I have a bunch of questions to ask. But before I start, I would like first to commend you and thank you for this nice, very helpful site. It has been a great help to me. It has been providing me very useful info, tips, etc. Thank you very much!

Now, here are my questions:

1. At the table, is there any action or mannerism you keep record of?
2. While in a hand, is there any specific question you ask yourself?
3. Say bottom pair BB check or bet instead?
4. In tourney, when should one go all in or not with short stack?
5. What’s the best or most effective way to spot bluff?
6. Say small pocket pair middle position with or without raise before to your seat, what will you do?
7. In the event you’re leading in terms of chips, see many pots several pots?

I’ll be glad to hear from you in no time.

Thanks again for the site!

Cheers,
Jack
Jack,

1. I keep track of betting patterns of my opponents. I also take not of the physical way they bet different hands. I look for body language, listen to them talk, and what they say or don’t say during hands. I also pay attention to what they do while they are in a hand and see if it changes during situations such as bluffs, monster hands, etc.
2. What are the potential hands that my opponent may have right now. How does my opponent view me right now. Should I check or bet this flop. What is his stack size compared to mine. What are the odds for this hand improving?
3. If you flop bottom pair and you are in the big blind, you will usually want to check unless you were the aggressor preflop. Then you want to make a continuation bet.
4. With a short stack, try and find a reasonable hand that you can push your stack with. You really want to try to be the aggressor to allow yourself the best option to win. A pair, big ace, two big cards, or any reasonable ace are good hands to move in with. If the blinds and antes are about to go up, wait a little bit and move in after the level changes to try and pick up some extra money, especially if you have antes.
5. The most effective way to catch a bluff is to learn your opponents betting patterns. Also watch how they bet when they show hand that are the nuts and when they show bluffs. Try and notice differences in body language and the way they bet.
6. You want to try and limp in with small pocket pairs in middle position. If you are facing a raise, if the raise isn’t huge and if you have at least one other caller, take a look at the flop and try and hit a set.
7. You can open up your hand ranges some, but be careful of tangling with big stacks. You want to use your chips to bully other players.

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I’ve been into local free rolls in my area. Well, I play two or three times a week. Most of the time, I face bunch of players with different approaches.

Majority of the players I come to face are loose type making it hard for me to steal pots even with a preflop raise and a continuation bet. On the better side, I still can make it to the final table in just almost half the time. There’s just one situation I can never forget.

In early position back then, I had a decent hand, AKs, AK, AQs, AQ. For approximately three times the BB I raised and then got several callers. Flop came but of no help. Later, turn came but of also no help to me, I haven’t made a hand still. At such point, I was in doubts if placing another bet will be a good move.

If you were me, will you place another bet? Well, personally I want to place another one to obtain more info. Also, if I was back in position, how would the situation change? Do you think for free card, I should just check it down to the river and then wait and see if other player place a bet on the river? What do you think?

Your help will be much appreciated.

Thanks!

John
John,

If you raised preflop, you need to make a continuation bet on the flop. If you get called, then you must make a decision to either fire a bluff on the turn or check. The same goes for if the hand is in position except for the fact that on the turn, you will want to almost automatically fire a second bet into the pot to play your position.

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Assume that you are in a no limit tourney or a sit and go with 800 chips and with blinds 15/30. Then at some point, perhaps in the third hand, you see AQs and so you raise it up to 60. You then have several callers however they’re not the blinds. Consequently, flop came Qxx rainbow and so in early position I placed a bet around 60-90. Behind me, somebody went out and moved all in. Do you think I should call such or just give away the 120-150 chips and then flip the high pair?

Another thing, say you are on a certain money table with some maniacs, would you still play and then have the risk of losing money just to have more? Any thoughts? How about advice?

Thanks!

Knutson
Knutson,

In a tournament with a low amount of chips like you were in, I would call. In a sit n go I would call as well. You are trying to make it to the top three spots. You need to push your advantages when you can. Chances are you are against a weaker queen or a lower pair. If not, there is always next time. With the short stacked nature of the event, you needed to pick up chips.

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Hand 1:

There were eight players. Player 1 was Rich with 54137. Player 2 was Wesley with 129679. Player 3 was Elija with 197197. Player 4 was Noah with 45939. Player 5 was Mike with 182007. Player 6 was Perry with 222544. Finally, player 8 was Benj with 54593. All figures by the way were in chips.

At certain point, Rich posted the ante 400. This was followed by Wesley, Elija, Noah, Mike, Perry, and Ben who all posted the ante 400. Mike then posted small blind 4000 while Perry the big blind 8000.

Noah then was dealt Jh Ah. Ben raised to 1600. Rich folded and so as Wesley and Elija. Noah raised to 45539 and was all-in actually. Mike and Perry then folded. Ben called 29539. Flop came and was Ts 8c 5d. Turn followed and brought Ts 8c 5d Th. River as expected then also came and brought Ts 8c 5d Th Qs.

At revelation time, Ben flipped over Ks Qh two pair, Queens and Tens while Noah had Jh Ah a pair of Tens. Ben then got the pot.

Hand 2:

There were nine players. Player 1 was Terrence with 11780. Player 2 was Avie with 21364. Player 3 was Sam with 7314. Player 4 was Zeck with 8808. Player 5 was Axel with 6650. Player 6 was Sean with 7405. Player 7 was Dean with 9430. Player 8 was Norman with 8379. Finally, player 9 was Iñaki with 11845. All figures were in chips.

Terrence started the posting. He posted the ante 50. Avie, Sam, Zeck, Axel, Sean, Dean, Norman, and Iñaki all followed and posted the ante 50 as well. Zeck then posted small blind 300 while Axel posted the big blind 600.

Later, Norman was dealt Kc Ac. Sean then folded and so as Dean. Norman called for 600. Iñaki raised to 1200. Terrence, Avie, Sam, Zeck, and Axel all folded. Norman then called for 600 again. Flop then came and was 7c 6c 8h. Norman placed a 600 bet while Iñaki called 600. Turn came and brought 7c 6c 8h Ad. Norman placed 1200 bet while Iñaki again called, at such point 1200. River came and brought 7c 6c 8h Ad Qc. Norman then checked while Iñaki placed 3000 bet. Norman then raised to 5329 and was all-in. Iñaki called 2329.

At showdown, Norman had Kc Ac a flush, Ace high while Iñaki had Jd Ah a pair of Aces. Norman won the pot.

Aside from the two recent hands, I would like to also share to you something and eventually ask a few questions.

In one of your sections, I’ve read that you believe the player has played the second hand perfectly. I’m referring here about the player who had a couple of tournament hands. I’m sorry but I have to disagree. Well, I believe that you must be 100% sure that when you check, your opponent will bet. I also somehow believe that to make more money, do not risk a check raise and place a nice bet just enough and not too huge to invite a call. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Regards,
Deluzio
Deluzio,

You’re right. In order to check there, he needs to be certain that his opponent will bet. I think in the situation above, that checking will make it appear that he is scared of the flush. One of the opponents probably read on this and acted. If that is the case, I think it was a good play.

In either case, you must be sure your opponent is going to be to try that move. Actually, in many tournaments, if you do not bet on the river and are shown to hold the nuts, you can receive a penalty for soft playing.

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I was in an online $50 no-limit tourney the other week. At some point, I was dealt Kd Qd while the blinds were 100/200. I remember I had 1800 chips while the BB had 8000, he was the table leader by the way. One caller appeared and so I raised to 400. SB then folded while BB called. Other players folded.

Later, flop came and brought Kh2d4h. Then I placed a 600 bet and BB called. Turn came and brought 4d. At such point, I had 2 pair with a flush draw.

To be honest, I was concerned of the 600 call. I want to ask, how would you play when you feel you have the best hand and your opponent is on a draw? Well, when I was at such instance, I went all in. As expected, I was called. River came however was not a diamond. BB then flipped his cards over, Jc4s, therefore he won the pot.

For several times, such situation happened to me. Most of the time, I don’t want the player to have cheap cards as he might be on a draw however in the event I bet too big and he made hand, big losses are ahead. Please, I need your advice on this.

Thanks,
Dornisch
Dornisch,

You played the hand properly. The fact that your opponent called with such a poor hand speaks about his poor play, not your ability. You had 2 pair and a flush draw. The only draw to beat you is an Ace high draw. I might have bet as a partial value bet and to disguise the fact I had a draw too.

When there is a draw possible, you do not want the players to get a cheap draw. You played well. You just got unlucky.

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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.

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I want to ask something related to heads up play. Recently, I luckily made it to the final two players. I had pocket 8’s. Later part, I chased for an 8 on the flop and luckily I got what I wanted and had 3 of a kind, however straight draw was possible then. I felt confident thinking he won’t have anything. I slow played. Unfortunately, my opponent had the straight and won.

Do you think in such situation, I just thought of myself, milk the pot and had the most I can out of my opponent? Also, did he folded as I raised high?

Another thing, in the event there is no straight draw, is it a wise move to milk the pot with 3 of a kind and then when a straight draw is already visible, just bet strong? What do you think?

Thanks!

Kind regards,
Freeman
Freeman,

If this was a full table, I would say bet out your set to chase out the draws. Since you were heads up, the odds of him having the draw were much longer. I personally would have probably tried to slow play the set in the situation too.

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I’m here now as I would like to ask two questions. I hope you have extra time.

1. Do you think it is possible to let someone in into the game though it’s already late? Say the game is a home texas holdem game with additional buy-ins allowed.
2. Say you bet more than minimum in a no limit holdem event. Will that bet be the new minimum bet? If yes, can you please explain to me why.

Thanks!

Regards,
Rhodes
Rhodes,

1. If you are running a rebuy event, then late entries should be allowed with no problem. Just consider it more rebuy money. In most tournaments, late entries can buy in for the first 2 to 3 levels depending on the event.
   
2. The new minimum bet is the amount of the prior raise. This keeps the raising consistent and alleviates confusion.

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The other day, I was in a no limit tournament with a $35 buy in by which everyone had $1500 worth of chips. I was two seats removed from the button when the blinds were still $25/$50. I remember I had Kh-Qh then. Few minutes passed and four players limped in.

Eventually, I raised to $300 while big blind and one limper decided to call. Flop as expected came and was Jh, 7d, 4c. Afterwards, it was checked to me and I placed another bet, once again it was $300. Big blind finally went all in while I called. My call was actually based on two over cards, a back door flush, and back door straight draw.

In the end, I lost to a AK off suit. I believe I didn’t survived that long because of the wrong moves which made me short stacked. Do you think it was just a bad luck or there was really something wrong with how I played?

Thank you very much.

All the best,
Praml
Praml,

You played bad in this hand. With all those limpers, you either fold K-Q or just limp in yourself. You may have been raising your position, but as you saw, this only knocked out two players.

Since you raised, the continuation bet on the flop was not a bad idea, but calling the all in was. Never call an all in based on backdoor draws and overcards to the board. As it turned out, you had 3 legitimate outs to win, and that was 3 queens. You had 12% to hit your hand at this point.

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I’ve read a magazine focusing mainly on casino stuff. In one of its articles, it was stated that “If you just call somebody on the river rather than raising them, you hurt all other players in the tournament. It’s not ethical poker, so don’t do it”. I don’t exactly understand what it means. Can you help me?

Thanks!

Regards,
Crocker
Crocker,

The only thing that I can think that this article is talking about is just calling on the river when you have the nuts. In tournament poker, if you do not bet or raise with the nuts on the river, then this is considered soft playing, which is a form of cheating.

Otherwise, there are many times that calling on the river is the appropriate play. Don’t worry about that unless you have the nuts. If you have the nuts, raise.

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