Monday, December 1, 2008 - P0ker H0
Id like to talk a little bit about how to accurately assess hand ranges preflop. This is something that is intuitive but at the same time logical. You see some people constantly guessing what their opponents have, and some people are right more than you think they should, while others just have no clue and play the 2 cards in their hand.
There are 3 things you need to determine before assessing a hand range.
1. What is the Size of their Stack
2. What is their Image
3. What is their Position.
Now I will admit, some players dont think this deep and they arent playing optimal poker because they just dont know any better, but here are some examples.
Q. What is their stacksize and why does this matter?
A. Players stacksizes dictate how much room they have to manuever. There are so many different examples but here is one.
Lets say a player has 8k in chips and the blinds are 500 1000, with a 100 ante. A before him opens to 3100. The player with 8k in chips just flat calls.
Assessing a hand range is all about asking the right questions. Lets ask some.
Someone with 8k who is flatting almost half their stack is not doing that to set mine. So already we can eliminate hands 22-JJ in my opinion. The only thing you can really trap with with 8k in this spot is aa or kk or maybe qq. But even if you had AA or KK, you would just shove it pre, because hes getting at least 2:1 to call and will with almost any 2. My point is here, is we can deduce that if someone flats half their stack preflop, they arent folding to many flops, and if they probably like their hand enough to call pre, they are most likely going to the river. Hence they flat called with a good hand.
Once you ask yourself the right questions, ask yourself if he/she has been loose or aggro, and what their position on the table is. Using these 3 tools has really helped me assess ranges more accurately.
Hopefully I can pass it on
Gl Everyone
P0ker H0
Tags: P0ker H0, Poker Strategy
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Saturday, November 29, 2008 - P0ker H0
Im going to talk a little bit about something I think most players struggle with, and that is adjusting to a new table when getting moved in Live poker. In Live poker the game is a little slower and it takes a little longer to get used to your table. Aside from sitting there and watching everyhand and player there is something I like to do. I like to examine everyones stack and see what stacks have the most 25 chips in them. Why you might ask? well the person with the most 25 chips is probably the one who is stealing blinds the most. We know this because when antes kick in there are always at least an extra 9 “25″ chips in the pot. We can use this information to assume that whoever has a stack full of greens, has either been very active, or very lucky. Also when I steal pots, I like to keep my 25 chips and stack them high. It gives the illusion of a much bigger stack than it seems, and this can steer people away from getting involved when you dont want them to.
Next time you play live, try this and watch how quick you will know who is aggressive and who is not.
Gl Everyone
P0ker H0
Tags: P0ker H0, Poker Strategy
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Sunday, November 23, 2008 - smokin_aces
Why do we play Poker? Apart from the enjoyment of the intense mental battles, the adrenaline rushes and the thrill of the chase, we want to win MONEY. There are a million ways to get cold hard cash, but there is an undeniable allure to using our instincts and wit in a battle infiltrated by fate and destiny. We all believe that at different moments in time we’ve got ‘a feeling’ or that we’re tuned in to something no one else has yet noticed. The idea that we can act on these in a manner defined as gambling has a classic appeal that has been around for centuries. This appeal is no more closely mirrored than in Poker’s unlikely sibling, financial investing.
The close relationship of playing Poker versus playing in the stock market has been documented many times. It’s no secret that Poker’s harrowed champions share many attributes of successful investment gurus. The object of this column is to spend time examining some of the qualities, philosophies and techniques of the historic and present day hero figures from both the world of Poker, and the financial investment community. With ‘luck’ and perseverance, we’ll outline some areas we can all stand to improve, in hopes that collectively we’ll increase our returns on both fronts.
Discipline is not specific to either Poker or investing. Most people’s first connotation of the word is negative, and usually involved ‘being disciplined’ as a result of a childhood wrongdoing. In the present context, we’re interested in learning ways to discipline ourselves to remain true to the strategies and theories we’ve selected away from the table, and before the market opens. (It should be noted that we’re making the assumption your Poker/investing style is not a series of aimless, wanton acts with no preconceived game plan, void of reason or logic) This isn’t the place to discuss actual strategies, but we can discuss the importance of remaining consistent with your chosen one. Mathematically speaking, in order to make gains over time, you’ll have to be comfortable with an average rate of return much lower than what most would consider a large profit. Sure there will be times when you make profits in leaps and bounds, but there will also be other times when you lose big. As long as you’ve got the discipline to consistently bet on the odds in your favour while wagering an amount you can lose without busting out for good, chances are good you’ll profit in the long term.
We want to hear stories of how you’ve used an element of discipline either in Poker or as part of an investment strategy, and how it’s benefitted you. As well, if you’ve suffered a loss because you failed to remain disciplined, tell us about that as well.
Tags: investing, Poker Poker Poker, Poker Strategy
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