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’m here as I want to ask something. I have a problem now as when I play tournaments online I oftentimes finish in the top 20% to 30% however when antes and blinds move up I end up going all in on nonsense cards and with almost no money. Well, in the small tournaments, I might be able to have my entry fee back to me.

I’m wondering if there’s anything I need to do. Please consider my stats. Any thoughts?

I hope to hear from you in no time.

Thank you very much!

Gilberg
Gilberg,

You probably are playing very tights and the blinds an antes catch up to you. Think about expanding your holdings in late position or seeing more cheap flops to try and catch lucky. Also, try and take advantage of other players that may be playing too tight.

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I’ve been playing $5-$30 buy-in tournaments online for some time now. I believe I’ve done quite well however these past days, I’ve been facing few troubles when the table gets down to four players and I am on the small stack or on the middle. I was surprised to know that even loose games turn extremely tight when four players are left as the first or top three are up for the money and all.

I’ve stumbled on your site the other day and discovered that you have to play face cards a bit stronger than usual in the event the table gets down to four. However, I find it hard to resist all-in draws.

I tried to be extremely tight however I was just blinded out or compelled to bid specially that I’m not high stack. But despite of this, I still believe that being tight and having tight play still work however, the big stack should push the action or the like. What do you think?

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Raineri
Raineri,

Play at the bubble can be tricky when you are the short stack. If you are short but are still in good shape relative to the blinds and ante’s, then play your solid style. If you are in trouble in relation to the blinds, you need to pick a hand and move. Pairs, A-K, A-Q, A-J, and even K-Q or K-J are very strong four handed. If you get to a flop and have a big draw of at least 9 cards or more, it is not a bad move to go all in, especially if you have pot odds.

If you have a big stack, you should push the action, and usually with the short stack. When you play a hand as the short stack, play it aggressively. Sometimes aggression will pick up the pot.

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I have two questions. Well, the first one was something related to what happened to me in a certain casino just this morning.

Early part of the event, I mucked all my hands preflop till the big blind appeared before me. Then I was dealt and UTG called. UTG + 1 mucked, then the dealer took those cards and placed them near my cards, thus throwing the much pile on my hand. I then called for a foul. Almost everyone said I should have protected my cards. I should have watched over them.

Then I realized that I only had few seconds before that player mucked to protect my cards and that the table we were using back then had no betting line. I fought out later that my whole hand should be re-dealt, but they refused. Any thoughts?

I’ll now proceed to my second question. This aroused from a scenario at an online sit n go. There were three player left for the pot, the dealer, small blind and me. Dealer had 4500, small blind had 3000, and I had 2500. Blinds by the way were 100/200.

It was mid part I believe when the button limped in and SB called. I then checked, I had 78. Flop came and brought J56. Sb checked while I followed with my minimum bet. Button called and so as SB. Turn came and brought a 9. I was able to hit the nut straight then.

Afterwards, SB placed 600. I then called and so as the button. River came and was Q. SB once again placed a bet, at such point 600 again. I raised all in and so as the button. For the nut straight, button had KT.

In case you were me at such instance, would you raise, go all in on the turn, or call?

Thanks!

Vic
Vic,

You should have put some chip or your hands on your cards etc. The dealer should not have put the muck pile near your hand. This would not happen in a casino.

In your scenario where your opponent sucked out on the straight, on the turn I would have either reraised or went all in and try to prevent him from drawing.

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Posting or Waiting for the Blind

Normally, in Texas Holdem, players take turns paying the blinds. And in order to ensure there is fairness on the share of blinds, new player should choose either of the two – wait a few hands until the blind comes around to him or her naturally or “post” an extra blind and get a hand right away. Most likely, if the player prefers to post rather than wait, one hand after he or she will be a regular player and dealer will continue to deal him or her in.

Basically, the chips the player has to post should be “live” which count for him or her as a bet. In the event the action is raised beforehand, post counts as credit toward calling the bet if player desired. If otherwise, then there is no need to bet any more chips to stay in the hand.

On Stud Poker on the other hand, there are no blinds and no waiting instead there are antes. Right after the player has placed himself and after the very next hand, player should post his or her ante.

Cards and Who is Dealt In

Your cards will be displayed in front of your seat once you are dealt. Other players also have their cards displayed in front of them. Usually this is the set up so that players can see who is dealt in. However, immediately right after player folds, cards disappear.

By all means, you must remember who was dealt out, and who was dealt in and folded for better judgment.

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