Poker Novice Questions

[Dave Mardell]

Whatever works for you mate. I like UltimateBet and Ladbrokes. Go where ever you like the software, the banking is good (NOT PARADISE) and you can find the games you want to play at the times you want to play them...

[jtw1]

Any advice please ! , When it comes down to heads up play or down to last 3 ,can anyone please give some tips .
It is SO different a game .

[Dave Mardell]

Im pretty shoddy heads up but you certainly cant be waitinf for premium cards. I think the general thing is your betting that your opponent didnt make their hand, more than you are the strength of your own....

[laidbackbloke]

Hi JT, Congratulations again on the 3rd place I guess the reason that you are asking for advice is that next time you want it to be first place I've started writing a proper reply but my slow typing combined with the fact that i have to start work early tommorrow means you'll have to wait a bit I'll try and get it done tommorrow

[jtw1]

Hello ,Laidback , Waiting patiently for your advice mate

[laidbackbloke]

Sorry JT, I've been working long hours this week and have just been feeling too shattered to compose a coherant reply when I have got home (as mentioned previously typing is not my strongest skill ). I'm having an early night tonight but I'll get it done tommorrow .............. honest

[laidbackbloke]

Firstly I’d like to say that I don’t claim to be an expert on short handed play and I haven’t read any books on playing heads up etc. I’m basically just passing on how I play when the table gets short handed. I also haven’t previously written advice on the forum on how to play hands as I always felt I hadn’t been playing long enough but I don’t really have that excuse anymore. When I started playing poker I played a lot of 5 player STT’s and I would say this has led to me being a much stronger player in the later stages of Tournaments when the table only has 3 or 4 people than earlier on when there is a full table. So for what It’s worth here’s my views ………………. if anyone has different opinions on how to play shorthanded or wants to add something then I’d be happy to hear from them ……………… It might improve my game as well.

As you've noticed there is a big difference between playing with a full table and playing 2 or 3 handed. For one thing, at the end of a tournament the blinds are high, therefore they are much more significant than earlier on in the tournament. The higher blinds and large minimum bets make every pot important- so you don't want to be giving your blinds away easily if you can help it............... and you want to be stealing your opponents wherever possible. To achieve this you have to be aggressive. Once it gets down to 2 or 3 people if you sit around waiting for premium starting hands before you play, you will lose .................. unless you get a really lucky string of hands. This doesn’t mean you should bet heavily on every hand, but it does mean that regardless of the hands you are dealt, you can’t continually fold pre-flop. Experience will help you strike a balance.

Basically when the table becomes short handed you have to re-assess in your head what constitutes a strong hand, a marginal hand and a weak one. Hands that are marginal with a full table become much stronger short handed. The mistake a lot of people make when it gets to this stage is letting their opponents dictate the game. If you want to win, then you have to be then one giving your opponents difficult decisions to make. This means raising. If you raise you have two ways to win- 1. By your opponents folding and 2. By having the best hand. If you call then you can only win by having the best hand. This doesn’t mean continually bluffing by raising or going all-in every hand, when there are 3 players in the pot, but it does mean being aggressive with the hands that you play…………… again experience will help you decide what you should and shouldn’t play.

Observing your opponents and thinking a few steps ahead are the most important skills I’ve found when playing short handed. You don’t want to be putting chips in the pot and then having to fold pre-flop to an all-in raise if you can help it. Sometimes this will be unavoidable as your opponents may outmanoeuvre you, leaving folding as the only sensible option but if you pay attention to your opponents situation you can minimise your loses. When there are 3 people left at the table, before calling or raising pre-flop I consider my opponents position as well as my own cards. You have to be aware of how many chips you have and how many chips your opponents have.
e.g. If you are on the button, and the player on the big blind is short stacked, then you generally don’t want to be flat calling or making a small raise with a marginal hand that you will fold to any re-raise………. As you are inviting the BB to go all-in giving you a difficult decision to make. Remember you want to be the one giving your opponents the hard decisions. If you decide you are going to play, then if you raise all-in the SB will get their arse out of there unless they have a big hand, and the BB may still fold. I'm not saying this is how you should play that particular hand on all occasions, but its just to show that you should be thinking about how much you bet, and why you are betting. Are you wanting your opponent to call? or are you happy if they fold? That doesn't have to mean you are bluffing, if i figure i am at best a 50/50 shot then I don't mind my opponent folding as the blind is still a significant pot.................. Come to think of it I don't mind them calling either as I am a gambler
You also have to use position to your advantage ensuring your opponents have to make tough choices. If you are the person putting in a raise or an all-in it is your opponents that have to make the difficult decision, not you.

Once it is down to 2 people, If your opponent is any good then the heads up game can actually last a while. Raise most hands you play………..any pocket pair, any ace, two face cards, or even one face card if you feel like it etc. Its a harder decision to call a raise with J4 than it is to make a raise with it but don’t get bogged down calling all the way to the river or re-raising with poor cards (when its obvious your opponent has a hand) just because you put in a raise originally- remember your opponent can get dealt good cards too……….. you have to learn when to cut your losses. How you actually play hands should depend on your opponent and how you think they will play based on your observation of them and whether you believe they have a genuine hand. I’ve raised all in post-flop with 42o that hasn’t hit anything, when I was sure my opponent had a weak hand, and I’ve folded AKs post flop when I realised I was beaten. I don’t get it right all the time, but experience helps you make the judgements. Hell……….even if you get called you can still end up winning the hand if you are an underdog.

Finally don’t be completely predictable, the worst thing is if your opponent knows what you have because you play the same way all the time. Mix your play up a bit occasionally playing hands differently so that if you do flat call on the button your opponents don’t know if you have a marginal hand or you are waiting to check raise. Or if you raise whether you have AA or 72o. If you can keep your opponents wrong footed then you are not allowing them to play their game………. Instead they are reacting to yours. If you manage to take the initiative and dictate the play, then more often than not you will be successful.

Sorry if some of this is a bit vague or wandering, but I tend to play instinctively once the table gets short handed, and have never tried to explain it before. If anything isn’t that clear or I’ve missed out stuff (which I’m sure I have) then feel free to ask and I’ll try and explain it a bit better.

[jtw1]

Thanks for the reply mate, here's hoping i get a chance shortly to try out your advice

[Paul Ross]

I watched the WPT last night, and got a good insight into heads up play and 3 handed etc....

Very interesting.

[Paul Ross]

Oh, nearly forgot.

I was playing on Betfair last night, and noticed that while I didn't win the pot I was in, I did win the "side pot".

I'll confess I don't quite understand what that is, I thought it's all in to one pot and you win or lose, bar a tie.

So, what is a "side pot" ?

[slapdash]

Originally Posted by Paul Ross

So, what is a "side pot" ?

If a player goes all-in, he can't win more from each other player
than the amount he bet. So if other players continue betting, the
residue goes into a side pot.

E.g., Player A goes all in for 1k. Player B raises to 2k. Player C calls.
Then there's a main pot of 3k that all three are playing for, and a side
pot of 2k that only players B and C can win, 'cos they're the only ones
who have put chips in it.

[Paul Ross]

Cheers Slaphead.

[cains]

okay.. A bit late.. But found this on another site..


There is a common myth at no limit that if someone bets more chips than you have, you must fold. THAT IS NOT TRUE. If Tom bets $30 and I only have $15, I only must put in $15 to call. Thus, Tom is essentially only betting $15 dollars if I'm the only person in the pot. However, if the pot is between me, Tom, and Jane and both Tom and Jane have $50 dollars, Jane must match Tom's bet of $30. The extra $15 would be in a sidepot. So, at the showdown, I would be in contention for $45 dollars and Tom and Jane would be in contention for the $45 plus the extra $30. Thus, if I have the best hand and Jane has the second best hand, I would win $45 and she would win $30. If Jane hand was in fact better than mine, she would win the entire $75.


/ cains

[slapdash]

Originally Posted by Paul Ross

Cheers Slaphead.

Try to be helpful, and what do you get? Abuse!

I'll have you know I have a full head of hair that would make Dave green
with envy ...

... OK, I'm lying. But grass doesn't grow on a busy street.

[Paul Ross]

Originally Posted by cains

okay.. A bit late.. But found this on another site..


There is a common myth at no limit that if someone bets more chips than you have, you must fold. THAT IS NOT TRUE. If Tom bets $30 and I only have $15, I only must put in $15 to call. Thus, Tom is essentially only betting $15 dollars if I'm the only person in the pot. However, if the pot is between me, Tom, and Jane and both Tom and Jane have $50 dollars, Jane must match Tom's bet of $30. The extra $15 would be in a sidepot. So, at the showdown, I would be in contention for $45 dollars and Tom and Jane would be in contention for the $45 plus the extra $30. Thus, if I have the best hand and Jane has the second best hand, I would win $45 and she would win $30. If Jane hand was in fact better than mine, she would win the entire $75.


/ cains

Ok, I think I need a lie down now.

[cains]

Okay... (old man)

Here is the site i found it on: http://www.pokertips.org/strategy/home-to-internet.php

Could answer many novice questions i think.

/ cains


Edit: Paul what you talking about... Link has been there all day..
You need new glasses...

[Paul Ross]

Never heard of ".."

[cains]

Come on paul.. try look again....
And then take an ekstra look.. im sure it there somewhere...

/ cains

[jtw1]

Calling LAIDBACKBLOKE - since you replied to my post i have won 2 out the 3 STT's that i managed to get down to the last 3 in

Many thanks for your advice mate it certainly helped me

[laidbackbloke]

Well done JT. Its amazing the diference a bit of aggression makes.