No Limit Texas Hold'em (Tournament Tips)

[ShotzSho]

Thanx to ESPN my interest in the world's fastest growing game was immediate. Everyday people competing for up to 9 million dollars.....

..... I started online to try and learn the rules and eventually the blinds, betting and the river made sense. I eventually learned that this is a game of patience for people with nothing better to do.... Now I plan to put their depressed money into my pocket. Some players are true gamers and need a well hidden trap set to relieve them of major chips.

If anyone wants to talk tournament poker or has any related materials to share..... Do so.


I found a local poker league that is free to play but pays out prizes, including cash.... Up to $5000 (at semi annual tourneys). I have spent $0 and have won a seat to win the 5 grand by placing in qualifying tournaments.

................... A lot of the time experience is the best teacher, but good advice is good advice....... I find myself at several finals tables but hate not winning it all.....

All seasoned players have a game plan and it adjusts according to betting position.
Hole cards played are different in the beg. Of tourney than the final table.
Going all in pre-flop..... Anything can happen, especially pocket Kings getting busted, be prepared for a possible exit.... Think twice before pushing all in at anytime in the game. This is easier said than done..... In the heat of the moment there are many emotional factors that influence thinking.... Getting the right calls is the goal.

Winning big pots is worthless unless those winnings are protected by good plays in future hands.... A lot of people win big pots at first, get all giddy then they are the first to leave the table with no chips. I seen it time and time again and did it myself at first.

Sometimes to advance to a final table I find myself folding several hands in a row just to watch others fall out the tourney...... Don't get greedy unless the cards show it to you.

To me the thing about gambling is I'd rather bet against other players than a odds winning dealer.

Holla.....

 

[ShotzSho]

Here's an interesting observation...... Some players shuffle the cards in a fashion that the bottom card can be seen before they are cut. If they are cut in half, that bottom card will now be 26 cards from the top.... With nine people at the table, that same card will show up 26 cards later on the river. With less than nine players at the table, that card will not make the board........

....sometimes small advantages make for huge winnings.....knowing whether a card will be in play or not by watchinhg the shuffle and cut...... Interesting enough, this tactic paid off for me a few times by calling to the turn or river looking for flushes.... River catches are usually huge pots....

If anyone has questions about this thread topic, feel free to ask, I'll do my best to answer. I'm seeing a long future in this game of huge winnings.

 

[DJ]

This will be a very interesting topic as I am an avid hold em player. I am looking forward to hearing views and opions on playrom other people that enjoy the game as muc as I do. I dont play tourneys that often anymore as it can be very time consuming, I would much rather sit down at a cash table 1-2 or 2-5 and have the option to get up and leave whenever I want to. I will offer a bit of advice to newer players and as simple as irt may seem it is often overlooked and not heeded.
1. Always play with a clear mind, do not play I you have had a bad day, you are aggravated or have something deep on your mind. There are a lot of subtleties in an opponents game or play style that you can miss if you are not fully focused. This can cost you money.
2. Refrain from alcohol at the table. This has everything to do with a clear mind, impaired juxdgement can get u in a lot of trouble. As much as I play you cats that like to get drunk adw some of the people I look for before I sit down at a table. You are easy marks for somone like myself that has a good grasp of the game.

 

[doggish_098]

reading your post it seems you need to differentiate between tournament poker and cash poker. those are two different monsters. in tournament poker you are in a lot more hands that you would not be in when you are playing cash. when i first started playing it took me a long time and a good amount of money to learn the difference between the two.

 

[2211]

Here's an interesting observation...... Some players shuffle the cards in a fashion that the bottom card can be seen before they are cut. If they are cut in half, that bottom card will now be 26 cards from the top.... With nine people at the table, that same card will show up 26 cards later on the river. With less than nine players at the table, that card will not make the board........

....sometimes small advantages make for huge winnings.....knowing whether a card will be in play or not by watchinhg the shuffle and cut...... Interesting enough, this tactic paid off for me a few times by calling to the turn or river looking for flushes.... River catches are usually huge pots....

If anyone has questions about this thread topic, feel free to ask, I'll do my best to answer. I'm seeing a long future in this game of huge winnings.

The main thing to remember is that poker is a players game more than a card game, even if you take a look at that 26 card everyhand there are too many factors involved in each and every hand. Food for thought.

 

[ShotzSho]

The main thing to remember is that poker is a players game more than a card game, even if you take a look at that 26 card everyhand there are too many factors involved in each and every hand. Food for thought.

Last tourney I was in started 86 people. It took more than an hour for the first people to start dropping. About an hour and a half in a player was moved to my right. I could see her hold cards when lifted em up..... I thought.... What gifts, how nice...... And decided to keep my hat pinned low and only play pots she was in. It took about 20 hands before I pounced on her. I had 62 she had 35 flop came 663. She checked, me too. Turn was K. She bet, I hesitated and called. River was K....... Now she's looking at 2 pair but betting like she got a boat. I knew what she had, so I played some drama.... Then pushed all in. She barely had it covered and called. I was glad I waited the 20 hands to make a for sure winning play. I wasn't even paying attention to the previous 20 hands.

 

[DJ]

Last tourney I was in started 86 people. It took more than an hour for the first people to start dropping. About an hour and a half in a player was moved to my right. I could see her hold cards when lifted em up..... I thought.... What gifts, how nice...... And decided to keep my hat pinned low and only play pots she was in. It took about 20 hands before I pounced on her. I had 62 she had 35 flop came 663. She checked, me too. Turn was K. She bet, I hesitated and called. River was K....... Now she's looking at 2 pair but betting like she got a boat. I knew what she had, so I played some drama.... Then pushed all in. She barely had it covered and called. I was glad I waited the 20 hands to make a for sure winning play. I wasn't even paying attention to the previous 20 hands.

I have to ask what would posess you to play a 6-2 unless you were in the big blind oe you were last to act and had 6+ callers in front of you and were getting pot odds?

 

[Mrfreddygoodbud]

keep it coming where are some of yall favorite places to play and why.??

what are some of the best poker rooms youve been to??

and about being rivered, that shit is the fuckin worse... I had A6, the flop was 866, I threw in two hundred, everyone folded but one, he threw in four hundred, I said fuck it, went all in, he went all in, he had K6, the turn was a 9 and the river was a fuckin K..... cmon son??? I was thinking those automatic card shufflers was fixed...I was at harrahs in AC btw...

been to vegas?

 

[doggish_098]

I have to ask what would posess you to play a 6-2 unless you were in the big blind oe you were last to act and had 6+ callers in front of you and were getting pot odds?

read my mind... play in a poker league a couple nights a week and since it is free poker dumb-asses play cards like that all the time

 

[doggish_098]

keep it coming where are some of yall favorite places to play and why.??

what are some of the best poker rooms youve been to??

and about being rivered, that shit is the fuckin worse... I had A6, the flop was 866, I threw in two hundred, everyone folded but one, he threw in four hundred, I said fuck it, went all in, he went all in, he had K6, the turn was a 9 and the river was a fuckin K..... cmon son??? I was thinking those automatic card shufflers was fixed...I was at harrahs in AC btw...

been to vegas?

harrahs is my spot love playing in that midnight bounty tournament taking money from all the drunks.

dont get down to AC much especially with the casinos in PA now when you play poker there you are usually playing with folks who know what they are doing unlike the shore where you get the tourist action.

 

[ShotzSho]

I have to ask what would posess you to play a 6-2 unless you were in the big blind oe you were last to act and had 6+ callers in front of you and were getting pot odds?

I played my 62 cuz she played her 53. If I didn't like the flop, I was outta there. I'm trying to see as many flops as possible, especially in the first two hours of the tourney since blinds weren't outrageous. Sometimes I play 72 if I'm on the button..... The key is to see the flop for cheap with low cards. Pots won by low pots can prove huge as the high pairs will call. I win lots with low cards. So does everyone else.

 

[ShotzSho]

read my mind... play in a poker league a couple nights a week and since it is free poker dumb-asses play cards like that all the time

If a player doubles up by playing low cards..... How could they possibly be dumb? I call it a nice hand.

I've lost a lot more money playing pocket face card pairs than playing low cards. There are huge results winning with low cards. They are easy to fold after flop.

 

[ShotzSho]

This will be a very interesting topic as I am an avid hold em player. I am looking forward to hearing views and opions on playrom other people that enjoy the game as muc as I do. I dont play tourneys that often anymore as it can be very time consuming, I would much rather sit down at a cash table 1-2 or 2-5 and have the option to get up and leave whenever I want to. I will offer a bit of advice to newer players and as simple as irt may seem it is often overlooked and not heeded.
1. Always play with a clear mind, do not play I you have had a bad day, you are aggravated or have something deep on your mind. There are a lot of subtleties in an opponents game or play style that you can miss if you are not fully focused. This can cost you money.
2. Refrain from alcohol at the table. This has everything to do with a clear mind, impaired juxdgement can get u in a lot of trouble. As much as I play you cats that like to get drunk adw some of the people I look for before I sit down at a table. You are easy marks for somone like myself that has a good grasp of the game.

I can't stand limit poker.... Way too many suckouts on turn and river. Can't buy the pot. I also hate how many chips the dealer puts in his bucket every hand. It bascially takes money off the table.

It is much easier to recover from lost pots in tourney play. No limit is the only way to go.... Plus chopping the prize money can be a very useful option in tourney play.... Here they can be as cheap as $50+$10 buy ons and 3hours later chopping prize money between 4 people will profit all $500 each. Not bad for playing a card game for three hours.

 

[DJ]

read my mind... play in a poker league a couple nights a week and since it is free poker dumb-asses play cards like that all the time

I have played that poker leaguge it is all over where I live, I agree the play is terrible but I did meet a few cats that I see at the casino all the time now.

keep it coming where are some of yall favorite places to play and why.??

what are some of the best poker rooms youve been to??

and about being rivered, that shit is the fuckin worse... I had A6, the flop was 866, I threw in two hundred, everyone folded but one, he threw in four hundred, I said fuck it, went all in, he went all in, he had K6, the turn was a 9 and the river was a fuckin K..... cmon son??? I was thinking those automatic card shufflers was fixed...I was at harrahs in AC btw...

been to vegas?

I dont think anything you could have done would have gotten your opponent off his hand. I would have checked my set though and let him bet in to me and it would have saved u some money. Getting rivered does suck but u cant be mad that guy flopped the same set you did with a great kicker. Unless you are trying to take that pot down right at the flop that was a really big bet to make. I usually play at cesars or harrahs in ac since I live so close to the casinos.

I can't stand limit poker.... Way too many suck at outs on turn and river. Can't buy the pot. I also hate how many chips the dealer puts in his bucket every hand. It bascially takes money off the table.

It is much easier to recover from lost pots in tourney play. No limit is the only way to go.... Plus chopping the prize money can be a very useful option in tourney play.... Here they can be as cheap as $50+$10 buy ons and 3hours later chopping prize money between 4 people will profit all $500 each. Not bad for playing a card game for three hours.

I dont play limit poker I am strctly a no limit player. the casino has to take a rake they host the game I think the max they can take in a 1-2 is like 6 which aint shit in a big pot. 6-2,7-2 no questions asked is an instafold for me unless I am getting great pot odds. No reasom for me to waste blind money on a hand I no business im anyway. I agree u can get lucky with those hands once in a while but they are losing hands more.often than not.

 

[ShotzSho]

Most people think of a poker face, but i been getting better reads by watching other peoples forearms and hands.... The quick reach when its not their action (signifies a good hand), or the nervous shake of a bluff bet.

I've also noticed that players over 55 play very safe and fold to a lot of bluffs. I'm not saying this exactly true every time, but I notice it a lot.

With low cards I love to see the flop. Sometimes with pocket Q, I hate seeing the flop. It's hard to fold good high cards.

 

[Disanddat]

I played my 62 ....Sometimes I play 72 .

How hard do you need to hit the flop?

Truth is, and the key to tournament poker, is that on the button you dont need a hand to win the pot, only for the other person not to have a hand.

after a while you will know who are the bullshit players who love to push people around and who are the rocks.

Also sometimes the cards play themselves alot of people are not going to fold a flush draw no matter what you bet.

 

[o0-SCV-0o]

:groupwave

 

[ShotzSho]

How hard do you need to hit the flop?

Truth is, and the key to tournament poker, is that on the button you dont need a hand to win the pot, only for the other person not to have a hand.

after a while you will know who are the bullshit players who love to push people around and who are the rocks.

Also sometimes the cards play themselves alot of people are not going to fold a flush draw no matter what you bet.

Well, in tournament, I need to hit a few flops very badly. That is why I play 62 and 72 before the blinds have been raised 4 times. I have to have chips by the time half the players are gone in a small 80 person tourney..... Otherwise I'm blinded out quick. I wanna make the final table. Hear that. So I play every flop early as if it could be mine. I turn over my winning 72 and everyone looks at me all crazy. I don't know, call it reggie miller cuz he loved getting booed. Anyhow, I don't want someone reading me, so I switch gears as the tourny progresses..... Gotta put pressure on the rocks... Find the gear they In and start seeking an edge..... So many winning hands are folded every deal.

 

[doggish_098]

Well, in tournament, I need to hit a few flops very badly. That is why I play 62 and 72 before the blinds have been raised 4 times. I have to have chips by the time half the players are gone in a small 80 person tourney..... Otherwise I'm blinded out quick. I wanna make the final table. Hear that. So I play every flop early as if it could be mine. I turn over my winning 72 and everyone looks at me all crazy. I don't know, call it reggie miller cuz he loved getting booed. Anyhow, I don't want someone reading me, so I switch gears as the tourny progresses..... Gotta put pressure on the rocks... Find the gear they In and start seeking an edge..... So many winning hands are folded every deal.

they have a name for players like you in the tournament world... they call them donkeys.

i'm losing with two pair because the flop comes a 7 7 and donkeys like you stay in even with a good raise to play 7 2 suited of unsuited

 

[DJ]

Well, in tournament, I need to hit a few flops very badly. That is why I play 62 and 72 before the blinds have been raised 4 times. I have to have chips by the time half the players are gone in a small 80 person tourney..... Otherwise I'm blinded out quick. I wanna make the final table. Hear that. So I play every flop early as if it could be mine. I turn over my winning 72 and everyone looks at me all crazy. I don't know, call it reggie miller cuz he loved getting booed. Anyhow, I don't want someone reading me, so I switch gears as the tourny progresses..... Gotta put pressure on the rocks... Find the gear they In and start seeking an edge..... So many winning hands are folded every deal.

So you are trying to lead cats to believing that wasting chips on as many hands as possible with garbage hole cards and hoping they will hit the flop is good tourney play ? C'mon son I thought this was an advice / tip thread. What you are talking about is total nonsense.

they have a name for players like you in the tournament world... they call them donkeys.

i'm losing with two pair because the flop comes a 7 7 and donkeys like you stay in even with a good raise to play 7 2 suited of unsuited

 

[ShotzSho]

It goes without saying that a player can't fold his way to victory. Getting through the field takes winning hands. When I start with 10,000 chips and the big blinds start at 50.... Damn right I'll see every flop with no raise. That's not donkey. It's donkey to fold preflop at that price. Id rather lose 50 or 100 chips with 72 folding after flop than lose 4500 with big slick (AK) to a pair of 3's. Donkeys Chase runner runners. What I'm preaching is see as many flops as possible. My J4 hearts took out pocket kings last night when I turned a flush. From there I was able to fold in peace till the final table.

I've played only prime hands in tourneys from the beginning and never won a hand, while I folded my 84 that would have won. People hold on to their chips like they gold, but its more like scared money. I'm saying to reach a final table, a player must play low cards when the bet is right.

Like you said...... I hit trip 7 to your 2 pair..... You in trouble playing your prime cards......that donkey you saw runs horse....... I have no problem folding my bet to a raiser pre flop if I have low cards.... And I don't miss the chips on the chance I took.

 

[DJ]

It goes without saying that a player can't fold his way to victory. Getting through the field takes winning hands. When I start with 10,000 chips and the big blinds start at 50.... Damn right I'll see every flop with no raise. That's not donkey. It's donkey to fold preflop at that price. Id rather lose 50 or 100 chips with 72 folding after flop than lose 4500 with big slick (AK) to a pair of 3's. Donkeys Chase runner runners. What I'm preaching is see as many flops as possible. My J4 hearts took out pocket kings last night when I turned a flush. From there I was able to fold in peace till the final table.

I've played only prime hands in tourneys from the beginning and never won a hand, while I folded my 84 that would have won. People hold on to their chips like they gold, but its more like scared money. I'm saying to reach a final table, a player must play low cards when the bet is right.

Like you said...... I hit trip 7 to your 2 pair..... You in trouble playing your prime cards......that donkey you saw runs horse....... I have no problem folding my bet to a raiser pre flop if I have low cards.... And I don't miss the chips on the chance I took.

I understand the concept of trying to get as many hands in as possible for cheap. It don't mean that you play any 2 cards, you can save a bit more chips by playing mediocre hands and premium hands. If you are losing to AK pre flop you probably are not betting enough, a pair of 3's is a weak hand and if you are letting a player hold those cards to a show down and win your play is seriously in need of help. Most people would fold a pair of 3's to any over card on the flop, especially if a 10 or better comes out.

 

[DVS]

anybody still play online? I use to fuck wit absolute poker & fulltilt before the shit hit the fan... I know there's still a few sites out there that allow US players, I tried betonline but didn't like it to much and from the reviews it was supposed to be one of the better ones.

 

[doggish_098]

so in my little free poker league i play in i tried the donkey play this week and just as i thought that shit it stupid you may win a hand or two but you lose more hands than you win

 

[Jim_Browski]

dont get down to AC much especially with the casinos in PA now when you play poker there you are usually playing with folks who know what they are doing unlike the shore where you get the tourist action.

Where do you think poker players from the DMV and Delaware Valley have been playing for the past 15 years?

 

[ShotzSho]

I understand the concept of trying to get as many hands in as possible for cheap. It don't mean that you play any 2 cards, you can save a bit more chips by playing mediocre hands and premium hands. If you are losing to AK pre flop you probably are not betting enough, a pair of 3's is a weak hand and if you are letting a player hold those cards to a show down and win your play is seriously in need of help. Most people would fold a pair of 3's to any over card on the flop, especially if a 10 or better comes out.

Preflop betting can prove difficult. With AK I'm never really sure what to bet.... 2 or 3 times the big blind, or two or three times the total pot.... Any suggestions?

 

[Disanddat]

Preflop betting can prove difficult. With AK I'm never really sure what to bet.... 2 or 3 times the big blind, or two or three times the total pot.... Any suggestions?

For cash games try not to overplay it. "AK is NOT a pair"

 

[ShotzSho]

For cash games try not to overplay it. "AK is NOT a pair"

It does seem like I lose more than I win with AK.



Btw - got second at my free poker league tonight and claimed one of two qualifying tickets they gave out for a $5000 free roll. I play free poker like o do free chess...... To win.... If nothing else I play free poker league for the pure sport of it. I was dealt AA at final table..... Rainbow flop with KQ4....I double checked my cards for show then bet the pot and got 3 callers. I checked the turn (4) to see if anyone had power then called their all in bet. River came (9) and I beat his K 10 to send him home. AA doesn't come very often but when it does, don't make it obvious.

 

[ShotzSho]

so in my little free poker league i play in i tried the donkey play this week and just as i thought that shit it stupid you may win a hand or two but you lose more hands than you win

After the blinds have gone up about 4 times, the donkey cards shouldn't be played any more. Donkey cards are only playable if there is no preflop raise.

Winning with donkey cards early in a tournament disturbs how the table perceives me. That is an advantage and usually brings callers on future hands where I have the nuts.

A lot of players like to show their bluff cards when they are not called, but I never show any cards unless I'm called. I don't want the table to ever think I'm bluffing.... Which ofcourse I do bluff from time to time.

 

[Mrfreddygoodbud]

damn this thread had me wanting to get some hold em action now..

fuck it friday I am taking off and heading out to AC...

good tips in here fellow poker hedz!

 

[wbmustang]

I played big time on the internet before the government shut it down :-(. Ever since then I kind of lost the urge to play.

wbmustang
Games Played: 23,731
Avg Profit: $2
Avg Stake: $9
ROI: 17%
Total Profit: $35,649

I probably will get back in to cash games. One big strategy to know is that as the blinds and antes go up your cards that you have mean less and less. This is when you starting thinking about chip ev +cev plays. Sometimes shoving with a trash hand is worth it because you have enough fold equity (meaning you can get people to fold because they don't want to lose their stacks).

But I will be in this conversation more and more and will respond to past posts but it is Sunday morning and I am feeling lazy now.

 

[wbmustang]

Preflop betting can prove difficult. With AK I'm never really sure what to bet.... 2 or 3 times the big blind, or two or three times the total pot.... Any suggestions?

Depends on the situation. My general rule is that I always raise 3x and then +1x for every limper in the pot. So if we are playing 1/2 and there is is two limpers then I am bumping it up to $10. I may adjust how much I raise depending on how garbage the players are. If there are two limpers I have AA and I know they will call a larger bet I will through out upwards to $15. Fish will be fish and they like calling. The main comment I love hearing is I knew he had Aces and wanted to crack them ok

 

[wbmustang]

It does seem like I lose more than I win with AK.



Btw - got second at my free poker league tonight and claimed one of two qualifying tickets they gave out for a $5000 free roll. I play free poker like o do free chess...... To win.... If nothing else I play free poker league for the pure sport of it. I was dealt AA at final table..... Rainbow flop with KQ4....I double checked my cards for show then bet the pot and got 3 callers. I checked the turn (4) to see if anyone had power then called their all in bet. River came (9) and I beat his K 10 to send him home. AA doesn't come very often but when it does, don't make it obvious.

To be real I never slow play my hands unless it's a trickier opponent or an opponent that I know is very aggressive. People will call regardless. But I am pretty agressive so that's my style.

I got some poker books that I can upload to I will use megaupload and do that later on tonight.

 

[doggish_098]

Preflop betting can prove difficult. With AK I'm never really sure what to bet.... 2 or 3 times the big blind, or two or three times the total pot.... Any suggestions?

depends on if it is suited or unsuited

 

[ShotzSho]

To be real I never slow play my hands unless it's a trickier opponent or an opponent that I know is very aggressive. People will call regardless. But I am pretty agressive so that's my style.

I got some poker books that I can upload to I will use megaupload and do that later on tonight.

Ya boss! I feel what you sayin. I am especially interested in the limper rule you describe when raising with AA pre flop. I too believe in being aggressive in tournaments..... The books would be great, audio books better..... Can listen while playing.... Or inthe shower. Thx playAA.