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October 05, 2007

Here we go....

Blog by : David Bruce

Played about 200 hands last night and lost close to three buy-ins. Overall I thought I played pretty well except for the following hand. I'm not sure if I could have played it any better but I just had this feeling I was beat even though AMReis has been three betting a lot.

FullTiltPoker Game #3761403401: Table Leroy (6 max) - $0.10/$0.25 - No Limit Hold'em - 3:11:51 ET - 2007/10/05

Seat 1: AMReis ($25)

Seat 2: DuracL ($9.60)

Seat 3: crazydia ($24.15)

Seat 4: David Bruce ($25.20)

Seat 5: acebuster45 ($24.50)

Seat 6: rackuzius ($26.25)

DuracL posts the small blind of $0.10

crazydia posts the big blind of $0.25

The button is in seat #1

*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to David Bruce [As Kh]

David Bruce raises to $0.75

acebuster45 has 15 seconds left to act

acebuster45 calls $0.75

rackuzius folds

AMReis has 15 seconds left to act

AMReis raises to $3.35

DuracL folds

crazydia folds

David Bruce calls $2.60

acebuster45 has 15 seconds left to act

acebuster45 folds

*** FLOP *** [Ks Ts 5h]

David Bruce checks

AMReis bets $5

David Bruce raises to $15

AMReis raises to $21.65, and is all in

David Bruce calls $6.65

AMReis shows [Ad Ac]

David Bruce shows [As Kh]

*** TURN *** [Ks Ts 5h] [3c]

*** RIVER *** [Ks Ts 5h 3c] [3h]

AMReis shows two pair, Aces and Threes

David Bruce shows two pair, Kings and Threes

AMReis wins the pot ($48.55) with two pair, Aces and Threes

David Bruce is sitting out

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot $51.10 | Rake $2.55

Board: [Ks Ts 5h 3c 3h]

Seat 1: AMReis (button) showed [Ad Ac] and won ($48.55) with two pair, Aces and Threes

Seat 2: DuracL (small blind) folded before the Flop

Seat 3: crazydia (big blind) folded before the Flop

Seat 4: David Bruce showed [As Kh] and lost with two pair, Kings and Threes

Seat 5: acebuster45 folded before the Flop

Seat 6: rackuzius didn't bet (folded)

The way I played this hand screamed AK. As sick as this sounds I almost thought about tossing the hand saving the remaining 6 dollars. But since I had an Ace I thought it was just as likely he had AK or KQ. I really like the check raise for two reasons. 1. I knew he would continuation bet here with AK, AQ, QQ and obviously AA. If I bet out he could raise and I could be faced with a really tough decision. But by checkraising I get money from his cbet with hands that he wouldn't call a donk bet. He took a long time after I checkraised maybe fearing KK or TT. Looking back I think I might have been better off folding because the only way I was going to make money after the flop was if he had AQ, AJ, or possible KQ suited, and we both flop a pair. I would have liked the call better if my hand was suited.

Here's a hand I think I played well. Obviously some people are going to argue but I avoided giving away too much money, while possibly making the most of my hand if I was ahead.

FullTiltPoker Game #3761339766: Table Point Sal (6 max) - $0.10/$0.25 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:59:57 ET - 2007/10/05

Seat 1: crazydia ($31.20)

Seat 2: Naarff ($26.60)

Seat 3: bigmoosey89 ($8.85)

Seat 4: Sutliff1 ($35.40)

Seat 5: Writethatdown ($23.85)

Seat 6: David Bruce ($25.30)

Writethatdown posts the small blind of $0.10

David Bruce posts the big blind of $0.25

The button is in seat #4

*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to David Bruce [Td Th]

crazydia folds

Naarff raises to $1

bigmoosey89 folds

Sutliff1 calls $1

Writethatdown folds

David Bruce calls $0.75

*** FLOP *** [5c 3s 7d]

David Bruce checks

Naarff bets $2

Sutliff1 folds

David Bruce calls $2

*** TURN *** [5c 3s 7d] [8h]

David Bruce checks

Naarff checks

*** RIVER *** [5c 3s 7d 8h] [3h]

David Bruce checks

Naarff bets $2

David Bruce calls $2

*** SHOW DOWN ***

Naarff shows [Jc Jd] two pair, Jacks and Threes

David Bruce mucks

Naarff wins the pot ($10.55) with two pair, Jacks and Threes

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot $11.10 | Rake $0.55

Board: [5c 3s 7d 8h 3h]

Seat 1: crazydia didn't bet (folded)

Seat 2: Naarff showed [Jc Jd] and won ($10.55) with two pair, Jacks and Threes

Seat 3: bigmoosey89 didn't bet (folded)

Seat 4: Sutliff1 (button) folded on the Flop

Seat 5: Writethatdown (small blind) folded before the Flop

Seat 6: David Bruce (big blind) mucked [Td Th] - two pair, Tens and Threes

Above is another reason I don't like three betting. Now when I say I don't like three betting I still think that there are times when it's a good idea. For instance, if there is a raise and a call I would gladly pop it up if I have position on both players with a really good hand. If there is an UTG raise and a call and I close the betting I might just call hoping to checkraise the field on the flop. Like I said before there is so much value in having relative position especially since so many players are playing LAG styles.

In a previous post I said I would talk a little bit about preflop strategy.

Preflop I raise 3x. Playing higher at nl50 I would raise 2.5x or 3x. I try to stay away from playing high card hands in position 1 and 2 other than AK. The hands I like playing in early position are the hand I also play in late position which include the following, 22+, AK, suited Aces, suited connectors, suited one gappers, and suited cards T+. In late pos. I will include connectors such as 67, QJ, 45 (the above is only if I'm opening).

Against a limper I will also limp with the speculative hands. Like I said before I love having relative position. So if the first limper likes limping and calling a raise I will gladly limp with a speculative hand hoping the button or better yet the SB raises. If the first limper then folds I can chuck my hand or call depending on my cards, the stacks, and the situation. If I have a very aggressive player to my left I will also limp after a limper with AA, KK, AK, planning to reraise. Sometimes you limp with a big hand and aggro donk will fold but it's not the end of the world because you can still extract some value out of your hand. You might flop a set against the fishes two pair, Overpair vs. his top pair. ETC....

Next post will be a little more about preflop play, and some postflop play. I'm glad that some people disagree with me saying that it's not optimal. If you can outplay your opposition any reasonable style can be profitable. Some of these tactics I don't agree with like open limping on the button, raising 5x preflop, minraising, and limp reraising in EP with AA, all of which I've seen work.

Some random thoughts ------- It bothers me watching fat people jog. Why don't British people tip? The voices at self-checkout lines must be resposible for several suicide deaths each year.

By the way I don't proofread this shit. So If something doesn't make sense just do your best to decipher it.

One final thing. Yesterday I received the biggest insult in my life. Someone had the audacity to tell my gf that she thinks I look like John Stamos. I think she lost it. Check out my profile pic. I'm on the right. The guy on the left is my buddy Mouse (named for obvious reasons)

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October 25,2007

I think you are far too results orientated (e.g. there is no way you fold the AK there, you probably should 4-bet preflop in fact, and the TT/JJ hand is a good example of how you saved money due to your style but I imagine you play QQ-AA the same way and imagine how much value you would have lost).

Anyway what I wanna talk about is your 3-bet strategy (or lackthereof). I am probably one of the players who calls a lot more than most regs at my limit (1/2 and 2/4, reflected in quite a wide gap between my VPIP and PFR of 25/18) so don't think that I am one of those people who 3-bets just for the sake of 3-betting. But not having 3-betting in your arsenal is a huge leak.

At the very least, if you wish to call preflop and 'outplay' your opponents (though I question the degree to which you are doing this...flopping mini-coolers is not outplaying your opponents; moreover, outplaying your opponent's usually means repping a hand that you don't have but which your opponent's can read and believe...if you play a hand perfectly consistely with say a flush draw at this level and it hits on the river, I bet they still call your river bet anyway here so it's not a very good idea at these stakes), do it in position only. Thus, the TT hand is an automatic 3-bet and stacking it off for 100bbs on the flop is not bad at all either.

Just calling OTB too often is a sure way to lose money. If a cutoff or button opens 3-betting is almost always a better option if you are going to continue (small pairs being the common exception). It is a huge reverse implied odds situation if you just call. Say you defend with JTs and the flop comes J72r. That's about as good as it gets. How do you play this? If you lead, most players will realise that this is a feeler bet 'to see where you're at'. If they raise, you don't know if they have the goods or if they are bluffing your weakness. How about a check-raise? A check-raise would essentially turn your hand into a bluff. If your opponent has you beat he'll shove and will do so occasionally with bluffs or even 88-TT. In this case you're put in a difficult decision and will usually be making a crying call or a reluctant fold. How about the check-call? In this case, your opponent will not win any more money if your opponent shuts down (the best scenario you can hope for) so you've basically defended your blind to take one bet from your opponent 1/3 of the time. Hardly worth it. On the other hand, the opponent might bluff turned Q/K/As with the correct frequency that you cannot exploit it. Or he may just triple barrel blank turns and rivers. Either way, you cannot feel good about your top pair.

Now, back to your TT hand. I have no idea what your opponent is doing but he should be triple barrelling that board and folding to a check-raise in most cases. What would you have done if he had done so and not let you get away so cheap? You can hardly fold since you've underrepped your hand so much yet calling triple barrels is hardly fun either when you are both so deep. By reraising preflop, you commit enough of your stack so that even if you get stacked here, the times you make money v an AQ/KQs etc that calls preflop and folds on the flop will make up for it, not to mention the times you stack smaller pocket pairs (say you had QQ here), which you will never do by check-calling in this manner that you use.

jcl

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Comment	I think you are far too results orientated (e.g. there is no way you fold the AK there, you probably should 4-bet preflop in fact, and the TT/JJ hand is a good example of how you saved money due to your style but I imagine you play QQ-AA the same way and imagine how much value you would have lost). Anyway what I wanna talk about is your 3-bet strategy (or lackthereof). I am probably one of the players who calls a lot more than most regs at my limit (1/2 and 2/4, reflected in quite a wide gap between my VPIP and PFR of 25/18) so don't think that I am one of those people who 3-bets just for the sake of 3-betting. But not having 3-betting in your arsenal is a huge leak. At the very least, if you wish to call preflop and 'outplay' your opponents (though I question the degree to which you are doing this...flopping mini-coolers is not outplaying your opponents; moreover, outplaying your opponent's usually means repping a hand that you don't have but which your opponent's can read and believe...if you play a hand perfectly consistely with say a flush draw at this level and it hits on the river, I bet they still call your river bet anyway here so it's not a very good idea at these stakes), do it in position only. Thus, the TT hand is an automatic 3-bet and stacking it off for 100bbs on the flop is not bad at all either. Just calling OTB too often is a sure way to lose money. If a cutoff or button opens 3-betting is almost always a better option if you are going to continue (small pairs being the common exception). It is a huge reverse implied odds situation if you just call. Say you defend with JTs and the flop comes J72r. That's about as good as it gets. How do you play this? If you lead, most players will realise that this is a feeler bet 'to see where you're at'. If they raise, you don't know if they have the goods or if they are bluffing your weakness. How about a check-raise? A check-raise would essentially turn your hand into a bluff. If your opponent has you beat he'll shove and will do so occasionally with bluffs or even 88-TT. In this case you're put in a difficult decision and will usually be making a crying call or a reluctant fold. How about the check-call? In this case, your opponent will not win any more money if your opponent shuts down (the best scenario you can hope for) so you've basically defended your blind to take one bet from your opponent 1/3 of the time. Hardly worth it. On the other hand, the opponent might bluff turned Q/K/As with the correct frequency that you cannot exploit it. Or he may just triple barrel blank turns and rivers. Either way, you cannot feel good about your top pair. Now, back to your TT hand. I have no idea what your opponent is doing but he should be triple barrelling that board and folding to a check-raise in most cases. What would you have done if he had done so and not let you get away so cheap? You can hardly fold since you've underrepped your hand so much yet calling triple barrels is hardly fun either when you are both so deep. By reraising preflop, you commit enough of your stack so that even if you get stacked here, the times you make money v an AQ/KQs etc that calls preflop and folds on the flop will make up for it, not to mention the times you stack smaller pocket pairs (say you had QQ here), which you will never do by check-calling in this manner that you use.

November 03,2007

If I get 100 bb's in with the TT on that board I'm very likely to be beat. I know it's lower limits but the games are getting harder and I don't regularly see someone stacking off with overcards or a top pair like A7.

With your JTs example. I would call pre, on flop (depending on the player) I would either c/c or c/r, on the turn I would probably c/f, on the river I would value bet if the turn went check check.

Another thing with calling in position against an aggressive opponent. If is opening with all kinds of shit you can simply call preflop and then raise any flop. This would accomplish the exact same thing as reraising but there would be even more of your opponents money in the pot.

With the TT I fold to three barrels. What would he three barrel here? Overcards? I only beat 99. Easy fold. I lost the least and could have potentially made the most.

I wouldn't play QQ and AA the same way. I probably would have checked raised at some point because there would be many more hands I have beat (12-24 more combinations.)

David Bruce

October 04, 2007

A couple recent hands...and some strategy

Blog by : David Bruce

From now on when I post hand histories I will follow them with my comments.

Hand #46805563-1191 at Rocky Hill (No Limit Hold'em)
Started at 04/Oct/07 02:11:27

T-roy76 is at seat 0 with $2.
NCAngler is at seat 1 with $18.84.
comedy is at seat 2 with $27.21.
gpbm1910 is at seat 3 with $25.56.
Sooted K is at seat 4 with $24.15.
son of drphil is at seat 5 with $52.70.
The button is at seat 4.

son of drphil posts the small blind of $.10.
T-roy76 posts the big blind of $.25.

T-roy76: -- --
NCAngler: -- --
comedy: Ah Ac
gpbm1910: -- --
Sooted K: -- --
son of drphil: -- --

Pre-flop:

NCAngler raises to $.75. comedy calls. gpbm1910
folds. Sooted K folds. son of drphil folds.
T-roy76 folds.

Flop (board: 2c 3s 2h):

NCAngler bets $1.85. comedy calls.

Turn (board: 2c 3s 2h 3d):

NCAngler bets $5.55. comedy raises to $11.10.
NCAngler goes all-in for $16.24. comedy calls.

River (board: 2c 3s 2h 3d Ad):

(no action in this round)

Showdown:

NCAngler shows 8d 8c.
NCAngler has 8d 8c 3s 3d Ad: two pair, eights and threes.
comedy shows Ah Ac.
comedy has Ah Ac 3s 3d Ad: full house, aces full of threes.

Like I said before I don't reraise preflop. Let's take a look at what happens when you reraise.

+ of Raising------You get all the money in preflop against a dominated hand, you garner and aggressive image, and you build a bigger preflop pot that you can either win or take down postflop.

+ of Calling-------YOU CAN POTENTIALLY EXTRACT MUCH MORE MONEY FROM DOMINATED HANDS (including those that would have folded preflop) AND DOMINATING HANDS, YOU CAN STILL GARNER AN AGGRESSIVE IMAGE BY CALLING, YOU WILL DEFINITELY BUILD A BIGGER POT (ESP. IF OTHERS ENTER), AND YOU BETTER DISGUISE YOUR HANDS.

I know it feels good to reraise and take down the little pot. Sure, sometimes you will stack someone when you have them crushed.... but this is offset by the times you are the one crushed. You are just as likely to get your money in bad with a big pair as someone else. In reality by three betting you are even more likely to get the money in bad preflop. Your 3 betting range is going to be much much looser compared to the opponent that is going to play back at your 3 bet. I know I didn't explain this that lucidly but at least I tried.

In the above hand I obviously didn't put him on a 2 or 3 so I just called flop (I'm the one raising those types of hands...more on that later). I raised small on the turn just to get his money in with an overpair. If there was a 3 player in the pot I would have flat called the turn.

*****NOW THAT THIS PLAYER HAS SEEN ME FLAT CALL WITH AA, WHAT IS HE THINKING THE NEXT TIME I FLAT CALL HIS FLOP BET? OH SHIT? THEN I JUST TAKE THE POT ON THE TURN UNLESS HE HAS A MONSTER.

Hand #46805531-1437 at Little Rock (No Limit Hold'em)
Started at 04/Oct/07 02:46:11

BlueHibiscus is at seat 0 with $23.56.
xsvfrce is at seat 1 with $54.21.
mikalah is at seat 2 with $24.09.
xWilla is at seat 3 with $26.79 (sitting out).
comedy is at seat 4 with $29.83.
gpbm1910 is at seat 5 with $30.86.
The button is at seat 2.

comedy posts the small blind of $.10.
gpbm1910 posts the big blind of $.25.

BlueHibiscus: -- --
xsvfrce: -- --
mikalah: -- --
comedy: 9d 6d
gpbm1910: -- --

Pre-flop:

BlueHibiscus folds. xsvfrce folds. mikalah raises
to $.85. comedy calls. gpbm1910 folds.

Flop (board: 8d 5d Jh):

comedy checks. mikalah bets $1.95. comedy raises to
$6. mikalah goes all-in for $23.24. comedy calls.

Turn (board: 8d 5d Jh 3h):

(no action in this round)

River (board: 8d 5d Jh 3h Th):

(no action in this round)

Showdown. I somehow lost the results. He turned over AJ and I lost.

This was pretty standard for me. I defend with a shitload of hands. Probably the same hands I would open with. I don't want people stealing my blinds. I like checkraising on the flop if I catch a hand, maybe like middle pair, gutshot, the nuts, OESD, etc... I like calling in the small blind as well because you can potentially get another customer in the BB and I'm not worried about taking flops with the hands I'm calling with. If the BB is someone that likes to squeeze than more power to him because I would flat call in the SB with AA, KK, AK etc.. I wouldn't reraise.

With that said Mikalah didn't raise my BB the rest of the night.

Hand #46805510-342 at Garden Grove (No Limit Hold'em)
Started at 03/Oct/07 14:19:37

Irishone76 is at seat 0 with $35.40.
Puck7 is at seat 1 with $13.48.
comedy is at seat 2 with $24.75.
Gosifer is at seat 3 with $21.93.
lilga2 is at seat 4 with $37.36.
cherrycoin is at seat 5 with $23.69.
The button is at seat 1.

comedy posts the small blind of $.10.
Gosifer posts the big blind of $.25.

Irishone76: -- --
Puck7: -- --
comedy: 8h 7h
Gosifer: -- --
lilga2: -- --
cherrycoin: -- --

Pre-flop:

lilga2 folds. cherrycoin folds. Irishone76 raises
to $.85. Puck7 folds. comedy calls. Gosifer
folds.

Flop (board: 8d 2h 7s):

comedy checks. Irishone76 bets $1.95. comedy raises
to $6. Irishone76 re-raises to $19.95. comedy goes
all-in for $23.90. Irishone76 calls.

Turn (board: 8d 2h 7s Jh):

(no action in this round)

River (board: 8d 2h 7s Jh 5s):

(no action in this round)

Showdown:

comedy shows 8h 7h.
comedy has 8h 7h 8d 7s Jh: two pair, eights and sevens.
Irishone76 shows Qc Qd.
Irishone76 has Qc Qd 8d 7s Jh: a pair of queens.

Hand #46805510-342 Summary:

$1.98 is raked from a pot of $49.75.
comedy wins $47.77 with two pair, eights and sevens.

This time a hand like the previous one turned out a little better for me.

I wish I was running as hot at poker as I have been at Halo 3. I feel like a born again virgin when I run at 20 kills and 10 deaths. If anyone reading plays post your xbox live name I'll add you as a friend.

My next post is probably going to be a little bit more about preflop strategy. I'm going to try getting some hands in tonight but I'm a reality tv freak so I have to get caught up with Kid Nation, Ramsey's, and Survivor. These past 6 days if really missed looking at Jean Robert's stomach. One more thing... how the hell did they vote off Chicken in week 1.... DAMN.

----------------------------------------------------------------

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October 03, 2007

One more thing...

Blog by : David Bruce

Don't get scared off reading my blog when you see in my profile that my favorite poker books are written my Tom McEvoy. IT'S JUST A JOKE.

Two more random opinions.

1. Kelly Pavlik is the real deal

2. So is Halo 3

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October 03, 2007

Here's a bit about my style.

Blog by : David Bruce

I play what is known as small ball. I make small raises and like playing pots in position whether it's absolute or relative. I loosen up the table tremendously. Through 5600 hands VPIP=25, PFR=10.5, PTBB100=15.3

I'm going to go back through my PTHH's and post some interesting hands and comment on them in regards to how I play and my thought process.

FullTiltPoker Game #3153753140: Table Orvis (6 max) - $0.10/$0.25 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:15:42 ET - 2007/08/04
Seat 1: David Bruce ($25.65)
Seat 2: DTROITPLAYA ($35.95)
Seat 3: freetam ($5.90), is sitting out
Seat 4: mrstats ($27.55)
Seat 5: ship2me ($32.80)
Seat 6: mightbewrong ($29.50)
David Bruce posts the small blind of $0.10
DTROITPLAYA posts the big blind of $0.25
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to David Bruce [As Ac]
mrstats has 15 seconds left to act
mrstats folds
ship2me folds
mightbewrong has 15 seconds left to act
freetam has been disconnected
mightbewrong raises to $0.85
David Bruce calls $0.75
DTROITPLAYA calls $0.60
*** FLOP *** [Qh 4d 2h]
David Bruce checks
DTROITPLAYA has 15 seconds left to act
DTROITPLAYA bets $2
mightbewrong folds
freetam has reconnected
David Bruce calls $2
*** TURN *** [Qh 4d 2h] [2s]
David Bruce checks
DTROITPLAYA bets $5
David Bruce calls $5
*** RIVER *** [Qh 4d 2h 2s] [6d]
David Bruce checks
DTROITPLAYA bets $18
David Bruce calls $17.80, and is all in
Uncalled bet of $0.20 returned to DTROITPLAYA
*** SHOW DOWN ***
DTROITPLAYA shows [9h Qs] two pair, Queens and Twos
David Bruce shows [As Ac] two pair, Aces and Twos
David Bruce wins the pot ($49.55) with two pair, Aces and Twos
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $52.15 | Rake $2.60
Board: [Qh 4d 2h 2s 6d]
Seat 1: David Bruce (small blind) showed [As Ac] and won ($49.55) with two pair, Aces and Twos
Seat 2: DTROITPLAYA (big blind) showed [9h Qs] and lost with two pair, Queens and Twos
Seat 3: freetam is sitting out
Seat 4: mrstats didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: ship2me didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: mightbewrong (button) folded on the Flop

Preflop I hate reraising. IMO there is no need to do it. I had no reads on the original raiser and there aren't too many flops that scare me. In this pot we picked up and additional caller...no big deal. On the flop his play makes no sense. Why would he lead into the preflop raiser when he has very good RELATIVE POSITION? This leaves me with two thought. Either A, He has a Quenn and he's testing the water... or B he has a flush draw (not likely though cause he could get blown off his hand if the original raiser has a strong Queen. So I don't think he has a flush draw, but it's still possible. I elect to check call. If the original raiser repopped it I would have slammed him. One more point about the flat call. If he has a Queen or JJ etc.. by me just flat calling it looks like I'm on a draw which might get him to fire 1 more time on the turn.

The turn doesn't scare me one bit. If he's in there with a 2 more power to him. Why not raise him here? He bet so fast there had to be flames coming off his mouse. So I figure if I check to him one more time he'd fire another barrel. If the river is a heart he might not bet again and I'd lose a little bit of value but that's ok.

On the river he made a BRUTAL mistake. If he thought I had a flush draw he MUST just check. I would check on the river in his shoes with almost every possible hand. Would I lose a little bit of value if I bet and he's call... yeah probably but this player seemed a little agitated and in my experience when a player comes alive on the river I'd say 90% of the time it means a big hand. I didn't want to scare off a hand exactly like the one he had.

It's important to realize that when you're playing cash games the GAP concept is, in a way, reversed. So many players nowadays are getting carried away with cbetting, firing 2 and 3 barrels, and betting draws heavy. We all know that playing Phil Hellmuth's "top ten hands" out of position is not fun. More of this last paragraph later but I need some breakfast and I have to watch People's Court and First Take. Peace

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October 09,2007

I was procrastinating my uni-work so I came across your blog so I thought I'd make a few comments on your play.
Don't take offence, just take them onboard.

Firstly, I'd say your double-up was not at all a product of your play but more of the fact that your opponent has TPGK, is playing 25NL, and thinks its the nuts. Therefore we should only think of whether you played it optimally and not concentrate on your double up.

Let's go through how I'd play this hand differently.

Firstly let me just say that 'small-ball' doesn't apply to cash games and is just stupid. When you hear Daniel Negreanu talk about it he is referring to tournaments where you want to minimise the risk of going broke in small edge situations. In a cash game, if you have that 51-49 edge, slam it all in. There is no use in playing small ball in a cash game.

Ok, calling preflop is fine, and should definitely be added to your preflop arsenal. However, it seems it's the rule for u rather than the exception. I definitely think it should be the other way around with Aces, especially at 25NL where you may get ppl calling a huge 3bet with JQs preflop yet folding in your 'smallball' pot when they miss.

Secondly, you've hit the gin flop and must raise because if a flush card comes all your action is killed. You would've gotten this guy to get it in on this flop just as easily. Moreover, this is a flop where there is not much catching up neone can do. If the flop comes T42 rainbow, then for sure you can slowplay another street. However in this case with the board Qhigh, the only card your opponent can catch and pay you off is a K. If they hit their jack or watever on turn they're still scared of the Q so you won't be adding value. And imagine if a K came or an A. Your action would've been killed again.

Also, you equally don't know this guy doesn't have a flush draw. I'd say that is the most likely hand in this spot (I'd expect a queen to pot control it by check calling). For example, in his spot with a flush draw I'd often mash the pot button on ths dry flop because the preflop raiser is squeezed between you and him. It will take a legitimate hand to raise this lead because you are still to act behind him. I equally lead with sets here hoping to get paid off by people who chase their flush or by someone with a Q or better who raises my lead. Anyway, what I'm saying is that if he does indeed have a flush draw, your call on the flop is TERRIBLE because you are essentially giving him a free card to outdraw you.

Just some comments and GL with your game

jcl

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Comment	I was procrastinating my uni-work so I came across your blog so I thought I'd make a few comments on your play. Don't take offence, just take them onboard. Firstly, I'd say your double-up was not at all a product of your play but more of the fact that your opponent has TPGK, is playing 25NL, and thinks its the nuts. Therefore we should only think of whether you played it optimally and not concentrate on your double up. Let's go through how I'd play this hand differently. Firstly let me just say that 'small-ball' doesn't apply to cash games and is just stupid. When you hear Daniel Negreanu talk about it he is referring to tournaments where you want to minimise the risk of going broke in small edge situations. In a cash game, if you have that 51-49 edge, slam it all in. There is no use in playing small ball in a cash game. Ok, calling preflop is fine, and should definitely be added to your preflop arsenal. However, it seems it's the rule for u rather than the exception. I definitely think it should be the other way around with Aces, especially at 25NL where you may get ppl calling a huge 3bet with JQs preflop yet folding in your 'smallball' pot when they miss. Secondly, you've hit the gin flop and must raise because if a flush card comes all your action is killed. You would've gotten this guy to get it in on this flop just as easily. Moreover, this is a flop where there is not much catching up neone can do. If the flop comes T42 rainbow, then for sure you can slowplay another street. However in this case with the board Qhigh, the only card your opponent can catch and pay you off is a K. If they hit their jack or watever on turn they're still scared of the Q so you won't be adding value. And imagine if a K came or an A. Your action would've been killed again. Also, you equally don't know this guy doesn't have a flush draw. I'd say that is the most likely hand in this spot (I'd expect a queen to pot control it by check calling). For example, in his spot with a flush draw I'd often mash the pot button on ths dry flop because the preflop raiser is squeezed between you and him. It will take a legitimate hand to raise this lead because you are still to act behind him. I equally lead with sets here hoping to get paid off by people who chase their flush or by someone with a Q or better who raises my lead. Anyway, what I'm saying is that if he does indeed have a flush draw, your call on the flop is TERRIBLE because you are essentially giving him a free card to outdraw you. Just some comments and GL with your game

October 14,2007

Exactly, this is nl25 and most of the players will go broke with top pair. I know it is a lower limit but I'm not seeing most players call huge reraises with QJ. If I knew he had top pair raising on the flop would obviously be the right decision but since this player was aggressive I'd rather suck him in on the turn. If he bets the flop and I raise, there is no way I'd get anymore of his money unless he had a Q, a set, or a pair and flush draw. Why would you automatically put him on a flush draw on the flop? You talk about him pot controlling after you state players at this limit will stack off with top pair. If he has a Q and I just call the flop wouldn't he put me on a possible flush draw and bet again on the turn to protect his hand?

David Bruce

October 25,2007

"If he bets the flop and I raise, there is no way I'd get anymore of his money unless he had a Q, a set, or a pair and flush draw."

If you call the flop you're also not getting any more of his money unless he has a Q, a set or a pair + flush draw lol. The only difference is that if the flush comes you're not getting any more money from the Q and losing to the flush draw.

If the blank comes on the turn, sure, he'll bet out his Q and you'll get more money. But you'll get the same money if you raise the flop. If a flush/A/K comes on the turn, you don't get any more money. It's like a stricly inferior strategy vs the queen. Granted, you don't know he has the queen. But if he doesn't, and has the other option, the flush draw, then you obviously need to raise the flop too. In other words, raising the flop is the correct play v the flush draw AND the queen. You don't often get such clearcut decisions in poker against your opponent's entire range as this.

jcl

October 03, 2007

Hello... Controversial New Blog

Blog by : David Bruce

I'm going to start a new blog. It will be very controversial. Stay tuned for input in the next couple days. Thank You.

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