There are many aspects of poker one must be able to handle in order to succeed and earn money. There is the obvious aspect of patience. If you don't have patience and can't sit at a table and fold every hand you look at for an hour, you will be looking at felt a lot. Patience also comes into play when you are actually in a hand. If you loose a hand to someone that won on the river or hit runner runner for the straight or flush, and then go right back after that player or any player to regain your chips, you're not going to be successful. I've seen a lot of players go on tilt over one hand (I'm guilty of it to) and then the next thing you know, they are out of the game.
This coincides with the next aspect that I have trouble with in poker. The swings of poker. Whether it be the way the cards are falling or how your bankroll is fluctuating, the swings of poker can be disheartening and frustrating. For example, yesterday, I couldn't get a good hand to save my life. I saw a lot of 8 5 off, K 2 off, and more Ace/rag's then I could dream of. But based on my position or my chip stack, I just couldn't gamble and play with these cards. Then to add to the frustration, I saw 4 6 off twice and both times folded. Of course, two 6's hit on the flop both times.
So as my chip stack dwindled and I got busted out of tournament after tournament outside of the money, I decided to take a break and come back to it in about an hour. After that break, I was still getting cold cards and whenever I would get a good hand, everyone would fold around to me. Winning the blinds isn't bad unless you only win $0.35.
However, finally, after playing poker for almost 3 hours, I woke up with pocket Kings. Of course I raised and made it $1 to go. I was then re-raised and it was back to me. I had to pay $1.5 more to go. So I doubled that, making it $5 just to see the flop. I was called. I put my opponent on a pocket paid immediately, but I knew it was smaller than my kings. If it were Aces, he would have pushed all-in after my re-raise.
Flop comes down 8d 2h 10d. I push all-in for another $18. His hesitation in calling me tells me I am ahead. I've already told myself he doesn't have Aces and he doesn't have a set because he is thinking too much. He eventually calls and turns up Jacks.
My Kings hold up and just like that, I double up in my cash game funds for the day. After 3 hours of loosing money I come out ahead for the day.
So remember, patience and knowing that you're not going to win every hand will help you out in the future. Of course there are many other aspects to winning in poker, but we will talk about how to handle those later.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Can I get a rag to clean up my Ace?
I have something that is bothering me still to this day. I would like to present a question that I would love any response to. Let me setup the situation.
SnG game, $11 buy-in. 5 players left in the game. You are on the big blind. The first player to your left folds. The next player, in early position, raises 3 times the big blind. This player generally plays tight early and is a solid player. The player has a good hold on poker strategy and rules and knows how to play position.
The next 2 players, including the small blind, fold. Now it's up to you. Its $80 to call and take a stab at a pot of $250, so about 3 to 1 to call. You look at your cards and see As 5d (Ace spade, 5 diamonds for those new to this).
What do you do?
SnG game, $11 buy-in. 5 players left in the game. You are on the big blind. The first player to your left folds. The next player, in early position, raises 3 times the big blind. This player generally plays tight early and is a solid player. The player has a good hold on poker strategy and rules and knows how to play position.
The next 2 players, including the small blind, fold. Now it's up to you. Its $80 to call and take a stab at a pot of $250, so about 3 to 1 to call. You look at your cards and see As 5d (Ace spade, 5 diamonds for those new to this).
What do you do?
Welcome to Poker 101
Welcome. This is a little blog I'm going to try and keep track of and keep updated on a regular basis. This is not a blog of funny jokes, this blog is going to be about nothing but Poker. Online poker, live poker, tournaments, cash game, hold 'em, omaha, and other subjects. I will talk about some hands I have seen or played and share some thoughts.
Let's get started, shall we?
I should be in bed right now and I should have been in bed about an hour ago. I got home late from bartending tonight and I had to do some things with my finances before I went to bed that were bothering me. However, since I took a shower first, I was still wide awake when I got my tasks done. So I climbed in bed and signed on to my Full Tilt account. This is where I play online.
Over the past 2 years, I have deposited $50 to my Full Tilt account 5 times. My last deposit was in December 2007 and I have not made a deposit since. So my bankroll is at $69. That was until I played poker instead of going to bed. Don't be angry.
So I was torn on what to play. I didn't want to play long, just see some hands and get my body sleepy. My plan is to only play stakes where I have AT LEAST enough money to see 50 hands (when playing cash games) and play 50 tournaments (when I play SnG's). So with $69 in my bankroll, I figure I can play $0.50/$1 cash games. However, I am hesitant so I go to a $0.25/$0.50 game. And it's heads up.
Side note - I love heads up play. You have to be certain you have got the hand to beat. You have more outs which means you see and can play a lot more hands, but I think the skill level to play a heads up match is the same as playing a 9 man table. End side note.
I have a guy join my table and we both have bought in for $50. The cards start falling. I am trying to feel this guy out and I get a good read on him within the first 5 hands. Every time he is small blind, he raises 3 times the big blind. Every time he is big blind, he folds if I raise unless he have an over card. Also, if he doesn't hit the flop, he gets out of any bet, even if he is getting 4 to 1 on a call.
So I start taking some pots but I never see his cards, I just have an idea of how he is playing. After a few hands, I'm already up $7. Then I lose $12 on 2 hands where I was beat after the flop but the money was right to see the turn both times to see if I could hit my straight. Each time I folded when the money was no longer right.
Then, I am in the big blind and I have 6 7 off. Of course, this guy raises to $1.50 in the small blind (what he has been doing all night). I am now tired of him pushing me around in this situation and I have connected cards and loosen up. I call.
Flop comes down Q 8 9 rainbow. I have an open ended straight draw, with a possible straight on the board if this guy has J 10. I am first to act and check. He bets about $2 and I call. Turn comes down 5. I have hit my 9-high straight. I bet half the pot, $4. He raises to $16. I think about for a bit, wondering if he has J 10. I think if he does though, he would have bet more after the flop. I'm thinking he would have bet double the pot if he had the straight. So I figure he has a Q and my straight it good. I push all-in for $47. This is 80% of my bankroll but I know I have this hand and if he sucks out, he sucks out. I'm prepared to lose my money.
He doesn't even hesitate and calls. He turned up Q K off. There is not flush draw, he just has Queens with 2nd best kicker. River is a 4 and I take the pot down. I'm surprised by his call, but I think he underestimated me. I think what helped me is that a few hands earlier, I have K J suited and I called all of his bets with K high, while he had a pair the whole time. This probably made him think I was bluffing and trying to imply the straight. None the less, i won the hand and that made my night.
So, I hope you enjoyed this story. There will be more to come as I will begin discussing the poker league that is held at my house as it comes to a close. We will have the first ever winner crowned soon. I hope it's me. If not, I'll be ok.
Cheers!
Let's get started, shall we?
I should be in bed right now and I should have been in bed about an hour ago. I got home late from bartending tonight and I had to do some things with my finances before I went to bed that were bothering me. However, since I took a shower first, I was still wide awake when I got my tasks done. So I climbed in bed and signed on to my Full Tilt account. This is where I play online.
Over the past 2 years, I have deposited $50 to my Full Tilt account 5 times. My last deposit was in December 2007 and I have not made a deposit since. So my bankroll is at $69. That was until I played poker instead of going to bed. Don't be angry.
So I was torn on what to play. I didn't want to play long, just see some hands and get my body sleepy. My plan is to only play stakes where I have AT LEAST enough money to see 50 hands (when playing cash games) and play 50 tournaments (when I play SnG's). So with $69 in my bankroll, I figure I can play $0.50/$1 cash games. However, I am hesitant so I go to a $0.25/$0.50 game. And it's heads up.
Side note - I love heads up play. You have to be certain you have got the hand to beat. You have more outs which means you see and can play a lot more hands, but I think the skill level to play a heads up match is the same as playing a 9 man table. End side note.
I have a guy join my table and we both have bought in for $50. The cards start falling. I am trying to feel this guy out and I get a good read on him within the first 5 hands. Every time he is small blind, he raises 3 times the big blind. Every time he is big blind, he folds if I raise unless he have an over card. Also, if he doesn't hit the flop, he gets out of any bet, even if he is getting 4 to 1 on a call.
So I start taking some pots but I never see his cards, I just have an idea of how he is playing. After a few hands, I'm already up $7. Then I lose $12 on 2 hands where I was beat after the flop but the money was right to see the turn both times to see if I could hit my straight. Each time I folded when the money was no longer right.
Then, I am in the big blind and I have 6 7 off. Of course, this guy raises to $1.50 in the small blind (what he has been doing all night). I am now tired of him pushing me around in this situation and I have connected cards and loosen up. I call.
Flop comes down Q 8 9 rainbow. I have an open ended straight draw, with a possible straight on the board if this guy has J 10. I am first to act and check. He bets about $2 and I call. Turn comes down 5. I have hit my 9-high straight. I bet half the pot, $4. He raises to $16. I think about for a bit, wondering if he has J 10. I think if he does though, he would have bet more after the flop. I'm thinking he would have bet double the pot if he had the straight. So I figure he has a Q and my straight it good. I push all-in for $47. This is 80% of my bankroll but I know I have this hand and if he sucks out, he sucks out. I'm prepared to lose my money.
He doesn't even hesitate and calls. He turned up Q K off. There is not flush draw, he just has Queens with 2nd best kicker. River is a 4 and I take the pot down. I'm surprised by his call, but I think he underestimated me. I think what helped me is that a few hands earlier, I have K J suited and I called all of his bets with K high, while he had a pair the whole time. This probably made him think I was bluffing and trying to imply the straight. None the less, i won the hand and that made my night.
So, I hope you enjoyed this story. There will be more to come as I will begin discussing the poker league that is held at my house as it comes to a close. We will have the first ever winner crowned soon. I hope it's me. If not, I'll be ok.
Cheers!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
