By Andy Bloch
I write tunic while I play several tournaments at the World Series of Poker * at the Grand Hotel and Casino. A few days ago, I played in the tournament for $2,000 buy-in No-Limit hold ' em and I saw some of my opponents make really weird games. For this article, I decided to introduce some that you do to make the same mistakes as they.
The turn brought a 9, giving me a pair. He checked and I made a small bet that it calla. The river gave a King giving me two pairs. After my opponent has checke the River, I tell myself that I have the best hand. I am therefore a substantial bet after which my opponent surprises me in reviving me a strong sum. I was almost certain now to be against a set or a hand like QJ which gave a straight, but I still made the call in a desperate way.
He showed me AA and I won a big pot.
When he me check - raisa, he neglected to ask a crucial question: what hand I beat will me caller? Its check - raise on the river shows much strength, so I would never calle with just a pair, regardless of the pair. On the River, he had really no idea what I could have. I could have have QJ or any 2 pairs. If I had the straight, he would have seen me restart it a very large amount, amount that could not have caller without making mistakes.
In this kind of situation, the best option for him would have been check-caller River. His pair could have not held the shot and it is better to have a showdown not too expensive.
I see often players make this mistake on the river. He bets or raises with a hand that he suspects the best including marginal hands like second pair. But their big mistake is not to consider their opponent's hand. When you hold a marginal hand, you should ask yourself two questions: I have the best hand? And if so, what is my opponent has a hand with which he goes caller a raise? If you are unable to answer 'yes' to these 2 questions, you should checker the River to have a showdown.
This game makes no sense because this story is not consistent. A check - raise on the flop would have been reasonable my opponent would represent a big hand, something like AAA. A check raise on the turn would makes sense also. In this case, it probably would have something very solid, like a full house.
My opponent had here A-7 (this is what he told me), and building, it forced me to sleep. This was not really bright. If there checke, I maybe could try to bluff it (unsuccessfully of course).
In my case, I do not believe that it would have been a good idea to check-caller the flop then betting the turn (assume a brick). The so game will mix your opponent, but you will not make any more money this way. Your bet on the flop and the turn should always be in relationship one with another to make your 'history' meaning.
If you think carefully about your bets on the flop and the turn, you will pick up more chips in the end and you will improve your game. You will get a maximum value at the turn and this will avoid drown you on the river.
I see you at the next tournament.
I write tunic while I play several tournaments at the World Series of Poker * at the Grand Hotel and Casino. A few days ago, I played in the tournament for $2,000 buy-in No-Limit hold ' em and I saw some of my opponents make really weird games. For this article, I decided to introduce some that you do to make the same mistakes as they.A curious raise on the river
At halfway through the tournament, I get K - 9 position CO (cutoff, seat right of the button). I raise to put pressure on the blinds and I am called by the big blind. The flop falls T-5-2 Rainbow, which is no help to me. My opponent check and I check also.The turn brought a 9, giving me a pair. He checked and I made a small bet that it calla. The river gave a King giving me two pairs. After my opponent has checke the River, I tell myself that I have the best hand. I am therefore a substantial bet after which my opponent surprises me in reviving me a strong sum. I was almost certain now to be against a set or a hand like QJ which gave a straight, but I still made the call in a desperate way.
He showed me AA and I won a big pot.
What my opponent would have done?
For starters, he should have raise me pre-flop even if caller was still reasonable. Also, he should take the lead by betting the flop and the turn for not giving free card. However, his big mistake is on the river.When he me check - raisa, he neglected to ask a crucial question: what hand I beat will me caller? Its check - raise on the river shows much strength, so I would never calle with just a pair, regardless of the pair. On the River, he had really no idea what I could have. I could have have QJ or any 2 pairs. If I had the straight, he would have seen me restart it a very large amount, amount that could not have caller without making mistakes.
In this kind of situation, the best option for him would have been check-caller River. His pair could have not held the shot and it is better to have a showdown not too expensive.
I see often players make this mistake on the river. He bets or raises with a hand that he suspects the best including marginal hands like second pair. But their big mistake is not to consider their opponent's hand. When you hold a marginal hand, you should ask yourself two questions: I have the best hand? And if so, what is my opponent has a hand with which he goes caller a raise? If you are unable to answer 'yes' to these 2 questions, you should checker the River to have a showdown.
Trouble on the turn
Later in the tournament, I raise pre-flop in last position with K6 and the big blind me call. The flop falls Ac - As - 7s. I do not have the ACE, but I update anyway after my opponent has checke. After his call, a 6 h falls on the turn and my opponent bet big.This game makes no sense because this story is not consistent. A check - raise on the flop would have been reasonable my opponent would represent a big hand, something like AAA. A check raise on the turn would makes sense also. In this case, it probably would have something very solid, like a full house.
My opponent had here A-7 (this is what he told me), and building, it forced me to sleep. This was not really bright. If there checke, I maybe could try to bluff it (unsuccessfully of course).
In my case, I do not believe that it would have been a good idea to check-caller the flop then betting the turn (assume a brick). The so game will mix your opponent, but you will not make any more money this way. Your bet on the flop and the turn should always be in relationship one with another to make your 'history' meaning.
If you think carefully about your bets on the flop and the turn, you will pick up more chips in the end and you will improve your game. You will get a maximum value at the turn and this will avoid drown you on the river.
I see you at the next tournament.
