Hi,
I’ve been playing Poker for more or less 4 months now, mainly I play No Limit. Just this morning I participated in a 2/4 game. I must admit I barely had enough to buy in then.
At some point, I remember I was dealt 83os in late position. I thought of playing it till the end however I considered the players present, they raise preflop most of the time. To make the long story short, flop came but didn’t grant me the top pair. Turn and river followed and were actually 8′s. Unfortunately I missed my 4 of a kind. Highest hand of the day was payed out $1000 and I was really mad and upset.
Do you think I made the right call? How about my buy in which was in minimum, am I just right about it?
Please I need your advice.
Thank you in advance.
Best regards,
Matthew
Matthew,
8-3 offsuit in late position is the same action as any other position, fold. If you can play it in the big blind to no raise, then play it. Otherwise fold. By the way, you didn’t have four of a king, you would have had trip 8’s.
Personally, if you only have enough money to make a minimum buy-in, you shouldn’t play. You don’t have enough money to stand any downswings early on. Come back another time when you have more money to commit. That’s my view.
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.
Hi,
I was in a very Low Limit Holdem last fight with some co-workers. At some point we were down to five hands. I remember for around four or five hands in a row, any kind of raise induced folds at the table.
Back then I had approximately $40 or $50 however I wanted to pull in more money. I was on the big blind. UTG was a maniac and was up to all chip swings. There was one player named Bill who showed pretty much potential. Another player was up and I won’t deny that he’s a good one however also a loose type who chased a lot of hands. On the better side, he gave justice to some good hands. Other side of the table was another player, a rookie and is tight type.
At certain point, I had A-4 off suit in the big blind. No pre-flop raiser came in into the scene and so I checked. Flop came and was A-7-4 rainbow. I then got a two pair. Turn card came but I forgot what it was, maybe something like a mid-value card. I then checked while Bill placed $1 bet. All of us then called. River came and was a King. I then placed a $2 bet while Bill raised it to $4. At such point I figured out I lost and so I just called. Pretty sure he had kings.
Now, how do you find my play? Am I right for slow playing with my hand? Later, Bill said that if I raised then right after the flop, he would have actually folded. Any thoughts?
Thanks a lot!
Best regards,
Clint
Clint,
Your play was fine. Also, if you opponent would have folded his Kings in a low Limit Holdem game, it would have been a bad move. He had odds to call you down, even if he tought he was beat since there were so many players and so much money in the pot.
I would have check-raised the turn probably, but I would have slow played the flop.
Hi,
I actually understand that pre-flop raising in case you have a good hand has two main purposes. One is to force out second-rate starting hands which decrease your winning percentage and the other one to invite more money in the pot. Well, I know for a fact that there are some hand that oftentimes mandate pre-flop raise for such reasons as well.
Here’s a certain situation that happens quite often: You are in the big blind and the table goes around. Dealer then has his eyes on you to either check or bet as everyone either called or folded. Then you check your hand. Big blind then checks. Everyone at the table has no idea what your hand is and so you have a huge advantage. It’s actually far better than having the best hand.
Now, is there any circumstance that you would feel it’s advantageous to check with a good hand in the big blind than raise?
Hope to hear from you.
Thanks,
Argyle
Argyle,
If I am heads up with a highly aggressive opponent, I may check my big hand. Otherwise, I am probably going to raise.
Hello,
For several months now, I’ve been playing ring games along with some friends however recently I decided to try small tournaments.
Well, I’m bothered as every time I play in small tournaments, it’s always me and another guy who stay for the pot. This is a big problem for me as heads-up has never been an advantage to me, I typically fold a lot more than what’s supposed to be. Now I want to know your opinion about how I should adjust my play from a multi-handed game to a heads-up game. By the way, for heads-up is there a revised starting hands table?
Thank you very much!
Warm regards,
Albert
Albert,
Any Ace is a raising hand. Two big cards 10 and up are playable. Any pair is playable. Also, with other hands, try and see cheap flops to try and connect. I only stay away from the worst of the worst hands. Of course, if you can get to the flop with them in the big blind, go ahead and do so.
Hello,
Online, I never show my pocket card after a hand without being requested as I don’t want others, particularly my close opponents, to know how I played a certain hand. I believe the less information I give the better. But then what if unusual situations happen like situations where I don’t make any decisions about being in the hand like if everyone folds to me in the big blind or heads up if the small blind folds, will I still stick with what I believe in? Maybe it’s also helpful to once in a while show my uncalled hand right? There’s a great possibility that I can also use giving little infos to my own advantage. In case my opponent figured things wrongly, they might end up making a call with a weak hand. Any thoughts?
Thank you very much!
Warm regards,
Dustin
Dustin,
Showing your hands gives other players information on how you play. You can use this to give them only the information you want them to have. For example, I only show strong hands late in a tournament to give off the impression that I only play the nuts late.
Hello,
I was in a 2-5 NLHE cash game in a certain casino the other week. Early position, I was dealt K-K. Distracted by a conversation, I called. Everyone behind me then folded to the small blind who called. Big blind on the other side checked. Flop came and brought Q-x-x rainbow. Small blind checked while big blind decided to make $15 bet. Player to my right called and so I raised around $15. Small blind then folded while big blind raised me to $60. Consequently, the player to my right then folded. For a while I stopped and then afterwards decided to put big blind all in. Something hit my mind and so I realized maybe I was wrong for putting big blind all in. There was a great possibility actually that he might have A-Q or K-Qs. Any thoughts?
In the end he really had A-Qs and so I double up as my kings were held up.
Hope to hear from you in no time.
Thank you very much.
Regards,
Chen
Chen,
You did make a mistake in not raising with your kings. However, since this did not affect the outcome, we will not focus on that. Just raise with them next time.
With the flop the way it fell, I would have put the player on A-Q or K-Q as well. You made a good move and it paid off.
