I'm a mathematical guy, and as such, I'm usually not interested in the more touchy-feely aspects of poker. I cringe when I hear someone gloat about knowing another person's hand (after they see it, of course). I hate all the post hoc psychological explanations used to explain big decisions. It probably won't surprise you to learn, then, that I don't really obsess about looking for tells. Most decent players do not have reliable tells, in general. However, there is one tell that I do think is worth discussing: the speed tell.
When someone is first to act in a betting round and checks immediately, that is a very good indicator that their mindset in the previous round was "I hope I catch something." These people will nearly always fold to a bet, especially on the flop. This comes up reasonably often for me, because I open raise preflop in late position a lot. When one of the blinds calls me and then checks the flop instantly, that's like an alarm bell telling me that a continuation bet is likely to work.
You'll occasionally see people insta-check intending to check raise, or insta-check and then call. Make a note of these players, they're unusual.
The speed tell is the only one that I've found to be reliable and pretty consistent across players. I notice it more online, but there are certainly live players guilty of it too. Watch for it especially in the "check to the raiser" types of situations. If you frequently raise preflop with non-premium hands, picking up on this tell will do wonders for your bankroll.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Limit Misperceptions
This is a list of common points of confusion in limit hold'em that beginners (and some more experienced players) tend to misunderstand or misapply:
#1: You win a LOT more money over the long run with AA/KK/QQ/AK than you realize.
You don't have to play a ton of pots to be a winning player, especially at low limit games. People tend to remember the times their aces get sucked out on, and forget the many moderate to big pots that their aces win. Assuming you play them properly, you're making plenty of money on your premiums in the long run. I promise.
#2: Suited cards are less valuable than most beginners think they are.
Bad suited cards are only worth playing occasionally in very loose/passive games (where most players see the flop and there's very little raising). Being suited is what makes you play a hand in a borderline situation. It's usually not a reason to play a hand in and of itself.
#3: A lot of low-limit players have NO IDEA what a free card play is. Use it liberally against them.
A free card play is when you bet/raise the flop in late position with a draw, planning to check the turn if it doesn't fill your draw. This allows you to hopefully see the river for a small bet rather than a big bet, and also disguises your hand nicely if you hit on the turn. This play confuses a lot of straightforward low-limit players.
I've even actually gotten flop betters to FOLD TO MY RAISE when using a free card play. Yeah, I'm not joking.
#4: Loose/passive players virtually never check-raise you on the turn with hands that will lose to top pair, top kicker.
In small to moderate pots, you must be able to lay down TPTK in these situations.
#5: Playing trash frequently and trying to outplay people post-flop is like lighting your money on fire.
Post-flop play is less complicated in limit, and even awful players are often reasonably okay at it. You are not going to win tons of money through your expert post-flop play, but you'll lose tons of money entering pots you shouldn't be in.
#6: Almost never cold-call preflop.
When someone raises in front of you pre-flop, your actions, in descending order of frequency, should be: fold, reraise, call. None of those frequencies are close to one another. Fold most of the time, reraise occasionally with a top hand, and call once in a blue moon, only for an unusual reason. The most common "unusual" reason is that you expect many players to see the flop, and your hand plays well multi-way. For example, you have 88 or JTs at a very loose table.
#7: If you have overs in a multi-way pot, you often have fewer outs than you think.
Just fold. There are situations where it's correct to keep playing, but until you're a very experienced player, it'll be a losing proposition for you.
#8: Don't slowplay.
Are you trying to trick people, or are you trying to win money? Bet/raise the hell out of your sets, straights, and flushes. The loose opponents are what make low-limit games so beatable. Why would you give up your best opportunity to exploit them?
#1: You win a LOT more money over the long run with AA/KK/QQ/AK than you realize.
You don't have to play a ton of pots to be a winning player, especially at low limit games. People tend to remember the times their aces get sucked out on, and forget the many moderate to big pots that their aces win. Assuming you play them properly, you're making plenty of money on your premiums in the long run. I promise.
#2: Suited cards are less valuable than most beginners think they are.
Bad suited cards are only worth playing occasionally in very loose/passive games (where most players see the flop and there's very little raising). Being suited is what makes you play a hand in a borderline situation. It's usually not a reason to play a hand in and of itself.
#3: A lot of low-limit players have NO IDEA what a free card play is. Use it liberally against them.
A free card play is when you bet/raise the flop in late position with a draw, planning to check the turn if it doesn't fill your draw. This allows you to hopefully see the river for a small bet rather than a big bet, and also disguises your hand nicely if you hit on the turn. This play confuses a lot of straightforward low-limit players.
I've even actually gotten flop betters to FOLD TO MY RAISE when using a free card play. Yeah, I'm not joking.
#4: Loose/passive players virtually never check-raise you on the turn with hands that will lose to top pair, top kicker.
In small to moderate pots, you must be able to lay down TPTK in these situations.
#5: Playing trash frequently and trying to outplay people post-flop is like lighting your money on fire.
Post-flop play is less complicated in limit, and even awful players are often reasonably okay at it. You are not going to win tons of money through your expert post-flop play, but you'll lose tons of money entering pots you shouldn't be in.
#6: Almost never cold-call preflop.
When someone raises in front of you pre-flop, your actions, in descending order of frequency, should be: fold, reraise, call. None of those frequencies are close to one another. Fold most of the time, reraise occasionally with a top hand, and call once in a blue moon, only for an unusual reason. The most common "unusual" reason is that you expect many players to see the flop, and your hand plays well multi-way. For example, you have 88 or JTs at a very loose table.
#7: If you have overs in a multi-way pot, you often have fewer outs than you think.
Just fold. There are situations where it's correct to keep playing, but until you're a very experienced player, it'll be a losing proposition for you.
#8: Don't slowplay.
Are you trying to trick people, or are you trying to win money? Bet/raise the hell out of your sets, straights, and flushes. The loose opponents are what make low-limit games so beatable. Why would you give up your best opportunity to exploit them?
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