I play no limit poker. Oftentimes, I win. Typically, I just win enough but at least on a regular basis.

In general, I consider myself as an analytical player who is usually bothered psychologically. Over the years, I’ve tried to change this by increasing my skills or the like. I’ve also tried to discuss some related matters over my mind.

At a certain point, I question myself about the reasons why should I call rather than fold or raise post flop. Well, there’s no problem when I am into a full game, most especially in a multi-way pot. But unfortunately, not in short handed games, specifically when there is a heads up confrontation.

Any piece of advice? Do you have any idea about calling a bet on the flop in cases where ordinarily a player would either fold a marginal hand or re-raise with a hand that is more or less ahead?

I’m not sure to say this, and I also don’t want to sound defensive but the thing is short handed poker is the hardest to master for an analytical player like me. Well, I’m not sure but this is what I feel.

Thanks for your time.

Allie

Allie,

Short handed and heads up confrontations are situations where marginal hands and draws tend to pick up value. As far as calling as opposed to raising, I would continue to raise if I were you when you are ahead. Otherwise you are inviting players to outdraw you regularly. In relation to calling as opposed to folding, you will need to probably look into staying in with your marginal hands that connect in some way or with your draws more in a short handed game.

Well, I believe there are factors that could help players ascertain how much they should bet without risking their hand strength.

The first factor is the position. I believe that the better your position is, the smaller the opening bet should be. And that with good position, you can invite more people into the pot. But on the flip side, when you are in bad position, you will more or less long to force more opponents out early on.

Personally, the way I love to play is when I’m in early position, I will raise 4 BBs + 1 BB per limper. Then lower it to 3 BBs +1, and eventually bet only 2.5 BBs + 1 per limper in late position. Any comment on this?

The second factor on the other hand is the stack size. Well, I believe that it’s an advantage to have smaller stacks. By having smaller stacks, you will be feared by opponents, thus forcing them to play fewer hands. However, I also believe that at some point, adjustments should be made. So now, I’m curious if when should a player make some adjustments? If he or she have a 2:1 advantage in terms of chips or else if the advantage is totally more significant? Any suggestion?

Thanks!

Jessie

Jessie,

While position can be a consideration in raising, most pros recommend not varying your raising size too much. This does indeed give off information bout how you play. If you vary your raises based on position, this gives off the same type of information. Players like Gus Hansen, Gavin Smith, and even Chris Ferguson make the same type of raise when they raise regardless of position. This way an opponent doesn’t know if they are playing position, or holding rockets.

For some time now, I’ve been holding no limit home games. One thing I’ve noticed is that in most of the games, dispute and some sort of chaos and argument were always there.

Well, we have a certain system of raising blinds every 15 minutes to basically keep the game time to around 1 – 1.5 Hours; by which we are totally sure to be ideal. However, it’s not the same thing when it comes to raising and betting amounts.

At some point, we have assumed the following:

1. In every round of betting, the minimum bet will always be the size of the big blind.
2. The minimum bet is set at this larger amount and is incremental whenever someone bets bigger than the big blind.
3. Do you think we have made the right assumptions or rules?

Please, any comment or advice will do.

Thank you so much.

Jarvis

Jarvis,

1. The minimum bet on each street is indeed the size of the big blind.
   
2. An initial bet by a player may be made either the size of the minimum bet or up to their entire stack. After a player raises, the next player to raise in that round of betting must raise the amount of the prior raise. For instance, if the minimum bet is 200 and you bet out 350, then the raise must be at least 350.
   
3. Based on my understanding of your question, you are following proper procedure for NL games.

What do you think, should the bet to player C be $8 or else $10?

Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks!

Andrew

Andrew,

Since player C is calling a raise, the amount that he needs to call is $8.