Some of this stuff may be 100% standard, 'everyone knows this sort of thing' strategy. I feel like my poker game has just taken some big strides forward, and a lot has to do with implementing specific techniques at the table. Some I found by trial / error, some I've picked up from watching Live at the Bike, some who knows...
Here's one I heard talked about on LATB, and subsequently put to good use in my game:
If I have an open ended straight draw or a duble-gut-shot on the flop, I have 8 outs. Using the rule of 4, I have about a 32% chance of hitting my hand by the river. However, that's only when I get to see both the turn and the river. Often, however, if an early position player bets the flop, and you raise in position, if EP calls, he'll often check the turn to you, fearing you will raise again if he bets.
Example: from this weekend's $1/$3 action:
MP raises to $10, I call OTB with J8o
FLOP: 69T rainbow.
MP bets $15.
Here, any 7 or any Q gives me a straight. I want to get to the river, but don't want to call a big turn bet. I raise to $45. MP pauses, then calls. He's likely got overs (AK/AQ) or a meduim-strength pair.
TURN: [69T] 4
MP checks. I'm more than happy to take a free card, so I check behind.
RIVER: [69T4] Q
MP bets $40, I raise to $100. MP calls.
MP shows QT for a rivered 2-pair; I show my straight.
Raising in position like this is a great way to often get your opponent to check the next street. Raise the flop, oponent checks the turn = free river; raise the turn, opponent checks the river = free showdown.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Calling down light
Tulalip $1/$3
Villain: MP, $700. I played with him 2 weeks ago... he seems like a solid player, made some big calls; he caught perfect on one big hand to more than double up. He's bet me out of 3 pots in the last half hour, and I don't know whether he had anything or not (though his "nothing" was likely better than mine once). He has yet to get caught in 1 bluff in about 3 hours of play, though I can't imagine he's got a hand each time he fires.
Hero: BB, $550. Typical loose/aggressive post-flop image (more passive pre-flop: I'm willing to see a lot of flops against passive, predictable opponents). I do go out of my way to get into pots with a wide range of hands when against another deep stacked opponent.
1 limper, Villain raises to $15, folds to Hero who calls with As 3h (limper folds).
Pot: $37
FLOP: 835 rainbow
Hero checks; Villain bets $25, Hero calls.
I make a loose preflop call with far-out hopes of some sort of 2-pair/wheel hand. On the flop, I'm making a very light call: I'll often do this on a dry board whenever I get even a piece of the flop, just to see what happens on the turn. If a blank comes and he checks behind, there's a chance he's missed. Here, there's also the possibility of hitting an ace and getting into a big pot against AK/AQ.
Pot: $87
TURN: [835] 9
Hero checks, Villain checks.
I'm actually feeling OK about my hand here: I don't believe he raises with below TT, and he'd bet an over pair here. Obviously, bottom pair is weak, but I think I'm good here.
Pot: $87
RIVER: [8359] 4
Hero checks, Villain bets $45.
I replay the hand, and I can't put him on anything: if this is an over pair, he's playing it very strangely, especially by checking the turn: he's not shown himself to be a tricky player. Highly unlikely the 4 helped him; slight possibility he has 67, but he's not yet to have shown himself to mix it up enough to add that to his range.
I say to him, "Do you ever bluff?" He kind of shrugs his shoulders. And then I either see something flash in his facial expression, or I'm making things up in my head to justify a call. Which is it? Who knows. I'd like to think I did see something, but I can't be certain. I spend most of my time when watching big hands observing those in the pots, trying to discern whether they're confident, strong, weak, scared, etc, just by watching their faces and body language. Is it doing me any good? I'm not sure.
Hero calls. Villain says "Good call," and turns over AQo. I table A3o and take down a $170 pot with bottom pair. He's shocked, he says, "How did you call with that?" and got some "Wow's" from the rest of the table.
How did I do that? Combination of board texture, a possible read, and partially instinct. He either had what he had, or a hand like JJ. I was getting better than 3-to-1 on the $45 bet, and decided that there was at least a 25% chance he was bluffing: if he bluffs 25% of the time, a call here is exactly break-even; if he bluffs 26%, it's barely +EV.
This was the 2nd time I called him down light: on a mostly similar board just after he sat down, I was in position and called a flop bet and a river bet with pocket deuces; I was wrong that time (he'd made an odd raise with QT and hit a T on the turn - and checked it too).
I'm quite happy what this will do for my table image. Once they see this hand, I'm hoping they will be less likely to try to bluff me.
I've been playing a lot of poker lately. I play approx 8-14 hours/week (1 long session most Saturdays). 6 months ago if I had less than top pair on any board, I'd not have thought twice about folding. Not the case today: I use my loose/aggressive post-flop image and scare cards to make bets and raises, and I use my reads and poker instincts to make light calls. I'm not always right, and honestly I've not kept close enough tabs to know whether my light calls have been profitable or not. That would be hard to quantify anyway. It is fun when I'm right though :)
Villain: MP, $700. I played with him 2 weeks ago... he seems like a solid player, made some big calls; he caught perfect on one big hand to more than double up. He's bet me out of 3 pots in the last half hour, and I don't know whether he had anything or not (though his "nothing" was likely better than mine once). He has yet to get caught in 1 bluff in about 3 hours of play, though I can't imagine he's got a hand each time he fires.
Hero: BB, $550. Typical loose/aggressive post-flop image (more passive pre-flop: I'm willing to see a lot of flops against passive, predictable opponents). I do go out of my way to get into pots with a wide range of hands when against another deep stacked opponent.
1 limper, Villain raises to $15, folds to Hero who calls with As 3h (limper folds).
Pot: $37
FLOP: 835 rainbow
Hero checks; Villain bets $25, Hero calls.
I make a loose preflop call with far-out hopes of some sort of 2-pair/wheel hand. On the flop, I'm making a very light call: I'll often do this on a dry board whenever I get even a piece of the flop, just to see what happens on the turn. If a blank comes and he checks behind, there's a chance he's missed. Here, there's also the possibility of hitting an ace and getting into a big pot against AK/AQ.
Pot: $87
TURN: [835] 9
Hero checks, Villain checks.
I'm actually feeling OK about my hand here: I don't believe he raises with below TT, and he'd bet an over pair here. Obviously, bottom pair is weak, but I think I'm good here.
Pot: $87
RIVER: [8359] 4
Hero checks, Villain bets $45.
I replay the hand, and I can't put him on anything: if this is an over pair, he's playing it very strangely, especially by checking the turn: he's not shown himself to be a tricky player. Highly unlikely the 4 helped him; slight possibility he has 67, but he's not yet to have shown himself to mix it up enough to add that to his range.
I say to him, "Do you ever bluff?" He kind of shrugs his shoulders. And then I either see something flash in his facial expression, or I'm making things up in my head to justify a call. Which is it? Who knows. I'd like to think I did see something, but I can't be certain. I spend most of my time when watching big hands observing those in the pots, trying to discern whether they're confident, strong, weak, scared, etc, just by watching their faces and body language. Is it doing me any good? I'm not sure.
Hero calls. Villain says "Good call," and turns over AQo. I table A3o and take down a $170 pot with bottom pair. He's shocked, he says, "How did you call with that?" and got some "Wow's" from the rest of the table.
How did I do that? Combination of board texture, a possible read, and partially instinct. He either had what he had, or a hand like JJ. I was getting better than 3-to-1 on the $45 bet, and decided that there was at least a 25% chance he was bluffing: if he bluffs 25% of the time, a call here is exactly break-even; if he bluffs 26%, it's barely +EV.
This was the 2nd time I called him down light: on a mostly similar board just after he sat down, I was in position and called a flop bet and a river bet with pocket deuces; I was wrong that time (he'd made an odd raise with QT and hit a T on the turn - and checked it too).
I'm quite happy what this will do for my table image. Once they see this hand, I'm hoping they will be less likely to try to bluff me.
I've been playing a lot of poker lately. I play approx 8-14 hours/week (1 long session most Saturdays). 6 months ago if I had less than top pair on any board, I'd not have thought twice about folding. Not the case today: I use my loose/aggressive post-flop image and scare cards to make bets and raises, and I use my reads and poker instincts to make light calls. I'm not always right, and honestly I've not kept close enough tabs to know whether my light calls have been profitable or not. That would be hard to quantify anyway. It is fun when I'm right though :)
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Sometimes AK is enough, part 2
Tulalip $1/$3
Villain: $400; very very aggressive player, usually a $3/$5 player. I've played him a few times. I wonder sometimes if he's just aggressive for aggressiveness sake (which also makes me wonder if I sometimes have that tendency)
Hero: $500; LAG. Really mixing it up tonight, probably gambooling a bit more than I ought to. IM(not so)HO villain and I are the 2 best players at the table, and while I usually try to avoid playing really good players, I'll sometimes get involved because: a) it's fun and challenging, and b) sometimes you think you have the best hand.
Villain raises to $15 in LP; Hero looks down OTB at AhKh. I don't want to build a huge pot against him, so I decide to just take a flop. Blinds fold.
POT: $34
FLOP: J29 rainbow (one heart)
Villain bets $20; Hero calls.
I decide to take one off here for two reasons: 1) he c-bets almost every flop he raises, and 2) I'm in position, and can try to represent on the turn. I'm thinking if an 8 or K comes off I can represent a straight. Of course, if an A or K come off I'm probably good, plus I do have backdoor flush possibilities. My call, too, could shut him down if he's missed, and allow me perhaps a free river. And, too, sometimes AK is good enough for a showdown.
POT: $74
TURN: [J29] 5 (no heart)
Villain bets $50. Hero calls.
I watch him watch the board, and count out his bet, and pick up something. At least I think I do. There was a look on his face as he pushed his chips that was different than the confident/cocky look he usually has. I don't think he has anything, so I call.
POT: $174
RIVER: [J295] 5
Villain stares at the board for a beat, cuts out $75, and pushes it into the pot with 2 hands. I grab a stack of $100 from my stack, and - I kid you not - he grimaced, ever so slightly. I was considering calling before the grimace, but now I'm leaning more that way. I'm not sure how capable he is of giving false tells, so I'm not ready yet, but I count out the $75, and move it away from my stack (but not forward, AND not over the commitment line). I'm looking at the pot and the board, going back through what he might have, but as I moved the chips away from my stack, he says "You're good," so I immediately push the chips out front, and he mucks.
I had seen him muck more than once that evening after an opponent called a river bet, so I was pretty sure that he would do just that again. I thought I'd be OK at showdown, too. I never have to turn my cards over since he mucked. His wife was seated right next to him and she said, "Why'd you muck?" to which he replied "Because if he can call me there he has to have me beat." I stack the chips, and as the next hand is being dealt I ask him if he had a pair, and he said of course.
Take-away: don't muck your hand until:
1) your oponent shows you the winner,
2) your oponent has mucked, OR
3) the dealer is pushing chips to you.
Villain: $400; very very aggressive player, usually a $3/$5 player. I've played him a few times. I wonder sometimes if he's just aggressive for aggressiveness sake (which also makes me wonder if I sometimes have that tendency)
Hero: $500; LAG. Really mixing it up tonight, probably gambooling a bit more than I ought to. IM(not so)HO villain and I are the 2 best players at the table, and while I usually try to avoid playing really good players, I'll sometimes get involved because: a) it's fun and challenging, and b) sometimes you think you have the best hand.
Villain raises to $15 in LP; Hero looks down OTB at AhKh. I don't want to build a huge pot against him, so I decide to just take a flop. Blinds fold.
POT: $34
FLOP: J29 rainbow (one heart)
Villain bets $20; Hero calls.
I decide to take one off here for two reasons: 1) he c-bets almost every flop he raises, and 2) I'm in position, and can try to represent on the turn. I'm thinking if an 8 or K comes off I can represent a straight. Of course, if an A or K come off I'm probably good, plus I do have backdoor flush possibilities. My call, too, could shut him down if he's missed, and allow me perhaps a free river. And, too, sometimes AK is good enough for a showdown.
POT: $74
TURN: [J29] 5 (no heart)
Villain bets $50. Hero calls.
I watch him watch the board, and count out his bet, and pick up something. At least I think I do. There was a look on his face as he pushed his chips that was different than the confident/cocky look he usually has. I don't think he has anything, so I call.
POT: $174
RIVER: [J295] 5
Villain stares at the board for a beat, cuts out $75, and pushes it into the pot with 2 hands. I grab a stack of $100 from my stack, and - I kid you not - he grimaced, ever so slightly. I was considering calling before the grimace, but now I'm leaning more that way. I'm not sure how capable he is of giving false tells, so I'm not ready yet, but I count out the $75, and move it away from my stack (but not forward, AND not over the commitment line). I'm looking at the pot and the board, going back through what he might have, but as I moved the chips away from my stack, he says "You're good," so I immediately push the chips out front, and he mucks.
I had seen him muck more than once that evening after an opponent called a river bet, so I was pretty sure that he would do just that again. I thought I'd be OK at showdown, too. I never have to turn my cards over since he mucked. His wife was seated right next to him and she said, "Why'd you muck?" to which he replied "Because if he can call me there he has to have me beat." I stack the chips, and as the next hand is being dealt I ask him if he had a pair, and he said of course.
Take-away: don't muck your hand until:
1) your oponent shows you the winner,
2) your oponent has mucked, OR
3) the dealer is pushing chips to you.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Don't forget who you're playing against
Villain: $250. Been at the table about 30 minutes; don't think she's folded a hand preflop yet. She appears to be not very experienced (bet sizes, chip/card handling, general demeanor, etc), very very passive.
MP: $350. Very, very aggressive. Usually a $3/$5 player.
Hero: $700. Typical playing for me (LAG). Not happy MP is here, but happy Villain (and her friend) is.
MP raises to $10. Hero calls with 2c 2s. Villain calls.
POT: $30
FLOP: 256 rainbow.
Villain bets $15. MP raises to $40. I think about raising, but I want Villain to come in, so I just call. Villain calls.
POT: $150
TURN: [256] 9
Villain bets $40. MP folds. I push. Villain thinks for a half a minute, then calls.
POT: $550
River: [2569] J
Hero shows a set of 2's. Villain shows a set of 6's.
I've rarely folded sets on rainbow boards. There is a possible straight, sure, but I really don't think she's leading out on a draw. The more I think about this, though, the more obvious this should have been that I was way behind. It was obvious to the entire table just how aggressive MP is, and she wasn't the least bit afraid to bet right into him twice...I don't see what else this besides 55 or 66. Slight possibility of an over-pair, but I could only see this being AA with her leading out twice (especially twice into a raiser and a caller).
If I had stopped and taken a minute or two to replay the hand, to figure out what she would lead out into two aggressive players, I would have pinpointed that hand to 55 or 66, and saved myself some money. Instead, because I had seen her show QQ after leading into a rag flop, I simply assumed that must be what it was again.
MP: $350. Very, very aggressive. Usually a $3/$5 player.
Hero: $700. Typical playing for me (LAG). Not happy MP is here, but happy Villain (and her friend) is.
MP raises to $10. Hero calls with 2c 2s. Villain calls.
POT: $30
FLOP: 256 rainbow.
Villain bets $15. MP raises to $40. I think about raising, but I want Villain to come in, so I just call. Villain calls.
POT: $150
TURN: [256] 9
Villain bets $40. MP folds. I push. Villain thinks for a half a minute, then calls.
POT: $550
River: [2569] J
Hero shows a set of 2's. Villain shows a set of 6's.
I've rarely folded sets on rainbow boards. There is a possible straight, sure, but I really don't think she's leading out on a draw. The more I think about this, though, the more obvious this should have been that I was way behind. It was obvious to the entire table just how aggressive MP is, and she wasn't the least bit afraid to bet right into him twice...I don't see what else this besides 55 or 66. Slight possibility of an over-pair, but I could only see this being AA with her leading out twice (especially twice into a raiser and a caller).
If I had stopped and taken a minute or two to replay the hand, to figure out what she would lead out into two aggressive players, I would have pinpointed that hand to 55 or 66, and saved myself some money. Instead, because I had seen her show QQ after leading into a rag flop, I simply assumed that must be what it was again.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Getting - and using - information
Tulalip $1/$3
ME: UTG+1; $700. I've been nicknamed "Table Captain" now by more than one opponent. I don't think it's meant as a compliment, but it's leaning towards true: I am the guy driving the action; I'm giving a lot of action, I'm getting a lot of action; I'm raising a lot. It's easy to do at a loose/passive table.
Button: $300. Typical player: passive, bets when he has it, checks when he doesn't.
I'm dealt 2 black aces, and make my standard raise to $12. This has been my opening raise with no limpers all night, no matter what my position or what I'm raising with. Folds to button who calls (surprising that no one else calls at such a passive table); blinds fold.
Pot: $28
FLOP: Ks Kh Kd
What an interesting flop. This is a way ahead / way behind (WA/WB) situation: either he's got any pair/combination of cards with no K and I'm so far ahead it isn't funny, or he's got some Kx combination and I'm crushed.
I can't check here; I lead out for $20. Button calls.
Pot: $68
TURN: [Ks Kh Kd] 2c
I have no clue where I'm at... again WA/WB. I decide to check for pot control. Button checks behind. Is he slow playing? I really don't know. I do know, however, that I don't want to play a big pot here if I can help it.
Pot: $68
RIVER: [Ks Kh Kd 2c] Ts
I can't check here, because almost any full house is paying me off. If I bet and he pushes, I figure I can safely fold.
I bet $50. Button insta-pushes, and I feel kind of sick. I look at him, and say "This is just sick," then I turn my hand over. I didn't muck yet, I just turned it over to get his reaction. Yes, this is perfectly legitimate for cash games - though you may want to verify in your specific card room before trying this.
So after I turn my hand over, the button looks at my cards and says "Oh, you're good." He looked so instantly dejected that, if this is an act trying to get me to call, he deserves to be paid off.
So even though I had planned on folding to a push, I have to go with my read here. I put my chips into the pot, he turns over ATo; I show my aces and rake in a big pot on an oddly scary board.
Morals of the story:
1) Use whatever information you get, from whatever - legitimate - technique you can use. I was willing to fold here: I only had $80 invested, and it was another $220 or so to call. This would often be an easy fold, getting about 1.5:1 here with the small full against a player who never bluffs in this spot: he truly believed he had the best hand; AND
2) If your opponent turns over their cards, don't talk, don't flinch, don't move, don't do anything. If he hadn't looked obviously dejected, let alone saying aloud "You're good," I would have easily folded, and he would have won the hand.
ME: UTG+1; $700. I've been nicknamed "Table Captain" now by more than one opponent. I don't think it's meant as a compliment, but it's leaning towards true: I am the guy driving the action; I'm giving a lot of action, I'm getting a lot of action; I'm raising a lot. It's easy to do at a loose/passive table.
Button: $300. Typical player: passive, bets when he has it, checks when he doesn't.
I'm dealt 2 black aces, and make my standard raise to $12. This has been my opening raise with no limpers all night, no matter what my position or what I'm raising with. Folds to button who calls (surprising that no one else calls at such a passive table); blinds fold.
Pot: $28
FLOP: Ks Kh Kd
What an interesting flop. This is a way ahead / way behind (WA/WB) situation: either he's got any pair/combination of cards with no K and I'm so far ahead it isn't funny, or he's got some Kx combination and I'm crushed.
I can't check here; I lead out for $20. Button calls.
Pot: $68
TURN: [Ks Kh Kd] 2c
I have no clue where I'm at... again WA/WB. I decide to check for pot control. Button checks behind. Is he slow playing? I really don't know. I do know, however, that I don't want to play a big pot here if I can help it.
Pot: $68
RIVER: [Ks Kh Kd 2c] Ts
I can't check here, because almost any full house is paying me off. If I bet and he pushes, I figure I can safely fold.
I bet $50. Button insta-pushes, and I feel kind of sick. I look at him, and say "This is just sick," then I turn my hand over. I didn't muck yet, I just turned it over to get his reaction. Yes, this is perfectly legitimate for cash games - though you may want to verify in your specific card room before trying this.
So after I turn my hand over, the button looks at my cards and says "Oh, you're good." He looked so instantly dejected that, if this is an act trying to get me to call, he deserves to be paid off.
So even though I had planned on folding to a push, I have to go with my read here. I put my chips into the pot, he turns over ATo; I show my aces and rake in a big pot on an oddly scary board.
Morals of the story:
1) Use whatever information you get, from whatever - legitimate - technique you can use. I was willing to fold here: I only had $80 invested, and it was another $220 or so to call. This would often be an easy fold, getting about 1.5:1 here with the small full against a player who never bluffs in this spot: he truly believed he had the best hand; AND
2) If your opponent turns over their cards, don't talk, don't flinch, don't move, don't do anything. If he hadn't looked obviously dejected, let alone saying aloud "You're good," I would have easily folded, and he would have won the hand.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Sometimes AK is enough at showdown
Tulalip $1/$3
HERO: UTG+1, $600. I'm in for $300, so I'm not too far up. Passive table - mostly loose preflop, tight/passive postflop. Perfect environment for me; I love it!
VILLAIN: UTG, $200. Literally first hand at the table; why he decided to come in UTG is beyond me (Tulalip allows you to come in behind the button and not have to post). I've played him a number of times; he likes to create an early, aggressive, run-over-the-table image.
UTG Raises to $15.
HERO looks down at AKo. This could a re-raising, but in this early of a position I'd rather just call and see a flop. Everyone else folds.
POT: $33
FLOP: 828r
UTG Bets $25.
HERO calls.
If he's got a pocket pair I've still (more likely than not) got overs. Granted this is often more of a limit poker play, but I'm OK with taking one off here to see a turn. He looked very uncomfortable when I called. Doesn't look like he has anything.
POT: $88
TURN: [828] T
UTG Bets $75.
HERO calls.
He got a very, very determined look on his face after the turn card came off. If I could have read his mind I believe I would have read "If this guy has something I need to keep showing strength so he'll go away." Still doesn't look like he has anything.
POT: $238
RIVER: [828T] 5
UTG looks kind of disgusted, says "Check." I consider the fact that we may have the same hand, and a bet here could move him off of it. Instead, I decide to check behind. Why? Sometimes AK, on a rag board with an aggressor who obviously missed everything, is good enough to show down. With the size of the pot, if he really did have any pair he'd likely call anyway.
I decide to take the safer route in case my read was way off and save a hundred bucks. I also considered betting so I didn't have to show my hand, but I liked what it might do to my already loose/crazy image that I'd call this guy down with nothing but the nut-no-pair. I was prepared to call his bet here, too, even if he went all-in: I was fairly certain that we were at least holding the same hand.
I turn over AK; UTG turns over AQ and throws it into the muck, and shakes his hand as the pot comes my way.
HERO: UTG+1, $600. I'm in for $300, so I'm not too far up. Passive table - mostly loose preflop, tight/passive postflop. Perfect environment for me; I love it!
VILLAIN: UTG, $200. Literally first hand at the table; why he decided to come in UTG is beyond me (Tulalip allows you to come in behind the button and not have to post). I've played him a number of times; he likes to create an early, aggressive, run-over-the-table image.
UTG Raises to $15.
HERO looks down at AKo. This could a re-raising, but in this early of a position I'd rather just call and see a flop. Everyone else folds.
POT: $33
FLOP: 828r
UTG Bets $25.
HERO calls.
If he's got a pocket pair I've still (more likely than not) got overs. Granted this is often more of a limit poker play, but I'm OK with taking one off here to see a turn. He looked very uncomfortable when I called. Doesn't look like he has anything.
POT: $88
TURN: [828] T
UTG Bets $75.
HERO calls.
He got a very, very determined look on his face after the turn card came off. If I could have read his mind I believe I would have read "If this guy has something I need to keep showing strength so he'll go away." Still doesn't look like he has anything.
POT: $238
RIVER: [828T] 5
UTG looks kind of disgusted, says "Check." I consider the fact that we may have the same hand, and a bet here could move him off of it. Instead, I decide to check behind. Why? Sometimes AK, on a rag board with an aggressor who obviously missed everything, is good enough to show down. With the size of the pot, if he really did have any pair he'd likely call anyway.
I decide to take the safer route in case my read was way off and save a hundred bucks. I also considered betting so I didn't have to show my hand, but I liked what it might do to my already loose/crazy image that I'd call this guy down with nothing but the nut-no-pair. I was prepared to call his bet here, too, even if he went all-in: I was fairly certain that we were at least holding the same hand.
I turn over AK; UTG turns over AQ and throws it into the muck, and shakes his hand as the pot comes my way.
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