Help a Poker Newbie Improve his game

[Defying]

I have really took to poker recently. I have tried to become a better player. I am use to playing small $10 buy in cash games with the same group of 6-7 of us.

Recently, I been playing at WSOP sponsored local games. It's one of those games where you play each week for points, and at the end those that qualify get to play in a tournament to move onto a bigger tournament. The big prize was a trip to the Bahamas to play in some big tourny with the pros..

I have questions often after I play, and no one to ask. So I will keep this as an on going thread to turn to help..... I do apperciate the advice

 

[Defying]

So my first Question:

Anyways, I qualified to play in the tournament after I got to the final table 50% of my games. In the tournament, I was chip lead from the first break on. I am very good at playing with chips.

On the final table, with 5 of us left, I was chip lead, a buddy was 2nd.. and every one else was very well behind.

My buddy with 2nd most chips goes all in preflop... I am holding KQ offsuit... He tells me not to call, but with that hand the only thing I am very worried about is pocket aces... I call

Should I have? Would you?

Anyways he shows Pocket 10s, and wins.

I am now with the other 3 people, go all in right before big blind hits me with AK, and lose. I finish fourth. The top 2 move on.

 

[sportsfreak]

What were you invested before you made the call? Did you raise the BB with your KQ and he go over the top of you, or did he just go all-in before it got to you?

Either way, probably would have folded. If you two were as big of chip stack leaders as you say, no since in getting into a hand like that against each other. Play your normal game, use your big stack to push around the little guys while the blinds are increasing, and you probably move on...

Anything can happen in poker, but if you're going to get most (or all) of your chips in the pot, do it when you at least feel you're ahead.

 

[theDude24]

if top 2 advance, and you were 1st in chips with 5 left, no way should you have called the guy in 2nd with KQ there unless you have an amazing read.

you could have put a ton of pressure on everyone else by raising, don't ever call off a ton of chips.

i have no problem if you shoved all in, and got called by TT

if you have more ?'s let me know

 

[mamatried]

KQ offsuit is a marginal hand at best - especially when you have the chip lead at a final table and have to call a big bet. Or any bet, for that matter.

You have to figure he has at least AQ, or a decent pocket pair, which in either case makes you an underdog.

 

[ProPokerPlayer]

Kinda need to know the blind sizes but if this was anything but a HORRIBLE CALL id be shocked......You need Tournament Poker for Advanced Players .....ASAP. Its $10 tops on Amazon and covers this situation in depth.

 

[ProPokerPlayer]

If ur buddy was in 2nd plc and had only u to act behind him his shove was also horrible. Its even probable neither of u should have shoved or called had u held AA

 

[Defying]

So since the last time I have came to yall, I have improved drastically at understanding my position, and folding pre flop more often. Not chasing straights. Just becoming a better player in general.


Thanks for that book. I just ordered it...

Today, I would love help on how to play Pocket Pairs...

I use to play them aggressively and hope they hit. lately, I been limping in, unless its Q's or Higher.. if it doesn't hit and there is a higher pair on the board, I fold after flop...

I would love to hear how to play pocket pairs, I feel its a major weakness in my game currently.

 

[Defying]

While I am hear, I would love to hear your take on the importance of knowing pot odds?

 

[theDude24]

pocket pairs - i often limp in early position if it is 9 handed (especially if it is a loose table)
i always raise them if i am first to act on the button or cutoff.

pot odds is a tricky subject that some follow to the letter. others don't care

i mean i know some people who call 90 dollar bets, with 15 dollars in the pot, with a little flush draw.
no way do you have pot odds to call it - but some people do.

also - make sure you understand pot odds is often HU with another player, possibly who is all in.

do not confuse with implied odds.

this is how much you could win.
for example - i was at the casino the other night against a very loose/aggressive player.

i called a lot more hands (gutshot straights, etc..) if he bet, because he would often shove the turn and river (so if i hit, i had the potential to win a huge pot)

 

[TheRightSide]

So since the last time I have came to yall, I have improved drastically at understanding my position, and folding pre flop more often. Not chasing straights. Just becoming a better player in general.


Thanks for that book. I just ordered it...

Today, I would love help on how to play Pocket Pairs...

I use to play them aggressively and hope they hit. lately, I been limping in, unless its Q's or Higher.. if it doesn't hit and there is a higher pair on the board, I fold after flop...

I would love to hear how to play pocket pairs, I feel its a major weakness in my game currently.

After the flop depending how many people are inthe hand you can check call and see another card. Or even raise if its heads up to pick off a continuation bet. Just becuase a card came on the flop that is bigger than your pp does not mean you still don't have the best hand.

say you have 10's. You raised up to 12 preflop got 1 caller from the blinds. Flop comes Q,7,4. He might lead out to see where he is. You just can't fold to this play everytime. Hell reraise him and realy see where you are. He could either fold or call or reraise. A reraise you fold. If he calls after the turn he will continue to show strength or check. You will find that many times you still have the best hand and he will check and give you a free card if you want it.

 

[2DIMES]

you did the right thing when some one says not to call 9x out of 10 its a tell of weakness so you l;ost so what........we move on good call.

 

[Defying]

I've come a long long way with my poker skills since end of August. I've read, and praticed alot.

I play for points live weekly tournaments, after 12 weeks top 90 play for a $1500 seat in AC... I am currently in 7th out of 350... I know it all comes down to that final game, but I know I am a better player than most there...

I been playing online for fun for over a year, even before i really knew how to play poker correctly,

Last week I for the first time tried real money and I am doing well..

I d/p $40.. am up to $140 after a week or so, mainly playing .05/.10, and some .10/.25

I have tried 2 tournaments online and hated it! I feel like you don't get enough chips to be patient. Although in real poker, I prefer tournaments...

either way thanks for your help

 

[Defying]

OH! I do have a newbie question though...

What is a sit and go tournament

 

[ProPokerPlayer]

OH! I do have a newbie question though...

What is a sit and go tournament

A SNG has no set start time and a predetermined number of players. If its a single table sng it has 9-10 players and starts as soon as the last 1 registers....

 

[StevietheGreek]

I would have called as well, I don´t see KQ off as a weak hand or marginal, this is poker, anything can happen, I think you played that hand well, no luck though

 

[TheRightSide]

first thing....poker isn't poker untill you are playing with real money. So just stay patient and don't think you are better than you are.




And hell no you should not have called with K,Q.

 

[StevietheGreek]

maybe I don´t have a strategy or don´t follow everybody´s advice, I just play all the hands possible, your probably right Side, perhaps what was at stake was too much, I don´t know, the more hands you play, the higher to possibility of winning, whaddya think?

 

[TheRightSide]

maybe I don´t have a strategy or don´t follow everybody´s advice, I just play all the hands possible, your probably right Side, perhaps what was at stake was too much, I don´t know, the more hands you play, the higher to possibility of winning, whaddya think?[/quote]





I think this kind of thinking will bury you. I only play marginal hands for cheap or when in position. I pride myself in post flop action. I very rarely have all my money in before the flop.

 

[OMGJackBauer]

Your best bet is to read some poker books. Take the time to learn the game on your own. Advice from others is always great but to sit down and understand the game and play it with YOUR style is much better.

GL