Poker Novice Questions

[jtw1]

Anyone got an opinion on whether it's worth playing in 6-pack STT's in favour of the usual 10 player game.
There obviously more expensive to play in, but as my game {i think} is improving and i can usually get to at least 5th spot when on a 10 player table;
Im wondering if anybody has noticed if there is any great difference to the standard of play in the 6 player game?

[GotaFancy?]

A couple of weeks ago, there were some questions on side pots - something that strikes me as strange (and unfair) - have I got this right?

Ok - Player A goes all in pre flop for 1K chips (he has AA)
Player B Raises 1K chips(he has KK)
Player C Calls for 2K chips(he has QQ)

The main pot is 3K with A, B and C contesting
The side pot is 2K with B and C contesting

The flop is 6KA

Player B goes 5K chips
Player C knows he is beat and folds. Player B wins the side pot.

The Turn is a Q
The River is a Q

Final hands are
Player A AAA
Player B KKK
Player C QQQQ (folded after flop)

Who wins the main pot? In my opinion it should be Player C without question, who has paid for the right to contest this, however everything I have seen seems to suggest it goes to Player A - Is this right? And if so, how is it justified?

[laidbackbloke]

Player A would win. This is because player C folded. Once you fold your cards, they are dead and don't count at all irrespective of whether or not they made the best hand. Basically you have to be in it to win it

[GotaFancy?]

But the pot was closed - Player C paid everything into the pot that was required - Player C paid the same as Player A to compete in that pot.

I know that what you are saying is correct - because I've seen it - it just strikes me as wrong - Player C is eliminated from the Main Pot because he hasn't paid into the side pot - BUT neither has Player A!!

[philossify]

Hi JTW, my two pennorths worth......
looks to me that its about the same quality of players in 6 and 10. Mind you (IMHO) the key to doing well in STTs of either 6 or 10 is to try and play with the same people again and again (the losing ones preferably) and keep side notes on them .... advantage is that you get to know their style (aka "spot the muppets") - are they consistently loose or tight, do they try and bluff it after the river or bully when they have big stack, do they love the sight on an ace - that sort of thing. Mind you its getting hard to keep notes, too many people competing at once especially in the low cost STTs.

Also you have a slightly better chance (all things being equal) of being a winner 2/6 (33%) instead of 3/10 (30%). Why do you say they are slightly more expensive? Isn't it the standard 10% to the house rule. I generally refuse to play ones that exceed the 10% (such as cheapo games on sites connected to cryptologic server) as its hard enough trying to overcome that 10% tax rate :-)

Nice thing about 6 players as well is its faster...... so if your better or luckier than the average then your win rate (money per hour) can be better.

[laidbackbloke]

Originally Posted by GotaFancy?

But the pot was closed - Player C paid everything into the pot that was required - Player C paid the same as Player A to compete in that pot. I know that what you are saying is correct - because I've seen it - it just strikes me as wrong - Player C is eliminated from the Main Pot because he hasn't paid into the side pot - BUT neither has Player A!!

I understand what you mean, but the fact is that although Player A didn't put in more chips than player C................ Player A put in ALL their chips, risking being knocked out of the tournament, player C chose not to do that (or at least call all bets to the river), therefore as soon as they decide to fold, thats that.

Consider what would happen if the was result was as you suggest. Players with a big stack could call an all-in from a short stack, then fold after the flop hoping to make their straight or flush draw etc- winning the main pot without having to risk any more chips. It would become a ridiculous situation. If a player wants to guarantee that they see all the cards and that their hand is counted at the end then they have the option of going all-in. It may seem harsh to you, but it is part of the idea of No Limit hold'em that all your chips can be at risk any given hand................ultimately if you don't have the balls to risk your chips in a hand then you get no reward for it.

As Del boy would say "He who dares wins rodney"

[brael]

I've been working on my poker 'skills' playing fixed limits for fun on Betfair. What struck me last night was that those playing probably weren't paying too much attention to what they were doing and may not be playing they way they would if it was a no limit fun game or for proper cash.

Anyone got any thoughts on using play for fun as a way of learning and what might be the best way of using them?

Ta!

[cains]

I think play money is okay, to learn how it all works round the table..
But it wont teach you much poker.. There its better to play some real money, 0,10/0,20 fx..

And then i will say, play some fixed limits. as it will limit your losses in the beginning, and you can concentrate on the poker playing, not wondering if your pot odds are correct etc all the time

[GotaFancy?]

Tournaments are good as well - they last longer for your money.....


I'm a newbie to Poker as well and even better, you can play freerolls (real prize money, but no entry fee) - you can then use the money you win in freerolls to play for real money......See my post called "Genuine freerolls" for a list of sites offering freerolls.....

[cains]

agree... when i started i mostly played 5$ Limit tournaments.. It gave me lot of playing for small money..

[GotaFancy?]

Hmmm....when we talk about position, I'm not 100% sure where the BB and SB come in - as position changes post Flop. So BB and SB are late pre flop and early post flop.


I THINK that SB and BB are considered Early position (in spite of acting last Pre Flop) - is that right?

Cheers

[Plow-King]

Im not totally sure. But they are just the SB and BB. That defines there position.

[cains]

When you think of the blinds. Always think of them as early position...
Couse for 3 betting rounds you are first to act.. SO you got to have GREAT cards...
Of course you get flop for free some times, or for a very great odds... So just take it, and play from there.. If you missed just throw your cards away

[GotaFancy?]

Cheers - that helps.

I spose BB is quite easy, as you often don't have a decision to make - your chips are already in.....

What about the SB - when half your chips are in - if noone has raised - is it worth paying the extra half speculatively, regardless of your cards, or if there are more than x players still in? Or with similar criteria to what you usually use for starting hands?

[cains]

Its always special to play in BB or SB...

Blinds 50/25

You have payed 50 in BB.. You are average in chips.. What would you do with 7,2o if there was a raise???
Well it depends.. If the raise was from UTG, then you are last to act. If everyone after UTG has called him, and it is a 10player table. then when it comes to you there are 475 chips in the pot. And you only have to call 25 in a pot that comes to 500.. So thats a 20/1 call.. Easy call with every possible hand you have.. You can always throw it away if you miss the flop totally and someone raise it..

If UTG and next 4players all fold. And then there is a raise your odds is to small to call. so just fold.. If UTG and next 4 had called, and 5players raises.. I would be hard. If you expect the rest to call.. And you just know that no one would re-raise. then call.. Otherwise throw it away...

When you are SB.. If there is no raises.. Then you dont need many callers before you have the right odds to call... Again with 50/25 blinds.. With 5 callers there are 325 in pot.. it cost you 25 to call.. (of course BB could raise) But its a 14/1

But always it depends.. But you dont need so good cards to call in SB... But then again.. DONT waste your chips on stupid cards... Of course you could hit 2pair/straight/flush/full house what ever... But dont waste your chips / $$ on stupid cards..

[Valiant23]

Hi all, what is a 'freeroll' tourney?

Originally Posted by rednutt

i entered williamhill £500 freeroll on saturday and cant believe i actually won it 1st place £100 . i have came 2nd in sportingodds b4 but this is the first time i have ever won an mtt.

Sorry, posted in the bragging thread.

[GotaFancy?]

A freeroll is a competition that doesn't cost anything to enter but pays out real money prizes.

It may "cost" action points (or whatever the particular poker room calls it) which are earnt for playing in a certain number of payable games, or there may not be this requirement.

See the Telegraph FF thread for an example of a good freeroll at the moment - free to enter, with $50,000 in prize money (in the final). Games are at 7pm and 9pm every night. In the same thread as well there is the ManchesterOnline freeroll which is also for $50,000, free qualifiers at 8pm every evening.

[Valiant23]

So I suppose a freeroll may be a good way for a wannabe to try their hand (sorry bout the pun) at no risk?

Thanks GotaFancy?

[GotaFancy?]

Originally Posted by Valiant23

So I suppose a freeroll may be a good way for a wannabe to try their hand (sorry bout the pun) at no risk?

GROAN!!!

Yes definitely!!

I'm pretty new to poker (been playing a couple of months) - and it does worry me "getting drawn in" and playing too much. So I try (and pretty much succeed) not to make any deposits - I stick to the freerolls and when I get some money from the tourneys, I play with that. It's a lot easier risking someone elses money than my own

I made an exception for the PL Poker league - but I view that more as a "social" cost than a Poker cost!!!

If my poker ever gets to the stage where I think I can make money at it, then I won't need to deposit money - because I'll be able to grow the money in my accounts from the freerolls - if I need to deposit then it means I'm losing!!!

Of course, I might one day (when my skills have improved) decide that it's worth paying a certain amount to play - as a leisure activity (instead of paying the same to go to the cinema for example!!) - but for the moment I can "get my fix" from the freerolls

Don't miss out on the PL Freeroll - numbers will be limited (last two have been below 100) and Paul has negotiated some GREAT prize money (at least $1000, possibly up to $2000 depending on number of entrants). September 4th I think it is - well worth it.

[Valiant23]

GaF, you're a star-imagine the scene if you will. Start work at 04.30-finish at 0800 ( sh*tty hours, but what d'you expect from a burglar) rest of the day off, have a nap, then try to register for manchester and Telegraph, then go all in on a 52o, get the straight on the river whilst watching Vale win on Sky.



Its our dreams that keep us human eh?