Posts Tagged ‘tournaments’

How Important Are Pot Odds?

Yesterday I was in a friendly tourney. Something came up. Right after I mucked my straight flush draw on the river based on pot odds and saw the card I needed, I started to think if pots odds are really that important in a tourney ever since. Your thoughts on this?

In ring games I know pot odds are significant in case you want to play with probabilities and make them play in your advantage.

By the way, if I may just share this, I lost AAA once to a guy who called my all-in with lesser chips and with a straight draw on the river. He needed a 9 and then that was it, he got A 9 on the river. Was he just lucky then?

Thank you very much!

Regards,
Turner
Turner,

Pot odds are very important in tournaments. A lot of times it makes the difference in calling an all-in for your tournament life and folding.

In regards to the A-9 hand, he was just lucky. On the flop, he had 16% to win and on the turn he only had 8% to win.

Adjusting Game and Quick Calculation Method of Odds

Hello,

Before, I’m actually into hosting of home tournaments which typically with 40-50 players. Buy in then was around $50, therefore I’ve only accepted players who belonged to average to good category. But just recently, I decided to have some friends over to play in small 10-12 people $20 buy-in tournaments. Unfortunately I was busted out in most of those games so quick. I believe my problem then was about adjusting. I found it hard to adjust my game to the table. Maybe one factor to consider is that I’ve been so use to playing with good players, by which my situational bluffs work. Your thoughts?

By the way, I also want to share to you something. One guy once taught me how to calculate hand odds quickly. According to him all I have to do is this – (outs *2) + 1 = percentage. Therefore if you have 8 outs (open ended straight draw) then (8 * 2) + 1 = 17%. But recently I saw that you showed such at 34%. Well, I know that you’re calculating hitting the hand by the river (2 draws). In the event there was a flush potential also then 8 (open ender cards) + 9 (flush cards remaining) – 2 (remove the 2 flush cards that also complete your straight…. 8 added) = 15 outs or 31%.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Many thanks,
Kirk
Kirk,

When you play with bad players, bluffs will not work that well. You will need to either tighten up and play solid poker or play small ball and crush your opponents when you flop well.

Your calculation for hand odds is a good one, but to figure out from the flop, multiply your calculation by 2. 15 outs on the flop has around a 62% chance to win with your formula.

Being Pot Committed

Hello,

First, I would like to commend you for this wonderful site. It has been a great help to me and to many others as well. Thanks a lot!

Now for my question, how will you know that you are already pot committed? I often hear the line “He had to call the all in bet because he was pot committed”. I’m clueless on this.

Glad to hear from you in no time.

Thanks again!

Regards,
Rafael
Rafael,

Being pot committed means that you have so much money committed to the pot already that it would be a mathematical error to fold to another bet. This is more common in tournaments when someone is facing an all in or facing a big pot short stacked.

Weight of Tournament Chips

Hi,

Any idea of the weight of the chips used in holdem tournaments? Sorry for this, I hope I make sense here.

Thanks in advance!

Warm regards,
Jim
Jim,

Most casino chips are around 10 grams in weight.

Upcoming Poker League

Hello,

I’ve been hosting tournaments for some time now and also been playing at casinos and online. Just recently, my wife also decided to try poker and then later on thought of a social event that we could both host. Well, I believe her idea is okay but the problem is that the tournaments I hold are actually with 4+ table. I can’t see my wife throughout the night with such set up.

The other day, we finally came up with a poker league that goes like this:

• 5 couples, 10 players to 1 table.
• 1  night every week for 5 weeks. Every couple must share a place and there’ll be a pot-luck dinner with the hosting couple serving the main course.
• League fees are $5 per person per week.
• Every league night, one can get 10,000 in chips. Blinds raise every 15 minutes.
• Player who’ll get the first place will have 10 points while player who’ll get the tenth place will get 1 point. Each week, max points will be 50 while the least will be 5.
• On the sixth week, there’ll be a tournament of champions with all 10 players. We haven’t yet decided if it will be a winner take all or pay out to 3rd place or even all the way to 10th getting something like $5. But one thing we’re sure, a player will get 5,000 in chips plus 1,000 chips for each point.

If I may just share, I play not just because of money. I love the intellectual challenge of poker so I also play because of the thrill and all.

Any thoughts?

Hope to hear from you in no time.

Best regards,
Sam
Sam,

I like your setup. It sounds like it will be fun. I would get feedback from your players too and see what they like and dislike and look into ways to change things. This will make them feel a part of the process and make the game seem like their own. You will keep players longer this way and hopefully make more money. Good luck to you.

On Sleep Bet

Hello,

In a certain cash game, one guy placed a straddle while another guy wanted to place a “sleep” bet. Honestly, I haven’t seen it in a casino cash game yet, what is it? Do you have any idea if it’s allowed in casinos or it’s just a local rule?

Thank you.

All the best,
Marc
Marc,

I’ve played in casino’s all over the United States and have even played tournaments at a professional level, and I have never heard of a sleep bet. This sounds like something the cash game where you played allowed.

Pot Committed

Hello,

I usually hear this statement: “He had to call the all in bet because he was pot committed”. It sounds simple but I don’t know how would I ascertain if I’m already pot committed. Any thoughts? Also, is it a bigger factor in tournament play compared in a ring game? What do you think?

Many thanks,
Luis
Luis,

This scenario is the same for ring games and tournaments. When someone is pot committed, the pot has so much money in it compared to their remaining stack, they must call or go all in. This is more applicable to short stacks, but usually if a pot is laying better than 2 to 1 to your money, you are committed in a lot of hands. The only time you would not be is if you have a limited number of draws.

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.

Moving In to Another Table

Hi,

I know in NL tourneys that when you are moved from one table to another, you can’t then play small blind or play when you sit in on the button. But I don’t know how this one will work when you sit out hand on the small blind and then deal proceeds to the player on your left. Any thoughts on this? Do you have to sit out another hand or get dealt in?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Many thanks,
John Wales
John,

You cannot be moved to a new table in a tournament between the big blind and the button. If you are moved into the small blind position, you must wait 2 hands until the button passes you before you get a hand.

Final Table Chip Count at WPT

Hello,

I visited the WPT site and I saw it provided information about the final table at one of its tournaments. It provided the starting chip count for the players and I noticed every player has a different amount. There are also instances where a player would have twice the chip of the other player.

Well, just an information, I know that players have their entrance fee and have a set amount of chips the same as any other else therefore any winning player should have the same number of chips to end as anybody else.

However I’m wondering if how do such big differences come about. Any idea? And is it fair that some players at the final table have a big advantage in terms of starting chip amount?

Thank you very much in advance. I assure you that any help you will extend will be much appreciated.

Warm regards,
Collin Michaels
Collin,

As far as being fair or unfair, the players all start on the same footing at the beginning of the tournament. The structure of the tournaments are fair and the stack sizes are the result of the various players skill, luck, and ability to accumulate chips.

No Limit Holdem Home Games

Hello,

I have a problem. I don’t know what would be the small and big blind structure for no limit holdem home games. Say buy ins are $5 for $500 in chips; $10 for $1,000 in chips; $15 for $1,500 in chips; $20 for $2,000 in chips; $25 for $2,500 in chips. For occasional games, $50 for $5,000 or $100 for $10,000 in chips.

Another thing, for such kind of game I’ve described, how will the ante appear?

Thanks in advance!

Best,
Kelvin
Kelvin,

For most home game tournaments, I would not recommend using antes. A doubling blind structure should suffice.

Remaining Players’ Cards

Hi,

I’ve been into poker for quite some time now and luckily I was able to witness various tournaments. Well, in some tournaments, the remaining players’ cards are turned over and revealed by the dealer after the flop but in others cards are hidden till the final betting round on the river is over. I’m confused why this is so? What’s on your thoughts?

Your help will be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance and nice site!

Cheers,
Jenkins
Jenkins,

When a player is all in and has only one caller, both players hands are shown and the hand played out. In the event the all-in player has multiple callers, the player must wait until side action concludes to show their hand.

Regarding Our Set Up

Hi,

I’ve been into poker for more or less six months now. I love playing with some of my friends. Normally, we are into home tournaments with around 18-20 players.

Well, we haven’t encountered yet a very serious problem. There’s just one issue we can’t resolve. Well, we typically rotate the deal by player. Little blind to the left of the dealer or button and the big blind to the left of the little blind.

Now we want to know why we are always into something when a player or players get knocked out of the game and the new dealer has not paid a blind because of the deal landing on them. Personally, I know a player should not skip the big blind. What do you think? In case it’s true, does it mean dealer should pay a blind and deal? How about multiple options?

Thank you so much for your time and creating a site like this! You’ve done a great job!

Best regards,
Steele
Steele,

A player that is moved to a table may assume any position at the table without penalty. If they are moved into the small or big blind, they must post the bet. If the dealer button is dead or frozen and they move into that spot, then they may play without posting a blind. The only time they may not receive a hand is a spot where they come into the game in a spot between the small blind and the button. They must wait a hand until the button moves to the small blind and then they may play.

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?

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.

Dealer Mistake

Hi,

Before anything, I would like first to commend you for this nice site. Great job on this one and keep it up!

Well, I’m here now to share something and ask from you a piece of advice or the like. Just recently, I was able to make it to a semi-final tournament for a cash prize. Dealer in the said tournament also played. She was still in the hand when the river came. She then burned a card from the deck and then showed one of her two cards as the river card. Then bets were made and afterwards she claimed that everything she did was done without intention. Some watchers called the director. A few players then expressed they saw her do such thing intentionally. However, some players have no idea at all about what happened.

Personally, I believe that as a dealer, once she exposed her card, with or with intention, she should be out of the hand and any bets she had made should be forfeited. However, the director said that it was with no intention, that it was just an accident and so she could have her card and then go on as nothing happened.

Now, I want to know your opinion. I believe she was careless. What do you think?

Thank you in advance.

Warm regards,
Pearman
Pearman,

I do see why people would say it was intentional. 2 cards are not as thick as the 28 cards of the deck. I don’t see how she made that mistake, but I wasn’t there.

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.

Winning Places and Revealing Cards

Hi,

Say there are 6 placements and seven players for the pot. In a certain hand, player A moves all in. Then player B follows and actually calls with more money than player A. Player C is next and calls the all in of player A and afterwards raises placing player B all in as well. Later, everyone else folds.

Eventually, hand of player C beats the hand of players B and A however hand of player A beats the hand of player B.

Now, who will get the 7th place? How about the 6th? Another thing, I’m wondering if in what order do you reveal your cards and consider or count somebody as eliminated?

Thanks in advance!

Gravley
Gravley,

The order you show your cards doesn’t not matter. 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. Player A would finish in 7th place.

NL Games

Hello there!

I’m curious, what NL games do you play most of the time? And if you would compare such games to lower limit games, is there any difference?

By the way, “higher limits” for me means above $2.5-$5 NL.

Thank you for your time.

Regards,
Jons
Jons,

Games at lower limits will be losers and there isn’t as much bluffing involved. You also tend to see more of the crazy moves such as calling all in with 7-3 offsuit. The higher limit players will tend to have all the skills to be a strong player. If you are still working on any part of your game, stick to lower limits while you learn.