Sept. CONTEST: 2 Questions - WINNER ANNOUNCED!

Posts: 2913 · Posted: 13.09.2008, 23:31

Hello again, Crushers!

Got another cash contest for you!

To enter this contest, your task is to consider (really think about) the 2 questions I will pose. Then to post your considerations and hopefully good answers to them. Then defend your answers by telling us what you are relying upon. That's all.

Rules are the same as for all the other contests this month. Let me know if you have the slightest doubt.

Here are the 2 questions:

1) During the course of a poker game, when is the one time you should never assume an adversary is bluffing?

2) Is there ever a right way to play a bad hand?

Good thinking, my scholars! The winner will receive $30 cash.

Your Guru

Posts: 3276 · Posted: 14.09.2008, 00:25

#1 - When a person makes a huge raise pre-flop.In most cases the player believes to have the best hole cards and is willing to risk their whole tournament on them.Wait for smaller raises and better hole cards.If you have pocket A's or K's.do you call?I know we all have but is it the right decision?Thus risking your whole game on one hand even though it's probably the best hand starting.

#2 - Yes,there is a time when you can play bad hands.If your table is playing loose don't do it.A tight playing table will give you opportunities to play bad cards.If you are playing late and everyone folded before then you can try a small raise that won't hurt your stack.If the blinds have nothing they will probably fold.If they reraise it would be best to get out of the hand.If you decide to stay and bluff make sure you at least have something to fall back on if you don't get your draw,because they might be bluffing too.I won't try bluffing until I get a read on the other players.

Posts: 379 · Posted: 14.09.2008, 08:04

ok.........nice quiz

1, all in pre flop is a moral.

2, no.............NEVER play bad hands

but if you do, then theres plenty of ways to play bad hands
just dont play them, if you get my drift

I take bowers line of thought into consideration but ultimately, if you play a bad hand then your odds plummet of actually winning the hand

Posts: 1192 · Posted: 14.09.2008, 09:18

#1 Never assume that someone who bets into you is bluffing simply because we are playing online where you can't see the other players and you are not able to notice their figitting, sighing etc...which will help guide you as far as reading the other players. Online, you have little to go on, you have to pay close attention to slyles and it seems to me that takes familiarity which is also hard to come by on the internet so my anser to question #1 in at no time for my skill level and hindered perception of my opponents

#2 I would think if you are going to play bad hands your odds of actually winng with one are probably better the more opponents you have at the table but all in all betting bad hands may win you the battle but mostly certainly not the war. so to speak lol

boy those were 2 very difficult and thought-inspiring questions; great stuff guru.

thanks wink

Posts: 2913 · Posted: 14.09.2008, 12:52

Hi PCers!

HINT: None of the answers so far have a single thing wrong with them and they show good thinking skills!

Your Guru

Posts: 1740 · Posted: 14.09.2008, 22:53

1) I would say after the flop,but I try to play with the thought never assume they are bluffing any hand... 2)When I have the blinds killing me and I can see a flop altho my hand is bad I will bet very large if there is a large card on the flop and no possible chance of a straight or flush or a full house...

Posts: 2787 · Posted: 14.09.2008, 23:25

#1 I never assume anyone is bluffing.

#2 If there are no large bids on the table and I hold at least one high
card I may try to play it out...but the first raise.............I'm gone!

Posts: 846 · Posted: 15.09.2008, 00:55

1-To me, you have to play the player just as much as the cards. I'm tempted to say the ONE time is when it will cost you your tournament life, but there are too many poker variables for such absolute statements. I've made some questionable calls, but if I strongly felt the player was bluffing based on his past play and the way the hand was played out I have found the calls to be right a large percentage of the time. It's almost impossible to win a tournament without taking some chances. I pride myself on a tight game, but if you're gonna wait for high pocket pairs you ain't gonna get to far once the blinds go up. Once again the situation means a lot. If I'm up against a superior opponent I'm willing to race more. If I feel I'm a better play I choose my spots more carefully.

2-I agree basically with Bower's assessment, but you can't overdo it or even poor players will catch on, and eventually you will find yourself trapped. Situation is, once again, critical as well. Big chip stacks can either tighen up or bully. Both can and do work. What are the blinds at? Will the over the top bluff cripple you or do the odds of your opponent folding to your reraise outweigh the risk? Love the questions, Guru, and not trying to dodge, but absolutes in poker and NL poker especially are hard to come by.

My 2-cents. LOL

Posts: 379 · Posted: 15.09.2008, 11:18

I agree with what you say almost word for word but you are talking tournies

you cant implement the same tactics at a table..........

but yep allight many variables make a decision..not just the cards

Posts: 379 · Posted: 15.09.2008, 11:20

btw.........dont count a high card in your hand as a bad hand

I think 7,3 or 8,2 is more like a bad hand..............whats a bad hand Guru?

lol

Posts: 3276 · Posted: 15.09.2008, 13:07

100 % correct mirrors.I was talking tournies too.Rake room playing is a whole different game.You can be a lot more patient with the blinds not raising.

Posts: 231 · Posted: 15.09.2008, 13:53

There is never a good time to assume a player is bluffing,When you assume "you make an ass out of u and me" lol I do this often,Should never assume a player is bluffing. The time to play a bad hand is when blind's are small,For instance if you have a Beer hand & small blind is 10 or 20 Sometimes good to call ,I've seen flop's come up 2 2 7 Then your in the money

Posts: 3854 · Posted: 15.09.2008, 14:59

1-I know it's hard to predict when someone is bluffing, but there are a few signals to watch out for.

***I THINK A BIG PRE-FLOP RAISE IS A PRETTY DARN GOOD SIGNAL TO WHAT'S IN POCKET***

2-There are many ways to play a bad hand. You can fold it. Easily lose money on it if not played right.

***THE BEST WAY IS TO TAKE IT WITH BIG RAISE CONVINCING OTHER PLAYERS TO FOLD***

Posts: 3854 · Posted: 15.09.2008, 15:18

Although this is assuming you do both right at/or before flop! For BOTH of my above answers:

Unless I'm AA- ANY PRE-FLOP-RAISE WHO GOES ALL-IN AT FLOP USUALLY FOLDS ME! Probably pre-flop.

TAKE IT DOWN & GET THEM TO FOLD RIGHT AWAY! The more cards up, less likely to win it anyways.

Posts: 2913 · Posted: 16.09.2008, 06:01

Good discussions.

Mirrors,, a bad hand defined? It depends on what the other players' hands are like.

By the way, have you all read my last strategy lesson? Should be some room for discussion there, especially among senior class.