It is not advisable at all that you become an underdog for some time. Being an underdog or being the least experienced player in any games is not healthy. Thus, it is important that you try to end your fate of being an underdog. There are some ways to accomplish this of course.
First, you can try to gather information. Try to collect information about a certain player or a hand to eventually make good and sound decisions. As you try to gather information, you will discover important things that can help you become a better player.
In games, you can try to start moving all-in. It doesn’t mean that because you are an underdog, you can’t be dealt with some good cards. At some point you will be and if this finally happens, try to move all-in but just be sure others don’t seem like they would call. When you go all-in, others may think you are brave enough to take the risk.
You can also try doing the opposite thing. Instead of going all-in to make others believe you are strong, you can try to make them believe that you are really at your worst, that you are an underdog. If others find you an obvious underdog, they will go easy on you. At times, making everyone believe you are an underdog is helpful and effective. You can later rob them all blindly.
In truth, being an underdog and realizing that you are really an underdog is not easy. You may lose your pride and you may lose your passion for the game. However, you should never get tired and give up. You can break your fate and eventually become a winning player if you just want to. Just have faith and the will to succeed.
A “tell” is any physical reaction, habit, or kind of behavior that gives the other players information about what you are holding. There are actually some most common tells, and if you know what are they, you’ll not only be able to watch out for your own behavior to be sure your body language isn’t revealing your hand but you’ll also be able to watch for the behavior of your opponents to assess if they hold a strong or a weak hand.
Intimidation Signs
Typically, if a player tries to intimidate, he most probably has a weak hand. For an instance, he shouts “I raise” then bets instantly or tosses chips onto the table, more or less he’s trying to intimidate.
Busy Mode
Normally, if the player is talking to a friend, speaking on the phone, listening to music from iPod or eating, player must be strong. If you have a premium hand, stay in the pot in the event player raises.
Weakness Signs
If player tries to imply he is weak, he most likely has a great hand. He can imply he is weak by putting his chips neatly and quietly into the pot and afterwards slowly bets.
Intriguing Statement
If player leaves an intriguing statement before raising or going all in, he more or less has a very strong hand. An example of an intriguing statement is something like “a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do”.
Risking Bigger Chips
In the event player puts the bigger chips into the pot like $100 although he has 4 chips of $25, he may be strong. Player is not afraid to risk his bigger chips as he’ll get them back later.
Hello,
Just last week I was invited to a twenty-three player, $50 buy-in no-limit. Later part I made it to the final table and was actually third placer in terms of chip count however ended up on the sixth.
I remember I was the dealer then and was dealt wired 99′s. There were six players at such point. Three limped in and so I raised two times the big blind. Do you think I should have just called? Then two players folded and the chip-leader who appeared to me as a loose-aggressive one re-raised me the big blind. I then went all in with about 3/4 of his stack. I considered what if he had high cards and he’d catch any of those to the river. With pocket ladies, he then called. At such point in time, I knew the game was finally over for me.
I know I’ve made some mistakes but I can’t directly pinpoint what are they. Please help me.
Best regards,
Jester
Jester,
You were in late position with 9’s. A raise is not a bad play here, but limping in may have been a better option. When you were reraised, then it is time to get out. Chances are you nines were beat, and they were. With 3 limpers and a raise, someone usually isn’t going to reraise without some type of strong hand.
Hello,
I typically play with some close friends. I can’t believe it but there’s one person who always wins. Well, he does bluff some pots and gets others to fold but I don’t totally believe that these are the reasons why he always makes it.
Normally, when he’s in a hand in someone and he happens to ride it all the way to the river calling any bet, he then makes it to have a pair or a gunshot straight. Not to mention that whenever a certain player is in a pot with him and we finally turn over a pair each, I usually have a king kicker while he has an ace.
I remember one time in a 3 handed game, with QhJh I went all in. He called and flipped 8h7h over. Flop came up and was Q Q 6. Turn followed and was a 9. River then was next and brought 10, thus granting him a straight. In the end he made it again. I don’t understand why he’s always lucky and he’s always on top of the line.
Next time when he gets either a pocket pair or suited picture cards almost every hand, what should I do? I need your advice please.
Thank you.
Regards,
Cade
Cade,
Your friend is riding a hot streak. You can either choose to play tighter against him, or choose to play small ball. A player such as this is a good one to play small ball with. See a lot of cheap flops and when your marginal hands connect big, then you punish him. Since he seems to be a bit of a calling station, you should be able to profit from him.
Hello,
The other night I was in a 10 man tournament. Later I was in heads up and was the chip leader. My opponent then was a kind of player who always seems to play and bet every hand. Later he became the chip leader as he won over most of my blinds as I wasn’t getting my cards then. Because of what happened, I went all in with Jh9h and he called me with A4 off suit. In the end, with ace high, he won. Well, I know I should have played differently but I don’t know how. Any thoughts?
Many thanks,
Austin
Austin,
Loosen up your hand requirements. Any hand with an ace, two big cards, and any pair is a potential raising hand. Otherwise, try and see a lot of flops for the blinds and push your hands when you flop strong.
Hello,
I have several questions to ask. I hope you have extra time.
- I believe you once said that the hand grouping statistics are only valid at the start of hand, prior the preflop and prior to the instance by which one has already placed a bet. Am I right? Well, I’m sorry to say this but I think all the stuff were probably calculated in a simulated game where no one bets and folds up to the river. I think if Poker is this simple, there’ll be no challenge or even passion at all. Any thoughts?
- Say a guy is holding 22 and before the flop he’s the first to bet. He can go all in but it would be a crazy thing as one of the other 9 players might wind up with a higher, better pair. But he can call if he is on the button and before his turn to bet first player has raised while others folded. Any idea?
- Say the player who raised in question number 2 was holding AKs and so player with 22 would be no worse off than a player who folded with QQ. Player with AK could win by pairing with either the K or the A, against a pair. But if he doesn’t pair and there is no straight or flush, player with 22, 33, 44, 55, etc will win. What’s on your thoughts?
- Now if player with low pair is low in chips, he might then consider the chance that the other player has AK or AJ and not JJ at all. In the event player with the low stack doesn’t call, in following hands, he still can’t earn sufficient chips to bet against multiple opponents up to the river, and then later on just lose. Well, a 50-50 chance of being back in position and winning back you chips is far better than no chance at all right? But why do you think should we give losing player much opportunity to be back in terms of position and chips?
- In case I want to go all in against 9 players I believe I should be aware first of what my chances are with AA. I know merely putting it top on the list is not okay. Do you think I have a 60% chance, going in blind against everyone? Or otherwise much better or worser? What do you think?
Thanks in advance!
Regards,
Loyse
Loyse,
- Statistics are independent of bets. They are based on the number of players involved. The betting, raising, and winning of pots is the reason people play poker. The challenge comes in the competition with the other player. Stats are based on the cards alone. They help us make decisions about betting and folding. It is up to us to make the decision. That’s the challenge.
- Pocket 2’s are really a limping hand preflop. You want to try and see a flop and hit a set. Raising under the gun all-in is a big risk. Pocket 2’s at best case scenario is only a coin flop to win.
- You are right. Pocket deuces win if the A-K does not make a pair. By the way this is a 52% to 48% race.
- If a player is short stacked, then they need to push with any reasonable hand. A coin flip is better than being an underdog. As far as people giving short stacks the chance to get back in the tournament, someone has to take a shot at eliminating them at some point. Trying to do so when they are short stacked will cause the least amount of damage in the event they win.
- You are around a 40% chance to win against 9 other players with A-A. A-A will be a favorite, but no hand is truly safe against 9 players preflop.
Hi there!
Say you hold you hold pocket Aces and then someone goes all-in pre-flop, would you call? Is it always justified or recommended to make such a move? But how about if you’re sure a player will call your all-in?
Well, I would first consider some factors before calling however a pair of aces seems to be always the favorite pre-flop. Also, if you have the opportunity of doubling up or busting someone out and luckily you have the favorite, then calling will be a good one. What’s on your thoughts about this?
Thanks!
Warm regards,
Leo
Leo,
I am always calling an all-in bet to me preflop when I am holding pocket aces. There is really only one time you would even consider folding Aces preflop. If you were in a super satellite that paid 6 seats to a major tournament and there were seven players left, I might fold pocket aces preflop if I was a bigger stack. I would sit back and let the smaller stacks fight it out. Other than this one scenario, I am calling all-in with my aces, or moving all in if the situation warrants it.
Hi there!
I want to know, how do you personally play against unskillful players? Unskillful in a way that is also ignorant. I’m referring to those who watch WSOP too much and believe that anything at anytime can come up.
Just last week, I was in a friendly game, buy in was $10. Players who were present were newbies and so I expected a not so good, thrilling game. Well, I had KQs and was on the small blind. Guy in early position first raised. Quite unexpected, there were no callers. Button then re-raised and so I called. Initial raiser then folded, therefore it was then heads up play. Flop came and brought KQ4. I then placed a small bet and he raised me. I then pushed him all in.
Later, he flipped his cards over, bottom pair with an Ace kicker. Then he suddenly made on the turn another 4 and I lost.
Anything to say? Such situation happened for several times and the ending has always been the same. I hope you can help me.
Thank you in advance.
Warm regards,
Rocky
Rocky,
When bad players suck out on you, it can be frustrating, but you played well. When you play well, bad players will suck out on you. Play a solid game against these opponents or play a small ball style that will let you see a lot of flops cheaply.
If there is a lot of action preflop, then play a solid game and push your advantages hard. They aren’t going to always suck out on you.
Hello,
Oftentimes I get dealt KK on the button when I’m at $25 NL online tables with already as much as $50.00 from my original $25 buy in. Few players would then limp in and one guy would raise something as $3.00. I would then re-raise something like $6.00 and everyone else would fold. He would then go to somewhere $20.00. I then would go all in and he’d call. Some low cards would then appear and he’d turn AA over.
Any thoughts? Do you think the kind of approach I have is just right?
Please I need your help.
Many thanks,
Jason
Jason,
Unless this player is one that is a super tight rock, then I think your approach is fine. Kings are only beat preflop by one hand. Even then, they can still out draw Aces nearly 20% of the time. This sort of situation happens, don’t worry about it.
Hi,
I’m here again to ask something about the right time to move up in No Limit Holdem. I’ve been into $10 sit n’ goes for some time and luckily have won for several times. In cases I lost, not that bad as I was the second placer then. Before my series of winnings, I fairly take home the pots. Now, do you think it’s already time to move up in the limits? If you think yes, how much?
Another thing, I joined a charity tournament with $20 buy in just 2 weeks ago and something came up. Right after I sat down, I received 45 worth of chips. Blinds were at 1-2 but were increasing every 10 mins. Within 30 mins, blinds went from 1-2 to 4-8, to 10-15. Honestly, with the blinds moving so fast, I was a bit confused on what strategy I should use. Later I thought of picking up solid cards early but I ended up moving all-in preflop for a few times with cards I typically wouldn’t pushed through. Much later I pushed all in with K9 suited with only 15 chips left, blinds were at 10-15. I have no regrets then as I was the next big blind. Any thoughts? Am I right for pushing all in with K9?
By the way, you’re site is so great. Thanks for the effort you’ve invested here. It’s very much appreciated by us readers and visitors. Keep up the good work!
All the best,
Mike Camson
Mike,
When you are regularly winning at the game you are in, you can take a shot at the larger games if you think your bankroll can handle it. If you do not do well at the game, move back down. If you do well, take another shot until you determine if you are comfortable playing at this level. I would move up to the next level. Jumping multiple levels can be a disaster to your bankroll.
As far as pushing with K-9, you were short stacked and needed to push a hand. K-9 isn’t that horrible a hand to push with short stacked. Now in regards to strategy, in fast moving blind structures, play tight the first couple of levels while the blinds are low and really push your advantages hard. Push them harder than normal. After a couple of levels, widen your hand ranges and take some chances to steal blinds and antes if present.
