Posts Tagged ‘blinds’

Unusual Offer

Hello,

Recently I played low-limit in Vegas. In the small blind, I remember everyone folded to me and consequently asked me something. Because I had a playable hand, I was already limping in. The question was actually about my willingness to take our blinds back and play the next hand. Well, the opinion of the dealer then was that it was already too late as I had already called. Your thoughts on this?

By the way, why do you think the big blind offered such considering if I later choose not to take his offer it will look like as if he doesn’t have a strong hand?

Thanks a lot!
Regards,
Daniel
Daniel,

When just the blinds are left, it is not uncommon for the blinds to “chop” the bet and take their blinds back. You are not required to do so however. You may still play your hand.

Break Issue

Hi,

I have some questions to ask but I don’t know if they would make sense.

Say you are playing in a live poker room and need to use the facilities or want to get some of the free grub, what will you do then? Leave your chips behind or take them with you as you go?

Another thing, do you have any idea what will happen in case one of the blinds passes you by while you are gone? Do you think there’ll be a need to ante up again?

Many thanks,
Clark
Clark,

If you need to go to the restroom or get food, you leave your chips at the table. If you are in a cash game, you will not be dealt a hand while you are gone. When you come back, if the blinds have past you, you may either post the blinds to get back in the game, or wait until the blinds come back to you.

If you are in a tournament you will be dealt cards and those cards mucked when action comes to you. Your blinds and antes will also be posted in your absence.

Outs and What Cards to Play

Hi,

I have two questions. I hope you’re not too busy.

Well, the first one is about the many things about “outs”. In your own opinion, is it better to have more or less outs? And when playing an off suit hand like A,9, are there actually only 6 possible outs?

For my second question which is actually about what cards to play, say I get dealt A,9 suited and I feel that hand is worth playing and I can make the highest flush though I can only make a one card straight, what do you think I should do?

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

Thanks a ton!

Warm regards,
Jake
Jake,

The more outs you have the better off you are. In regards to A-9 suited, this is either a late position hand or a hand to see a cheap flop with, especially in the blinds. I wouldn’t go crazy with this hand unless I am short stacked in a tournament.

With Implied Odds

Hello,

I’m here to ask something about pot odds. Say you are playing in a full table, no limit cash game, with blinds of $0.50/$1.00. Then blinds post and three limpers appear. You check and you discover you have Ks Ts in the button. You call and SB folds while BB checks. Pot at such point is $5. Then flop brings As 2s 5c. BB bets $5 and one limper calls. Pot is now $15. To go on to the turn to get 3-1, it would cost you $5.

Now you have 2-1 to hit by the river, but 4-1 to hit by the turn. If you can ascertain if he wouldn’t bet on the turn then you can use the 2-1 method, but you can use 4-1 instead in case you don’t know such.

Well, for your theory of throwing the hand away because your opponent rates to bet the turn, I think you are missing something. For me, I’d still make the call as when you actually make your flush on the turn, you want your opponent to bet into you. In case I hit it on the turn, then more or less they will bet into me and I’ll probably win lots of money. In case I miss, I can get lost or when they grant me a free card, I can try again to make a flush or else bluff them till they are out. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

All the best,
Joey
Joey,

Personally, on the flop, I am sticking with my odds to determine the call in most cases. In the scenario you presented, you have a 36% chance to hit your flush by the river. If my call is 36% or less of the pot, then I will call. In your scenario, the $5 call is only 33% of the pot. I am making the call here.

$2/4 Game

Hi,

I believe you once said that “A $2/4 no limit game is much larger than a $2/4 limit one.” Sorry but I have no idea what’s a $2/4 no limit game. What is it? Well the name implies there’s no limit so why $2/4? I think I know what you’re trying to actually imply however I’m not sure maybe I misunderstood something.

By the way, about the term limits, it implies the maximum and that something less than it can be wagered. For an instance, in a $5/10 limit game, the maximum that can be bet on the turn is $10. So can $5 or $7 be bet instead? Or else the preflop and flop bets should be in $5 increments only and the turn and river bets in $10 increments?

I hope I make sense here. Hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks in advance!

All the best,
Clark
Clark,

A $2-$4 No Limit game is referring to the size of the blinds. The betting is no limit, but the blinds are at $2-$4.

In a limit game, the betting limits are fixed amounts. You can think of Limit Holdem as Fixed Limit Holdem. In a $5-$10 Limit game, the preflop and flop betting is in increments of $5 and the turn and river betting is $10 bets.

First Live Poker

Hello,

Finally I was able to play live poker in a real casino. Supposedly, I’m going to try tourneys but I haven’t found any tourney scheduled therefore I just tried cash game.

I decided to play at Caesar’s Indiana riverboat for I heard before it expanded and has actually modernized its poker room, I wanted to see with my own two eyes the said changes.

First I chose what kind of game. I then chose the cheapest blinds in a no limit, $1/$2. What was quite surprising about their blinds was that they never change or increase. Room has pagers that will inform you when to come back in case you go out to test out other tables.

As expected, you have to wait for your name to be called and then later in case go immediately to the cashier to buy chips. Well, my table then had a min buy-in of $100 and a maximum of $300.

Just an advice then, buy in for the table max. Then do it for three reasons. First, others will notice and will make judgments about your play and eventually may gun for you if in case you show up with less. Second, to win over a typical run of bad cards, losses, etc. you must have sufficient chips right in front of you. Third, maximize your profit in case you get lucky and have a monster hand and later hook someone into a huge clash. Remember that the more chips you have the more you can make eventually.

At some point, I finally sat down at the table with my $300. Dealer then immediately approached me if I want to come in right away or wait for the button then. I decided to wait however something came up. Every half an hour, anyone sitting at the table has to give $6 to Caesar for the honor of playing. I guess it was a some kind of a table tax. To continue, well, I finally started playing. There was one thing I suddenly noticed, there wasn’t much pre-flop raise less than $10, $15 and even $20 was not unusual. Unlike in my home game experience, a typical pre-flop raise is 3-5 times the big blind. After such discovery, I decided to play a little tighter than usual. However, whenever I played a pot, I became aggressive.

Unluckily, for quite a while, my cards sucked. I then tried to be fortunate with suited connectors, low pairs, etc. but then still gradually lost some chips. Then I got JJ, raised while everyone else folded. Finally, I won $3. I was very happy. So at such point I already have a rock image at the table because of my lousy run of cards.

Next hand I had was pocket Ks. I then raised same amount but got three callers. To check if I will later on win or lose, I bet out about 1/3 of the pot. Two players folded. Then I called. Turn came and brought A. I then bet again while he called. River came but of no help. I then checked while he bet big. After a while he showed an Ace. Luckily, I won an all in showdown, doubled up and ended up winning $50 on the day after 5.5 hours.

Any thoughts?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Best regards,
Joe
Joe,

In the hand you called the big bet on, you should have probably folded. They had an apparent pair of Aces and you were beat.

As far as your other play, over it sounded ok, but you were a little card dead. Be careful with suited connector and try to only play them when you can see the flop cheap.

Finally, the $6 fee was a time payment by each player. Chances are they did not pull any rake at this table. If they took the fee and charged a rake, then I would play at this table anymore as you are feeding the casino too much money.

On Heads Up Play

Hello,

Can you actually make a grouping of what cards to play? And another one, I don’t totally understand being in the small blind and the big blind in heads up or even 3 players, can you please explain it to me?

Hope to hear from you.

All the best,
Howee
Howee,

The small blind is on the button in heads up play. The button will act first preflop and then last for the rest of the hand. The button and blinds move around as normal in a 3 handed game.

As far as hand ranges, you can play most any reasonable hand. Strong hands include any two cards 10 and up, any pair, and any ace (suited or non). These are all raising hands. You can usually see a flop with other hands and try to catch lucky. Of course 7-2 and hand of that sort I would stay away from unless I’m in the blind or we are seeing every flop for the blinds only.

About AQs and Maniac Style of Play

Hi there!

Say you begin with 800 chips and blinds are 15/30. Just as the same in the early tourney like
third hand, you see AQs and you raise it up to 60. Then some callers appear however not the blinds. One or two of the callers are actually known for not being good and will call on poor hands. Then say flop is Qxx rainbow. In early position I bet approximately 60-90. Player behind me goes all in. Will this now ask for a call? Or else for a let go of my 120-150 chips and a lay down of my high pair?

Another thing, about the maniac style of play on money tables, do you think I should go play the same maniac style and have more money despite the risk of losing what I currently have?

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

Thanks and more power!

Regards,
Alexis
Alexis,

I would call here. There is a good chance this guy has a under pair or something like Q-10 or K-Q.

As far as playing a maniac style, that is a style that you need to develop. Don’t just adjust in the middle of a tournament without understanding it. I would tinker with the style in either low limit on free money games and proceed from there.

With Pocket Eights

Hello,

First, I would like you to know that this is one of the best advice sites I’ve ever seen on the net. I salute you for doing a great job on this one, congrats!

Recently, I joined 2.5M Money Maker R1 with 9p table. I had 1900 chips with pocket 8s and UTG. Blinds were 15/30. There was one player who called below and had around 2400. I raised to 150 at some point while others folded. One player called and so game was on heads up. Flop came and brought J73 rainbow. I placed 550 bet while he raised all in. I stopped for a while and then afterwards went all in. Turn and river came but of no help. Later, he showed JKo and then started collecting the pot with JJ.

Now, I believe I should have folded, what do you think?

Thank you very much!

Kind regards,
Davis
Davis,

I agree with you. Chances are he had a Jack of some type, especially since he raised. I would have put him on A-J and folded. I may have even checked that flop when the overcard hit.

Small and Big Blinds Going Up

Hello,

I love watching poker of all kinds over the Net and television. But though I’m already used to watching, I still can’t figure out when, why and for how much do the small and big blinds go up in no limit and limit games. Any idea on this one?

Thank you so much.

Regards,
Jinn
Jinn,

The blinds go up at the end of a level. The length of the level is determined by whomever designs the particular tournaments. It varies from tournament to tournament. At the World Series of Poker, most events have 60 minute levels. The amount they go up depends on the structure picked for the particular event. Blind levels vary from tournament to tournament.

Possible Difficulties

Hi,

Say a player who is supposed to post a blind busts out on the earlier hand, any difficulties I have to consider in case blinds move to the next person?

Well, for me, in the event you just move the BB to the next person and put everything behind it like how it should be, nothing much to worry as all you have to do is occasionally not have a small blind that round.

I’m a type of person who wants to have an answer to all the challenges. I would like to know all the complications, difficulties, or the like that might appear along my way.

Thanks for your time.

All the best,
Lance
Lance,

If the person that was supposed to be the big blind busts out, then the big blind just moves to the next person at the table. If the person that was supposed to be the small blind busts, there is no small blind.

About Coloring Up

Hello,

I noticed that as the blinds increase, the lower denomination chips are no longer wanted. Therefore most of the time, we turn our $1 chips in for $5 chips. But most of the time we end up having $1 chips. Say one guy has two $1 chip, another guy has 2 chips, and the last has 1 chip. For me each guy should be given a card from the deck for each chip at hand then the guy holding the best hand will take the privilege of having the $5 chip. Am I right?

Another thing, what’s the best hand? Well, I know small straights and flushes are of no value and of help. But how about pairs? Say player A has a pair of 6′s while player B has an Ace-Jack, who has a much better hand?

And about coloring up, can a player actually get more than one chip? Say player A has four $1 chip, players B and C have 3 chips, and finally player D has 4 chips. Player D was dealt A-A-J-10 while players B and C was dealt K-9-6 and J-7-3 respectively. Do you think the player with the pair of aces will have both $5 chips or just $1 chip as the other to player B? What do you think?

Thanks!

Regards,
Ben
Ben,

A player may not get more than one chip.

On Blind Rules

Hello,

Say in a play a player who has been either in the small or big blind moves out, what do you think will happen to the blinds? Go to the two players to the left of the dealer? What’s in store for their blinds then?

I hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks,
Kohn
Kohn,

If the big blind for the next hand busts out in the prior hand, the big blind moves to the next available player. If the small blind for the next hand busts out the prior hand, then there is a dead small blind. If both players bust out the hand, then the big blind moves to the next player and the small blind is dead.

Rules Related to Home Tournaments

Hi,

I have some questions for you. But before I lay them down all, let me first share where I’m coming from.

Just last Saturday night, I held a small N/L tournament. Buy in was $50 for 30 players $3000 in chips, three tables of ten. Well, the blinds started at $25 / $50 for the first hour but went up after few minutes. Before the action started, I went to every table at the room to discuss some general rules. I’ve emphasized to everyone that the dealer was the one in-charge to keep control of all the muck cards in the tournament and that the sole obligation of the participants was to protect the hands at all times.

Now, here are my questions:

1. Card of a certain guy was swiped to the muck pile by another guy who was not in the hand but actually a helper of the dealer. Well, he had pocket kings with a king on the flop. Later, I just decided to bust him out of the hand and his cards were mucked then. Am I right on this?

2. There was one table which started playing the wrong level at the point by which blinds were about to move up. Other 2 tables was just about to start dealing for that level. Table went 100/200 instead of $75/150. Well, I realized betting already started so I just made every one play the same 100/200 by passing the 75/150. However, instead of 1/2 hour we played such level for 1 hour. Any thoughts?

3. I was able to make it to the final table, I was the dealer. I wanted to deal in fast pace however there were some players who have no reaction or action at all. I believe they have options. For an instance, the big blind, check or raise. However, there was one player who disagreed. Well, as the dealer, I should always let players know and understand all of their options. What do you think?

Thanks!

Regards,
Serino
Serino,

Rule on Governing Blinds

Hello,

Is there any rule governing blinds in a situation like there are eight players in the final table and one player is knocked out and the player to his left is the big blind and will be the small blind and in next hand the big blind again?

Thank you very much!

Ron Drever
Ron,

In a situation where the player that is the big blind is eliminated in a hand, the next hand there will not be a small blind. If the player would have been under the gun, the big blind would have moved one spot. If he was the small blind, then the button freezes for one hand in the spot it was previously.

What if I Acted Differently?

Hello,

I’ve been into poker just this year. I guess I’ve been playing for just about 7 months now. Well, as of the moment, I’m more into no limit, mainly online. At times, I also play at the casinos.

Just recently, I was in an online no limit sit and go tourney. A certain hand came up and I think I have misplayed it.

I remember the tourney started with 10 players and with 1500 starting chip amount. Blinds were 10/20 at the beginning but then moved up later. After more than 20 minutes of play, tourney-blinds were 25/50 with 9 players.

At some point, I was in the small blind and was dealt K K, club and diamond. My stack was around $1900. There were three players who limped in, including the button who was the chip leader with around $3,500. He was actually playing aggressive on the post flop, normal preflop.

Later, I raised to four times the blind, thus masking it $200 to go. Flop then came and brought 9 which was a diamond, 7 another diamond, and 5 a heart. Afterwards, I placed $400 bet with a desire to take home the pot with a flush or straight draw on the board. After a while, button re-raised me to $800 and so I place him on one of these hands: nut flush draw (A-x diamonds), top pair strong kicker (A-9), a set (9s, 7,s or 5,s), and straight draw (JT).

I had so many things in mind then but later I chose to go all in. He then flipped over 8 which was a club and 6 which was a spades. Well, turn and river didn’t gave anything good so I was busted out.

Honestly, every time I remember such tourney I don’t feel really bad. However, what if I folded and picked my battles with the other more predictable tight players, could the results have been much better for me? What’s on your thoughts?

Thanks!

Regards,
Carron
Carron,

You pretty much got unlucky in my opinion.

About Winnings

Hi,

I was in a no limit tournament the other week. If I remember it right, there were four players left for the pot. One has different amount of chips from the others.

Mid part, all of the players called the blinds and have seen the flop. Right after the flop, player 1 had $19 and checked. Player 2 had $61 and went all in. Player 3 had $98 and called all in. player 4 had $74 and placed $71 to match the previous all in. For $19, player 1 then called the all in. Player 3 followed and called the all in of player 4.

Turn and river came which gave player 1 his winning hand, a straight, while player 4 his pair of aces which gave him the side pot.

I want to ask if player 1 should win $19 as that was what he called the all in with. Any idea? Or else $19 from each player totaling $76?

Thanks in advance!

All the best,
Epps
Epps,

Player one wins $19 from each player plus the money that was in the pot preflop.

Insufficient Chips

Hi there!

I have something to ask. It’s actually something that is related to players who don’t have sufficient chips to post either the small blind or the big blind. Say in a tournament with blinds 20/40, player in the small blind has only 15 in chips. Do you think he should be eliminated as he was not able to meet the blind value requirement or he can actually continue regardless if he has enough chips etc.?

I hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks a lot!

Correll
Correll,

He is permitted to continue playing, but the most he can win from each player is 15.

Who Should Be the Next Dealer?

Hi,

There were 4 remaining players on the hand in a certain event. Dealer was knocked out first. Supposedly, I’m the next dealer then however one guy claimed that it should be his turn to deal. By the way, blinds were very high then.

Do you think it was my turn to deal or it was actually my turn to be the small blind instead? Another guy came in and said I was big blind alone and the blinds had gone up at that very moment. Anyway, three players were left at the table. Please kindly tell me everything you know about the conditions and rules related to situations where in someone is knocked out at the table. I need your help!

Thank you very much!

Warm regards,
Foster
Foster,

If you would have been in the big blind instead of the small blind, there would have been a dead button and you would have been small blind. If you were under the gun in that hand instead of the small blind, then your friend would have been correct.

About Antes and Blinds

Hi,

Just recently, I had an argument with my husband. It was about antes and blinds. Well, he doesn’t believe me that only blinds are present in tournaments and not antes and blinds. And he believe that everyone must put a bet before the dealer deals and consequently they must put up a little blind as well as big blind.

Please help me and my husband. We need clarity.

Thank you so much!

McClure
McClure,

In tournaments that have both, players must first post an ante. Then the small and big blind must post before cards are dealt.

Last Two Places

Hello,

I was in a home game the other day. Something came up which caused a small dispute. Well, if I remember it right, blinds then had moved on to certain a level which forced the remaining players to go all in by which later on made multiple side pot. The chip leader then had the best hand and actually had busted out all of his opponents.

Time to pay out the last two placers came and an argument then appeared. My idea then was that the 2nd and 3rd place would go to whoever had the next two highest chip counts prior to the hand however others fought out that the next 2 best hands would win the last two.

In the end, we just all decided to give the money to the next two highest chip counts prior to the hand. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Ozeki
Ozeki,

In a tournament when multiple players are eliminated, the eliminated player that had the most chips at the start of the hand gets the superior placing. You were correct.

Wrapping Players in Hand

Hello,

I was in a NL holdem tourney just the other day. Before the flop, blinds 25-50. There were 5 players left and were in the hand. Player 1 called for 50. Player 3 followed and acted out of turn, raised to 250. Dealer then came in between and requested player 2 to make a move. Player 2 called. Because of this, player C was then forced to keep his 250 in. Player 4 was next and folded. Afterwards it was player 5, he called 250.

Action was then back to player 1, he called 250 as well. Player 2 then raised to 1400. Then for 6000, player 3 went all in. Suddenly, the action was interrupted with a complaint about players 2 and 3 making some moves to angle some players. Well, we have some rules which went as follows:

1. The action of player 3 stands for 250.
2. Because player 2 is up on a 50 bet, he then has the chance to choose whether he will fold, call, or raise such bet.
3. In the event he chooses to call, he can’t raise anymore in case the bet returns to him at 250.
4. Any player who failed to act out in his turn should treated as player 2.
5. Hence, players 2 and 3 cannot wrap others who are in hand.

We arrived with these rules to protect all of the players. But unexpectedly another complaint appeared. It was about player 2. He disagreed on the idea that he lost his right to wrap all players in hand.

Any thoughts please?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Del Duca
Del Duca,

The rules in this scenario should have been as follows:

1. Player 3 acted out of turn and raised to 250.
2. Player 2 has the option to act on player 1’s bet. He can call raise or fold the 50 bet.
3. If player 2 calls player 1, then the 250 bet from player 3 is binding. If he raises, then the 250 bet is not binding and player 3 can act on player 2’s bet.
4. Since player 2 did not raise the bet from player 3 stands, and the betting continues as normal.
5. Players that act out of turn should be treated as player 3 was.

The other players may have a valid complaint about player 2 angling, but player 2 was within his rights to just call the bet from player 1. When action came back to player 2, he was within his rights to reraise, as was player 3 to move all in.

About All In Bet

Hello,

In a certain tournament, a guy went all in for 1500. The blinds were 500/1000. Do you think the next guy should make it 2000 or else he can just call the all in bet? I’m actually clueless. Please, I need your help.

Thanks!

Regards,
Revell
Revell,

If he is the only player left to act, he can just call the all-in bet. Otherwise, the can raise up to the entire amount in his stack.

Playing With KK

Hello,

I play well in NL $200 with blinds $1-$2. I’m actually a shorthanded player. I used to play aggressively, but of course at times I’m also watchful and see it to it that I’m still on my limits.

Once, I was standing on $750 and was dealt KK in late position. A player who just came in with around $200 raised to $6 in early position. I then made it $15 to go and he called. Flop came and brought 9s 5s 2s. Afterwards, such guy went all in with $33 in the pot. I believe this was grossly over bet as a player with a made flush would call. If he had the nut flush or smaller suited connecting spades, there’ll be no sense at all. However I was bothered as if he doesn’t have a flush yet, what else could he have? Perhaps an over pair which I strongly believe I could beat. If not, a small pair hitting a set, or else just two over cards with one spade or a bad bluff.

What do you think was his hand then? Will it be worth calling if in case? And am I right with my conclusions?

Thanks!

Warm regards,
Clark Davis
Clark,

I would put him on a flush draw or a pair such as J-J or Q-Q or even A-K with a spade. I would have probably called here. If you folded her due to the pot laying such a high price, I can understand that. Calling $185 to win $218 is a bit of a stretch. With only having $15 invested, I can understand if you waited for a better spot.

How Do You Find My Play?

Hi,

I joined a cash game at a local card room with blinds 2/3. If I remember it right, there were 7 players then fighting for the pot. Most of the players were really good, they have combined tight and aggressive style of play and have a few hundred to back them up.

At some point, I’m UTG with AQs. I then raised to $9. Folded to button who re-raised to 25$, blinds folded. Consequently, I opted to call as I’ve seen such player checked down several hands earlier part of the game. Pot was $55. Flop came and brought J35 rainbow. I then checked to the raiser while he placed $50 bet. Eventually, I placed him on a steal, AK, or a pocket pair below Jacks. I then called. Pot was $155. Turn came but was a blank. Later, we both checked. River came and was another Jack. I then had some winnings and so placed $125 bet. I thought he would never call with AK or pocket 10s.

At some point, he stood up and then asked me if I have a Jack. I was speechless then. Afterwards he called and then had the pot with his KK.

How do you find my play?

Your help will be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Billy
Billy,

You should have folded on the flop when you missed.

Played With Weakness

Hello,

I was in a no limit event the other day with $4,000 buy-in and blinds 10/20. I had $3,500. At some point, everyone folded to me. When I was on the button, I got Ad 5s and then popped it up to 80. Eventually, small and big blind called. Then flop came and brought 5c 5d 7d. Later, SB and BB checked and so I placed 140$ bet, almost half the pot I believe.

Consequently, SB folded however BB raised to 380$. I then thought he had something weak therefore I tried to slow play. I then called. Turn came and brought 9d. Board then appeared as 5c 5d 7d 9d. Though there was a possibility for a straight and flush, I had Ad and trips therefore I had to fold then. Few seconds after and BB placed 700$ bet while I called.

River came and brought Qc. BB went all in for all my money. I remember I had around 2,200$ and in the pot, 4,800$. Finally, I folded.

In the end, he flipped over 44 and then laughed at me. I don’t know if I played just right. Well, I don’t think doing the slow play then was a bad move. But I believe I should have pushed all-in on turn with my flush draw and then had trips. Another thing, I don’t see how I should call on the river and the only stuff I beat was a bluff. What do you think?

Regards,
Collin
Collin,

At the river, there were lots of hands you could beat other than a bluff. I would have likely made the call with my set, especially since the player had been aggressive the whole way. Of course, I would have raised him at some point. Don’t slow play a set with a straight and flush draw possible.