Sunday, April 26, 2009 - Shawn Rice
Something that came up the other night while playing live poker. A player named Cody and I get involved in a pot. We are playing NL Holdem cash game, I raise to $60 from mid position with 9c 9h, Cody completes from the big blind for $40 more the flop comes Jc Tc 6h, Cody checks, I bet $90 into a $130 pot Cody Calls. The turn card is 3d. Cody checks again and I decide to play the player whom I have played many hours with here. I check the turn because the pot is now $310 and Cody has $650 in front of him and I know if bet the turn and get called or raised I must have the worst hand here and drawing to only 2 outs. I hate to give free cards here because any card from a 7 to an Ace or a clubs is a bad card for me. But I also know by checking Cody will 100% bet the river no matter what comes on 5th street. The river was the 2d and I was a littlsurpriseded when he went all in on the river betting $650 into a $310 pot. My first instint was to call because why would he bet so much into a $310 pot? I know river bets are made to extract value for the hand you have or river bets are made because that the only way you can win the pot. So I start the interview process and ask Cody in a laughing way “Cody, Why in the hell did you bet so much?” I wanted to see his reaction to my question. I could tell he was not super happy about the bet he just made and he knew I figured out that he bet in no way made sense because if he had a pair of Jacks or Tens he would of bet alot less and more of a protection bet so i would not raise him unless I have a monster hand. I was now 95% sure I was going to call here but I wanted to talk a little more to him and asked him “To be honest with me and tell me why I should fold to this massive bet for the pot size?” The reason I asked this question was to get a little more information from him and also to let others know at the table if they try and bluff me and their story they are telling at the poker table does not make sense they will also have to go through an interview process and making them think twice about wanting to bluff me as opposed to some of the other players at the table. He was staring me down trying to act really strong with his hand and when I seen this I knew my 2 nines were golden. I called and won the pot and he was in total shock I would call $650 in that spot. I told him he put me on a really tough decision by making such a big bet, when infact the big bet made the decision much easier to make.
Cody went home thinking how lucky I was to have made that call when he gave me many signs my hand was good. Cody left shaking his head telling everyone how unlucky he was that night, I don’t see Cody’s luck changing anytime soon until he learns some of the finer aspects of NL Holdem.
Always ask yourself when you see a river bet, Is this player trying to extract money from me with his good hand? or is this person betting because it’s the only way they can win the pot? Remember some advanced players will do something called a “value bet bluff”, meaning the are betting the river at a discounted price looking as if they are wanting a call and often getting someone to fold a better hand. You almost never see this play from a beginner and many top pros use this play quite a bit.
Good Luck on the River
Proud UB Team Member
Shawn Rice
Tags: big blind, NL Holdem
Comments (2)
Monday, February 2, 2009 - Shawn Rice
As I write this I just finished up playing a couple of the UB bigger tourneys and some PLO cheaper cash games for most of the day from around noon til after midnight Texas time. I did final table the 15k guaranteed 30 rebuy that gets close to 20k in buyin and is a super tourney because after the double rebuy period you are guaranteed a nice stack going into when the real poker starts and the blinds kick in. I cash for about $900 and while I was playing I had a couple of guys over my shoulder asking me tons of questions as to why I bet in certain situations and decided to not see flops with a certain range of cards. It really helped me stay on my toes because I had to justify my playing behavior.
One key hand stands out when the blinds were 500/1000 with antes and the button pushed all in for 20 times the big blind and on the two previous occasions when it folded to him I push over the top with hands I am suppose to make that move with, Now when it folded to him he just open shoves for 20x and I am in the small blind with Ah. I think about it for a little while and I decide to get my chips in here because I know that must be a frustration raise and I even told the two watching me he is sick of me and might push all in, and if he does I will call his ass. I called the big blind folded and if I lost I would have been left with only 7k in chips and the button. I have been in much worse spots than that, but I am trying to get my chips in good and make the top 3 spots where over half the money is being paid. I call he flips over 7 2, no joke! 7 2. Nothing on the flop for either of us and the turn is a freaking 7h and the last card is the Kh giving me runner runner flush and the pot.
Why are some people not aware of their own image? I was just lucky that the big blind didn’t wake up with a hand because I figured there was no chance the player on the button had a hand he really liked. Who says there is no reading in online poker? These top online players who get there often are pretty skillful and great to watch. Find a top online player who plays your style and try and see what works for them.
I have been away a bit since the UBOC3 tourneys as I played every one of them every day and as I write this I am getting over being sick and bed-ridden for the last several days. I feel better and thanks for many of your calls. I have some friends that are going through some really tough times. I myself just had a grandmother that had a heart attack in Oklahoma and she is 85 and doing really well now. Bless her heart.
It makes me just sit back and think about how damn lucky we are to have the loved ones in our life and what it means to us deep down. I am Thankful for all my friends, my UB family and my family at home. I feel like I am free rolling for life. I am very blessed and the ups and downs of poker seem very small in the overall picture.
Ever notice that the top poker players in the world wouldn’t let the bad beats destroy their game? They roll with the punches and move on and see what just happened and how it affects the take and how they can exploit it to their benefit. Even the Poker Brat himself screams and hollers but it never EVER tilts his play, He is a world class pro and that’s part of the reason why.
Speaking of educating yourself, I just got a really interesting email I want to share with you all. I really believe education is the key to life and is the road to success. Check out www.decisioneducation.org . It’s a Celebrity Poker Tournament FUNdraiser that benefits the DEF Teacher Scholarship Fund.
I know my blogs are always kinda long and I am sorry but I love to talk poker and help others in their game it’s very rewarding in many ways.
Good Luck to all the UBers.
Proud UB Team Member
Shawn Rice
Tags: big blind, Online Poker, small blind, UBOC
Comments (2)
