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.

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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.

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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.

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I love watching the pros on TV but I don’t know if the games they play are in such a different stratosphere than the average play who are into small-stakes all-in games and tourneys by which imitating some decisions and strategies would be counter-productive nonetheless. Any thoughts?

By the way, about one of the basic strategies you’ve mentioned before, I believe it mirrors what most players of any type do with starting hands, fold most likely. I was able to watch Gus Hansen play one time and he typically throws convention to the wind. With just about anything, he will play. I can’t believe he can act out with negligence and yet can still play so great. Maybe I can learn something from him.

Hope to hear from you in no time.

Truly,
John
John,

What you must remember is that Poker on TV is heavily edited. They only show hands that have high entertainment value or are relevant to the outcome. What you don’t see is that Hansen uses this unconventional style depending on his table and his position etc.

Most of what you see on TV is at another level, especially games such as High Stakes Poker. Most of the strategies you see on TV will not work at low limits. They usually just lead to long term losses.

Besides, when was the last time you saw Gus Hansen win a bracelet?

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I believe I’m an aggressive player however most of the time into trouble. Maybe it’s because I have accidentally fallen in love with the “aggressive” part of tight-aggressive. Any advice?

By the way, how can I move things to my advantage when someone with an aggressive rep is at the table? Any thoughts?

Many thanks,
Lenard
Lenard,

Play small pot poker and try and see a lot of flops with various hands. When you connect on the flop and the player plays back at you, then you can punish them. Also, push your big hands as normal. Use their aggression against them. This may require you to not be as aggressive, but it will make you more sneaky.

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I have something to ask, it’s something about how loose a table can go. In particular, how many players should be in around when being in a tourney with 9 players around and with K8o? Do you think it can be played middle position? Or else only late when like 80% of the players are in?

In middle position, what are the playable hands? And can suited connectors be played in middle position or only in late position?

Also, what are the hands considered to be middle hands? How about late position hands? And is 56s better compared to K7s? By the way, are both to be played when in the back? Or else middle position will do? I understand how loose the table needs to be considered but which table will it fit most, typical table, not too loose, not too tight, or what?

Thanks and nice site!

Regards,
Joe
Joe,

While I wouldn’t normally play K-8o, if 9 players are limping in to see the flop, I’m going to limp in to. 9 to 1 on my money is fantastic odds. If I miss, no worries.

In middle position, pairs can be limped in with, as well as A-10 through A-K. K-Q and K-J suited can also be limped in with. Pairs 9 and up can be raised as well as A-Ks, A-Qs, and A-J suited. Suited connectors other than high suited connectors should probably be played in late position only.

K-7s is better than 5-6s due to the high pair chances and better flush chance. Most hands that I recommended above are good hands to raise with in late position. I would limp in with a few other hands such as two cards 10 and up, suited or non, most suited connectors 7-8 and up, and suited aces.

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Most of the time, when others fold to my raise I show them I have a good hand. I have flopped quads and then bet someone so strong on the turn thus causing him to give up his pocket kings. I will then immediately show Jack in my hand while I had a pretty small pot.

In times when I don’t make any money on my hands I find myself troubled. I oftentimes share to someone my sentiments, trouble, and that how another player hasn’t played a hand in 2 hrs and how I instantly then folded when he raised. Also, I share how I badly want respect.

One night, first hand, I had pocket 10′s with 1 being a club, 4 spades ended up being on the board. For some reasons I don’t know, I’ve misread my hand and then afterwards told my opponent I had a 10 high flush. Dealer then immediately told me that I had a club actually. Well, luckily, I made more money that night compared to other nights. But honestly, I didn’t misread my hand intentionally.

Now, I can say that maybe it’s entitlement that makes me cry for respect. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Kind regards,
Lucky
Lucky,

Respect is earned and from what you have told me, you haven’t done a lot to earn the respect of other players. You bet too aggressively with the nuts and chase players out of hands that could have paid you off. You also misread your hand. When you do things such as this, the table isn’t going to give you respect because you are playing badly or carelessly. Work on being able to milk pots when you have the nuts and work on the basics. When you play good solid poker and are able to capitalize, you earn the respect over time.

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Other players see me as a tight player but I feel differently as I oftentimes loosen up a bit by playing most connectors and most hands with two face cards, etc. I figure out maybe they see me as tight one when I have two aces.

On better side, I do usually end up winning money and I believe it’s because I oftentimes take some nice pots at the turn or river with a sizable re-raise and little bluffs. Lately, I’ve been trying to be more loose and aggressive however my attempts were not that successful. Some players force other players out of pots on a regular basis with relentless heavy betting which later on leads to lots of missing hands.

I tried Super System and I discovered almost the same stuff. There was just one idea that caught me, it was about pros and amateurs. Well, the difference between most of the pros and amateurs on TV is that the amateurs wait for good hands and the pros force the action and put the hard decisions on the amateurs. That’s why maybe pros are typically on top.

Now I want to know if you have any piece of advice for me? I want to be on the right track but I don’t know how will I do it when most of the good starting hands don’t seem to come along very often.

Your help will be much appreciated!

Thank you.

All the best,
Daniel
Daniel,

You need to work on loosening up your requirements for late position. Also, you need to work on identifying which players at the table you can steal blinds from when you are playing tournaments. What you are seeing on TV many times are players that are taking advantage of the inexperience or the tightness of other players. Pushing the action as they do can be beneficial in tournaments but in cash games, it can cause problems because the blinds never go up and people can just sit back and wait for hands to punish you with. You don’t have that luxury in tournaments.

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