Hi,

I’m here to ask this, how will you know you have the best hand? Recently I played online and had KQs. Well, it was a 1$ big blind table. At the position before the button, there were no raises preflop therefore I just raised 1$. Players who were in the hand called. Flop then came and brought 333. Checks all around followed. After a while turn came and brought Q, it then checked all around. River came and was K. It later checked around to me therefore I decided to place 5$ bet. Everyone else then folded except for one player who re-raised me 15$. I then called with the thought that everything was just a bluff. He then showed me K3 off suit and immediately taken down the pot.

Now as I try to analyze things up I can’t afford not to think that I maybe have misplayed the hand. Also, I’ve read in books and websites that “If the pot is laying you 6:1 and your no worse than that to win it, make the call”. But I don’t know how can I ascertain if I’m 6:1 to win the hand or not.

The other day I’ve seen plenty of examples on your odds of making a draw or improving your hand, but I wonder, what if you’re not drawing to the Nuts, how can you tell what your winning odds are?

Please I need your help. Thanks in advance!

Best regards,
Tommy
Tommy,

First, that was a split pot. Both of you had three’s full of kings.

Next to determine whether your worse than 6 to 1 to win, when you 6 to1, you are around 17% to win the hand. If you are on the flop, figure out the number of outs to win the hand. Multiply it by 4. This will give you your percentage to win the hand by the river. If it is greater or equal to 17, then you are better than 6 to 1. On the turn, calculate your outs by 2 to get the percentage. If you are equal or better than 17% to hit your hand, then you are better than 6 to 1.

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Hi,

For once I used the 2/4 rule about post-flop percentages and it really helped me. But now I want to know if there is a short-cut way to calculate winning percentages pre-flop, what do you think?

Just recently I discovered that there are instances that multiplying your outs by 8 works. However at times, it seems not to work that much. For example, when you have a pocket pair vs. an over- and under-card (QQ vs. AJ). Well, I understand that there are some factors to consider first. For the most part, percentages are usually close. Your thoughts please.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks!

Best regards,
Chester
Chester,

Invest in an odds calculator or create a chart to memorize preflop odds. Preflop is less about calculating odds as it is picking strong starting hands in proper position. If you need odds calculations to determine to play a particular starting hand, then you should probably fold.

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1. Stats and Hand Grouping Percentages
2. Hand Groupings
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Hello,

Can you please define early, middle and late position in contrast with the number of players at a certain table?

I’ll be glad to hear from you.

Many thanks,
Matt
Matt,

In a nine handed table, the small blind, big blind, and under the gun players are early position. The next three players are middle position. The last three players, which includes the button, is late position.

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Hello,

Just want to ask some questions. I hope you have time.

1. How often do you play against world class talent? And what would you normally consider world class?
2. Do you think it’s a good idea to put people to the test by going all in earlier with the possibilities they will later on call or bust you?
3. In no limit, do you think it’s actually a good thing to sometimes raise your draws despite the fact that you could be re-raised all in or the betting player would place bets lower than your raise?

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

Many thanks,
Xander
Xander,

1. World class talent are those that play in the highest level games in the world such as the World Series of Poker, the WPT, etc. I personally play against such competition a couple of times a year, most specifically at the World Series of Poker.
   
2. It depends on the hand. If I have a big hand that I don’t want to have to make a decision about, I will push. I will also do the same if I think I can get them to lay down or if I think that it is the best way to double up.
   
3. You definitely should raise your draws on occasion when you think doing so will get you a free card to draw at your hand. This is a move best done in position. You must also have a good read on your opponent.

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1. Reshuffle or Not
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3. Couple of Questions

Hello,

I’m actually here to ask something. Do you have a general catalog of all the hands, which listed hands a player would absolutely fold? I’m referring here to hands that players will fold more often, hands that players will always bet however not necessarily raise, and hands that players will always bet and at the same time raise.

Well, I’m not sure but you more or less raise group 1 hands always. But about the other groups, what do think players should do with them? And should you play hands in groups 6 & 7?

By the way, for the ones below what kind of general percentages would you expect to see? As a fairly new player I don’t know what will you expect aside from:

Saw the flop (90%)
Went to the river (41%)
Folded to a river bet (58%)
Showdowns won (42%)

I love playing online and of course I’m using play money. Just the other day I tried to play at some online $1-$2 tables and unfortunately lost. I must admit I’ve stayed on too many hands to begin with and let myself be trapped while trying to make a hand then.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Vincent
Vincent,

First, you are playing 9 out of 10 hands. You are playing way too many hands. You need to lookup general starting hands or buy a book or DVD about beginning holdem. Strong hands such as Aces, Kings, Queens, Jacks, and A-K suited can be played in most positions for a raise. Medium pairs down to 9’s and A-Q, A-J can be played for a raise from middle position. Other pairs can be played for a raise from late position. In other positions, the hands can be limp hands.

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Hi,

I’ve been into poker for quite some time now. As of the moment, I consider myself a good player. I believe I can be like a pro if I just work on some of my weak areas like discipline.

Most of the time, I play online. And because I don’t have much money I oftentimes play in 25 and 50 dollar NL tables. I heard your three stages and they sound really interesting to me. Well, I believe I’m in the third stage but I don’t have enough discipline. Almost every time I find myself falling in love with trash hands, suited connectors especially from bad position.

Now, I want to know if you have any advice for me. And about trash hands and one or two gap connectors, is it worth the risk to play such hands and possibly go on hoping to break someone and eventually build a table image?

Thanks a lot!

Best regards,
Devrick
Devrick,

As far as discipline, you need to go back to a tight strategy for a while. The only way to fix this is to develop a plan and stick to it. Being disciplined requires making correct choices and sticking with them.

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Hi,

I’ve been into local free rolls in my place. Well, I play two or three times a week. Most of the time, I face bunch of players with various approaches.

Majority of the players I’ve encountered were loose type thus making it hard for me to steal pots even with a preflop raise and a continuation bet. On the better side, I still can make it to the final table in just almost half the time. There’s just one situation I can never forget.

In early position back then, I had a decent hand, AKs, AK, AQs, AQ. For approximately three times the BB I raised and then got several callers. Flop came but of no help. Later, turn came but of also no help to me, I haven’t made a hand still. At such point, I was in doubts if placing another bet will be a good move.

If you were me, will you place another bet? Well, personally I want to place another one to obtain more info. Also, if I was back in position, how would the situation change? Do you think for free card, I should just check it down to the river and then wait and see if other player place a bet on the river? What do you think?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Many thanks,
John
John,

If you are in position with this hand and raised preflop, you need to bet out on the flop and then if you are still in at the turn, bet out again. You need to take advantage of the position and try to force them out when they show weakness.

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Hello,

Honestly, I have an idea on what is a straddle however I don’t know if it’s actually applicable in tournaments. Well, I know it is in ring games.

Also, I want to know if you can actually straddle in any position or you have to be “under the gun”. What do you think?

Thanks a lot!

Regards,
Fleishel
Fleishel,

A straddle is only applicable in cash games. In a tournament, it is counting as a raise from the under the gun player. Most straddles are from the under the gun position in cash games.

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Hi,

I was in an online event early this morning. I was in mid position with the largest stack and was dealt AA. For ten times the big blind, first position raised. I thought of isolating him and so I raised him. However, the dealer and the two blinds called my raise, same thing with the original bettor. Flop came and brought JTJ rainbow. Original raiser then placed a bet by which was 3/4 of his stack however didn’t went all in. I then placed him on KK, QQ, or even AT. I then opted to fold as three bettors were waiting and any of them had a J. Others left folded.

Well, I honestly believe that with my position, I was at a major disadvantage and so I wanted to know if you have any strategies in mind about how I should isolate an opponent. At some point, I believe I should have went all in. What do you think?

Thanks a lot and keep up the good work on this site!

Regards,

Corbeil
Corbeil,

I think your fold on the flop was good not because of your position but due to your opponents bet. He bet ¾ of his stack. This looks like someone trying to induce a call or a raise. He probably had A-J or maybe even J-J. I think you made a fantastic fold.

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Hello,

I have some questions to ask. They are actually related to some stuff I’ve come to discover without any intentions.

In some discussion sections, I’ve come to hear about No Limit Texas Holdem being something related to Deep Stack No Limit or extreme short stack No Limit. In the first one, you can actually play a wide variety of starting hands as the implied odds are excellent. The post flop play is also much complex as bluffing is much more helpful and useful. In the second one, position is very vital as a hand like ATo may be an allin hand right after several limpers in the event you are on the button, however in the event you are under the gun, an easy fold. In connection with this, say in a game, suited connectors seem like of no worth as you will never hit your hand enough while pocket pairs are valuable due to their value. Post flop play on the other hand is more on all-ins and folding.

Now, what hands become more or less playable in no limit games with medium stack? Say in a 1/2 game with effective stacks of $100, I’ll call $10 raises heads up with medium and low pocket pairs to try have a set. In case there no callers would appear, I might call a not so high raise but if in case I’m up against a good player I might fold a PP to a raise to avoid a beat. Then say suited connectors’ value is seriously dependent on the aggressiveness of the game and your position as well, earlier, you will most likely fold but later I’ll limp in when there’s a cheap multi-way flop.

On the other hand, high card hands like AK are where my stress level goes up. More or less in deep stack events on a K98 flop, I’ll fold my AK when things get worst. However in short stack events, it would be a different story. In medium stack events, I’ll be right on the fence.

Oftentimes, when I raise $10 preflop, I’ll get one caller and then flop would appear K98. I’ll then bet about $20 and they’ll push their 90$ stack in. In the end, I’ll get irritated. At times, I’ll be tempted to lay down all as I seem to fold more pretty good hands compared to my opponents at the table.

Now, here are my questions:

1. Is there anything I need to adjust when it comes to my pre-flop raising, limping and raise-calling requirements? And because such games tend to be aggressive post flop particularly online, do you think hands as suited connectors go down in terms of value due to lack of odds to draw? Do I need to call generously in late position or else it should be a no-set-no-bet level of tightness? What do you think?

2. In such games, how should I play marginal hands? I believe in deep stack no limit you don’t want to bet your stack but in short stack you will do everything to have your chips in the middle. How about in medium stack?

3. Say somebody is putting pressure on your head as he has something that could beat you or else just know you are playing tight, how would you play? What will be your defense?

4. When you are in position, what are the moves you should use?

   
   

5. Do you think there is a reason for you to semi-bluff with your primary draw in games where everyone overvalues their hands? Or else just stick to calling in the event you have implied odds or the like?

Thanks for your time.

Regards,
Nickerson
Nickerson,

1. As far as your preflop play, I would stick with trying to see flops cheap with a wide array of reasonable hands. Obviously you want to raise with strong hands, but otherwise, try to see a cheap flop and hope to hit it hard. As far as calling a raise, I would tend to stick with stronger hands to call raises, unless there is a lot of action. Then you can widen the range some, but not get too crazy.

   Hands such as suited connectors do go down in value when the betting is very aggressive post flop. If you play suited connectors, make sure that they are on the higher side to give you better odds of hitting top pair or two pair. In late position after the flop, what you call depends on what you are holding and the number of players and the opponent you are playing. Sometimes playing super tight is right. Sometimes it’s right to call. Poker is situational. It depends on what is going on at the time.

2. With marginal hands, I would try and see cheap flops for the ones that I do play. This is a form of small ball poker. Get in cheap and then punish your opponents when you do hit well.

3. One of two things can be done here. Switch to playing small ball and punish him when your hands hit the flop well or play tight and punish him when your big hands hit. Don’t go crazy and randomly raise or play hands that have no value. This will just bleed your stack.

4. In position, I would bet out on the flop when checked to me a little more often. Semi-bluffing is obviously one tool you should use as well. Raising when you have no hand is something I would reserve for players that I deem that are just trying to steal the pot.

5. When players overvalue their hands, I would stick with calling in the event you miss your draw. When you semi-bluff, you still must hit in order to win. If players overvalue their hands, a bluff will not force them off their hands.

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Hi,

I’m just curious, how should people look to utilize weak play in 6-handed high-stakes online games? And is there any difference between an actual value bet and a scared bet on various streets? And in terms of limping, how much is prohibited?

By the way, do you know the various means people go on in continuation betting situations both in and out of position, considering there is and there is no lead? And how significant it is to have a potential of playing from out of position? Any idea?

Thanks in advance!

Sichevsky
Sichevsky,

Limping isn’t usually permitted in higher stakes. Someone is usually going to raise. As far as continuation bet, most of the times players will make a continuation bet if they are the aggressor preflop regardless of position. Playing out of position is seldom a big advantage. Sometimes you can represent a big hand, but it is always better to act in position.

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Hello,

I just want to know if how often does a call in position slow down a lead bettor in 6-handed high-stakes online games? And do you think players should expect more bluffs? How about big pots with weak hands, how common are they specifically where players are having a feel on the board texture and then go on in aggression or otherwise?

By the way, about the check-raising the turn without a super strong hand, is this common? It’s very important for me to know as I believe the turn is the most crucial street and it’s actually hard to play one pair hands if you don’t trust your opponent that much.

Thanks in advance. I hope to hear from you in no time.

All the best,
Albert
Albert,

Check raising the turn without a hand again depends on the player. “Durrrr” I could see doing that without blinking. The same with Phil Ivey applies. Phil Hellmuth I wouldn’t expect that out of him that often as he plays very tight and solid.

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Hello,

Honestly, I don’t see high-limits as a fest full of bluffs. Well, I understand that the basis of all poker is more on doing and making a hand and eventually be paid for all of your efforts. However, better players play stronger and look to control the action no matter if they give importance to betting, bluffing, semi-bluffing, so on and do forth. Because of this, I’ve come to realize that to get paid accordingly, I should be in control and totally be unpredictable.

As of the moment, I love playing small ball poker. Usually I am the aggressor. Well, I oftentimes make use of my position and table image for other players to believe that I’m in for the pot. I don’t bluff that much however I open and bet a lot in small pots to eventually have action on my big hands nonetheless.

Considering the way I play, how well will I do in bigger games? Do you think other players will raise me more often or else call me in position as they want to know what I’ll do on the next street? What’s on your thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

Crawford
Crawford,

I would stick to lower limits and expand my game some if I were you. I don’t think you’re ready.

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