Posts from July 2009
July
31
Here is a simple example of a profit making with limping in. I didn’t have great hole cards at all, by my opinion at least in this Omaha Hi Pot Limit poker hand. As you can see, I had rainbow in my hands with high straight potential (7-8-9-10). Many players would recommend folding, but since it was cheap - I decided to limp in if possible. Since I was under the gun I simply called, and that’s it. Obviously, nobody was strong enough to raise pre-flop, which convinced me that I made a good decision.
Flop brought me hope for a straight - I needed just one card on a turn or a river to complete it. Small and big blind just checked and I pot raised, and two players called my bet. I missed the turn - but luckily there was no flush on the table, which made my cards much stronger.
With only a river remaining, I pot raised, and both guys called again. Nine completed my straight (which was statistically expected), but I decided to look frightened and just checked. Next guy fell in my trap and pot raised and player on the button called. All I should be afraid at the moment was Queen-Ten combination, and I was absolutely certain that the guy that raised doesn’t have it. Don’t know why, I just knew. I am absolutely certain he would play more aggressively from the start. The other player just called his bet, so I am sure he doesn’t have it as well.
Then it was my turn to play and I re-raised - and both guys called again?? I know why the guy with the set called, but I would fold if I was him. But the guy with severe bluffing? You don’t bluff by calling bet - he had only a pair of Threes?
Anyway, I increased a pot by observing other players’ behavior - and that’s the key fact of winning in poker. You don’t play against cards, you play against opponents.
Smart Play?
July
30
My hole cards in this Omaha Hi Pot Limit poker hand were Jc-10h-9h-6s. Nothing special, but since it wasn’t expensive I wanted to se the flop. Flop cards were Q-Q-K. That was pretty bad because the cards like that could bring me trouble. I thought, somebody could have a full house and all I could hope for is a straight. But, everybody just checked. That was a green light for me to bet and in the same time it was very naïve from me. I was sure nobody had a full house.
But, the truth was far from that. Opponent on my right had a full house. He was checking all the time, and I was raising whenever I got a chance. At the end I hit that straight but that wasn’t enough. I was tricked. I was tricked pretty smart. What can I say except – great game dude.
Guy Tricked Me
July
29
Knowing that math is important but not everything in poker is one of the lessons you’ll learn pretty quickly. Here is what had happened in this Omaha Hi Pot Limit poker hand. I got a pretty cool double suited hand (Jh-Js-4h-5s), with a high pair and a good 4-5 straight potential.
Flop brought me a set of Jacks so I bet a pot. What I didn’t know is that odds are highly against me - remaining opponent had Q-J-10-9 in his hands with 9-J on the flop, which means his odds are far above my league. Any card from Eight to King (with the exception of Jack) completes his straight, leaving me short handed for this flop. However, he decided to call my every bet, but without re-raising.
So I came to the showdown unhurt, with quite a pot. However, if he had hit the straight, I am absolutely certain he would play more aggressive, and would have force me to fold. Maybe he could even bluff, but as you can see, only possible straight here was a Straight, Five high, but he couldn’t possibly have it, since he would fold on the flop with my first raise.
The Pot is Mine Against the Odds
July
28
I was sitting at this Omaha Hi Pot Limit poker table for a while, so, I got a chance to get to know other players and their play style. That is very important if you play poker.
My hole cards were A-Q-10-8 double suited. Flop cards were 9-7-J, which means that I got a straight, Jack high. I can’t say that I was happy, because we need to see two more cards. My goal was to chase away as many players as possible before the showdown. I was pushing raise button to the limit. One player stayed in the game and that was a problem. By watching his play I knew that he had something. Turn card was a Three. I try one more time to chase my opponent, but he didn’t want to leave. Instead to fold he gave all in. Well, it was a little late for me to fold – specially since I had a strong hand. I called.
Luckily my opponent had a three of a kind, Nines and river card was a King. As I suspected, he was waiting for a full house. But… I won this hand with a straight, King high. I need to admit - this was very stressful.
Leave, please leave
July
28
NY vs Online Poker
Quiet war between some US states and Online Poker rooms is escalating. Almost $30,000,000.00 is being seized from poker players by Southern District of New York, without any kind of warrant. Money belongs to over a million poker players that tried to withdraw their funds from online poker rooms.
To make things worse, money is being seized from two best-of-the best poker platforms: Full Tilt Poker and Poker Stars players - rare platforms that are still accepting (and welcoming!) United States poker players, which can bring a huge question mark over players’ heads - Can we play or not?
Poker Player Alliance immediately stood in players’ defense with the claim that this kind of seizure is simply not a legal move. PPA Executive Director, John Pappas, demands a quick money release and states that “The PPA will pursue every legal course available to ensure that poker players funds are not seized and their right to play online poker is protected.” They are also asking player to actively participate in their defense.
Epilogue of this story is still far away, both Full Tilt Poker and Poker Stars didn’t make any publin statement yet. All we can do at the moment is to wait and see the outcome.
One thing is for sure - without US players, online poker won’t be the same.
You can read more details here, a great article by Jennifer Newell.
July
27
When I am on a bad roll and good cards just keep missing my hands – I turn into a madman. It’s something no one would suggest but hey – I am only human. You can’t measure everything. Even worse, while I was waiting for good cards, I lost 50% of the amount I decided to invest in poker that day, so I was getting pretty nervous.
Good cards finally! A Pair of Kings and K-6 suited with the off suite Queen, pretty good for Omaha Hi Pot Limit poker session. As good as I could get that day anyway. So, I was full of myself and I pot raised. Guy on the button called, and rest of the crew folded.
With luck on the other side of the universe, I missed a flop. Again. But nooo, I don’t want to fold these Kings, come on - they are all I got that day! So, I pot raised. You can call it bluffing but hey – if the guy is holding a seven, I’ll figure that out. He re-raised. I thought – ok, I didn’t play very often, so he knows that if I am playing, I am strong. And he re-raises? That means he’s as strong as I am or even stronger. He had a high pair; it was written on his forehead.
Could he possibly have aces? Of course. But, I decided to go for it – zero or hero! And I was all-in – he called without any hesitation – and his Aces turned towards me. OMG. What a freaking poker day. I kept saying – King, King, King…and there it is! Ha! I hit the luckiest river ever and scooped the pot. And left the table. And went to sleep.
And the River Card Will Be?
July
26
My hole cards in this Omaha Hi Pot Limit poker hands were double suited (2c-8c-9d-10d). I stayed in this hand because I was in a big blind position and I had a chance to hit a straight. Flop cards were 8d-6c-8h and they gave me a hope. Off course, with an Eight in my hands I already had a three of a kind, Eights. But, this is Omaha, I never truly rely on cards like that for the showdown.
My opponent raised after the flop, but I had some felling that he was bluffing. Chance that he had an Eight too was slim. Turn card was Jack of spades, which wasn’t good, but I decided to stay in this hand no matter how much money my opponent will ask for.
River card was Five of clubs, which basically means - no straight for me this time. Only Three of a kind, Eights. Since I was courious about my instinct, I payed half a pot to see my opponents cards. And yes, I was absolutely right, he was bluffing. The way I see it, any raise on Two Pair in Omaha poker is same as bluffing.
Try Some Other Time with Those Cards
July
25
This week was all about beating the odds, counting outs and bluff - the concepts of Omaha Poker. Take a look:
Keep reading, there is more to come!
July
25
In a game of poker, I can put the players’ souls in my pocket.
Beausourire
Newbies play against opponent’s cards, experienced players play against their opponents. Once you can tell the difference, you’ll start winning big time, since luck will no longer be a significant element of your play.
July
24
This Omaha Hi Pot Limit poker hand is the perfect example of math power. True, this one could hit me hard, but - just take a look and you’ll see.
My hole cards were 9s-4s-7h-7c. Not a hand recommended for play, but I guess it’s not that bad. It’s worth of a limp in. I have middle pair and a bit weak flush potential. Also, some straight could be squeezed in as well.
First came the flop (3s-8s-4c). Cool, two spades. In this moment, I had to choose if I am happy with my flush potential.I decided it’s worth trying - with 2 spades in my hands and 2 on the table, there are ten more outs that will be good for me. So, That’s 10 out of 45, which is something I would go for (just above 22% chances). I pot raised, trying to discourage my opponent if he’s having even smaller spades. He called.
Now, there is a turn card - a ten of clubs. Maybe the best possible card - it doesn’t complete my flush, but increases the number of my out significantly. Now, instead of 10 outs, I had all sixes and jacks suitable for me too! So, instead of 10, now I have 16 outs (I don’t want to double count the spades. With chances increased to 36% I pot-raised again, and my opponent called. Again.
Turned out that river card payed off my math - I hit a straight, but at that moment I new that he’s not holding the Q-9, since he would play different on the flop. I pot-raised again, and he called.
I won this hand, but it was such a close call! Now I know it was a good thing I didn’t hit a flush. However, if I did, he would re-raise my bet and I am absolutely certain I would fold - a flush, Nine high simply isn’t good enough in Omaha.
Count Your Outs
