Posts Tagged ‘muck’

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.

Playing With Loose Colleagues

Hello,

I love playing no limit holdem with some colleagues. Typically they’re a bit loose. Some loves to see the flop even if it’s already been raised and re-raised pre-flop particularly when blinds are cheap.

Well, to later have positive results that would favor on my side, I believe I should play a lot of sub-par hands to adjust to the overall game pace and not be pushed around. Investing some time even with marginal hands as bottom pair with a couple of far-fetched draws or middle pair without kicker can also be of great help.

One thing, do you have any advice for me as to when I should rather muck my hand and keep my money in games with my colleagues?

Thanks!

Regards,
Lord Ian
Ian,

I would play a lot of cheap flop. If you can get in without a raise or get into a multi way pot with your substandard hands, you can make money when you flop lucky. But do this sparingly. Otherwise, you will bleed off chips.

Revealing Lost Hand

Hello,

I was in a no limit tournament just recently. It was arranged by some individuals in our place. I remember there were no real rules at all instead just one guy who will act as a “judge”.

In front me was one guy who was really drunk. I saw him picking on one of the ladies several times. Well, the two ended up in a hand together with just a little money in the pot. River came and the lady placed a bet and the drunk guy called her. Guy then revealed his cards and then lady mucked. Guy then was irritated as the lady didn’t showed her cards though she lost.

I was really curious then. I don’t know if one really have to show his or her cards when he or she is called or can he or she muck his or her cards anytime? Is there any rule I need to know?Please I need your help.

Many thanks,
Bude
Bude,

When a player is called at the river, their opponent has the right to see their cards. The player can muck their hand, but their opponent can request the dealer to show the hand.

Want to See the Mucked Cards

Hi,

I’m into N/L tournaments with regular schedule 3 times a week. The tournaments are held just near my place. Well, we have a solid player who is known for being one of the best local players. He loves visiting Vegas 3-4 times every year and he runs the said NL tournaments.

Just the other week, I was able to play with the guy I’m talking about. I remember I was the button and he was the small blind. There was another player in the hand and I believe he was the big blind then. I had A9 off-suit and an A flopped. For some reasons, nobody folded. Turn came and was an A. Few seconds passed and they both checked. I placed a bet while he folded (I’m referring to the small blind here). Big blind on the other side called. River came and brought 5. I then made a reasonable, min bet to the big blind. This was actually right after he checked. For three times my bet, he then re-raised me. I called and afterwards waited big blind to flipped his cards over. After few seconds, he showed AJ. I knew then that I lost and so just threw my cards into the muck so that small blind won’t have any idea what my cards were. However, before the next shuffler totally had my cards, small blind said he wanted to see all what I’ve thrown. I fought out that what he wanted was not possible but he insisted that in Vegas seeing mucked cards is possible.

Because the big blind was first in line and was the first one to show, I knew then I don’t have to show my cards. However, he really insisted and then suddenly turned my cards up. Well, I knew then that he got some infos from my cards.

As of now, I’m thinking of the online poker sites that allow any player in the game to see mucked cards after the showdown is complete and cards get mucked that were still in play in the event showdown has taken place. Can you please explain to me what’s going on?

I remember small blind admitted that the infos he got really helped him. Also, he said many players don’t know that they can actually do the same thing, see the mucked cards. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks and great site!

All the best,

Smith
Smith,

Since he called your bet, he has the right to see your cards. When players go to the river and a bet is called, the players at showdown have the right to see the other player’s cards. If you muck, they can request the dealer show the cards and the dealer must show. Your opponent was perfectly within his rights. He paid for the right. If you went to see a movie and paid to see the movie, you would expect to be allowed to see the movie right?

Reshuffle or Not

Hello,

In a certain tourney, there were two players involved in a particular hand. At the turn, both checked. Player 1 checked at fourth street however player 2 placed a reasonable bet to put player 1 all-in.

Later, dealer thought player 1 folded and so placed the rest of the cards into the muck and then pushed the following cards to the following dealer. Afterwards, player 2 started to have the pot down however player 1 expressed he wanted to call the bet. Well, none of the players had mucked a hand at such point and so two cards were conceived to be still at the top of the pile.

In the end, though no one was totally sure which cards should be dealt, it was agreed to eventually burn and turn over the river card. Player 1 as a result had the winning hand. Because it was already mixed up with the mucked cards of the other players, deck could not be shuffled anymore.

Thanks for your time.

Wiederstein
Wiederstein,

I personally have not come across this situation so I asked help from a friend that is a tournament director for the World Series of Poker. She told me that in the event the deck was mixed up, take the entire muck pile, shuffle it, and then burn and deal out the rest of the hand.

About the Play With Adam Levy’s Ace in the Muck

Hi,

I joined 2007 WPT at the Fallsview. Well, just yesterday I was on the 19th place. Now, I’m very interested about your insight regarding the play with Adam Levy’s ace in the muck. Please bear with me.

Thank you so much!

Sather
Sather,

This is the proper ruling. Since he called an all in bet and none else was in the hand, the hand must be run out.

Rule on Cards Touching the Muck

Hello,

Once you stated that “The rule is clear: If your cards touch the muck, it is considered a fold. It doesn’t matter if the cards are face-up or face-down”. Can you please explain this to me more?

Sorry if look funny here but I just want to understand things right.

Thank you very much in advance. I hope to hear from you soon.

Cheers,
Jones
Jones,

The muck is the pile of cards from players that have folded in the hand. In some casinos, when a hand hits this pile, the hand is dead. It doesn’t matter if the hand was is face up as in showdown, or mucked in a fold.