Posts Tagged ‘tournament’

On Revealing Hands

Hi,

I hope you don’t mind but I want to know your thoughts on showing other players your cards if they all fold or if according to the rules you don’t have to show them. I heard some say that showing your cards won’t give you anything good instead would just give other players information about you. But I also heard from some players that if you play tight in the beginning and show those good cards even when you don’t have to, you can later bluff more effectively. What’s on your thoughts?

Thanks a ton!

Best regards,
Franc
Franc,

Showing your cards gives other opponents information that they can use against you. You can also use this to your advantage. Personally, I don’t start showing most hands until later in the tournament to try and give off the illusion that I always have a strong hand when I’m in the pot. That way, I tend to get less action from people with stack equal to mine unless they have a big hand. This in turn allows me to put people on hands easier and allows me sometimes to ease into the money without massive confrontations.

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.

To Cut the Cards

Hi,

In a home game or tournament, do you have to offer someone to cut the cards?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Many thanks,
Jules
Jules,

It is customary to offer someone to cut the cards, but it is not a rule of the game. I offer a cut. It cuts down on the suspicion of cheating.

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.

About Randomness

Hi,

I was originally into neighborhood games and just tried online games recently. Well, on this site, random deals are present which later produced silly flops, turns and river combos not common in live brick and mortar game. Random deals on the site are said to be as random as present technology allows and actually have yielded favorable results when examined against a live deck.

Now, do you think there is a consensus among experienced casino and/or tournament players with regards to the validity of accepted poker probabilities against online play? I badly need to hear your opinion.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Luke
Luke,

Most players will tell you that live and online probabilities are the same. The difference is that with online poker, hands are played so much faster that there appears to be a variance in the numbers. Online poker is wildly popular with many pros. If they thought it was all rigged, they wouldn’t play.

Issue on Cockiness

Hello,

I’m here to ask something about emotion. Well, I know and I understand why emotion badly affects one’s play. For me tilt has never been much of a problem unlike cockiness.

I know I must admit it, when I sit down and play calmly and with humility, I know my game is going to be tight, aggressive and seriously thoughtful. And in the event I am in such mood more or less I’ll be placing money in the tournament I’m in or at least double my money if in a ring game.

Just the other day, after days of good play, I was very cocky and played cleverly. I bluffed a lot if I just remember it right. I don’t understand why every time cockiness strikes in me, I lose. Maybe for some reasons, but for reasons I don’t know.

Because I badly want cockiness to be out on my system, I started forcing myself to play the free money tables and also play real money only when I’m focused. Any thoughts?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Best regards,
Kevin
Kevin,

When someone becomes cocky, they usually convince themselves that they are superior to all players and they buy into their belief to the extent of overlooking information that other players may present in a hand. They may feel that a player couldn’t possibly call their bluff or that they couldn’t call with an inferior hand and hit. When a player gets this mindset, the tight players at the table take advantage and punish them when they make a mistake.

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.

No Limit Cash Game and Tournament

Hi,

Just recently, I joined a no limit cash game and tournament. Well, I noticed that playing with cash chips is actually far different from playing with tournament chips. I noticed different typical pre-flop raises, different standards on what kinds of hands to bet, raise, or call, etc.

Luckily, I got a feel on good tournament strategy, however it was a different story when about cash games. I wasn’t able to get a feel on good cash game strategy. Any advice?

Your help will be much appreciated!

Thank you.

Regards,
Nick
Nick,

Cash games play a lot differently than tournaments. If a player busts out, they can buy back in. As a result you will see more drawing, and more play with speculative hands. One way you can play is a small ball method. This means seeing a lot of flops cheaply in the hopes to hit the flop hard. When you do hit, you can then punish your opponents.

On Second and Third Place

Hello,

Great site! Well, I just participated in a home game by which payouts go to the first, second. and third.

Earlier, for $500, player 1 went all in. Player 2 for $700 followed and also went all in. Player 3 called and fortunately had still some chips at hand.

In the end, player 3 won therefore he has taken home both pots. Now, who should win the second place? Player 1 had a better hand compared to player 2 however the latter had more chips to start with. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Salomon
Salomon,

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. Since player 2 had more chips, he will finish in 2nd.

An Argument About Side Pot

Hi,

I was in a no limit Texas Holdem tournament the other day. Unfortunately, an argument about side pot came up.

There were four players left, player A, player B, player C, and player D. Player A with 1000 first called the 100 in the big blind. Player B with 500 called the 100. Player C with 300 went all in for 300. Player D folded. All figures were in chips.

Later, player A called the additional 200 from the all in bet of player C. Player B followed and also called the additional 200. Flop came with three way action: player A, player B, and player C. Each player had invested 300.

Because he was the first to act after the flop, player A then made a move and then went all in, 700. Well, all of us knew then that player C had a great chance of winning 900 if his hand was the best hand at the table. Also, it was obvious that in the event player B calls the bet of player A, there would be a side pot and that whoever of the two has the best hand would win the side pot at hand. Finally, player A would have the additional 500 he placed in the pot that the other players could not cover as well as the pot from Player 1, Player 2 and Player 3.

Now, what do you think will happen in the event player B folds to the all in bet of player A? Also, in case player B folds after player A goes all in with more chips, do you feel player B can win the original pot against Player A as well as player C?

Personally, if I will be asked, if ever player B has chips left he has to call all his chips off to the bet of player A to win the main pot. In the event he folds, he will not anymore be able to have the pot. On the flip side, my friend insisted that player B should claim the all in bet after the flop of player C as he matched such bet before player A went all in. He argued that player B doesn’t need to put his chips at stake to have the original pot.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Rayner
Rayner,

Once a player goes all in and has multiple callers, the callers then are allowed to bet on the side. They are not just betting on the side, but they are also battling for the rights to the main pot. If player B folds to the all-in bet of player A, he forfeits his rights to the main pot.

Was the Big Blind Twice!

Hi,

I joined a pot-limit tournament the other night. I remember my chip stack then was around 3 ½ times the big blind and at my table were 6 players, 4 joined in while a hand was in action. If I may add, I was the big blind during such hand, was raised and then folded.

Later, button had the next hand and moved it to the direction of the player who just joined in. At such point, I was again in the big blind, then raised and folded. Next hand then came and I was the small blind that placed me all in.

In the end, I lost and just got the 29th place, 20th place paid. I wanted a refund however I was deprived from having it. Hosts said I got an advantage though I also got some disadvantages. Any thoughts?

By the way, your site is so great and helpful. Keep up the good work.

Thanks!

Regards,
Grummon
Grummon,

Their lack of knowledge cost you an extra blind.

Surprising Chips

Hi,

I was in a certain tournament the other week. Near end of the said tournament, after the flop, I placed $10,000 bet. Well, I was raised $30,000 more and so I called. Later, we revealed the cards. Luckily, I won the pot. I then started to count my chips and I’ve discovered I had $38,000 when I was raised. The player who lost said that I didn’t actually raise him all-in, which I know is true. Additionally, the remaining $8,000 could have been into the next round of bidding.

Obviously, the player who lost had so many questions in mind. He totally can’t believe everything.

In the end, we just both agreed that the extra $8,000 will go to him and the $30,000 raise to me. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks!

Koch
Koch,

He has no rights to your 8,000 chips there, especially since he lost the hand.

There Was Cheating!

Hi,

I was in a $50 NL tournament recently. The said tournament was held at my friend’s house. There was an agreement that second place would win back buy in and first would take the rest. The game started with 8 players, four players I actually knew then.

Unfortunately, though I was good, I was the first one to be eliminated as my pocket Kings ran into Aces preflop. Later, it went to 3 players, then much later to 2. One of the two had approximately a 2:1 chip lead. However, suddenly such player requested for a split pot. I then felt something was wrong. I can feel then something was agreed upon, there was a “teamwork cheating” if I may quote it. Well, I believe poker is an individual game and so players are expected to act out alone.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

Gierren
Gierren,

I have been involved in quite a few deals. This is not illegal. It’s a normal part of poker. All players remaining in the tournament must agree to a deal in order for it to be valid. It must be unanimous.

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.

Last Two Places

Hi,

I hosted a No limit Texas Holdem tourney. The tourney was held at my house the other night. It was with $50.00 buy-in and $850 starting. I believe everything went well. In the end, three players were left for the prize money. By the way, money for the first placer was $400, for the second $200 and for the third $100.

At certain point, player A had approximately $5000, player B had $4500, and player C had $200. All figures were in chips. Later, player C went all in with $200 to post his blind of $150. Player A then called the $200 and then went all in too. At such moment, the main pot was already $400 and the side pot was $4600.

Eventually, player B called the all in and placed $200 in the main pot and $4300 in the side pot. That time, my belief was that only player C was entitled to win the main pot of $600 and players B and C were up for both the main pot and side pot.

Well, as expected, flop, turn, and river came. Player A had something so he won the pot of $600 and beaten player B in the side pot 8700 chips. But we don’t know who exactly will take the two other places, 2nd and 3rd. For me, players B and C were all out of chips, but player B had more chips on the call compared to player C and so player B should be the second placer while player C the third placer. What do you think?

Thanks!

Regards,
Needham
Needham,

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. In your scenario above, player C is the third place finisher since he started with only 200 chips.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Moving a Player From One Table to Another

Hi,

I was in a satellite Texas Holdem tournament in Casino du Liban in Lebanon just a month ago. Well, something happened.

The dealer first asked us to place the small and big blinds while afterwards he started shuffling the cards. Few seconds and he started distributing the cards but the manager interrupted and told me I should take my chips from inside the line and then gather all my chips so I can move in to another table.

Now, I want to know if he actually has the power to move a player at such point he has already posted the blind, any thoughts? In satellite tournaments, is there any rules I should know with regards to moving players from one table to another?

Thanks!

Lileberg
Lileberg,

The floor staff have the ability to move you at any time to balance tables. It does not matter if you have posted your blind or not. As long as cards have not been dealt to you, the floor person can move you.

About Straddle

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.

Who’ll Have the Higher Place?

Hello there!

I have a question to ask but I’m not sure if it was already asked before. If it was, I’m very sorry. I don’t have much time to read all of the stuff posted here in your site.

Well, my question goes like this. In case I raise all-in and get called by the short stack and one guy with a larger stack and then the big stack player wins the hand, who will get a higher place, the guy with more chips at the beginning of the hand or the guy who had the higher ranked five cards during such hand? What’s your thoughts on this one?

I hope to hear from you in no time.

Thank you very much.

Regards,
Busch
Busch,

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.

Chip Count or Best Hand?

Hi,

I was in an event last night which started with 8 players then almost ended with 3. Actually, before the start of the event, all of us agreed to pay out 3 places. Well, player 1 had sufficient chips to cover players 2 and 3.

At some point, players 2 and 3 were all in. Player 1 had three sixes, therefore he won the first place. Player 3 had three threes while player 2 had two kings. Considering this, how would you pay out the 3 places? Do you think it’s player 2 with the second highest chip count at the start who should win the second place money or it’s player 3 with the second best hand?

Thanks in advance!

Mitchell Rose
Mitchell,

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. In your example, player 2 wins 2nd place.

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.