I have recently held another poker evening in London's financial district. A thoroughily enjoyable night observing work acquaintances doing battle as pride was up for grabs as well as winning the whole event... The one thing that becomes more and more apparent is that nobody wishes to be bluffed in a game of Texas Holdem no limit poker. I would presume it is a sense of pride and the thought of losing to one that is far inferior to yours is simply too much of an embarrassment to endure.
Whilst poker is a game played for huge amounts of cash around the world, it is also a fantastic social game. And whilst I am biased I believe it is a winner for team bonding as it is an unpredictable, but fun game. The basics are easy to learn and everyone feels part of the experience...
Teaching experienced players is easy, but I love the challenge of helping the beginner. My goodness the game looks complicated when you are not familiar with the order of the hands and how a hand is played out and what is a good betsize. The best way to learn is to play.
Poker has also been used as an icebreaker for dating events. I can see the merits of that, but I don't think it draws comparison to a works night out. Poker is the perfect night and provides a different form of entertainment from your generic quizzes and drink-ups.
It does challenge your mind, but more importantly it brings people together. A real fun way to spend an evening and to lift morale.
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
DECISION-MAKING IN TEXAS HOLDEM
"If you are always having to answer a question in a poker hand, then you need to redefine your game. Calling a bet solves very little. Try to minimise this play, unless you are adopting pot control or getting the right price to hit your hand. However, in the long run calling does not pay. Raising and folding does. Confused? Maybe, you are now, but adopt this stance and your game will eventually improve. I absolutely guarantee it.
In business there is always a certain amount of risk-taking. A calculated risk. It is not about cutting corners, it is about reading a market or a situation and then making a qualified and structured decision. Poker follows the same approach. You always have three decisions. You can fold, you can call, or you can raise. And the biggest faux-pas that all beginners make is to call on a regular basis. It is understandable and so often the safest way to defend a hand, or to stay in just on the off chance that you may make a straight or a flush. However, calling a bet and hoping that you might be ahead is to be avoided at all costs.
We can talk about executing a bluff and the reasons behind this, but before you can develop that string to your bow, purposely think about what you are trying to achieve. When you fold, it is because you have nothing of any significance, or you have a bad feeling about the hand, but you at least conserve chips.
When you call a bet from an opponent, but you are unclear whether your hand is good, then that is not being pragmatic. There is a distinct likelihood that you will be losing the hand. Think about this response. You are not testing the opponent, because you simply match the bet. It simply shows the state of your mind which can be read as conservative and safe. This is an approach we often adopt in life. It requires the least amount of thinking.
So, what about the raise. Whether you have a strong hand or not, the raise is the flexing of the muscles and throws the question straight back at the opponent. It is the strongest form of defence. And the strongest form of defence is to attack!
My ideas and thoughts on poker strategy would take an eternity to explain on here, but try following the simple step of not calling too much. Trust me, it works."
In business there is always a certain amount of risk-taking. A calculated risk. It is not about cutting corners, it is about reading a market or a situation and then making a qualified and structured decision. Poker follows the same approach. You always have three decisions. You can fold, you can call, or you can raise. And the biggest faux-pas that all beginners make is to call on a regular basis. It is understandable and so often the safest way to defend a hand, or to stay in just on the off chance that you may make a straight or a flush. However, calling a bet and hoping that you might be ahead is to be avoided at all costs.
We can talk about executing a bluff and the reasons behind this, but before you can develop that string to your bow, purposely think about what you are trying to achieve. When you fold, it is because you have nothing of any significance, or you have a bad feeling about the hand, but you at least conserve chips.
When you call a bet from an opponent, but you are unclear whether your hand is good, then that is not being pragmatic. There is a distinct likelihood that you will be losing the hand. Think about this response. You are not testing the opponent, because you simply match the bet. It simply shows the state of your mind which can be read as conservative and safe. This is an approach we often adopt in life. It requires the least amount of thinking.
So, what about the raise. Whether you have a strong hand or not, the raise is the flexing of the muscles and throws the question straight back at the opponent. It is the strongest form of defence. And the strongest form of defence is to attack!
My ideas and thoughts on poker strategy would take an eternity to explain on here, but try following the simple step of not calling too much. Trust me, it works."
Sunday, 10 January 2010
Concentration is the key
Well, I hope you have all enjoyed the festivities and have seen the new year in resplendent fashion...
As I write this blog I have just flicked the television to be confronted by the utterly pointless Celebrity Big Brother. From the so called dulcet tones of Sisqo, to Ronnie Wood's ex Katia, now titled as a celebrity following her quickfire romance with the Stones' guitarist and then to a man from Sweden (who is favourite to win the show somehow) Jonas AKA Basshunter, who has today boasted that back in his teenage years of masturbating up to twenty-five times in one day! Wow! This is an education that will no doubt grip a nation. Alex Reid (famous for being Jordan's lover) has been told that he could be the next James Bond by the extremely religious actor Stephen. He is offering words of inspiration and it is incapsulating. Actress Stephanie Beacham is also present in the house. This talented performer has covered a wide range of television, film and theatrical roles. She says that she has had a very exciting life with many tales to tell. Hmm.
Then she says she is in the process of doing her autobiography. Wonder why she is on the show? I'm losing the will to write... sorry, I should be writing about poker - well, I have been distracted and sometimes this is a habit that can make you lose badly in the fierce world of online poker. So, the above was an example of me losing that insight and discipline needed at the poker table. Let me go on....
A couple of multi table tournaments have flown by due to lack of concentration. This is something that plighted me during my high school years, but be aware of one thing with me. I can sit and play poker for hours and maintain the very highest level of discipline and concentration. So much so that it could rival the illusionist and magician David Blaine. Suddenly sitting in a box mid-air by Waterloo's London eye seems easy... well, maybe not and i'm not quite that mad YET.
Sadly, though I had the television on and had the phone by my ear whilst chomping on some fruit and was running in and out of the kitchen making tea. This is not advised once you are close to getting paid. Infact, it is utterly senseless what I did. I came back and re-raised the biggest rock (tightest player) at the table with nothing. By doing this I had made myself pot-committed too. He instantly re-raised me all in pre-flop and I had to call with jack high. The other player had pocket kings. I didn't improve and bowed out just before the bubble (last place not to get paid!) . It was a senseless move from me and one that I regretted by having a stern word with myself whilst looking into the bathroom mirror. When you play for a long time without reward due to a moment of madness, well it is unforgiveable from a poker perspective. You may as well be the first out. At least it saves you a few hours!
I then played another tournament and slow played a pair of jacks. What i mean is that on the flop it came up two of clubs, five of clubs and a jack of diamonds. I had a set of jacks. However, I kept two opponents interested and made my bet sizes too small and then a club hit on the turn. So, now I am losing to a flush full of clubs. I knew this, but still called an all-in on the river (where I didn't improve) and therefore left the tournament. It was poor play from me and it sums up my start to 2010. I seem incapable of putting down any decent hands even though I know I must be behind. Am I worried about this trait? Well, yes, but everyone has blips and makes poor decisions from time to time. No-one can play flawless all the time. Not even the greats like Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu and recent UK sensation James Akenhead. The lesson is to take a step back and analyse how you can improve, but you must accept that in some cases you can just be
plain unlucky. It all happens to all of us. And in many other instances we can get lucky too. However, never give your opponents the correct odds to make their hand.
I love the game of texas holdem no limit for it's unpredictable nature and no two players are ever the same. Some play from the textbook and raise only with premium hands. Others simply raise from position regardless of the cards. And some play the opponent by studying the way they play at a table. Of course you need to harness all of these skills whether you play live or online...
However, just follow one basic instruction. Don't get too easily distracted and concentrate!!!
As I write this blog I have just flicked the television to be confronted by the utterly pointless Celebrity Big Brother. From the so called dulcet tones of Sisqo, to Ronnie Wood's ex Katia, now titled as a celebrity following her quickfire romance with the Stones' guitarist and then to a man from Sweden (who is favourite to win the show somehow) Jonas AKA Basshunter, who has today boasted that back in his teenage years of masturbating up to twenty-five times in one day! Wow! This is an education that will no doubt grip a nation. Alex Reid (famous for being Jordan's lover) has been told that he could be the next James Bond by the extremely religious actor Stephen. He is offering words of inspiration and it is incapsulating. Actress Stephanie Beacham is also present in the house. This talented performer has covered a wide range of television, film and theatrical roles. She says that she has had a very exciting life with many tales to tell. Hmm.
Then she says she is in the process of doing her autobiography. Wonder why she is on the show? I'm losing the will to write... sorry, I should be writing about poker - well, I have been distracted and sometimes this is a habit that can make you lose badly in the fierce world of online poker. So, the above was an example of me losing that insight and discipline needed at the poker table. Let me go on....
A couple of multi table tournaments have flown by due to lack of concentration. This is something that plighted me during my high school years, but be aware of one thing with me. I can sit and play poker for hours and maintain the very highest level of discipline and concentration. So much so that it could rival the illusionist and magician David Blaine. Suddenly sitting in a box mid-air by Waterloo's London eye seems easy... well, maybe not and i'm not quite that mad YET.
Sadly, though I had the television on and had the phone by my ear whilst chomping on some fruit and was running in and out of the kitchen making tea. This is not advised once you are close to getting paid. Infact, it is utterly senseless what I did. I came back and re-raised the biggest rock (tightest player) at the table with nothing. By doing this I had made myself pot-committed too. He instantly re-raised me all in pre-flop and I had to call with jack high. The other player had pocket kings. I didn't improve and bowed out just before the bubble (last place not to get paid!) . It was a senseless move from me and one that I regretted by having a stern word with myself whilst looking into the bathroom mirror. When you play for a long time without reward due to a moment of madness, well it is unforgiveable from a poker perspective. You may as well be the first out. At least it saves you a few hours!
I then played another tournament and slow played a pair of jacks. What i mean is that on the flop it came up two of clubs, five of clubs and a jack of diamonds. I had a set of jacks. However, I kept two opponents interested and made my bet sizes too small and then a club hit on the turn. So, now I am losing to a flush full of clubs. I knew this, but still called an all-in on the river (where I didn't improve) and therefore left the tournament. It was poor play from me and it sums up my start to 2010. I seem incapable of putting down any decent hands even though I know I must be behind. Am I worried about this trait? Well, yes, but everyone has blips and makes poor decisions from time to time. No-one can play flawless all the time. Not even the greats like Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu and recent UK sensation James Akenhead. The lesson is to take a step back and analyse how you can improve, but you must accept that in some cases you can just be
plain unlucky. It all happens to all of us. And in many other instances we can get lucky too. However, never give your opponents the correct odds to make their hand.
I love the game of texas holdem no limit for it's unpredictable nature and no two players are ever the same. Some play from the textbook and raise only with premium hands. Others simply raise from position regardless of the cards. And some play the opponent by studying the way they play at a table. Of course you need to harness all of these skills whether you play live or online...
However, just follow one basic instruction. Don't get too easily distracted and concentrate!!!
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
The Hold 'em Blues
On writing this I have just lost heads up in an online sit and go poker game. I had the other player outchipped at the time and I was sitting with pocket kings on the big blind. Nice i hear you say. The second best hand pre-flop in No Limit Texas Holdem and I was praying for a raise. The opponent didn't disappoint and he raised my big blind with two thirds of his stack remaining.
Now, he had already twice sucked out on me with an inferior hand when we moved all the chips in, so I was certainly not going to slow play. I re-raised him and pushed my chips in and he obligingly called. To be fair he revealed a pair of jacks, but my delight was obvious as i had a marginal chip lead and I knew that four times out of five my kings would stand up and win the game. The flop produced ace seven seven.
All good so far. The turn card then revealed a jack and suddenly i was in disarray. From being an overwhelming favourite I had suddenly found myself in prayer for one of the two remaining kings on the river. I now held less than a five percent chance to win (a one in twenty chance) and I was on the floor. The river brought about a ten and I had just a chip and a chair left. Two more hands later he won and I pocketed the runners up position which brought about a small profit.
I have a very patient approach to poker and I do not tilt easily, but three times I had my chips in comprehensively ahead and he got lucky. Sour grapes... maybe a little, but the golden rule of poker was applied. I always got my chips in ahead and that is one of the fundimentals of the no limit game and as hard as it is to take you must adopt a long term stance. The kings would have beaten the jacks eighty percent of the time. The stats don't lie, but in a way that is the beauty of this game. Anyone can do well with lady luck, but apply those additional skills and patience to your game and the poker world could be your oyster.
Now, he had already twice sucked out on me with an inferior hand when we moved all the chips in, so I was certainly not going to slow play. I re-raised him and pushed my chips in and he obligingly called. To be fair he revealed a pair of jacks, but my delight was obvious as i had a marginal chip lead and I knew that four times out of five my kings would stand up and win the game. The flop produced ace seven seven.
All good so far. The turn card then revealed a jack and suddenly i was in disarray. From being an overwhelming favourite I had suddenly found myself in prayer for one of the two remaining kings on the river. I now held less than a five percent chance to win (a one in twenty chance) and I was on the floor. The river brought about a ten and I had just a chip and a chair left. Two more hands later he won and I pocketed the runners up position which brought about a small profit.
I have a very patient approach to poker and I do not tilt easily, but three times I had my chips in comprehensively ahead and he got lucky. Sour grapes... maybe a little, but the golden rule of poker was applied. I always got my chips in ahead and that is one of the fundimentals of the no limit game and as hard as it is to take you must adopt a long term stance. The kings would have beaten the jacks eighty percent of the time. The stats don't lie, but in a way that is the beauty of this game. Anyone can do well with lady luck, but apply those additional skills and patience to your game and the poker world could be your oyster.
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