $300 and my opponent had about another $100 after his raise. I reraised all in and was instantly called. Whoops. I made a bad read. He turned over Ah-As. I had 9c-9h. The flop came with 3 diamonds. The turn was a diamond. The river was a 9--the 9 of diamonds. We chopped the pot. In retrospect, this move wasn't as much of a donkey move as you might think. A donkey would certainly not be thinking on the level that I was. I made a bad read and followed through on it. You have to have the courage to follow through on a read if you think your opponent is weak. I did that and was fortunate enough to split the pot. I kidded with the dealer that I made my set on the river as she was splitting up the pot.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Quads
If you play poker long enough, you will make your fair share of quads and other strong hands. I once had a session where I made quads twice within 30 minutes and only won about $10 on each hand in my regular $1/$2 no limit hold 'em game. It is widely known that the value of seeing the flop with a small pair comes from the times when you hit your set. Your powerful hand is disguised quite well and you will usually get good action from players with top pair or two pair.
I was fortunate to flop quad deuces one evening. The pot had been raised to $10 and I was in the big blind. There were four players in the pot before me so I was getting about 4-1 on a call. Obviously, I'm not in the lead here. I may have the best hand, but I'm definitely not a favorite against 4 other hands. The value in the call is on the implied odds. If I hit my set (or quads in this case), I am very confident I can win a huge pot. That was exactly what happened. I could have not asked for a better flop. A-2-2. I saw one deuce in the window as the dealer put out the flop and then there was one more. I was almost certain at least one of the 4 players had and ace, so I checked. There was a bet and a call of $20 and of course, I called the $20 since I held the nuts. The turn was a blank. I checked again and the initial bettor went all in for about $35. The other player called along with myself. The river was yet another blank. I asked my opponent how much he had left. He had about $35 or $40, so I announced that I was all in. He called. I flipped up my hand and told the dealer that there was no need to worry about a side pot as I won it all.
I was fortunate to flop quad deuces one evening. The pot had been raised to $10 and I was in the big blind. There were four players in the pot before me so I was getting about 4-1 on a call. Obviously, I'm not in the lead here. I may have the best hand, but I'm definitely not a favorite against 4 other hands. The value in the call is on the implied odds. If I hit my set (or quads in this case), I am very confident I can win a huge pot. That was exactly what happened. I could have not asked for a better flop. A-2-2. I saw one deuce in the window as the dealer put out the flop and then there was one more. I was almost certain at least one of the 4 players had and ace, so I checked. There was a bet and a call of $20 and of course, I called the $20 since I held the nuts. The turn was a blank. I checked again and the initial bettor went all in for about $35. The other player called along with myself. The river was yet another blank. I asked my opponent how much he had left. He had about $35 or $40, so I announced that I was all in. He called. I flipped up my hand and told the dealer that there was no need to worry about a side pot as I won it all.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
An indirect trap
Sometimes you can play a hand very well and still lose because your opponent also played it well. In this hand, I played my hand well and got trapped by a player who did not play his hand well in my opinion and actually ended up folding. Let me explain.
I was in my regular $1/$2 no limit hold 'em game. I picked up 8-8 in early position and made my standard opening raise to $10. I was called by one player in middle position and then another player two seats off of him. The cut off, button and blinds all folded. The flop came 5-6-8. I just flopped top set and am loving my hand. I led out and bet $20 into a $33 pot. My first caller raises me to $50 and then his raise gets called by the second player. Now seemed like as good of a time as any to put the squeeze play on. I put the second player on a pair of jacks. I just wanted the initial raiser out as I had him on some kind of draw. I raised all in to about $250. The first player called another $100 or so to put himself all in. Then the third player went into the tank for a real long time. At that point, I guessed that he might have flopped a set of fives or sixes. He finally folded A-A face up. Of course, I ran into the nuts as the first raiser turned over the 7-9. The board did not pair and I lost a big pot.
While I can't blame the player for raising me with the flopped nuts, I don't like the way the other player played his A-A. I rarely raise from early position without a strong hand, so he knew that I had something strong. After the call from the 7-9, I think you have to reraise with A-A to get the pot heads up. By just smooth calling, the button or blinds could be justified in seeing a flop with just about any two live cards. I think if he would have raised, to somewhere around $30, I would have called and the 7-9 would most likely fold. If the Aces raise to around $50, I probably fold along with the 7-9. I don't mind the way the player with the 7-9 played his hand. He knew his hand was live and if he hit a big flop he could double up. That was exactly what happened. He can thank the player with the A-A for that.
I was in my regular $1/$2 no limit hold 'em game. I picked up 8-8 in early position and made my standard opening raise to $10. I was called by one player in middle position and then another player two seats off of him. The cut off, button and blinds all folded. The flop came 5-6-8. I just flopped top set and am loving my hand. I led out and bet $20 into a $33 pot. My first caller raises me to $50 and then his raise gets called by the second player. Now seemed like as good of a time as any to put the squeeze play on. I put the second player on a pair of jacks. I just wanted the initial raiser out as I had him on some kind of draw. I raised all in to about $250. The first player called another $100 or so to put himself all in. Then the third player went into the tank for a real long time. At that point, I guessed that he might have flopped a set of fives or sixes. He finally folded A-A face up. Of course, I ran into the nuts as the first raiser turned over the 7-9. The board did not pair and I lost a big pot.
While I can't blame the player for raising me with the flopped nuts, I don't like the way the other player played his A-A. I rarely raise from early position without a strong hand, so he knew that I had something strong. After the call from the 7-9, I think you have to reraise with A-A to get the pot heads up. By just smooth calling, the button or blinds could be justified in seeing a flop with just about any two live cards. I think if he would have raised, to somewhere around $30, I would have called and the 7-9 would most likely fold. If the Aces raise to around $50, I probably fold along with the 7-9. I don't mind the way the player with the 7-9 played his hand. He knew his hand was live and if he hit a big flop he could double up. That was exactly what happened. He can thank the player with the A-A for that.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Beware of the small blind
You'll often hear tournament players say that you should never go broke with just one pair. The same statement can be applied to a cash game. I was in a $1/$2 no limit hold 'em game and was dealt 3-5 in the small blind. It was an unraised pot with about 5 limpers so, I threw in the extra dollar as I was pretty sure the big blind was not going to raise. 7 of us saw a flop of A-2s-4s. I just flopped the nuts. Normally, I would just check the nuts and let my opponents hang themselves, but in this situation I chose to lead out and bet. I wanted to thin the field and get any flush draws out. I also knew I would get action from anyone holding an ace. The pot was at $14 so I led out with a $10 bet. One of the early limpers called the bet and after a couple of folds, the pot was raised to $30. My read was that the called had a weak ace and that the raiser had the flush draw (and maybe and ace as well). I went ahead and raised all in for about $250. The initial player called me (he only had about $50 more in his stack) and the other player who had about as much as I did folded.
I was up against A-8 and had my opponent dead to runner runner possibilities. The other player confirmed that he held As-Js and that he knew he was behind and knew I wouldn't make that play without the 3-5. Kudos to him for making a good laydown, but I like when players will get overly committed to a pot with a weak hand. In his position, I would have folded the A-8 preflop. The lesson of this story is to not go broke in an unraised pot. Clearly, I held a trash hand, but when it hit, I knew my hand was good and that my opponents were not good enough to get away from one pair.
I was up against A-8 and had my opponent dead to runner runner possibilities. The other player confirmed that he held As-Js and that he knew he was behind and knew I wouldn't make that play without the 3-5. Kudos to him for making a good laydown, but I like when players will get overly committed to a pot with a weak hand. In his position, I would have folded the A-8 preflop. The lesson of this story is to not go broke in an unraised pot. Clearly, I held a trash hand, but when it hit, I knew my hand was good and that my opponents were not good enough to get away from one pair.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
A rare situation
Around June of 2006, I found myself in a mixed game of $1/$2 pot limit omaha and $1/$2 no limit hold 'em. We were playing an orbit of each game before switching to the other. Since the table was half no limit, the usual maximum buy in of $300 was enforced. After a few people reloading, if you were to buy in for the maximum, you would be the short stack. I started with $200 and quickly ran it up to about $500 after catching some good cards in hold 'em and some good flops in omaha. The hold 'em play was pretty standard and few people went to the flop. Omaha, on the other hand, had almost every single player going to the flop. Usually, there was one preflop raise to around $15 or so. This made the omaha pots very large as they usually tend to get. I was making my draws at the right times, getting away from hands with no redraws, and betting my two pairs and sets strong enough to win the hand before any more cards came off. In other words, I was playing my A game and was getting some decent cards too.
One interesting hand came up while I was playing pot limit omaha. I held Q-Q-x-x and called a $15 raise preflop along with 6 others. This put $75 in the pot. I flopped top set. I don't remember the rest of the flop other than it was very uncoordinated. Normally, in omaha I'll bet top set strong. However, with this unique flop, I checked. One player made a small bet of about $30 into the pot and got one caller before I also called. My plan was to put in a big bet on the turn if a scary draw card hit. It didn't. The turn was another blank. The only legitimate draw was a gut shot straight. I felt like my best move was to check again. I was hoping that someone had made two pair and was going to bet again. There was a bet of $50 and again one more caller before it got to me and I called. The river was a harmless 6. Everything missed. Based on the board, I knew I held the nuts. Knowing you have the nuts with a set doesn't happen too often in flop games. I led out with a value bet of $150. I wanted it to seem like I was trying to steal with a busted draw. The player who was doing the initial betting folded to my bet, but then I was surprisingly called by the other player. He made his set on the river and had to pay me off. I took in a huge pot and ended my session about a $750 winner--my largest single session win to date.
One interesting hand came up while I was playing pot limit omaha. I held Q-Q-x-x and called a $15 raise preflop along with 6 others. This put $75 in the pot. I flopped top set. I don't remember the rest of the flop other than it was very uncoordinated. Normally, in omaha I'll bet top set strong. However, with this unique flop, I checked. One player made a small bet of about $30 into the pot and got one caller before I also called. My plan was to put in a big bet on the turn if a scary draw card hit. It didn't. The turn was another blank. The only legitimate draw was a gut shot straight. I felt like my best move was to check again. I was hoping that someone had made two pair and was going to bet again. There was a bet of $50 and again one more caller before it got to me and I called. The river was a harmless 6. Everything missed. Based on the board, I knew I held the nuts. Knowing you have the nuts with a set doesn't happen too often in flop games. I led out with a value bet of $150. I wanted it to seem like I was trying to steal with a busted draw. The player who was doing the initial betting folded to my bet, but then I was surprisingly called by the other player. He made his set on the river and had to pay me off. I took in a huge pot and ended my session about a $750 winner--my largest single session win to date.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
