Pokerwiner.com → Within poker principles
Raising Early for Value
Overview :
A loose, not very aggressive, full poker game with several players who will call two bets cold preflop, with nearly any hand they were going to play for one bet. Some of them have been doing this in an apparent effort to chase big pots. The player is under the gun holding before the flop.
Average player’s thoughts:
Okay, this is a playable starting hand. Not good enough to raise with though. So I’ll just call.
Advanced player’s thoughts:
We’ve had lots of multiway pots. And raises don’t knock these guys out. This is a nice multiway poker hand. If I raise I may well get a bunch of callers and create an especially big pot. Then they’ll be tied onto it if I flop a good draw. It will add a little deception to my game as well, as most of these players automatically put me on big pairs or big cards when I raise in early position. I’ll raise.
Comments:
Notice that the expert is aware of and thinks about more elements than the average player. In this case it enable him to understand the situation more fully and to recognize an opportunity to which the average player was blind.
Protecting Your Hand
Overview:
Again, relatively poker loose game containing several “calling stations.” The player holds in the bigs blind. Six players limp in. The flop is:
Average player’s thoughts:
I have top pair. That means one thing. Gotta bet it.
Advanced player’s thoughts:
I have top pair but with all these players in there, and a number of possible draws my hand is extremely vulner4able. If many players stay to see the turn there’s a good chance someone will draw out on me. Perhaps a check-raise would help me knock out some of these guys and protect my hand. The later positioned players here are the more aggressive. So yes, I think I should check, and hope that it’s checked to one of those guys. Then when he bets I can raise and make it two bets to all the other players. That should knock out at least the long shot poker draws and improve my chances of winning the pot.
The Strategic Moment in Holdem / One Way Not to Fold /
Beating the Berserko: Preflop Against a Maniac /
On Into the Storm: Playing the maniac After the Flop
One Reason to Reraise a Maniac / A Simple Read / Countering a Good Reader
Thinking About What They’re Thinking / Out On the Edge
Considerations in Two Blind Stealing Defense situations
Easing the Transition to the middle Limits: Part I
Easing the Transition to the middle Limits: Part II / Multiple Changing Images