Its blog time again..
It was poker day here for me. I was so close in winning few sit n go tournaments. I felt bad when I got out in a multi-table tournament just before the money. Anyway, more experience you get the better your game improves..
It takes a lot of patience, concentration and thinking to win a game of poker. And , yes of course you need the luck element as well which you need in any other sports. Unlike other games, Poker got too many variables in just one hand and a good player should take all these into consideration before making a move. Its not just the cards you dealt with. Its about how you played the hand before, the one before that and the one before that. This is just one variable that a poker player had to consider. Another important one is that how the other player in the hand thinks about you and your hand. Is he thinking that you are playing the cards you are supposed to play in that position or playing loose? Or is he making you think that he thinks what you think?
Bet size is another variable you just can't ignore. It defines the hand you having or you representing.. It also tells others what they want to do.. I like the bets that make the opponent think. If your bet just makes them fold or flat call, then you may want to rethink your betting strategy. However, sometimes you just want your opponent to just fold and go away or flat call to your nuts.
And in all the cases above, if you make your opponent do mistakes and you avoid making too many mistakes, you win in poker. Alright I need to justify why I named this post as being good is not just enough. Here it comes..
The good cards you dealt with is just not enough in winning a tournament or even winning that hand. There are more to it. I never regretted folding good hole cards, trips on the flop or straight on the turn or river, if I know for sure that I am beaten. However I never folded a Ace high flush and high full house. I think i should, if the right situation arises. As they say in trading shares not to fall in love with your stocks, in poker you should not fall in love with your hand. Here is one hand that illustrates the scenario explained here
I am under the gun having AQ suited. Its a nine handed sit n go tournament with 6 players remaining running for around 30 hands. This is the time when people usually play tight and want others to take on each other so that they can get closer to the money. I am the biggest stack in the table. Given the fact the table is playing tight, I just called to get as much action as I can. Player 2 folded and Player 3 having 1300 chips raised 320 (blinds 40 -80). Everybody folded to the player before button who re-raised to 620. He himself had around 1400 in chips. Everybody else folded to me. The action is now on me.
Its not a tough decision to take but there are few things to consider. Given the fact that the table should play generally tight at this moment and seeing too many actions is not a good sign. People are serious about this hand and will really go real hard after the flop. Eventhough they could hurt me only 1400 which is less than one-third of my chips but still I am now in my comfort zone. Do I really need to take the risk now? Also, it seems that they didnt care that the big stack, who can knock them out of the tournament is still involved in the hand. But me myself have a strong hand which will justify my call. But we need to put a bit of common sense here. The guy who is to act after me, the actual raiser, if he calls the raise, then he is most likely pot committed and go until showdown. So, if i call and win against two monster hands, then i eliminate two players. If i fold, the outcome will either be Player 1 get eliminated or Player 2 has very minimal chips he will not last long. And I want to maintain the big lead in chips.. And I folded.
As I expect Player 1 called and flop came out 2 5 10. Player 1 went all in for the rest of his chips. Player 2 called. Player 1 showed pocket 9's and Player 2 AJ offsuit. Player 1's 9 holded up to win the pot. Player 2 got eliminated in a couple of hands after that.
Aah well.. I am also bit superstitious playing AQ. 75% of the time I lost on this.. Thats one reason I folded the hand anyway. :-)..
Adios! Good Night!
It was poker day here for me. I was so close in winning few sit n go tournaments. I felt bad when I got out in a multi-table tournament just before the money. Anyway, more experience you get the better your game improves..
It takes a lot of patience, concentration and thinking to win a game of poker. And , yes of course you need the luck element as well which you need in any other sports. Unlike other games, Poker got too many variables in just one hand and a good player should take all these into consideration before making a move. Its not just the cards you dealt with. Its about how you played the hand before, the one before that and the one before that. This is just one variable that a poker player had to consider. Another important one is that how the other player in the hand thinks about you and your hand. Is he thinking that you are playing the cards you are supposed to play in that position or playing loose? Or is he making you think that he thinks what you think?
Bet size is another variable you just can't ignore. It defines the hand you having or you representing.. It also tells others what they want to do.. I like the bets that make the opponent think. If your bet just makes them fold or flat call, then you may want to rethink your betting strategy. However, sometimes you just want your opponent to just fold and go away or flat call to your nuts.
And in all the cases above, if you make your opponent do mistakes and you avoid making too many mistakes, you win in poker. Alright I need to justify why I named this post as being good is not just enough. Here it comes..
The good cards you dealt with is just not enough in winning a tournament or even winning that hand. There are more to it. I never regretted folding good hole cards, trips on the flop or straight on the turn or river, if I know for sure that I am beaten. However I never folded a Ace high flush and high full house. I think i should, if the right situation arises. As they say in trading shares not to fall in love with your stocks, in poker you should not fall in love with your hand. Here is one hand that illustrates the scenario explained here
I am under the gun having AQ suited. Its a nine handed sit n go tournament with 6 players remaining running for around 30 hands. This is the time when people usually play tight and want others to take on each other so that they can get closer to the money. I am the biggest stack in the table. Given the fact the table is playing tight, I just called to get as much action as I can. Player 2 folded and Player 3 having 1300 chips raised 320 (blinds 40 -80). Everybody folded to the player before button who re-raised to 620. He himself had around 1400 in chips. Everybody else folded to me. The action is now on me.
Its not a tough decision to take but there are few things to consider. Given the fact that the table should play generally tight at this moment and seeing too many actions is not a good sign. People are serious about this hand and will really go real hard after the flop. Eventhough they could hurt me only 1400 which is less than one-third of my chips but still I am now in my comfort zone. Do I really need to take the risk now? Also, it seems that they didnt care that the big stack, who can knock them out of the tournament is still involved in the hand. But me myself have a strong hand which will justify my call. But we need to put a bit of common sense here. The guy who is to act after me, the actual raiser, if he calls the raise, then he is most likely pot committed and go until showdown. So, if i call and win against two monster hands, then i eliminate two players. If i fold, the outcome will either be Player 1 get eliminated or Player 2 has very minimal chips he will not last long. And I want to maintain the big lead in chips.. And I folded.
As I expect Player 1 called and flop came out 2 5 10. Player 1 went all in for the rest of his chips. Player 2 called. Player 1 showed pocket 9's and Player 2 AJ offsuit. Player 1's 9 holded up to win the pot. Player 2 got eliminated in a couple of hands after that.
Aah well.. I am also bit superstitious playing AQ. 75% of the time I lost on this.. Thats one reason I folded the hand anyway. :-)..
Adios! Good Night!
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