Posts Tagged ‘Tips’

Playing Flush Draws in Hold’em

Posted By : CarbonPoker November 18th, 2009

7h8h suitedThe flush draw is one of the most exciting drawing hands you can get in Hold’em.  That’s because hitting a flush could potentially give you a nut hand, and allow you to take down a huge pot.  However, just because you’ve got a flush draw doesn’t mean you should play it every time.  You have to look at a number of factors first to determine if playing a flush draw is the right move for you.

Drawing Considerations

If the flop is two-suited and you’re holding a pair of the same suit then you will almost always want to draw.  The reason being is that your pot odds will be 2-1, and you will especially want to draw if you’ve got additional outs like overcards and/or a straight draw.  But there are also times when you’ll want to avoid drawing for the flush on a two-suited flop.

One of these situations is when you’re heads-up with only a flush draw to your credit.  In this case, the other player will most likely have better odds to win the hand.  Another situation is when there is a pair on the board and somebody is betting heavily.  Here someone probably has trips, and could hit a full house even if you get your flush.  One more time when you’ll want to fold your hand is if you have a small flush draw, and the flop sees a lot of action.  This scenario probably means your small flush will be beaten by a bigger one.

Playing 3-Suited Flops

Having 3 cards of the same suit on the board requires a little different strategy than having 2 suited cards.  In most cases, everyone will be a little more cautions unless they’re holding a suited ace so it’s hard to get any heavy action on the flop.  Unless your hand has additional value then you should avoid playing too aggressively on flops like this.

  • Share/Bookmark

Omaha Hands that can Trick You

Posted By : CarbonPoker November 17th, 2009

carbon omahaThose who play a lot of Omaha know that it can be a very risky game.  After all, there will be plenty of times when you’re forced to put a lot of your money into the pot without knowing if you will get a made hand or not.  Of course this is where the art of knowing which draws to chase and which ones to avoid comes into play.  And doing this becomes a lot easier when you know what Omaha hands can fool you into chasing a bad draw.

For instance, let’s say that you have a hand like 9d-7d-Js-5h and the flop hits 5d-7c-6d.  For many Omaha players, this hand would seem excellent since you’ve not only got a two-pair, but also a flush and an inside straight draw.  Unfortunately, things aren’t quite as great as they would seem for you in this situation.

To start off with, you’re holding the bottom pair which is rarely worth much in Omaha.  The reason being is that there is a good chance someone already has a better two-pair, and there is the likelihood that somebody will likely hit a set in the hand too.  Another thing to keep in mind with this hand is that you’re drawing for a low inside straight which means anybody holding 10-8 is already drawing for a better straight.

Your flush is also going to be a low draw too since somebody holding a 10 or higher is going to have a better hand as well.  In short, the main problem with this hand is that all of your outs still have you beat assuming other players are chasing the same kind of draws.  Now you can definitely play hands like this at the table, but make sure you don’t put too much money in the middle when doing so.

  • Share/Bookmark

Going All-in with the Short Stack

Posted By : CarbonPoker November 6th, 2009

stack-of-chipsIf you have the biggest stack and are in command of a table, it’s very easy to be aggressive with big bets and raises.  After all, you’re in no real danger of being pushed out of the tournament, and you have the chips to bully other people on the table.

However, things are quite different when you are the short stack and have to fight for your tournament life.  In fact, you’ll have to go all-in at some point (or multiple points) just to get back to a decent chip stack.  Here are a couple things you should look at before deciding whether or not to go all-in with the short stack.

Hand Quality

This is one of the most obvious things you should think about before going all-in.  If you’ve got Q-Q or better pre-flop then you absolutely have to start thinking about shoving.  Even a hand like 9-9 or a drawing hand like Q-J might warrant going all-in if you’re really short stacked.  Of course, good hands don’t always fall to us when we’re short stacked so there is another thing you should definitely look at.

Required Odds

One more thing you need to be aware of before making the decision to go all-in is what your required odds are.  Basically required odds are really good odds that require you to go all-in when sitting on the short stack.  If you believe that you’re getting 2-to-1 odds on any hand then you should be shoving.

For instance, even if you think your opponent has A-K and you only have 10-9 then you should still be shoving since this hand will beat A-K almost 40% of the time.  When you put your opponents on this kind of range and get 2-to-1 odds or better then you need to be going all-in.

  • Share/Bookmark

Playing with a Poker Partner

Posted By : CarbonPoker November 4th, 2009

home gameWhen we hear of the concept of playing poker with a partner, the word cheating immediately comes to mind.  That’s because some people who play with a partner engage in the practice of colluding.  But the truth is that you can have a partner in poker without cheating; you just have to know all of the details of playing with a partner first.

Reasoning

In poker there are plenty of ups and downs and this can put a major strain on one’s bankroll.  Fortunately, this problem can be combated by aligning with a financial partner.  Using a partner in poker allows two players to pull their resources together in tournaments or cash games and share the spoils of victory afterwards.  Plus it can be pretty fun as well as motivating having a poker partner too.

Pros and Cons

There are definitely positives and negatives to playing with a poker partner.  One big positive is that you will have somebody to keep you motivated and to share a bankroll with.  This is a big advantage when you are experiencing those days when you just don’t wanna play poker or are having trouble funding your bankroll.  Another advantage is that you will have a fellow poker buddy to hang out with which is great from a social aspect.

The biggest con to playing with a partner is the money issues that arise from any normal partnership.  Whether it’s the fact that your partner isn’t good with money or a dispute about how the cash should be spent, it is never easy sharing a bankroll with another player.  Another big problem with partnerships is that two players may have a difficult time agreeing on how long to play each week.  Some players like to keep a light poker schedule while others want to grind all of the time.

Colluding

If you have a poker partner then it can be all too tempting to want to cheat.  When somebody cheats with a poker partner, this is commonly referred to as colluding in the poker world.  While some players may get away with colluding for a short while, most of them eventually get caught.

And when you’re caught colluding there can be major repercussions such as having your account banned, money taken away from your account, and possibly the shame of having everyone know you cheated if you’re a big name.  The most common type of colluding involves players sharing hand information with each other in order to gain an unfair advantage.  It goes without saying that you should avoid colluding at all costs!

  • Share/Bookmark

Cashing in on Big Hands

Posted By : CarbonPoker November 3rd, 2009

acesThere are few better feelings in poker than when you look down at your hole cards and see an awesome pair.  It’s an even better feeling when the board helps you land a monster hand later on.  But just because you have a great hand does not ensure that you will get the maximum amount of money you should have from that hand.  So it’s very important to take advantage of the really good hands that you do get.  Here is a look at different ways you can make big profits from your great hands.

Betting Every Time

The simplest way to capitalize on a big hand is to bet every time the action comes around to you.  This means laying down a wager on the flop, the turn, and the river which can be tough to pull off if players can put you on a monster hand.  However, this way can work if you’ve got a loose table image and other players think you’re likely to bluff.

Overbetting

Another good way to maximize profits on an excellent hand is to overbet.  Overbetting involves betting far more than the pot which can lure players into the trap of thinking that you’re betting big because you are bluffing.  Overbets are especially effective when other players are left guessing as to what you’re large bets mean.  The only problem with overbetting is that it may scare tight players away from making the call.

Check-Raise

The obvious advantage to a check-raise is that it allows you to have two bets in a single round rather than just one.  But while check-raising may be very advantageous from a chips standpoint, the big drawback is that you can lose a whole round of betting if an opponent decides to simply check as well.  All three of the aforementioned methods are great ways to build a big pot….it’s just up to you as to which situation calls for which method.

  • Share/Bookmark

Betting Odds: Who Will Win the November Nine?

Posted By : Comb Over-Under November 2nd, 2009

wsop chipsWith the November Nine FINALLY coming up soon, we’re ready to go with more coverage, news and whatnot. It seemed like it was so far away, and now it’s almost here. It’s like Christmas… gambling Christmas.

If you didn’t make the final table, and I’m assuming you didn’t, there’s no need to feel left out.

You can still make cash on the final table with a little bit of online wagering. Put your money where your picks are and look at the futures list for the winner of the 2009 WSOP Main Event.

These are futures wagers, where you’re picking the winner. It’s not a horse race, so you can’t just bet to show. Pick the first place horse poker player.

Got a pick? Hit the comments to let me know.

WSOP 1st Place Finish**:

  • Darvin Moon +200
  • Eric Buchman +300
  • Steven Begleiter +500
  • Jeff Shulman +500
  • Joe Cada +900
  • Phil Ivey +325
  • Kevin Schaffel +900
  • Antonie Saout +1200
  • James Akenhead +1200

It looks like a lot of the public money is pouring in on Ivey, so that’s why the profitability is so low on a guy that’s 7th in chips. Sure he’s good, but his name is even better.

When looking at value, I like Shulman at +500. His family’s been hot lately, and this could be a winning wager. But what do I know?

** For those of you who don’t know, this is how the wagering works: Think of these numbers as being based on $100 Wagers. For example, if you bet $100 on Joe Cada to win, you’d win $900; $100 on Ivey to win it all, $325 in winnings.

  • Share/Bookmark

Differences in playing Omaha Hi-Lo and Omaha

Posted By : CarbonPoker November 1st, 2009

Players have long heard that it can be very profitable to switch from the more popular Texas Hold’em to playing Omaha.  But just making the simple decision of going from one poker variation to another can be difficult enough.  There is a lot of studying, practice, and patience that is required to make a successful transition.  When you add the fact that Omaha also has two very popular variations in Omaha Hi-Lo and regular Omaha then the switch becomes even tougher.  Here is a quick look at how the two games differ so you can make the transition a little easier.

Getting Quartered

Much like Hold’em, Omaha gives the full pot to the player with the best hand.  Omaha Hi-Lo, on the other hand, gives half of the pot to the best qualifying low hand if there is one.  And one thing about qualifying low hands is that players can often tie for the best one which means they’ll split a quarter of the pot (both players usually hold A-2).  For this reason, you can’t get overly excited when holding the low nut hand because you could actually lose money if you over bet and get quartered.

Starting Hands

When playing Omaha, you’ll find the best hands will be the ones that give you the best possible shot at the nut like A-A-K-K.  In Hi-Lo, you want to get both a hand that is capable of taking the high hand and one that is capable of taking the low hand.  With this being the case, you’ll be hoping to get A-A-2-3 or close to it as far as starting hands go.  So it is in your best interests not to bet too heavily with a hand like A-A-3-10 because the 10 puts you in no man’s land for a high hand.  Obviously this can still be a good hand for half the pot, but just be careful.

Bluffing

Naked bluffing in Omaha is something that can be pulled off sometimes in the later streets of a hand.  However, your luck won’t be quite the same in Omaha Hi-Lo since many players will call you if it goes down to the river.  The reason is that they’ll think they can still get the low hand and this is worth a call to them.  In short, you will almost always be called on the river if somebody thinks you’re bluffing.

  • Share/Bookmark

Switching up your No-Limit Style For Success

Posted By : CarbonPoker October 29th, 2009

pocket_foursNo poker game involves reading opponents as much as No-Limit Hold’em does.  In fact, pretty much every successful No-Limit player is excellent at being able to read their opponents and make the necessary adjustments to keep pace with the table.  And keeping pace with everyone else is imperative if you are going to be unpredictable on the felt.  Here are some tips for how you can switch up your playing style in order to keep the other players guessing.

Avoid Constant Aggression

Most successful No-Limit Hold’em players employ pretty aggressive style of play.  But the problem with some aggressive players is that they maintain this aggression throughout every playing session and never switch their play up.

When this happens, there are some players who will catch on and call anything just to resist these aggressive charges.  So you’ve got to be able to perceive when others are willing to push you to the showdown and switch up your play.

Switching your Play

When you think the table is ready to call all of your semi-bluffs and second-rate hands then you’ll want to switch to a tighter playing style.  This means only playing your strong hands because it will catch a lot of other players in traps.  They’ll think you’re still playing overly aggressive and will try to challenge you which will only allow you to make even more money off of them.

Stay ahead of the Game

You can only fool other players so long with the tight play before they’ll catch on to that as well.  So in order to stay ahead of the curve, you’ll eventually have to switch back again to playing more aggressive.  Making these switches is all about noticing how the table perceives you at any given moment and changing your game accordingly.

  • Share/Bookmark

Shorthanded Limit Hold’em Strategy

Posted By : CarbonPoker October 28th, 2009

kings pocketThe majority of people who start playing poker begin with full table games.  After all, there are more full table games offered by online rooms and live venues so it’s only natural that most people would get their start here.

However, some players come to learn that their game is better suited for shorthanded poker and so they start playing at the 6-max tables (6 players or less).  And when you decide to make this switch, you had better be prepared to employ a different strategy.

The first thing you need to do in shorthanded games is be willing to open up your starting hand requirements.  The reason for this is because the blinds come around a lot quicker in 6-max games so you can’t afford to sit back and wait for the good cards to come.  If you’re used to only playing A-10 or better in middle position then you might have to include A-8 or better in order to be more aggressive.

Another important thing to do in shorthanded games is defend your blinds more often.  For example, if you were in a full table game and got raised while holding K-J in the big blind then you might fold here.  However, if you’re in a 6-max game then you’ve got to realize that others will try to steal blinds and be overly aggressive so calling could be a good option.

One other good tip to keep in mind when playing at 6-max tables is to play more aggressively in early position.  Most people will fold anything that isn’t close to a premium hand here since there are usually 8 or 9 players at the table.  However, shorthanded games feature fewer players on the felt so you have the freedom to play more aggressively from this spot.

  • Share/Bookmark

Restealing Blinds

Posted By : CarbonPoker October 26th, 2009

Chips ahead behindThere are few things poker players love more than stealing blinds from everyone else at the table.  Sure this move may not always provide a whole lot of chips, but it does give one the boost of confidence that comes from practically bluffing the entire table.  But simply stealing the blinds isn’t near as fun as restealing them from the initial person who was trying to pull one over on everybody.

Most of the time people try to steal blinds through the use of a raise.  So if you can resteal blinds then you’ll not only get the blinds, but your opponent’s raise as well.  This is obviously better than only stealing the blinds though it’s a little tougher to pull off.  However, restealing can be made easier if you pay attention to certain things.

One situation you definitely want to watch for when attempting a resteal is when a good player in late position is trying to steal.  Now most people would think that it’d be easier to resteal from a bad player, but it’s actually the opposite.  Good players are willing to cut their losses when reraised – even in late position – while bad players will often try and protect their raise by calling.  In short, it’s easier to resteal from solid players.

Another great chance for restealing arises when you’ve got a decent drawing hand to do it with.  Obviously reraising pre-flop with K-K isn’t actually restealing….it’s just making a good play.  On the other hand, trying to resteal with something like 9-4 doesn’t leave you any backup plan if your re-raise is called.  So at least have a drawing hand like 8-9 or better if you’re going to try this move.

One more thing you should look for with resteals is how you’ve been playing.  If you have already attempted a resteal 3 times, then other players are going to catch on to what you’re doing.  But if you haven’t tried the resteal all day, then it could provide a great opportunity for you to do so.  Keep all of these factors in mind when performing resteals.

  • Share/Bookmark