Posts Tagged ‘heads up’

Teamwork Cheating

Hi,

Just recently, I played in a $50 NL tournament held at my friend’s house by which second placer would win back his buy-in and first would take the rest. The tournament was actually composed of 8 players, 4 I personally knew before. I’m not boasting here or what but I believe I was the best player back then but was just eliminated first when my pocket Kings ran into Aces preflop. At some point, game was down to 3 players, a friend and two others I don’t know personally. Much later, it was already a heads up play. One of the two had approximately a 2:1 chip lead. The said guy had not spoken any word since the game started but suddenly exclaimed he wanted to split the pot. I then thought there was something unusual, I suspected for a teamwork cheating. Others also suspected for the same thing. After a while, one of the two suddenly said that he doesn’t like to play heads up and it was his right then to split the pot. He then told the third player that he would be getting his money back.

To me, it really appeared as a teamwork cheating. In fact, they don’t even bet into one another. Well, an argument appeared but not a hostile one.

Any thoughts? What would you consider a teamwork cheating?

Thanks in advance!

Best regards,
Johnny Bekham
Johnny,

This was not cheating. When players get down to two or three players in tournaments, it is not uncommon for a deal to be struck to split the pot. Heads-up poker a lot of times can be more luck than skill, especially with high blinds and cutting a deal helps to offset some of that luck.

I would consider two players colluding if the were sitting there and clearly slow playing each other. Such as someone making a large raise and then folding to a small bet from the other player. Another example would be someone making a big raise, someone going all in for a little more, and the other person folding. Things that look really out of place are usually signs of cheating.

About Betting Etiquette

Hi,

I have something to ask about betting etiquette. Just the other day, I saw on TV that Daniel Negreanu was on heads up against an amateur. Back then, blind/antes were relatively low. At some point, Daniel placed $600 bet while his opponent went all in with $40,000. After a while, Daniel went on a bit upset due to the all in move. I remember he even said something like “What’s going on here? You move all in against my $800 bet. Last time this other guy raises to $10,000 after a $100 bet.” His opponent then said “Well, that’s poker.” Daniel then answered back with “I don’t know what kind of poker you play, but THAT’S not poker!” Announcers at the event then noticed that Daniel was already a bit frustrated with the amateurs.

Now, because of what I saw on TV, I want to know if there’s any etiquette to be considered when moving all in or else making a huge bet, any idea? Do you think, you can actually make a very huge bet or move all in with lots of money?

Thanks a ton!

Regards,
Andie
Andie,

Daniel’s frustration wasn’t due to any sort of ethical violation. It was due to the fact that players are laying such a huge price. By this I mean, they are raising unrealistic amounts to win a small amount. As Annie Duke said one time, these players that lay these huge prices will only get called by players that can beat them. At this point they are eliminated.

You can bet as much as you want at any time as long as it’s your turn to bet. Just know that when you bet an insane amount to win a little amount, when you get called, you will likely lose.

More On Odds

Hello,

Many people talk about odd and implied odds. Honestly, I don’t know how they arrived at their figures. And I don’t know of anyone who has taken into consideration cards that were already dealt but were dead.

Well, I know this has no scientific basis and was only based on 100 hands dealt, however I pulled 2 nines out of a deck to represent my hand, then randomly dealt 16 cards to represent 8 players who folded their cards,leaving my hand to go heads up against the 10th player.
45% of the time….no nines dealt.
35% of the time….1 nine was dealt.
20% of the time….2 nines were dealt.

I believe it’s the same thing with flushes and straights. Anyway, I wonder how can percentages or probabilities be close to being true or accurate without all the information available, any idea?

Your thoughts please.

Thank you in advance!

Warm regards,
Anthony
Anthony,

They are odds. They are probabilities. They are not scientific fact. You base calculations on unseen cards and the potential cards. It would be more accurate with more information, but since that is not possible, you have to go with the best calculation to give you the best approximation.

Heads Up Odds

Hi,

Just recently, I had an argument with a certain guy online. Well, he went all in with Queens and had two callers who created a side pot. Back then, I had AJ. There was another guy but I don’t know what he had then as he folded earlier. At some point, I had running Aces on the turn and river to win the hand. He then started complaining about my luckiness. I told him afterwards that Queens was not a mortal lock as long as I had one overcard and straight potential. And that with two callers, he was actually the favorite but also the overall dog.

I’ve been watching WSOP for some time now and from it I’ve learned a few things. The most important thing I guess is the one about when a pair against two overcards is a 53% favorite head’s up; the higher of two pairs is an 80% favorite head-to-head.

Anyway, guy who hosted the house game said I played the worst starting hand (72) against the best (AA) which will win about 12% of the time. Your thoughts?

On a side note, what are the odds of QQ against AJ as outlined above? I think the answer would be around 65%.

Thank you in advance!

Best regards,
Tyler
Tyler,

Pocket queens are 71% against A-J. 7-2 offsuit will indeed beat A-A 12% of the time. You were incorrect with him being an overall underdog with two callers. Actually, with 2 callers, he becomes more of a favorite over you depending on the hand. His win percentage is lowered, but so is everyone elses.

As far as your hand, you were fortunate to win, but heads-up both of the hands were very strong. He is just upset you won.

Odds of Winning

Hello,

Say in a heads up play players involve are all in preflop and one has AA and the other one has AQ unsuited, what do you think will the odds of winning be?

Thanks a lot!

Best regards,
Chubz
Chubz,

The player with A-A is a 92% favorite over A-Q unsuited. A-Q has a 7% chance to win.

Heads Up and TV WPT Screenings

Hi,

I have two questions to ask. Please bear with me.

1. In texas holdem, when it goes to heads up I normally think that the small blind is on the button as opposed to the left. Am I right on this? If yes, why do I think like this?
2. I remember there were two commentators in the TV WPT screenings. They were in the same room that doesn’t seemed to have any sound-proofing or what so I was curious then why players can’t hear them. Your thoughts?

Thanks and more power!

Vic
Vic,

1. There are only two players. As a result the small blind is on the button and the big blind on the other player.
   
2. The two commentators were not in the same general area. They were far enough away so that the players cannot hear them. In some instances, they really aren’t in the same room. They just make it appear that they are.

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.

All for Free Cards

Hi,

What’s the most effective way to say check when you’re in early position heads up or against two opponents? How about when you hit the table indicating you have a pretty strong hand which in turn makes players check behind you so you can then see one or maybe even two free cards?

By the way, what if you’re in the hand and you don’t really have much however you want to see the cards and then they bet big, will you fold?

Thanks in advance.

All the best,
Tristan
Tristan,

The best way to check is to pat the table twice or three times to indicate you are checking.

In regards to your second question, it depends on the hand. Do you have a big hand or a big draw? If you don’t have much in the pot and not much of a hand, you need to fold. If you have a hand, then call.

AA or KK

Hi,

For some time now, I’ve been thinking on what’s the proper way to play starting hands like AA or KK as I oftentimes hear that normally with AA or KK you will either win a small pot or lose a big one. Well, I started thinking that because you rarely get such cards in the hole, probably these are actually not so good hands.

Consider what I have above, what if instead of following customary wisdom and betting such hands hard preflop to eventually clean up the field and reduce the number of players, why shouldn’t I just consider such like any small pair and then try to see the flop cheaply? In this way, I believe strength will remain kept and in case I flop a set I can have the opportunity to extract important value from the hand itself. In case I won’t flop the set, I can still have a feel as to where I stand. But more or less I have to muck on the turn, however at least I gave myself the opportunity to fight out.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Joey
Joey,

You can play the hand that way if you desire, but when you let multiple players in, you give them the same opportunity to draw out on you and chase after larger hands. If you are heads-up with one opponent, this is sometimes a decent strategy. Another option would be to limp into a pot that you know will be raised by an overly aggressive player. When they raise, you reraise them. Chances are they will go all in and you will be a big favorite.

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.

Choosing 6 7 Over Pocket Aces

Hello,

One time you said you’d prefer to play with 6,7 than pocket aces. Honestly, I can’t believe you you’d prefer playing with 6,7. Maybe you are into something. Maybe you want others to be worse in playing poker so you can destroy them. Well, if your intention was somewhat like that congratulations as you succeeded. Some players now believe calling a big bet pre-flop is okay with 6,7.

I’m sorry but I don’t mean to offend you or what. I know what you mean by saying you would rather play 6,7 however not everyone will understand what you are trying to imply. Also there’s a great possibility that some players will really choose 6, 7 than poker aces though it will lead them to horrible calls and cost them a lot of money.

Any thoughts?

Regards,
Beeler
Beeler,

I’m wondering if this is being taken out of context with something else. However, I wouldn’t call a big raise with 6-7. Some will in order to try and crack aces. If you are trying to crack aces, 9-10 is a much better ace cracking hand due to the array of straights it can make.

Maybe Just a Wrong Interpretation of His Action

Hello,

I regularly play with some friends. In one of our games, an argument about the move of a certain player at the table came up.

At some point, only two of us were left in the hand. I remember I’ve stated that I was all in. Other player then tossed over his cards to show what he had. I figured then out that maybe he finally folded and so I flipped my cards over and started gathering the chips. I saw him then having a peek at my hand. Consequently, he called my all-in. He then said his intention was to think for a while if he would call or not. However, for me his gesture really meant he finally folded. Any thoughts? Who should take home the pot?

Thank you.

Regards,
Joe Darwins
Joe,

In this case, if he had the better hand, he wins. Sorry.

When Down to the Last Two Players

Hello,

Just one question. In case you are down to the last two players, who is the small blind and who is the big blind? I’m just new to poker so I don’t have an idea.

Thanks in advance!

All the best,
Rhyner
Rhyner,

When play is heads up, the dealer is the small blind and the other player the big blind. Preflop, the dealer button will act first. For the rest of the hand, the button will act last.

Various Questions

Hi,

What if the table is finally down to two players, who will be dealt first? Will it be the button? If so, why? And in the event the tournament is down to the final two players, who will be in the big blind? Will it be the dealer or the non-dealer?

By the way, what’s the order of play pre-flop and post-flop? Any idea?

Thank you in advance!

Regards,
Holcombe
Holcombe,

The player not holding the button is dealt first. The player holding the button will be the small blind and the other player the big blind. Preflop, the dealer button will actually act first in heads-up play. For the rest of the hand, the button will act last.

He Never Said He’d Call

Hello,

Just this weekend, I was in a 107man NL Tournament. Actually, it was a community deal type of tournament. Mid part I was involved in a hand in which I had Kh Jh and was heads up with a guy who had Jc 9c. Flop came and brought 7c 7h 5c. Turn followed and brought 7d. River was next and gave Kc. Afterwards, I discovered the guy had the flush therefore I pushed all in. I was the large stack then.

Guy then said “Yea okay”. Dealer thought he folded and so started raking in the community cards. I don’t understand all the raking in stuff and so I asked the dealer about such. Dealer then said that the guy folded therefore I tossed my cards leading to the direction of the cards that where raked. After a while, I started gathering the chips. But the guy interrupted by flopping his cards over to show the flush. He then said he called the all in. Of course I defended myself. I told him that I had KJ hearts and the dealer removed the first 2 cards from the muck pile and showed what I said I had. Director then came in between us and sided to my favor.

What do you think of what happened? Any thoughts?

Thanks for your time.

Regards,
Brookley
Brookley,

For future events, have the dealer verify the players intention.

Showing Both Cards

Hello,

Good thing I was able to make it to the final table in a certain tournament. I had K, 3 and flop was K, 2, J.

At certain point, I raised and everyone else folded. One particular guy then asked me to show my cards. Well, I only showed my King later. However, there were two other guys who insisted that I have to show both my cards.

Now, I want to know, if the hand is over and everyone has folded and I prefer to show just one card but others at the table want to see both my cards, what must I do? Do I have to show my other card though I am hesitant? If yes, is it proper for someone to request for the revealing of the other hand in the situation I have described?

By the way, I also want to know if in case you are heads up and player 1 goes all in on the turn and player 2 calls the all-in and reveals his cards, is player 1 required to turn his cards over right then and there or he can actually wait till river is turned? Any thoughts?

Thanks a lot!

Regards,
Smith
Smith,

If everyone has folded their hand, then you are not obligated to show your cards.

However, if someone goes all in and is called, then both players must turn their cards over. A player may not wait until the river.

Chip Dumping

Hello,

What is chip dumping? I saw the term listed in 2007 WSOP Rules. I know you’re the best person to help me on this.

Thanks,
Lutz
Lutz,

This is a form of cheating.