01 July 2010
Set mining
Dear Tom,
In a cash game I will seldom throw away a pocket pair to a single raise because set-mining so often gets all the chips, but should I be paying more attention to implied odds? What are the conditions to make set-mining profitable and when is it unprofitable in the long run?
Leo, London
You are absolved my son! by Paul Jackson
As I have said before, and no doubt will say again, it is an unfortunate trait of many card room supervisors that they seek to control players, often at the expense of fair and equitable decisions. Also, they will do everything humanly possible to absolve themselves of any blame or responsibility for any controversial occurrence during a tournament.
11 June 2010
I’d rather be lucky than good, part II
By the time you read this, the WSOP 2010 will have started. Thousands of players will have flown in to Las Vegas from all continents in an attempt to immortalise themselves in the poker world. Around 50 of them will leave with a 2010 WSOP bracelet on their wrists. How many arrive thinking they will leave with one?
01 June 2010
By the Book
Dear Dr Tom,
I recently played a guy in a NL Hold'em tourney and we both made it to the final table. My opponent was playing strictly “by the numbers” poker, calculating his pot odds and EV on every hand he played. Although he did well, eventually another player took him down by over-betting at every opportunity. How best do I take advantage of a player knowing he is playing tight and by the book?
Harry,
Elstree
Your Call by Paul Jackson
It’s the UKIPT Coventry. Blinds are 100/200. I have a stack of about 20,000. I am in the big blind with J-9 off suit. A player limps under the gun and it is folded round to the small blind, who makes it up, and I check.
10 May 2010
Cash or tournaments?
Dear Tom,
My friends and I like to play some poker occasionally, which works out nicely for me because none of them can really play. However, we only ever really play tournaments and I'd like to do a cash game. How can I convince them otherwise?
Philippe, London
Deeper Stacks, Shallower Pockets
For the vast majority of poker players, going to Vegas to play in the World Series of Poker is unrealistic. Sure, Harrah’s may have dropped the price of the smallest buy-in to $1,000 last year, but when you’re a pub player, used to spending a tenner a night on poker, that’s a little out of your price range.
Grinding for Value Online
By Paul Zimbler
You'll be amazed how many players are playing online at the wrong levels for either their skill level or their bankroll. You’ll see a lot of players at $2-5 and $5-10 who are simply giving it a shot. What does this mean? Well, I’ll tell you…
01 April 2010
Structural Dynamics
Over the past few years, live tournament structures have definitely got better. However, it’s not always obvious what the benefits are.
Tournaments can seriously damage your wealth by Paul Jackson
As a recreational pursuit, tournament poker is a great option. For the professional player; however, only a deluded mug would see tournament play as a primary source income, using their own money at least.