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Hi there!

I have K7 unsuited and flop is A – 7- 4. I normally wind up calling it but later I lose as it comes back to haunt me. Do you think I should call with a hand like such? Why?

By the way, with suited connectors do you think I should call preflop bet?

Many thanks,
Drew
Drew,

1. You should probably lay down this hand on this flop when it is bet to you in No Limit as there is an ace. If it is Limit, you can stay in due to the limited bets and the fact you have odds.
   
2. A-K, A-Q, A-J and maybe K-Q, K-J, and K-10 are the only suited connectors I am going to normally consider calling a raise preflop with against a single opponent.

Hello,

I was in a regular No Limit recently. It was a game with 2 maniacs. Well, one of the two has the best numbers on every dimension. Other one has also more or less achieved the same thing if he was not drunk.

On the other side, the rest of us at the table played pretty tight and played only hands that were known for not being weak. But the maniacs then kept on calling, raising, and re-raising.

Now, do you know of any effective way to beat maniacs? I don’t understand why they seem to come out about even in every heads-up play. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

All the best,
Lance
Lance,

The best way to play a maniac is to play tight and bust them when you have strong hands and their luck runs out.

Usually they come out even because many players will not loosen up their requirements when they are heads up with a maniac. Many more hands are playable in heads-up play and the players that don’t understand this get punished.

Hello,

I was in a Pot Limit Holdem online the other day. Blinds then were $0.5/$1 and bets were $1/$2. At first, I was just observing but later I joined other players. Another guy joined in after me.

At certain point, I was dealt a pair of two’s and was UTG. I checked and then decided to fold in case someone raise. Following player placed $1 bet, everyone else called or checked. Then I raised to $10. Two others folded and everyone else then called, flop came and brought 2 5 T rainbow. Small and big blind then folded while I raised to $90. Four players then folded. Suddenly, three callers appeared. At such point, pot was $450. Turn came and brought Ad. I stopped for a while to think and then just decided to once again raise the bet to the size of the pot, $450. Two players folded while I called. River came and brought 7h. Once again I placed a bet while last player called. In the end, I won with a set.

Well, I know I should be happy but I don’t understand my feelings and my thinking. Why players back then are fond of calling? Maybe the reason has something to do with the time I joined the table, I joined quite late.

Any thoughts?

Best regards,
Zowe
Zowe,

Chances are players were overvaluing their pair’s. Also, it may have had something to do with the lateness of the day. Sometimes players will chase their losses later in the day and will call bets that they shouldn’t. You played the hand well. The only way you were losing is if someone had a pocket pair that connected with that board or if someone had 3-4. You would have been raised if either were the case. Nice hand sir.

Hello,

I have some questions to ask. All of the questions has something to do with local $1-2 limit game.

Just recently, I played in our local $1-2 limit game. It was actually a loose game and almost all of the players at table were calling on anything. There were 6-10 callers then with an 8 avg on most all hands. At some point, a pair stood up but later just found myself being beaten by trips or the like.

What’s the probability of each type of hand from straight flush on down to A or other single card high? And does the probability varies depending on the number of players calling pre-flop?

By the way, in a loose $1-2 game where almost all players call it seems to me that I should call with non-suited 2-3, 5-6 etc. and 4-6,5-7,6-8, etc. where a favorable flop can make or create an open straight shot. Similarly, I should also call on any suited pair and stay for the flush possibility. Well, with 8-10 players in I think I only have to win out of 10 hands for the risk to be justified. What do you think? And another thing, what are the combinations below Group 7 Malmuth?

Thank you in advance.

Best regards,
Colbie
Colbie,

The number of players in a hand does not affect the probability of certain hands hitting.

You should stay away from most non-suited connectors below 9-10 in these really loose games unless you are in the blind. They will lose a lot more than they will win. Suited cards are a little different. You can play most suited card combos. I would stay away from most under 7-6 suited unless I am in the blinds. If you flop a flush or a straight draw, you are staying till the river in almost all cases. Group 7 hand rankings are 44, J9, 43s, T9, 33, 98, 64s, 22, Kxs, T7s, Q8s.

For about 3 months now I’ve been playing Holdem and been referring to lots of materials. Well, I love playing at multi table no limit and most of my time was actually spent at such.

I remember the first time I wasn’t good at playing all calling cards and also in distinguishing good starting hands. Just last month, I believe I played well and have actually learned when to act and eventually make use of my chips. But just last week, I decided to finally try playing at our local casino. I want to try ring games.

Before I have already tried playing in a ring game and the experience was good, well, maybe at the start. I was up and down for several hours, playing hands in right position and keenly watching out who the calling stations were. I started with 150 and quite confident I decided to take risk.

At some point, I was on the button and was dealt AhKh in a 2-4 game. Three callers came in and I raised to $4. After a while, both small and big blind folded. Total call was $19 in the pot. Flop came and brought AcKd9h. Player to act first then checked while the second placed $2 bet. I then raised to $4 after having been flopped top two pair and a back door flush draw. Player who checked then folded and the next one raised to $6. Consequently I called. Pot was $31 at such point. Turn came and brought 7h. He checked while I have the nuts. I then placed $4 bet with my two pair and a stronger draw. He then raised to $8. I stopped for a while and then decided to raise him to 12$. He then called. Pot was $55 at such point. River came and was 10c. Once again he checked and I placed $4 after recalling all his moves. I believe he would have already bet if he has anything. He then paused for a moment and raised to $8. I then called. Pot was already $71.

Later, he showed QsJs while I showed AK to show two pair. I was happy to see no kings or aces but then I figured out that on the river he has pulled a straight. In the end, I went home with a little under $100.

Do you think what happened to me is a perfect example of a bad beat? And do you know of anything I could have done to avoid that going to the river?

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Calvin
Calvin,

This appeared to me to be limit holdem as opposed to No Limit. In Limit Holdem, you opponent had the odds to chase his draw. If this was No Limit Holdem, then you definitely did not bet enough.

Based on the fact that this looked like Limit Holdem, this isn’t that bad of a beat. He had odds to draw. Not much you could have done differently.

Hi there!

I would just like to ask something. Do you know when one should call with middle pair? Well for a number of times, I’ve seen players win with middle pairs not improved and middle pair which improves to two pairs. Should I consider outs and pot odds here?

Please help me. Thanks a lot!

Best regards,
Alastair
Alastair,

Pot odds should definitely be considered when calling with middle pair, but also the type of player you are playing. I am folding middle pair to a tight play, I am probably calling down against a loose or weak player.

Hi,

If I remember it right you once said that betting or calling to chop a pot is normally not advisable however in some cases is also possible like when the board has something silly like AAA QQ and in the pot is quite a bit of money. I fairly understand what you are trying to imply but it would be much better if you still explain it to me further.

I’ll be glad to hear from you soon.

Thanks and keep up the work on this site!

Regards,
Gelo
Gelo,

When it is apparent that the pot is going to be chopped, you should call a bet at the end. It is almost silly to bet unless the board has a straight or flush that could yield to a higher straight depending on a persons hole cards. For example, if the board is 6-7-8-9-10, then you may want to be to represent a J. Otherwise, just check or check and call on the river.

Hello,

I was in an online nickel/dime game yesterday. I had 6 6 and I remember there were couple of preflop raises. Later we capped. Flop came and brought 9,8,4 rainbow. Two guys to my left and right were firing at each other, I was like torn in between.

Eventually, one guy raised while the other re-raised. I then dumped the 6 6 as I thought I don’t have something that strong. Turn came and brought a 6. River followed and brought another 6. Well, obviously I should have 4 of a kind if I’ve been much stronger to take risk. I could have won a big pot!

Now, do you think I made a mistake for not calling? I don’t exactly regret dumping my 66 as that’s the thing recommended by some books in instances like the one above. But any thoughts?

Also, one time I had a 6,8 diamonds and folded to a raise. Then much later part, flop came back all diamonds. Am I just unlucky or what?

Thanks!

Warm regards,
Victor
Victor,

Preflop, the betting was capped. At this point there was was .60 in the pot. This is 6 big bets. When it came around you on the flop there as 7 big bets. I can understand your potential thinking about folding as there is a good chance you were behind, but sixes are only a 4 to 1 underdog to Aces. There was 7 big bet in the pot on the flop, and 8.5 big bets by the time it got to you. You had to call .10. You were getting 8.5 to 1 on your money at this time. You had the odds to call with sixes. I would have stayed in and hoped to turn or river my set. If you would have played with the odds, you would have won a nice pot.

Hello,

For about 8 months now, I’ve been playing Poker, mainly online. I’ve been playing well I believe however I know I still can go places in my career.
Now I want to know, do you show your cards either after a hand win or lose all the time? I don’t show my hand that often and if in case I do show it, I make sure I would win a hand or else have a good one. When I’m bluffing, I also never reveal anything. But if I can feel I could win with a strong hand, I like to show what I have. I believe doing this may just make others think of calling or raising a bluff on me.

Any advice on revealing hands?

Your help will be much appreciated.

Warm regards,
Luke
Luke,

I never show my bluffs. I will show an occasional strong hand, especially if it’s late in the tournaments. I want the players to think I am always playing tight and that I have the goods whenever I am in the pot.