Dream Big in 2010: Even You Can Win a World Series of Poker Bracelet.

Dream Big in 2010: Even You Can Win a World Series of P

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oker Bracelet.

It takes a lot of skill, experience, and luck to win a World Series of Poker bracelet. In the coming weeks I will share with you poker strategies, tips, and quizzes so you can improve your poker game and perhaps be ready to enter a tournament and win big.

In case you don’t know, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the biggest poker event of the year. The 41st annual WSOP will run from May 27-July 17 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. There will be 57 tournaments with the most popular events being the no limit tournaments, where buy-in fees start at $1,000.

Let’s get right into the action, with a simple poker quiz.

Poker Quiz:

You bought into one of the no limit tournaments at the WSOP and you have just taken your seat. All the players start off with the same chip amount. The tournament director announces into the microphone, “Shuffle Up and Deal!”

The first hand is dealt to all 10 players at the table (including you). The first player to act moves all-in for all of his chips. The second player moves all-in for all of her chips. You peek at your cards and find a pair of aces. What should you do?

a) Fold because you don’t want to risk all of your chips on the first hand.

b) Risk all of your chips and make the all-in call.

Would your decision be any different if you bought into this tournament for $100, $1,000 or $10,000 in cash?

Answer:

It doesn’t matter how much money it costs you to enter a tournament. You have to make the play that gives you the best opportunity of winning. Pocket aces is the best starting hand in poker and you will be the favorite to triple up on your first hand.

Make the call. If you get unlucky and lose, well, I’m sure you can find something fun to do in Vegas.

Article originally appeared in my Poker column for the SF Bay Area Bleacher Report.

Top 10 Poker Hands of the Decade

Top 10 Poker Hands of the Decade

Here is my list of the top 10 poker hands of the decade (excluding online poker). Even if you've seen these poker hands before, they are a joy to watch again...and again.

#10. I bet he wished he overslept for the WSOP.



#9. "It was suited!"



#8. Admit it. You've made a mistake like this, right?



#7. Would you have made this call?



#6. Is this the worst play in the history of poker?



#5. Agree or disagree? Poker is a game of skill.



#4. Can you do this?



#3. Or this?



#2. You no longer have the right to bitch about a bad beat, ever again.



#1. This may be the one hand of poker that changed poker forever.



Let me know what you think of my list? Thanks!

Guest Blog Post: The "Only" Call-A Good or Bad Play?

The “Only” Call-A Good or Bad Play?

Image by numberstumper via Flickr

The following is a post from Mark who runs the Poker Bankroll Blog and the PokerBRB.com freeroll and tournament league. It was written and submitted to his blog by McTap03, who has his own poker blog, Big Pond, Little Fish and who is an admitted Poker-holic.

At the end of this post, I have added my thoughts. See what you think.

Written by McTap03:

Have you ever called a bet (tournament or cash game) where you had a good feeling you were behind but the amount was “only” a little bit and well worth it to see another card to maybe hit your miracle card to win?

Before I go on about this topic, let me give you a little insight into where I started thinking about this.

My wife went shopping yesterday and I knew before hand that this was going to be an expensive day. This morning I wake up and see all the items she purchased. There is plenty but I brush it off as I have only a short time to get ready before commuting (1 hr) to work. As I’m leaving, she wakes up and asks if I like the purchases. I make a comment about item X that I felt was really not necessary, which she replies with “it was ‘only’ X dollars” and heads back to bed. So while collecting my thoughts during my commute, I come to this conclusion: I say the same thing when it comes to poker and totally feel it to be justified.

So getting back to my original question, ask yourself the following: Have you ever called a bet (tournament or cash game) where you didn’t like your situation but the amount was “only” a little bit and well worth it to see another card to maybe hit your miracle card to win?

If the answer is yes, then how many times have you actually hit your miracle card? And did you win the pot? My guess is that you hit your card far less than the ‘good’ odds you were given to see the card. And then, depending on what the card was, you probably didn’t get paid off for it. The reason I say this is that, if the card made a flush or straight, most observant opponents would put you on it and then either not bet before you, or not call your value bet. So unless the card made you trips or top 2 pr (which are easier to disguise), then you won’t get much value on your river bet. Plus you still might lose if your opponent has you ‘out kicked’. So what do you do? Poker is at times a gamble, so you can’t stop calling the smallish bet on the turn/river, but you can minimize when you do, therefore controlling your ‘leak.’

Too many players, especially at the lower limit games, like to chase cards as they figure they will win a big pot if they hit, but in reality this is a HUGE flaw in their game. They are throwing away money/chips for a chance to hit it big. This is where outs and odds really make a difference. If you are chasing a flush draw/OESD then you might be getting good odds to call the “only” bet, but if the draw is to trips, 2 pr, or even worse top pair, then your odds are probably not in your favour to call. The good players know their odds and outs, while the ‘fish’ don’t, or don’t care about them. The good players have a better understanding of when to call the ‘only’ bet and when to let it go. So if you want to become a better player, really start focusing on this aspect of your game (mostly odds and outs), control your leaks (especially if you hear yourself say “it is only X more to call”, then don’t do it), and over time you should become better.

Good luck at the tables.

My response:

In a no limit tournament it is often correct to make a call of "only" a small bet. In fact, if I am drawing to a set or two pair to beat an opponent with a completed flush or straight, and I will win a big pot, the pot odds and even the implied odds will often make it the right play.

There are other reasons as well to make this call:

a. Your opponent may be bluffing.
b. Your call may induce your opponent to check the river and fold when you bet.
c. You both may check down the river and even if you don't have the better hand, you will learn how he plays his cards and his betting pattern--which puts you in an excellent spot to beating him for a bigger pot later.
d. You may raise his small bet on the turn and discover your opponent is the one who folds his draw.

In a limit cash game, the pots at the lower levels are often big enough to make that call and still get callers on the river.

Overall, calling that small bet is often the right play in poker just as that purchase McTap03's wife made. His wife's purchase not only has utility "value" but also the added emotional rewards she gets; which in turn, can also be beneficial to him. Just as in life, you never know what can happen when you make that "only" call.

What do you think?

My thanks to Mark for submitting this post and McTap03 for writing it!

Tomorrow: My Top 10 Poker Hands of the Decade

How To Pick Up a Poker Tell and Use It To Your Advantage

How To Pick Up a Poker Tell and Use It To Your Advantage

Image by TomStardust via Flickr

A player asked me to describe how I notice a poker tell and use it during the game. Here is an example that may help you in your next tournament.

I entered a tournament at Lucky Chances where the starting chips were $6,000.

Step 1. Observe your opponent while you are in a hand.

The blinds were $25-$50. I was in a middle position with A-Q and I called an early position raiser. The player on the button, call him Ben, also called.

The flop comes A-rag-rag. The pre-flop raiser bets $400. I call as does Ben.

The turn comes another rag but this time the pre-flop raiser checks. I check and Ben bets out $800. I call. The other player folds.

Ben looks up at me--this is a new action. I am thinking, "Maybe this is a tell? What can I associate this glance at me to mean?"

The river is a blank. I check and Ben bets. I call. He also has A-Q and we split the pot. I am thinking now, "Ok, if he looks at a player, it means he has a good hand. Does that mean if he doesn't look at a player, he is weak?"

Step 2. Observe the same player when you are not in a hand.

A few hands later, Ben is against the same pre-flop raiser. Both players check the flop. Ben bets the turn and gets called. Ben never looks up at his opponent. Now, I'm thinking, "What does this mean? Is Ben weak here?"

Ben bets the river and his opponent calls. Ben is on a total bluff and loses. He folds his cards showing he had a draw.

I am now thinking that Ben has a tell. I don't think this player is good enough to be aware he is even doing it, so I am around 90% confident in my read.

Step 3. Use the tell, even if it looks like you may be beat.

The next level is $50-$100. I am down to $5,500.

In back position, I raise pre-flop with J-10. Ben calls on the big blind for $300.

The flop is A-10-3. Ben bets $600. I call knowing that if Ben looks up at me, I am beat if I don't improve. Ben doesn't look up at me. I am thinking he is weak.

The turn is a blank. Ben bets $1,500. If I call this bet my stack will be almost cut in half. This is an important play early on in the event. I trust my tell and I call.

Ben still does not look up. I am not fairly certain Ben is weak here.

The river is a blank. Ben checks. I reach for chips and start counting out how much to bet, hoping Ben does not have a weak Ace. Before I complete my bet, Ben mucks.

That tell increases my stack almost 50%--it is a nice start.

I hope this helps.

Poker Book Review--Tournament Poker: 101 Winning Moves

Poker Book Review: Tournament Poker 101 Winning Moves

I just discovered a new review of my book on Amazon UK.

5.0 out of 5 stars
Harrington for the short of time
By K. M. MacLean (UK)

While Harrington on Hold'em will probably remain the ultimate guide to tounament play for many years to come, the books are chunky tomes which are hard on the hands (IMO) and require a substantial investment of time to digest. This little beauty, on the other hand, can be read easily in an evening and feasibly slipped into a travel bag (or possibly a large pocket) for some pre-tournament mental preparation.

The 101 moves is probably more like 91 since a few of them are repeated to fit into the book's structure of following the action, i.e. pre-flop, post-flop, turn and river, but I guess 101 sounds better and there's still plenty here to chew over.

For those who emphasize the importance of hand examples, each suggested play is backed up by case studies and there's a sprinkling of anectodes too, which add to the book's easy-to-read feel.

As it says on the back "If you take a way just one winning play from this book, it will pay for itself many times over". That may be something of an exageration, however it is fair to say that this book should get you thinking about the different ways you can play a hand and that can only improve your play and your profits.

More Poker Tournament Tips as I Get To Another Final Table

More Poker Tournament Tips as I Get To Another Final Table

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On Wednesday, I decided to go to the evening event at the Oaks. I have not entered this event in many years. It is a $100 buy-in with an $80 rebuy.

After the learning which I posted in my last blog post: How to play against yourself in a poker tournament--I was going to make sure not to finish on the bubble.

The Early Stages

The starting chips are $2,500 and the blinds begin at $25-$50.

At the start of the tournament (and when I get moved to a new table) I like to figure out the following:
1. The betting patterns of my opponents
2. Identify basic table images--who are the ABC players, the tricky ones, the overly aggressive ones, the super tight ones, etc.
3. The tells of the most aggressive player at the table
4 If the player to my immediate left looks at his cards early, and how to connect his actions to whether he will play a hand or not.
5. Any other tells by players

Ideally, I prefer to wait until one round of play has completed before finalizing my opinions of the above.

But after the first five hands, I had already gotten a sense that the players at this table were just limping with any two cards. I was in the small blind and 4 players limped. I turned up A-Q. I usually just limp here since it's early in a rebuy event. But thinking I could make everyone fold, I made a big raise to $350. One player called.

The flop was J-8-4. My opponent moved all-in. I folded. Oh well....I guess I outsmarted myself.

After a while, it was clear the players at this table were very passive and tight. I decided to open up my game a lot. I would call on the button with almost any two cards. I decided to raise pre-flop in a back position.

If there were callers pre-flop and everyone checked to me, I bet and won. If I raised pre-flop and got one or two callers, I made a c-bet.

At the $100-$200 blinds, I got my first premium hand A-K suited. The player who beat me earlier, raised in an early position to $600. It was his first raise of the game, so I knew he had a big hand. However, it was a rebuy event and I needed chips, so I moved all-in. He called with Q-Q. I hit the Ace on the flop.

My most aggressive opponent had two tells; one of which I used for a nice win as well. When he was the pre-flop raiser, his flop bet would give away his hand. That is, if he slid his chips in as a bet, he was weak. If he stacked them, he had a strong hand.

Oh, yeah, his other tell is a very common one: If a player stacks his chips and one or more chips fall off messing up his stack, watch what happens next. In most cases, if a player goes back to fix the stack, he is not that strong. If a player doesn't fix the stack, he is most likely very strong.

Anyway, in this hand my opponent raised pre-flop and I called with J-10 suited on the button. We took the flop heads up. It was A-7-4 rainbow. He slid his chips into the pot as a c-bet. Clearly, if my tell was right, and I raised him, he could only call if he had an Ace. I re-raised. To my chagrin, he did not fold right away. He thought for a while. I guess he had a pocket pair higher than 7's. He mucked and flashed his pocket 9's. Phew!

Overall, though, I was picking up a lot of small pots at this table and I was happy that we would not be breaking up the table for a long time....no! The director came over and decided to break up our table first....what's up with that!

I got moved to a new table, where there were two opponents I played against before. I sat back and waited for a round to get a read on the other players.

The blinds were up to $100-$200. The players at this table were very different than the first one. For some reason, a few players here liked to limp with premium hands. The player with the big stack was one of these players and he sat to my left. And no one would bet the flop unless their hand improved.

I decided to raise pre-flop and never limp. I wanted to clear out the pretenders before the flop. I started to win decent sized pots as I would raise a few limpers, and get one caller. Follow-up with a c-bet and win. My stack just kept growing. It was nice. I would even bet into a pre-flop raiser if the flop was a picture-rag-rag, since I represented top pair.

A key hand: I was dealt pocket 4's in middle position. One player raised, I called, as did the player to my left, and one other opponent. The flop was A-7-4. The first player checked. I thought one of my opponents must have an Ace, so I bet 2/3rds of the pot with my set. The player to my left moved all-in. I called. He had A-7. How he calls a pre-flop raise with A-7 unsuited is beyond me..

I was now up to about $15,000 in chips. I was dealt A-J suited, and a tight player moved all-in. It was only $1,500 more to me, so I called. He had pocket Kings and I lost.

I was up to over $13,000 and decided against the rebuy.

Middle Stages

Not too long after the rebuy period, I was moved to a new table. The players here were aggressive and much better. Again, I sat back to get a read on my opponents. It was interesting. The players to my right were aggressive, but the three players to my left were tight.

Given the image of my opponents, and my image of being tight as well (not having played a hand) I started to play against my image. I was able to win with pre-flop raises first in a hand as my opponents on the left were so tight.

I wasn't getting any cards. I was just playing the guys to my left so I could stay alive. I raised with K-5 suited, I raised with A-2, and I raised with Q-8. I won all of them uncontested.

Everything was going well, until the guy to my left got knocked out and a new player took his seat. The new guy was the chip leader and very aggressive. He was a little crazy as well:

Example: He limped in an early position (the first time he limped). A player on the button moved all-in for $12,000. The limper insta-called. I thought he would show pocket Aces. Instead, he showed 5-4 suited. The button had A-10. The flop came with a 4 and this gut won even more chips.

Yeah, I had to tighten up my play. And my image was clearly of a very tight player now.

In fact, the player to my right--who thought he was a genius--would move all-in on me as the small blind whenever everyone folded to him. He did this 3 times and I folded each time since my cards were so bad.

Late Stages

We were down to 3 tables. I was in survival mode. I was waiting to be the first in a hand in a late position or to call the small blind all-in move.

Since I had a tight image, I knew that making a rare pre-flop raise would allow me to win uncontested, unless someone had a big hand.

Example: I raised with pocket 2's. Everyone folded as I expected...except the big blind called me. Uh oh. The flop may have an overcard. The flop was 10-9-5. We both checked. The turn was a J. The big blind checked, so I had to bet. He folded.

As we got down to 7 players at the table, players were pushing all-in and/or raising. I was card dead and would just have to be patient.

The blinds were now up to $400-$800 and I was down to $3,200 in the big blind. Everyone folded to the small blind and for the fourth time he moved all-in on me. I found the K-J and beat his 5-3, doubling up.

The next hand, he made the same move from the button. I found A-Q and called. He had 10-8 and I doubled through him again.

The next hand, he tried again and I called with K-J--taking him out of the event.

Now, I was up to almost $30,000 in chips...it was a big turnaround.

It was down to 2 tables of 6 players each. Only the final table would get paid.

I was in the big blind and a player moved all-in for $12,000. I called with A-Q. He had K-10 and won when the flop came K-10-x and no Jack appeared.

Final Table

With the loss holding the A-Q, I went from being one of the middle stacks to one of the low stacks. We were down to the final table. Players were aggressive and I was card dead. I would only last about 2 rounds.

Two players got knocked out, and the blinds were so high, I had 2x's the big blind--as I took the big blind. I was going to be all-in with any two cards.

A player moved all-in, I called. I had A-2. He had A-6. It looked like a chop until the 2 hit the flop! The turn was nothing. The river was a 6! Ouch.

I finished 8th and won $300.

Looking back, there was just one hand I misplayed. When we were down to 2 tables, I threw away pocket 4's since both players in the blinds were so low in chips, they would be forced to call my raise. Sure enough, they both moved all-in--but a 4 flopped....oh well.

How To Play Against Yourself at a Poker Tournament

How To Play Against Yourself at a Poker Tournament

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I have had the time recently to play a few live, poker tournaments. While I've had one nice cash of $3,000, there have been three times where I ended up just out of the money finishing 21st and 24th twice.

I have been so intent on playing ABC poker with a few moves thrown in, I have forgotten the need to play against myself as well.

What does it mean to "Play against the player and not your cards?"

As you know, I believe one of the most important keys in winning poker is to play against the player rather than just playing your cards.

One way to simply define "playing against the player" is to evaluate what range of hands you think your opponent holds and playing in a way to beat him by using his bets, his table image and the board against him--that is, representing a hand that can get your opponent to fold.

A simple example: A player who raises pre-flop way too often and always follows with a c-bet when his hand doesn't improve on the flop. You call this player in position, take the flop heads-up, and when he bets the flop, you raise.

It's easier said then done. And I think it's easier when you are playing live and the stacks are deep.

What does it mean to "Play against yourself?"

I think all poker players get in a habit of how to play good poker. I would say that players are better at pre-flop play than ever before. They know the "right" cards to play pre-flop in position and bet sizing. However, these same players often end up waiting forever for a big hand.

These players need to play against themselves. That is, they need to mix it up and play poker in a style that is counter to their table image.

For example: If you've been sitting and waiting forever for a big starting, you are viewed as a tight player. It's time to make a move and raise pre-flop with any two cards or re-raise a frequent raiser. You won't get action unless a player finds a big hand--which doesn't happen often.

The same is true of those players who come in too often with pre-flop raises. Change your game and slow down once in a while--maybe even fold, so the next time you come into the pot, your opponents will fear your raises.

Suggestion

I think most players are still thinking "Tight, aggressive" is the way to play a poker tournament. Survival is the key.

That thinking is fine as a starting point.

In addition, though, consider adding in one more element to your game. If you have not been entering any pots for a long time in a tournament, mix up your game, and play "Loose, aggressive." That is, if you find that you have suited connectors like 6-5 in an early position, raise like you have pocket Aces. If you find, that the small blind limps against your big blind, raise him even though you only have 7-2 offsuit.

Once you believe your image has changed, you can always switch back to your "Tight, aggressive" style.

The result is going to be that you will mix things up and make it more difficult for your opponents.

Frankly, I have been making the mistake of waiting too long to mix things up. The result has been that I have had to move all-in with good or mediocre hands and hope for the best. I need to open up my game more--and mix things up.

It seems being away from playing these events has resulted in my thinking I can outplay my opponents. While I tend to outplay opponents in the first two rounds, I have forgotten that "Risk is Good."

Good luck!