Pokerwiner.com → Within poker principles
Average player’s thoughts:
That ten doesn’t change much. Maybe someone could have a straight draw, but it gives me some straight outs myself. Still, I’m mainly trying for a flush. I’ll call again and hope I get there.
Advanced player’s thoughts:
This pot is getting sizeable. It’s about to the point where I need to maximize my chance of winning it, and that ten really changes things. From their preflop play, there is little reason to think that either of these guys has an eight, so I’m not worried that anyone. A raise could be better , as it could give our player a better chance to win the pot by knocking out the player behind him, making it more likely that one pair could win for him.
A raise is not, however, as clearly correct as it would be had the small blind not made it three bets preflop. This is because the great threat of a reraise from the small blind means that out player will have very little chance of picking up the pot on the flop, will have to pay an extra small bet to attempt to knock out the other player, and will probably not be given the option of taking a free card on the turn.
Decisions in holdem are not always clear. Given the argument that can be made for a raise on the flop, the flop could have been the focus of this example instead of the turne. As it turns out, the decision on the turn involved very similar considerations. But certain factors were different at that point in the hand has a straight. But I can use this straight type board to apply a lot of pressure with a semi-bluff raise. The small blind might fold if he thinks I could have the straight. Also, I have three additional outs now which will probably be good if they hit. That makes the semi-bluff all the more correct. Just as important, if the guy behind me has a jack for a gut shot draw, my raise might make him fold, giving me the whole pot (instead of just half) if an eight comes on the river. Similarly, if he’s calling with overcards, and has an ace with a better kicker than mine, then if I can drive him out I’ll be more likely to win if I only hit an ace on the river. Yep, I’ll raise.
Comments:
Here is another example of thinking about elements that an average player does not consider. Pot size, the texture of the flop, reading hands (not just the board), reading the other player’s potential thoughts, and other factors inform the advanced player’s decision. The more thoroughly you can think through a poker problem without wasting time on irrelevant considerations, the more likely you are to come to the right answer. This was another hand pulled from my notes. The actual result of the hand was – I am happy to report – that I caught an ace on the river to beat the small blind ’s. The player on the button complained that I had raised him off of. So the raise did in fact win me the pot.
Maximizing the Set
Overview:
This time our player is under the gun with in a semi-tough game. He raises and is reraised by a tight, but aggressive poker player immediately behind him. Everyone else folds. The flop comes:
Average player’s thoughts:
A set. I think I’ll slowplay it till the turn. That should get me maximum profit.
Advanced player’s thoughts:
This guy would three-bet me before the flop with AA, KK, QQ or AK. That makes it a little more likely that he has one of the big pairs. I want to maximize what I make on the hand on those occasions that he does have the overpair. That’s where the real profit potential is here. If I can get him to misted my hand and give excessive action with an overpair, then I can make more than if I were to slowplay and give away my hand as soon as I pulled the trigger. His aggression should allow me to do that. I think the best play will be to bet out, hoping that he’ll put me on a hand like
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