In a certain no limit tournament, we were down to 5 players from actually 20 players. As far as as I can remember, we were two there who have almost the same number of chips.

Well, I had 85 of clubs back then. Fortunately, I was given the chance to see the flop for free from the big blind before the flop came, which was 4s 5s 6h.

Because I was in first position, I acted first and placed a bet. For some reason, the smaller stack folded and the other chip leader called it as a result. Then the turn came 4s 5s 6h 7d. As a strategy, I placed him on a set. I feel I had the best hand so I placed him all in.

Quite unexpectedly, he called. And then to my surprise, the river came being 4s 5s 6h 7d 7c. In general, do you think I played very aggressively? Or else I was just unlucky?

Personally, I thought it was absurd, that the guy was so confident to call me but then later on, I realized what he did makes sense in a way because of the amount of cards he had back then that eventually could have given him full house.

By the way, do you think, the result could have been much better if I just simply bet it hard again? How about if I’ve taken the risk and then double up, what do you think might have happen?

Your insight/s please?

Thanks a lot.

Denver

Denver,

At the point you moved all-in, you had the best hand. While he had 10 outs to catch his hand, he was only 20% to win the hand. You got unlucky. However, that happens in poker. You played as well as you could given the circumstances.

Well, I just cashed in a tournament at this casino and decided I would take my winnings to a cash game and see what will happen. At an instance, I’ve only played online micro limit cash games, however, I realized that my game was solid enough to give it a try. As a result, for $180, I bought in for $180 into a 100min/200max NL game with blinds of $2/$5.

I was able to adjust later on. With the BB being $5 and the max buy in being $200, everything seemed quite fine.

However, just within the first half hour, I already lost about a third of my buy-in so I realized that things were not that smooth sailing after all. There was this one player who would literally limp in on each hand and then call any raise without hesitation.

As a sort of defense, I then tried to make good sized raise. A couple of rounds followed and things weren’t that good anymore, so I decided to eventually quit. But before that, I first limped in, and observed the actions behind me.

The guy to my left then raised to $20 and the calling station called the $20 but later on it folded back to me. I then called and the flop came AA9. Afterwards, I checked and then the preflop raiser came in for $50 or $60. Eventually, the calling station, called.

To make the long story short, we end up splitting the other guy’s $120. I guess this was because none of the tighter players at the table has given any action. What’s your thoughts on this?

Thank you.

Barry

Barry,

You seemed to have a table of players trying to take advantage of the calling station at your table. It seems to me that you picked a bad game to play in. Your last statement clued me in to this when you said none of the tight players were giving action. When you sit down at a table that is not giving action, it is time to find another table. Playing solid at a solid table is going to make for a long day.

Well, I drop by again because of some more questions about NL cash game and tournament questions.

1. Just few days, ago I noticed some people in no limit cash games love buying in with less than the maximum. Say for an instance, in NL100, people are buying in with $10, $15, $20 or even may be $40. To some extent, I understand that playing the short stack has some advantages, but I’m wondering, how should I play with them when I have a full buy in?

Assume that I limp in with 88 in the early positions. Then with only 20 all folded to a short stack at middle position. A certain guy raised to $4 and everyone else even the small blind and big blind folded. My turn came and I don’t know what to do. I am sure either of the two, call or re-raise, won’t bring in positive result so I just thought of folding. Am I correct with this one?

By the way, do you have any idea about short stack specialist? Any helpful advice about it?

2. At times, I play NL tournaments. Well, I believe NL tournaments are far different from cash games. As my chips are limited, if I keep calling a raise with small pocket pairs, I would spend much chips before I hit my set in NL tournaments. On the other hand, I can always reload, and always have the opportunity to win back the money in cash games.

Well, in NL tournaments, I always find some ways to balance everything. However, I can’t still get the hang of some stuff. I don’t know how can I accumulate lots of chips and then proceed to the final table all the way. Also, I don’t know what kind of hands should I play. Can you help me?

3. I like GSN’s High Stakes Poker a lot. One thing I noticed in most of their games is that pros typically play loosely. Say someone raises with A4o, unexpectedly someone calls with K9s. And when flop hits a 9, player with K9s would assume he got only the best hand and nothing else follows. Well, I don’t totally understand what’s going on. Please, I need clarity on this.

Thank you.

Regards,
Carter

Carter,

1. Short stack specialists are trying to find a hand to pretty much double up with right away. Your best bet in playing these type of specialists is to pick a strong hand or pick a hand and hurt them when you flop well. The pocket eights you mentioned above is a good hand to hurt a short stacked specialist with. Call their bet and see a flop. If you hit your set, chances are you are going to extract bets out of them. Your best bet with a short stacked specialist is to play small pots and see cheap flops. Don’t put yourself in a spot to double them up.
2. The key to long term success in tournaments is being able to steal blinds and antes on a regular basis and use position to your advantage. Most tournaments do not begin until the antes kick in. Once that happens, the person that can successfully steal blinds on a regular basis in addition to catching some hands is a person that can go deep in tourneys.
3. You need to remember that these players are the best in the world and they spend their entire lives dedicated almost exclusively to poker. These players are mixing up playing hands with being able to play the player as well. If you watch closely, each player has their own unique styles. Just as a word of advice, watch very closely how Phil Ivey, Jennifer Harman, Doyle Brunson, Barry Greenstein, and David Benyamine play when they are on there. You will see a little more sensible play. Benyamine and Ivey right now are 1 and 2 in the world in amount of money won in cash games online.

Can you help me? I don’t how many decks are normally used at the table. Do you think there is a standard for this or else just depends on the number of people seated at the table?

In a certain event at WPT and WSOP on TV just recently, I’ve seen only one deck was used. Please, I need clarity on this one.

Thank you.

Misael

Misael,

Typically each poker table is supplied with two decks of cards. The deck is changed out at the end of each level during a tournament and during a dealer change in cash games. The same two decks are alternated until either the table is no longer being used or they are replaced by a member of the floor staff.

I’m wondering if in spread games, is it possible to be the big blind though I don’t have sufficient money to put it up? Say I have $500, but the big blind is actually $1000. What do you think?

Should I just leave the table as I cannot buy-in? If so, what will happen with my $500?

Thank you. Nice site!

Wesley

Wesley,

Regardless of cash game or tournament, if you have $500 and the big blind is $1,000, then you will be all-in for $500. The most you can win from each opponent will be $500.

If you leave the table in the middle of a tournament and you are all-in for $500 in the blind, your hand will be mucked and you will be eliminated from the tournament.

If you are in a cash game, and decide to leave before the hand is dealt, you can take your $500 with you.

I am bothered now because of a recent tournament where in I went all in. In that tournament, there were two other players aside from me and all were matched.

In a certain round, a player bet to get a side pot. Well, player 3 at some point didn’t want to go in, however, he was thinking of staying in for my “all in”.

What do you think, in case player 3 went out, will he still be entitled for the main pot?

Thank you.

Denzel

Denzel,

A side pot is just a continuation of the original hand. If an opponent bets out and player 3 folds, he forfeits his rights to the original pot.