I don’t like table tournaments so I tried $25 PL online. I’ve been playing such kind for some time now.

In one of the events I was in, I lost because of a certain hand. There were actually five players in back then. I had $64 and was considered the largest stack. At certain point, I got 10 10. Then I raised to $2.75 by which was the pot amount. Other four players called. Flop came and brought 10d Qc Kc. Player into me placed a $2 bet while I raised to $5. Player next to me also raised but at such point it was $10. Other two players followed and went all in for the money left to them, approximately $15. For $25, original bettor then went all in. Later, I followed my instincts saying I have to call. I wasn’t able to get the boat as well as any club. Player next to me had AJ.

In your opinion, did I make the right play? Or if not, I should have laid it down?

Well, fortunately, I got AA on next hand while the player who won the big pot had KK. For $28, both of us re-raise till I’m all in. Luckily I was able to somehow get back what I lost earlier.

Since I’m here, I’ll just grab the chance to ask this. Well, it’s something about the argument that me and my friend had just recently. He said that the 2004 WSOP is not over and that Greg Raymer and his $5 million win was only a preliminary. Is this true? And according to another guy I fairly know, it was the Vogel guy who won it.

Personally, I believe that the event lasted 6-7 days and actually started with preliminary tournaments. Those who won got a bracelet and go on to play. It just continued till the winner was determined. Please, I need clarity on this.

Thanks!

Regards,
Zaccano
Zaccano,

You flopped a set. There was a lot of action involved which meant that you might be behind. Of course, there is a good chance that you had the best hand. With so much money in the pot, you pretty much had to call here.

The 2004 WSOP concluded when Greg Raymer won the Main Event when he defeated David Williams. The World Series of Poker is a set of over 50 tournaments. Each award a bracelet. The events before the Main Event are preliminary events. The winners of the event does not automatically qualify for the Main Event. The players that play the Main Event must put up $10,000 each to play. The Main Event is spread out over around the course of nearly two weeks now. The entire WSOP lasts over 6 weeks.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I’m really bothered now as I’ve played three tourneys recently and I had silly calls. At the first game, I went all-in with AA against AK who re-raised first bettor who had Q 10 off. I called and surprisingly then, Q 10 called as well and made quad 10’s. I haven’t expected the way my call turned out actually. At the second game, I remember I made a 500 chip raise holding KK into a player who was playing every hand and has marginal hands. With 7 10 suited he actually called and got 7 10. Flop came but was safe for me. Then he called thus leaving him with only around 200 chips. Finally, at the third game, I had J 10 clubs and flop top two pair of diamonds. I then placed a bet and had one caller for it. Turn came and brought Q diamonds. He then placed a bet. Consequently, I laid it down and he flipped over 4 of diamonds. I was surprised then actually. Later, I went out 4 hands with AK suited. J 10 off called me.

As I recall those three tourneys, I really feel bad. I believe I’m a reasonable, fairly good player maybe it was just that there were so many new players who make bad calls back then. I’m planning now to somehow change the way I play. I will try to loosen up a bit and play some rags. With AK, I will not tend to be aggressive anymore however of course if I improved on the flop well that would be a different story.

Any thoughts? What do you think of my plan? I hope I make sense here. I badly need your help, so please help me.

Thanks for your time. And by the way, your site is so nice. It has been a great help to us players having some trouble.

Keep up the good work!

Regards,
Kervie
Kervie,

When you play solid poker, you will lose to silly calls and bad beats. That is a normal part of poker. You are doing nothing wrong there, you’re just getting unlucky. I would be careful of playing rag hands. If you are in the blind and can see them cheaply, then go for it. Otherwise, you can loosen up your requirements without playing 7-2 offsuit or 8-4 offsuit.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I was able to join many multi table NL tourneys just these past months. Most of the times, I’m going home with nothing and the reason I believe is something related to all-ins, when I have high pockets or hands such as AKs, usually I get excited preflop. However, I can muck such when I feel I will be beaten by someone. But in case of pre-flop, I don’t know why but I can’t dump any no matter what. Also, I would call pre-flop down if there are all-ins and so will just lose AA to KK or KQ and other second class hands in the end. I should have already won big if ever I succeeded on folding such.

The other day, at a certain tourney, a guy went all in and so I called him down in an instant. Once again, I lost my KK to an AJ.

I guess my question is, should I fold such hands when all-ins are evident? Also, in the event there are 2-3 players who are already all in, should I just then also go all in with my pocket pair with right judgment?

Hope to hear from you in no time.

Thanks a lot!

Jon Werking
Jon,

When you are faced with a preflop all-in with a hand such as Kings or Aces, you need to call. Yes, you may get outdrawn, but that is part of the game. In the case where multiple players are all in, I would only call with Queens, Kings, or Aces unless they are really short and your have a big stack and hope to knock out some players.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Let’s assume that you played yesterday at a 10-player online tournament NL Holdem. Then at some point, you were dealt AA. You were clueless how your opponents play however you were thinking then that a big bet or all-in might be called by four players or so. You thought that way because of your past experience.

Say two of those four players or so were maniacs, what will you do then? Still continue to take risk and play?

Personally, if such situation happens to me and I’m in a ring game, I will push the limits. However, the scenario say it was on an online tournament therefore I will more or less not bet that much and then will just try to have a feel for the table and some of the players before I go on playing. What do you think?

Thanks in advance!

Biddle
Biddle,

I’m going to push my aces, especially if there are maniacs at my table. I’m going to raise and if I am raised back, I am going to push and hope to get a call. If I am called by multiple players, fine. Yes, I will stand a greater risk to be outdrawn, but when I have the best preflop starting hand, I am going to play it strong.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I was in 10 person NL – $20 buy-in tournament the other day. Blinds then started at 100/200. For the third hand, in late position, I got AA. Blinds were 100/200.

Then, for 500 first position came in. Two callers appeared. For 20,000 first position went all in while everyone else folded. I then called and consequently he flipped over KK. Flop came and was KQJ. There was no all the way to the river and so I was busted out. I then thought that maybe I’ve done something wrong. What do you think?

I’m pondering on the idea that maybe my mistake is something related to the laying down of the hand. However, I’m quite confused as things are a bit different in ring games. I believe people at ring games are more likely to call with just about any 2 big cards. Or if not with a pair on about any bet considering 5 cards are about to appear.

By the way, how do you get away from AA in a tournament?

I hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks!

Jim Adams
Jim,

You don’t get away from A-A in a tournament preflop. It is the best starting hand you can get. If someone moves all-in, call. You are ahead. You will be outdrawn at times. That is part of poker. You made the right move.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.