Poker News

Tom ‘Time’ Leonard

As we continue to examine our games to see if any areas show weakness and need to be improved upon, today let’s discuss those pots that seem to be for sale.

We see this phenomenon all the time and intuitively seem to know the meek may well be in line to inherit the earth butthey sure as hell aren’t going to steal any pots. The first player making a bet is normally the favorite to take down a pot that seems to be for sale. Thinking about this now, do you pull the trigger enough or do you sit there and check it down to the river along with the rest of the wimps? The classic example of this situation would be if you limped in on the button after two or three limpers with a so-so hand like Jack/Nine off-suit. Both blinds call and five or six of you see the flop which is totally uncoordinated. Let’s say the flop is deuce/five/eight rainbow and even though this gives you a back door straight draw (big deal!) and two over-cards, you also check after it has been checked around to you. The turn is the three of the fourth suit so there is no flush draw and no over-cards, just a low straight draw possibility or if someone is holding Ace/four or four/six a possible made straight. Everyone once again checks to you Well, this pot is obviously for sale and you should bet with just about any hand at that point. Now I know this is not an earth shaking revelation but let’s review why this play is the correct course of action and the reasons why it is usually successful.

If someone was being “cute” and slow playing a strong hand on the flop, he would definitely have bet the turn after no one bet. At this point in the hand no one has invested much money (only one small bet) and since no one has ventured a bet as yet it is unlikely that anyone is going to call or raise for a large bet You can tell after two rounds of checking that most players have lost interest in the hand and it becomes very easy for them to get away from it, as in muking their hand in the face of your bet. Of course, if you get a caller you need to put him on a hand, which probably isn’t too much, and also you may well improve on the river. Now is the time to put your knowledge of this player to work and think about his position and the texture of the board. If on the river it is checked to you again and neither an over card or the straight draw gets there then bet hands that can’t survive a showdown and check hands that can. For instance, if at that point all you hold is a Jack high, your bet may well cause a pair of deuces or fives to release this modest holding. Deuces were only in because no one made a bet. If on the other hand you make a pair of nines on the river, it is best to check it down and see if they are in fact the best hand. Based upon the betting, or lack thereof, they probably are.

Poker is a game of situations and you need to always be alert to see when one begins to unfold so that you’re the one who takes advantage of it. Our goal for today is to always be aware of situations to increase our earn. In the case of a pot forsale, when you are in position to take advantage of this situation, then go ahead and “purchase” that pot instead of checking along with the rest of the wimps. Winning those little pots will wind up paying for your blinds and tokes. Nothing wrong with that!

See you next “TIME”

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