Recently, I was in a multi table fixed limit tournament. I was seriously troubled then as just about more than an hour after the tournament started, entries were gone, stakes went 50/100. I was in a new table with approximately 700 chips. Well, I was somehow behind in terms of chips but at least I was not the lowest.

If I remember it right, there were nine players at the table. Luckily, I got a number of decent starting hands however flops were empty therefore I bailed. Next thing that happened, I was down to approximately 465 chips then was UTG with the blinds coming and stakes moving up rapidly. My hole cards were Jh, Js. Then I called. Quite to my surprise, no raises followed. I believe there were 5 or 6 players in. Flop came and brought Jc, Qc, Th. Consequently, I either had called or led the betting. Again, no raises followed however at such point there were only 3 or 4 players in. Turn came and was 8h. I then led the betting while two others called. River came into the scene and brought 3h. I then bet while one folded. The other player raised. I then went all in while he called and then won the pot with his Ah and 9h.

Do you think I’ve played well? Another thing, if you were me back then, how would you play when you have just moved in a new table and was actually in a multi tournament?

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Stark
Stark,

You played this hand poorly. You should have raised pre-flop, especially if you were short stacked like you were. In fact, since a standard raise would have been to 350, I would have just moved all in preflop. When you are that short, you need to start picking up pots. Push your advantages. If I didn’t push preflop, I would have definitely done so on the flop.

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I’ll be playing soon in a tournament with a $50 buy in, $1,000 in chips. The tournament will be composed of ten players, will run for five hours and which will be raised every hour. The players I believe are not so really big bettors however are not cheap. Can you give me any advice on how should I be playing?

Last time, I played a tournament with a set up like the one I have just described. Honestly, I don’t know if I played well back then. One player went out at some point however was because of bad betting.

Your help will be much appreciated.

Thanks!

All the best,
Mike Johnson
Mike,

If you are against a bunch of tight players, you will want to be a little more aggressive with your betting. You will want to open up your hand ranges a bit and see more flops. Try and control the betting if you can but do not get silly. If you encounter resistance and you do not have a hand, then get out.

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Just recently, I was invited to be in a certain tournament. It was actually a six player no-limit winner-take-all tournament.

Back then, my opponents were five young men and the play was extremely loose and quick, just as what I have expected actually. Well, I tried to play a bit tighter than the table, however I have remained looser than usual. Unfortunately, earlier part I lost some hands, betting or bluffing on pocket cards that were questionable.

There was one player who had actually a great night. He was the player to my left. He played loosely and had pulled out flush draws and had eliminated shot straights on the turn. At some point, he had KK which actually had beaten AA with a K on the river.

I had one significant hand back then, pocket fives which turned into a set on the flop, and fives full of deuces on the turn. Fortunately, my hand had beaten two players on a big pot. Later, the table was down to three players, me, the maniac on my left, and the short stack.

I was expecting at certain point but later I felt the opposite over AJ off suit. Short stack eventually checked and I placed a bet to put him all in and the like. Maniac then called. Short stack followed and pushed in the last of his chips. Flop came and brought Ad, Jc, 7d. The bet was on me then while I flopped a very strong top two pair beforehand. I believe the maniac has nothing left anymore.

Later part, I went all in thinking he had nothing to beat me. He then called in an instant. Afterwards, he showed Qd, 3d. On the other side, short-stack flipped his own two diamonds Td 8d over. I was then happy as about a 70% to 75% chance that I could take all the chips was then very possible. However turn came and brought 6d. I felt very degraded right after knowing what the turn card was. Unfortunately, I was a terrible dog then. My only chance I believe was A or J on the river however none of the two came and therefore I lost.

As of now, when I recall, I still feel good about how I played though I lost. However, I’m now curious if what will you do in the event you are asked to call a bet of any amount already called by 5 other players and you’re guaranteed to be a 70% favorite. Would you certainly call? Will this be every time you are asked to do so?

Thanks in advance!

Moors
Moors,

If I know that I am a huge favorite to win a hand, I am going to call the all-in bets of other players. Being a 70% winner means that every 7 out of 10 hands you will win. Of course, you will lose the 3 other times. Getting sucked out on is a part of the game. When you play well, you will get sucked out on. Take pride in the fact you made a great decision. Don’t worry about the fact you got unlucky.

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For months now, I’ve been fond of playing poker. Same case as with my husband actually. We always watch TV Hold Em, play online and home NL tournaments NL Holdem. However, though we regularly play, we still don’t know all the rules. Well, we know more than the basics of the game however we just most of the time depend on those who we consider “regulars” to make calls.

This weekend, we’ll be having our first ever poker party but we are now troubled as we don’t know as maybe we’ll mess up and the like. We have invited players who don’t have any idea about the game. Our purpose of this is to try introduce them to the the game itself and then have fun. Buy in will be $20 and for sure there will be no more, no re-buys.

As of the moment, few days before the party, I’m still clueless if what are the types of Holdem games and if there’s any big difference between types. Any idea?

Thanks!

Warm regards,
Han
Han,

There are three types of Holdem, Limit Holdem, Pot Limit Holdem, and No Limit Holdem. The rules are the same for each except for betting. No Limit of course you can bet up to the max you have in your stack at any time. In Pot Limit Holdem, the most you can bet at any time is the size of the pot. In Limit, the betting is in fixed amounts and you are limited to the number of times that you may raise.

Most players will want to play a No-Limit Holdem tournament. There is a great article about running your own home tournament that can be found at http://casinogambling.about.com/od/poker/a/homepoker.htm and http://casinogambling.about.com/od/poker/a/homepoker_2.htm. I would read that article to give you some insight.

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At certain point, I was okay though I was not the chip leader. I was hoping so hard then as I was close to being one and many was already busted out.

It was mid part when I realized that player on my left was playing too aggressive. He was low in chips. Eventually, I got pocket Queens and then placed a bet by which I believed then was unreasonable bet as I was not in good position and I can actually bully a little.

Later, flop came and was not helpful at all. Afterwards, I placed a $2,000 bet instead of checking. He then thought I had an Ace. While he had a King. I wondered then why kept on saying,”You have an Ace, you have to have an ace.” Very intriguing actually. Eventually, he folded and so I won.

Well now as I look back, I believe he was just playing conservatively as the tournament had higher stakes and second place seemed to be as good as the first. But I’m curious, do you think what I did was really a bold play? And that something that I can save for the future or else risking $2,000 in chips?

By the way, I’m now referring to your site and Doyle’s book for guidance. I owe you and Doyle a treat. Many thanks to both of you!

Keep up the excellent work on this site!

Regards,
Holdenn
Holdenn,

I don’t know why your player just assumed you had a bare ace. He might have been trying to get a read on your hand. He may have been holding something like K-Q, K-J, or maybe a weaker ace. I think he was just trying to put you on a hand and didn’t have anything.

If the flop did not come with an overcard, betting out with queens is a good move. It’s not any sort of special move. Your opponent was just overacting I think.

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I will be playing soon where for $30 or $40, I will receive $100 dollars in chips. Blinds will be 2/4 4/8 8/16 16/32 24/48 32/64 and the game size, 7-9, maybe at some point just 6. Like as usual, blinds will change every after rounds.

More or less, the players who will be participating are average to below average players. Pre-flop raising will not be very evident and the pre-flop raises should be in intervals of big blind. Betting and raising from flop on could be any amount to all-in. Raising from flop will not be that apparent.

My worry now is that loosing up however playing suited connectors and K7 unsuited all night can be a lot of work. I might also not see pocket pairs.

Anything to share? Please, I need your advice.

Thanks!

Cheers,
Campbell
Campbell,

It sounds like you are playing a mixed Holdem tournament. Limit betting preflop and NL afterwards. In this type of game, you will want to see a lot more flops with various hands, but nothing that is too silly. Offsuited hands other than big offsuited cards can be tricky. Be a little careful with suited connectors as there will be a lot of players probably seeing the flop on occasion.

This is the type of tournament small ball poker works well in. See a lot of cheap flops and then punish your opponents when you hit the flop hard.

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