Poker
Hi Jack,
I’ve just won a ticket for the Irish Winter Festival! I’m over the moon as it’s the biggest win I’ve ever had, but I’ve never played at a live event before and am really nervous thinking about this (even though it is months away). What are the main differences between online and live play? What can I do to adjust and get myself ready for the tournament in October?
You’re da man, Jack!
KCstoned
Letters to Doctor Jack
Hey Doc,
Recently I’ve been getting tired of playing the same No Limit Hold’em STTs and cash tables at the same old stakes that I’ve been playing for the past few years. I don’t have enough in my bank roll to move up to nose bleed stakes; what can I do to keep poker exciting for me?
I don’t want to have to go back to the way it used to be before I discovered poker, sitting in watching the TV every night with the occasional trip to the pub to play darts against the monosyllabic locals! Don’t subject me to that cruel life again.
In desperation,
j5foreva
Dear Dr Jack,
Lately I have been playing some satellites on Paddy Power Poker as I am trying to qualify for the Irish Open. Im doing ok but I still havnt got my ticket! I feel that the early parts are fine but when we are in a situation where there are 6 tickets and 10 of us left I am exiting on hands like AQ and AJ, one time I exited right on the bubble when I was 2nd chipleader and got knocked out by the chipleader when I was holding QQ!
Am I doing something wrong? Can you give me some advice on how to play satellites?
Thanks Dr Jack.
GimpMask.
PS I love reading your stuff, your awesome!
Hi Doctor Jack,
I'm in need of some help. I have been in a few tournaments on paddy power poker, but when I reach the final table the best I can get is as far as 4th or 5th.
Usually I get a mid pocket pair and shove all in, I am normally up against AK, AQ, or AJ and lose.
Should I be folding mid pocket pairs at that stage? Please help I'd just like to get 1 win under my belt.
ponche116
Dear Jack
I am a $1 - $5 nlh player but played a pl omaha tourney one night for fun and ended up winning it- pure luck cause I haven't been in the money in one since!
I have been told that nl players are not tight enough players for omaha- What sort of stratagy should I be using in omaha mtts?
Thank you in anticipation of your enlightening answer.
arf412Whats up Doc?
Ive been on ppp for a good while now, just keeping my head above water playing in $10 sit n go's and bouncing between 10c/20c and 25c / 50c cash games.
I am an aggresive player in the cash games especially at 10c / 20c but my problem is that i feel like I over bet alot. In a 10c / 20c stakes I feel that if I want to be in the hand post flop I feel like I should raise no matter what i've got, given that I have position of course.
It might aswell be me the raiser rather than someone else. I win a lot of small pots but never get big pay offs even when I actually have a monster. I try to play all my hands the same way with a 2/3 pot bet on the flop which usually pushes the others out.
Is there any way of building the pot whilst keeping the others in or am I simply playing against passive players who believe me every time i make a standard continuation bet??
Adam W
Dr j,
Thank you so much. I'm new to online poker having only played for about 2 months - so far I haven't had much luck, in fact I'd had none at all. I was just about to give it all up, that was until i came across your page.
I started reading some of the questions people sent in and your words of wisdom in reply, and before I knew it I had read every article, and I'm so glad I did. I took on board a lot that was said and since then my game has improved 10 fold. This can be judged by my now improved balance. So again I'd like to say thank you for being here and keep up the good work and to anyone else who thinks things are not going great and your just about to give it all up, then why not try doing what I did. That's read, read some more and then read some more.
As they say knowledge is the key and its the key that opens doors.
thanks doc
judguy
Hi dr.
Jack, could you please give me some advise with this funny old game. I play on 1-2 and 2-4 cash tables I've been so ulucky latetly, any time I get a pocket pair I run into a higher one. Can upi please tell me the percentage of 2 or 3 players with pocket pairs at one table. ta...xxx
spainishger
Hi Jack,
Love the help tips.
I am playing 10-20c cash tables and slowly building a bankroll. I play a tight agressive style raising premium hands and seldom limping. I don't play rag Aces unless suited and I get a cheap flop in late position.
I wonder is this a fault in my game. I see a lot of players calling raises with A-rag off and busting a player with premium hands like kk qq etc. when their A hits or they make a set with their kicker.
I dont play these hands because i never know where i am after the flop. If i hit am i up against a bigger A or is someone over playing kk qq etc. Any advise on playing weak Aces would be appreciated.
Noel
Hi Dr. jack,
Recently I played a live 60 Euro Freezeout. I got to the final table and with six players left (on the BUBBLE), the blinds were starting to get steep. At 4k/8k I had 70k while others had 35k.
The player first to act makes it three times the BB and it is folded around to me in the SB with PK 10's. The player was loose but had tightened up towards the end. I had him covered by 6k and when i asked him how much he'd left, he seemed flustered.
I moved in on him and he reluctantly called with Jacks!! Anyway, they held and I bubbled, but my question is how do you play a big pair towards the end of a tournament??
Thank you.
diablo365
Is there any point in giving me $20? Clearly not. All bankroll advice notwithstanding I flip flopped between tournament and cash table.Flopped three of a kind 7 slow play it... 9 on turn 9 on river.Out of tournament.Go to cash table have Ac 7h flop Kc 8c 3c and my opponent has no problem calling all in with AQ and not a club in sight.He wins with Q kicker to his hi card A.This has happened to me oh 16 times...you'd think it evens out but oh no...How was I called on these two occasions? Slow played the first, pushed all in the second. I can\'t win. And to reduce the stakes would result in the same...death by a thousand cuts.Is there any point in giving me $20? Again?
Ha ha...SeanDubh
Dear Doc,
I Deposit $13, win a $5 tournament and then grind away at the 0.10/ 0.20 for a few hours with $30. Im up, down, lose patience and it comes to a 50 50. I go all in with KQ for $20 before the flop when some hithero cautious so and so comes over all flippant with his x10BB and calls with 44. No K no Q same old story.
Question: is is there any point in giving me $20? This has happened to me oh 15 times, youl'd think it evens out but oh no....
Dr Jack you gotta help me!
I have been playing poker for about three months now. I was doing ok for a while, up here and down there a bit but nothing terribly startling. I tend to deposit around $20 each time.
Anyway I was playing on a 50 / $1 table and I was up to about $120 and then it all started going horribly wrong! I had K8 clubs one off from the button, two limpers. I raised to $4 and both the small blind, big blind and two limpers called.
I wasn’t too happy about it until the flop came down Kh Kd 4s! The first guy folds the second guy bets $15, I flat call and so does one other guy. So the turn comes down 2d and the original bettor bets $50!
Naturally I push allin, one guy folds and the other guy calls and turns over Ks Td. The river is the 5h and he takes my entire stack! If this wasn’t bad enough, after I reload I reraise preflop with AcTh some guy calls me with AhQs and the board comes down blank giving him the pot. What have I done to the poker Gods to deserve so much bad luck!?
You gotta help me Dr J I’m drownin here!
luckforme12
Hi Doctor,
Today I got my head handed to me at a tournament because I was playing a few middle pairs...An example: I was holding 7-7, 4 players limped, I was last to check/raise, so I tossed in $100 and everyone followed, Flop comes K-K-6, first guy bets $250, 2nd follows, 3rd fold, me annoyed!....Same situation happened as I was holding 10-10 and the flop came K-A-K.... it was one of my ugly days today.
My question is, how do you guys feel about playing 2-2 through 9-9. I was trying to trip up on the flop but I think it damaged my game today.
Thanks,
dw08
Hi Doc.
HELP! I’m getting bullied, rivered, out paired etc, etc.
I've been playing holdem for 4 months, at first playing on freerolls just learning the game, and did quite well. Usually finishing under the 200 people left mark and a number of times finishing under 10. So I tried Helsinki and Santiago’s and performed average, finishing in the top 3 and 1st on a number of times.
I then decided to open an account with another site to see how sites differ. On my first MTT I finished 8 out of 10000. From then on every game I played I got flopped; turned; rivered; slaughtered I couldn’t win a hand, even when it looked certain. I had 2 pair and got beat by trips, I had trips got beat by straight, I had straight and got beat by flush on one occasion I had straight flush and got beat by a bigger straight flush.
This went on for ages so to see if any hands would win, I called and checked through to rivers and won a couple of hands but would still get blinded or bullied out before the first break.
Feelings on tilt I started reading any and all teaching write ups on the web.
I cancelled that site thinking unfair too many bad beats, and joined Paddy Power Poker and found your help page which gives great advice.
So my problem now is I am trying to adjust with all the game play information I have read, I slow and fast play AA,AK etc, I also try and play positional, and try to use percentage / implied odds (not fully conversant) and I'm still being knocked out of tournaments in the early stages.
AM I STILL ON TILT? AM I NOW A BLUSHING PLAYER? AM I GOING THROUGH A BAD PATCH? CAN YOU ADVISE? PLEASE HELP!!!!!!
Thanks for reading and the great site.
Indefat
(John)
I am a fairly new poker player at the age of 21. I was never really that good at maths in school or ever and was just wondering is there a quick and easy way of calculating my pot odds after the flop then the turn then the river without taking all day to number crunch in my head?
I love poker but tend to lose hands from making silly calls when a simple odds calculating i think would have helped me!
Thanks Dr. Jack
GarySMurray
Dear Dr Jack,
I have been playing poker online for about 2 years now and I seem to do ok, but I have a major problem. No matter what I do I cannot seem to win with a pair of Kings as my hole cards.
Looking back at my hand history, I have won once in the last 7 hands that I have had this hand. I usually raise for about 3 times the big blind pre-flop and if an A does not show on the flop I put in a big bet or go all in depending on my stack. But the amount of times I end up getting called by Ace rag and get outdrawn is unreal! If that doesn't happen I lose to a lucky straight.
Help me Dr Jack, where am I going wrong?
felson190571
Hi Doc,
I keep getting my 'pocket rockets' busted by people calling with bad hands. I usually raise 4 times the blinds pre-flop, but find players going all in with no possible flush or straight cards out. Is there a time when you should fold AA?
Thank you,
ColinSpall
Hey Master J,
I'm a student and I play at tables for usually a dollar or maybe a mtt for 3 dollars. When playing poker at home i can read bluffs and gestures very well and this ususally puts me in 1st or 2nd position but i cant seem to crack it online... Obviously its a whole new game online and there aren't as many obvious tells however im sure there must be some... have you any suggestions on typical or obvious bluffs or easy tells? There's gotta be some! I seem to always finish 4th at a 9 handed table or in the top 20% of multitable tournaments, always outside of the money!
Thanks!
mcbaino
Hello Jack,
I was playing a cash game in Paris last week. The big blind and the small blind were the only players in the hand. I was the small blind. I completed, the big just checked and the flop landed 3 hearts, 8,6,2.
I was holding the Ah and the Qs, checked and he raised a medium bet - I went all in to push him off. He called and he was holding was a pair of 6s. I eventually lost to a pair of sixs. My question is, should i just have matched his bet or was the all in the right call?
Thank you,
Carti
I was playing a cash game in Paris last week. The big blind and the small blind were the only players in the hand. I was the small blind. I completed, the big just checked and the flop landed 3 hearts, 8,6,2.
I was holding the Ah and the Qs, checked and he raised a medium bet - I went all in to push him off. He called and he was holding was a pair of 6s. I eventually lost to a pair of sixs. My question is, should i just have matched his bet or was the all in the right call?
Thank you,
Carti
Hi Dr. Jack
After playing Texas H on-line for several months I eventually overcame my arrogance and stupidity and consulted PP's poker academy. This taught me that I'd been acting the eejit as I knew NOTHING about the game.
The articles in the academy have been helpful and I believe my playing has improved markedly over the last month. However horrible traits remain and I need to get back to basics. Can you recommend books that give a good introduction to Texas H play and statistics? (in particular the statistics as an understanding of the odds may encourage a more rational game)
cheers,
Pylos
Hi Jack,
I recently joined paddypowerpoker and finished second in a $5 dollar MTT. I have been playing poker for roughly 6 months. I prefer to play a lot of $2 and $5 dollar multi-table tourneys.
I have been getting to the first break a lot of the time but i find i have been struggling after that. I have been wondering is it because a lot of players change their stratagy after the break? I tend to play tight for the first couple off hands and watch the rags go out with their low stack, but if i get a tempting hand i always get beat, then try and play catch up with my low stack then go out. So can u help me with a stratagy for after the break so i dont go out?
Thank you,
WAMBAM123
Hi Jack
I’ve become quite good at reading bluffs by following the betting patterns of players at the table. But the other day I got caught out by a loose player who was betting every flop and turn. I knew he wasn’t always catching good cards, but every one kept folding to him.
On the hand in question, there were five of us in the hand to which I had position so was able to watch every one act before me. My stack to this point was just above average, so when my pocket Jacks flopped a set I just called bets in front of me. Three diamonds flopped, I didn’t have one. By the time we reached the river there were four diamonds and four connecting cards (9-10-Jack-Queen).
So if anyone had an 8 or King they’d have a straight or any diamond for a flush. As there was betting on every round I assumed some one must have me beat so when this loose player pushed all in from early position against stacks bigger than his it was obvious some one would call or that he wasn’t bluffing. Well every one did fold round to me.
I almost called but got timed out as I took so long thinking about it only for him to show top 2 pair and take another big pot. I’ve always laughed at Muppets who call all in bets when there is an obvious straight or flush on, but is there ever a case when you should just play the player and not the board with out the risk of being a calling station?
I’ve become quite good at reading bluffs by following the betting patterns of players at the table. But the other day I got caught out by a loose player who was betting every flop and turn. I knew he wasn’t always catching good cards, but every one kept folding to him.
On the hand in question, there were five of us in the hand to which I had position so was able to watch every one act before me. My stack to this point was just above average, so when my pocket Jacks flopped a set I just called bets in front of me. Three diamonds flopped, I didn’t have one. By the time we reached the river there were four diamonds and four connecting cards (9-10-Jack-Queen).
So if anyone had an 8 or King they’d have a straight or any diamond for a flush. As there was betting on every round I assumed some one must have me beat so when this loose player pushed all in from early position against stacks bigger than his it was obvious some one would call or that he wasn’t bluffing. Well every one did fold round to me.
I almost called but got timed out as I took so long thinking about it only for him to show top 2 pair and take another big pot. I’ve always laughed at Muppets who call all in bets when there is an obvious straight or flush on, but is there ever a case when you should just play the player and not the board with out the risk of being a calling station?
Dear Dr Jack,
I have recently begun playing two/three tables at once, either MTT, STT, cash games or a combination of all. While I have no problem playing two screens easily anymore than that is generally a problem. How do I increase my speed? I also need some help with avoiding tilt on all tables if something bad happens to me on one. Do you have any advice?
ED
I have recently begun playing two/three tables at once, either MTT, STT, cash games or a combination of all. While I have no problem playing two screens easily anymore than that is generally a problem. How do I increase my speed? I also need some help with avoiding tilt on all tables if something bad happens to me on one. Do you have any advice?
ED
Hi Jack,
I have been playing a lot of freerolls, however I last until the middle of the tournament then, because the blinds are so high I get short-stacked and have to go all in with a mediocre hand.
I normally find that when I go all in at this stage three or four other players jump in with me and so I normally lose. Are freerolls really just a crap-shoot? Do you have any advice on how to play them?
David
Hi Doc
If you are playing a aggressive player and you know he bluffs ALOT and he is betting/raising all the time. So when I get a tempting hand (queen, 9 of suit ) to play and he does his big raise I normally call and run into a brick wall of aces or pocket pairs how can I beat this chump !!!!
ha ha S.O.S SAVE.OUR.STACK
Dave
If you are playing a aggressive player and you know he bluffs ALOT and he is betting/raising all the time. So when I get a tempting hand (queen, 9 of suit ) to play and he does his big raise I normally call and run into a brick wall of aces or pocket pairs how can I beat this chump !!!!
ha ha S.O.S SAVE.OUR.STACK
Dave
Dear Dr J,
When I am playing a monster hand like AK AQ etc and I bet aggresively pr-flop but it is a ugly flop should I represent the cards or fold and save my chips?
MarcHi Dr. Jack,
I've lost count of the number of times I raise pre flop in late position with AK or AQ; get called by a player who had limped in from an early position or the big blind. The flop comes down with three low cards. If I check the turn card flops someone a pair if I bet the flop i get re-raised or called. I never seem to play it right. What do you suggest PLEASE!
Neil
Dear Dr. Jack,
Please tell me what should i do with low pocket pairs like 33,44,55? Because if i just call and don’t hit a three of a kind somebody is bound to have a higher pair, aren’t they? It's also the same story if I raise x4, although I’m narrowing the field somebody is bound to catch a higher pair than 33. Also if i go all-in I always seem to run into AA, KK, etc. But what would happen if I caught three of a kind (or even four of a kind) How should I play it? Should I put in small bets or wait for the other players to bet and then re-raise them after the river?
I got one more question, what should I do with the almighty AA, should I go all-in hoping somebody calls me or should I play slowly calling little bets at a time and pull them in slowly? But the problem with that is they may have two low cards, lets say 78 suited, they may catch a flush, straight or 2-pair,which wouldn’t happen if i go all-in as they would surely fold ,so please Jack, cure my poker blues!!!!!!!!
Thanks doc,
Plus I love the column!
Thank you
Hi, my name is Keith,
I have been playing your site for a good while now and I've made a profit overall.
I play $3 tournaments and .25/50 cash games.
I make a profit on the $3 tournaments but only play the cash games for the bonuses, (royal flush). No matter what hand I play, good or bad, I keep losing overall. Now any tips please? Lol, I know the game but playing low cash games,
I can't work out why I keep getting beaten on bad beats,
Thank you,
Keith
Hi Dr. Jack,
Last night I played in the PPP $1000 freeroll, with another 900+ player. It was a great tournament.
However, although I finished 21st, which was my best ever finish in such an event, I seemed to lose it whilst I was in the last 40 players.
My stack was highest at 125K, and a few hands later I'm going all in with my last 20K. Granted, I brought my stack back to the top again, and a 2nd time I had to go all in with my last 25K, which brought me back up yet again.
However, by final time I was beaten. I was dealt KQ, beaten by a pocket pair of 4's.
The question is this. I kinda felt myself tiring a little, my eyes not 100% focused, and the need for me to re-freshen, but I couldn't.
Have you any tips for preparation, how to keep yourself sprightly, and not fade, which is what I think happened to me? I played brilliantly at times, even bluffing 50K out of someone, but faded badly.
Help for the future please. Thanks.
Oh... and I love the column Doc!
Cheers Ray
Hi Dr Jack,
I hear people on about "Calling Stations" and "Maniacs" all the time while at the table! What’s the best way to play against these types of players and should I be taking extra risks or playing tighter??
Another question is what does "power poker" mean???
I look forward to reading your response!!
Thanks,
!rugsy!
Dear Dr Jack,
My problem is that I can never make money online. Although I win regularly in cash or sng games live in casinos or with my friends, I just cant continue my winning ways on the internet. Do you think it could be the faster speed of the game or just a lack of patience? any advice is much appreciated.
Ronan
Hi, recently I was midway into a tourny and had an above average stack. I called a raise from early position as I was on the big blind. I had King-Jack suited, spades, and flopped an open ended straight flush draw.
I checked, the original raiser, who was one of the chip leaders pushed all in everyone folded. I thought about it... Then folded as I wasn't sure how many outs I had and as there were only two of us in the hand, if I was getting the correct pot odds to call.
I didn't want to go bust on a draw. Just in case this situation occurs again what are the odds of a straight and flush draw coming off?. Everyone I've mentioned this to starts laughing and says I was crazy to fold, what is your opinion?
Jesterswild.
Hi Doc, last night in a multi table tourney I was doing very, very well. I was sitting in first overall, maybe lucky to be there. On my downfall I had 85 suited, and got 88A on the flop. I decided to semi slow play it, with a 25% pot investment. I was called and to cut a long story short, my 888's over AA's were beaten by AAA's over 88's. I kinda felt it was going to happen, but is there a philosophy of, if you think he has you beat, he has you beat? Would it have made a difference to go all in on the 888's after the flop?
Thank you.
Thank you.
Dear Dr. Jack,
Thanks for your response last week!!! Another problem i have and i need help straight away, is pocket pairs!! They're costing me chips in games where i should be playing tight!! With low pocket pairs what should i do ?? (77 and under). I mainly go all unless i hold AA or KK just to steal the blinds!! Would you recommend folding pocket 3s from and early position or just flat calling and then putting in a raise from a late position? I feel if i have 44 after just calling the big blind and the flop comes 7 J 6 that my 44 is good in an un-raised pot. What would the doc do in my position with low pockets and medium pockets (7-9)?
Cheers,
JoeCookie
Hi
I’m a bit confused lately with online poker. I play most mtt’s. I like only to play good cards and found this is good up to level four or five.
But then everything changes. The computer seems to throw out the most unbelievable cards.
So my question would be-do you think it would be better to study the players you play against every day or study the cards come out
Thank you.
Graham
I’m a bit confused lately with online poker. I play most mtt’s. I like only to play good cards and found this is good up to level four or five.
But then everything changes. The computer seems to throw out the most unbelievable cards.
So my question would be-do you think it would be better to study the players you play against every day or study the cards come out
Thank you.
Graham
Hello Dr Jack
I've been playing poker for knocking on year and do ok, but when I get in to the last two I get slaughtered! I'm quite comfortable with my game up to then. Do I need to have a totally different end game or just keep playing the same, only obviously a little more aggressive. I'm bored of coming second.
Cheers Jon
Dr. Jack,
I have now been playing for about 5 months on and off. Tried cash games but seem to lose for a good couple of days, then lose all profits of previous two days the next!! So am now playing mainly 9 seat NL Holdem single table tourneys mainly at $25 and $50 My bankroll goes up and down, but i am keeping my head just about above water. Can you please help me translate my statistics so that I can find out where the leaks are. It is probably VERY obvious to you, but I would like to use the statistics on an ongoing basis to improve: over 3673 hands, Games Won = 26%, Flops Seen = 31%, Showdowns Won = 18%, Wins if Flop = 50% Percentage of Action: Fold 41%, Check 16%, Call 17%, Bet 13%, Raise 11% and Re-Raise 2%. Percentage of Folds: PreFlop 59%, Flop 7%, Turn 3%, River 2%, No Fold 29%. What do these mean?? What are more ideal statistics to aim for?? Any help please!!!
George!
Dear Dr. Jack
I am having trouble with split pots, when it comes down to kickers. Sometimes they are split other times they are not. Is there a rule that governs this? Please help!
Regards,
James Marconi
I am having trouble with split pots, when it comes down to kickers. Sometimes they are split other times they are not. Is there a rule that governs this? Please help!
Regards,
James Marconi
Hi Dr. Jack
I'm very new to the world of poker having only been playing for about 6 months. I've read 3 books on poker now and have a good idea about positional play, knowing good/bad hands to play or fold etc. I've been playing at $1-2 limit tables (on the internet) to get used to playing regularly, so I have the confidence to move onto tables for higher stakes. However, at low limit tables positional play, strategies and all the stuff written in these books designed to improve your play seems irrelevant because most of the people I play against will raise with any cards and play with only luck on there side and not knowledge of the game. Is there a way to play against these people who think nothing of raising from a middle position with 9&4 off suit? It's annoying because I feel like I'm not learning anything from the advice I've read.
Cheers,
Mark
I'm very new to the world of poker having only been playing for about 6 months. I've read 3 books on poker now and have a good idea about positional play, knowing good/bad hands to play or fold etc. I've been playing at $1-2 limit tables (on the internet) to get used to playing regularly, so I have the confidence to move onto tables for higher stakes. However, at low limit tables positional play, strategies and all the stuff written in these books designed to improve your play seems irrelevant because most of the people I play against will raise with any cards and play with only luck on there side and not knowledge of the game. Is there a way to play against these people who think nothing of raising from a middle position with 9&4 off suit? It's annoying because I feel like I'm not learning anything from the advice I've read.
Cheers,
Mark
Dear Dr. Jack
Please help me!!!
I've just been knocked out in the bubble (i.e. 5 places paid and I finished 6th.) playing in the $20 buy in $1000 guaranteed tourney on paddypowerpoker.com Sunday 26th.
I'm gutted at how I was knocked out. I was in the big blind and short stacked and everyone was stealing my blinds for the last ten mins, and I look down at the Cowboys..wohoo... me thinks "going to double up here and probaly make the money". luckily the big stack raises and I go all in... and after what seems like an eternity he calls... he shows QTo flop; TxT turn and river are no help and i'm out. Should I have laid down the K's in this situation and hoped to make the money?
Regards,
David Kerins
Please help me!!!
I've just been knocked out in the bubble (i.e. 5 places paid and I finished 6th.) playing in the $20 buy in $1000 guaranteed tourney on paddypowerpoker.com Sunday 26th.
I'm gutted at how I was knocked out. I was in the big blind and short stacked and everyone was stealing my blinds for the last ten mins, and I look down at the Cowboys..wohoo... me thinks "going to double up here and probaly make the money". luckily the big stack raises and I go all in... and after what seems like an eternity he calls... he shows QTo flop; TxT turn and river are no help and i'm out. Should I have laid down the K's in this situation and hoped to make the money?
Regards,
David Kerins
Hi Doc,
I don't know if i'm supposed to ask you a question like this but what does 'soft' playing and 'stack dumping' mean? Are they a form of cheating?
Thanks,
Mickey
I don't know if i'm supposed to ask you a question like this but what does 'soft' playing and 'stack dumping' mean? Are they a form of cheating?
Thanks,
Mickey
Dear Dr J,
If you have say a KQ or JT either suited or off suit and on the flop you pick up three cards that make you a straight e.g. AJT or Q98. What is the best way to bet so to milk as much out of an opponent as possible?Jarade2004
Dear doctor
Lots of good players play suited say 9 & 10, 8 & 7 these never seem to work for me. What am i doing wrong and how or when should you play them
Jason
Dear Dr Jack,
On a game tonight we were debating the odds of pair of aces winning for you. Some say its 1 in 3. Surely this means you need to bet all in immediately to avoid the flop but you are not going to win much that way. How should you plat AA or KK.
Jason Shelley
On a game tonight we were debating the odds of pair of aces winning for you. Some say its 1 in 3. Surely this means you need to bet all in immediately to avoid the flop but you are not going to win much that way. How should you plat AA or KK.
Jason Shelley
Dear Dr. J
Playing a single table tournament this morning on paddypowerpoker.com. $15 buy-in and I'm in the bb with 72 off suit. Every player before me went all in so obviously I called and won hitting a 77x flop. While I'm delighted my 72 off suit held up, what I would like to know is: Do you think this was dumb luck or just a dumb play considering the outcome?
Regards,
Pog-Mahone
Alright Doc.
I played in a game last night, blinds 20 / 40. I was the big blind. First to act raised it 200 total. Four players called leaving a pot of 840, just over 5 to 1 on my 160 call. I called with Qs 9s and the flop came QQ! Needless to say I took it down, but then got called a moron by the first raiser (who held KK). i am happy with that play. can you tell me if i was right or wrong.
Thank you,
Mad Muster
I played in a game last night, blinds 20 / 40. I was the big blind. First to act raised it 200 total. Four players called leaving a pot of 840, just over 5 to 1 on my 160 call. I called with Qs 9s and the flop came QQ! Needless to say I took it down, but then got called a moron by the first raiser (who held KK). i am happy with that play. can you tell me if i was right or wrong.
Thank you,
Mad Muster
Dear Dr. Jack
I had ace 7 off suit in last position so I raised three times the big blind. I got one caller behind me and everyone else folded, which is what I wanted. The flop came jack, seven, seven so i have made trips! I check and he checks behind me. The turn is the 5 of clubs; he has 2 clubs in his hand and now there are 2 on the board. I bet 1000 which is 1/5 of my stack he raises over me another 1000; so i go all in. He calls! Club falls on the river and he has the nut flush! Should I have bet heavy on the flop even though he was lucky to hit his flush? I saw no danger on the flop as there were 3 different suits on it and no straight draw. What should I have done differently?
Regards,
Darragh Corrigan
I had ace 7 off suit in last position so I raised three times the big blind. I got one caller behind me and everyone else folded, which is what I wanted. The flop came jack, seven, seven so i have made trips! I check and he checks behind me. The turn is the 5 of clubs; he has 2 clubs in his hand and now there are 2 on the board. I bet 1000 which is 1/5 of my stack he raises over me another 1000; so i go all in. He calls! Club falls on the river and he has the nut flush! Should I have bet heavy on the flop even though he was lucky to hit his flush? I saw no danger on the flop as there were 3 different suits on it and no straight draw. What should I have done differently?
Regards,
Darragh Corrigan
Hi Dr Jack.
I have been playing now for the last 5 weeks or so. I tend to play stt's and mtt's a lot. I only play nl holdem and tend to avoid speed or turbo as I have read that a lot depends on luck. My usual buy in is about 10 euro. In the first few weeks I played without any real knowledge and was up and down a lot. I made the mistake of playing in some cash games and lost around 400 very fast and I think this was because of inexperience. I then read some strategy on the net. Basically it says; play starting hands of 1) any pair, 2)A and any suited card, 3)face cards only in late position. Then it has recommended different guidelines for calling raises etc for these hands and guidelines for playing or folding these post flop, turn and river. I have found my play to be more consistent and last night I came second in a 1000 freeroll with 350 players. I would like to continue playing NL and just wondering what book you would recommend so that I can improve my strategy. Also I often wonder if I should play suited connectors? What conditions should I play them? Any other tips very welcome.
Regards,
Patrick
I have been playing now for the last 5 weeks or so. I tend to play stt's and mtt's a lot. I only play nl holdem and tend to avoid speed or turbo as I have read that a lot depends on luck. My usual buy in is about 10 euro. In the first few weeks I played without any real knowledge and was up and down a lot. I made the mistake of playing in some cash games and lost around 400 very fast and I think this was because of inexperience. I then read some strategy on the net. Basically it says; play starting hands of 1) any pair, 2)A and any suited card, 3)face cards only in late position. Then it has recommended different guidelines for calling raises etc for these hands and guidelines for playing or folding these post flop, turn and river. I have found my play to be more consistent and last night I came second in a 1000 freeroll with 350 players. I would like to continue playing NL and just wondering what book you would recommend so that I can improve my strategy. Also I often wonder if I should play suited connectors? What conditions should I play them? Any other tips very welcome.
Regards,
Patrick
Dear doctor
Is big slick always an "all in" move? If someone comes over the top of you and u have big slick should u go all in?
Dee McGreevy
Is big slick always an "all in" move? If someone comes over the top of you and u have big slick should u go all in?
Dee McGreevy
Dear Dr. Jack
I am having trouble with split pots, when it comes down to kickers. Sometimes they are split other times they are not. Is there a rule that governs this? Please help!
Regards,
James Marconi
I am having trouble with split pots, when it comes down to kickers. Sometimes they are split other times they are not. Is there a rule that governs this? Please help!
Regards,
James Marconi
Dear Dr. Jack
Dr jack please HELP me! I've had the worst bad beats ever and its hurting my pockets!!!!! I was playing in a ring game, had the rockets, raised it 4x the blind and hit a ace on the flop. Flop was rainbow so no flush out or straight; went all in of course (trip aces). I got a caller he had q j. The turn was a 10... then I thought you know whats coming out on the river? Correct the king!! Anyway got over that, I had to. Got some more cash still on the same table and pick up the kings with my first hand! "Oh" I thought can I get my money back from them aces? To cut a long story short I raise 4x got called, went all in and the river card did me again. I took 15 min out had a cup tea and went back to the same table. I pick up jacks (wow). In the last three hands I've had aces kings and now jacks (what are the odds on that?!) I just went all in got called (he had 2 k off suit )ithought no king on the flop and this is mine! Down to the river and again BOOM CRASH a king! Now what are the odds on getting those hands and getting beat on the river all the time? I'm wounded! Did I over play them? I just feel that this game is not for me, I know how to play but it's just stupid how that happened. I feel very low at the moment and so does my bank balance PLEASE HELP ME what should i do Dr jack?
Steve
Dr jack please HELP me! I've had the worst bad beats ever and its hurting my pockets!!!!! I was playing in a ring game, had the rockets, raised it 4x the blind and hit a ace on the flop. Flop was rainbow so no flush out or straight; went all in of course (trip aces). I got a caller he had q j. The turn was a 10... then I thought you know whats coming out on the river? Correct the king!! Anyway got over that, I had to. Got some more cash still on the same table and pick up the kings with my first hand! "Oh" I thought can I get my money back from them aces? To cut a long story short I raise 4x got called, went all in and the river card did me again. I took 15 min out had a cup tea and went back to the same table. I pick up jacks (wow). In the last three hands I've had aces kings and now jacks (what are the odds on that?!) I just went all in got called (he had 2 k off suit )ithought no king on the flop and this is mine! Down to the river and again BOOM CRASH a king! Now what are the odds on getting those hands and getting beat on the river all the time? I'm wounded! Did I over play them? I just feel that this game is not for me, I know how to play but it's just stupid how that happened. I feel very low at the moment and so does my bank balance PLEASE HELP ME what should i do Dr jack?
Steve
Dear Doc,
I always come up to these situations and never know what to do! If I have say 10Q hearts and flop comes down 2 7 K, K + 7 are hearts and 1 person bet x4, next guy raises x2 and then it comes to me. I am always stuck at what to do. I just sometimes fold or call. What should I do and should I take odds into consideration?
Thanks
Hi,
My question involves hands like AK and AQ. I find that when I am in late position and there have been a lot of players limping in ahead of me that there is not much point in raising pre flop with AK. For example, most players will call my 3x bb raise simply because they have already invested a few chips, and as I am unlikely to hit the flop then most of the time I am throwing away needless chips due to too many callers. Should i raise bigger or should i simply call the blind when there are a lot of people in the pot? Also is AK good enough to call anything with pre flop, i.e. if someone moves all in pre flop are there any situations in which you wouldn't call??
Thank you
Paddy
Dear Dr. Jack,
Every time I enter a multi table tourney or a single table tourney I always worry about losing chips. When I do lose a few chips I think straight away that I have lost the game. I say to myself, "You have to get over the average chip count now or else you will end up getting caught out by the blinds". So I stupidly call all-in with a bad hand and I inevitably lose. Is there anyway you can help me to keep my nerve when I’m low on chips and the blinds are getting bigger?
Thank you
Michael
Dr Jack
My favourite hand is king five off suit. I know it's a weird one. I always seem to hit two pair with it but I was wondering how good is a high card and a low card such as these ranked? Also I always seem to call small raises with these such as double the blinds should I resist temptation and fold them?
Gareth
My favourite hand is king five off suit. I know it's a weird one. I always seem to hit two pair with it but I was wondering how good is a high card and a low card such as these ranked? Also I always seem to call small raises with these such as double the blinds should I resist temptation and fold them?
Gareth
Dr Jack
I wrote in not long ago talking about the average every day bluffer and bully. I have won three or four games now in live play but this advice I was given seemed to helped my live game while my internet game seems to be down.
I get no hands, I get small stacked and I get forced all in. Can you help me out one more time?
nice one!!!
Dave
I wrote in not long ago talking about the average every day bluffer and bully. I have won three or four games now in live play but this advice I was given seemed to helped my live game while my internet game seems to be down.
I get no hands, I get small stacked and I get forced all in. Can you help me out one more time?
nice one!!!
Dave
Hi Dr Jack,
Like lots of your readers, I find that in MTTs I was playing tight at the beginning of the tourney hoping to catch the muppets out and double up with a premium hand when called by some dross.
This would work on the very rare occasion and I would sometimes reach a final table between the $3 and $12 dollar buyins. Problem was it wasn't often enough to become a profitable player.
Two days ago I decided to try something different. At the beginning of a tourney I would still play tight but after about five or six levels dependant on my chipstack I would start to play more marginal hands like KJ in late position but only calling the pre flop raises and playing the hand from there.
Since doing this I have placed 1st, 2nd and 6th in my last 4 tourneys, only missing the money by one place in the other. Do you think this is a good strategy to go on with or is it just down to luck?
John
Dr Jack,
Is there ever a case for folding AK suited pre flop? I was playing a cash game last night and raised in mid position with this hand. The big blind reraised putting me all-in which I immediately called. He threw up the pocket rockets and the board was no help so my hard earned stack was gone in one blow. Should I have folded when I was reraised at the beginning ?
Thank you.
Gabriel