Advice for this player please

Sky_Rich

Hey Guys,

I know what a friendly bunch you all are and because of this fact i was hoping you could help out another community member (Matty) who posted the following question elsewhere in the forum...


"before i start i'd like to say how much i like sky poker ,it's the best poker site by far.and love watching the shows great fun..ok my names Matt and i've been playing poker for afew years but since i've been on sky poker play everyday now..was playing double your money games but started doing bad so stopped now play bounty £2.30it's great fun and do ok..but would like to get to next level and get in the money..i get to say 4000 and 6000 chips then go wrong..how do you move on from there..i seam to wait for hand that never comes then get low stacked..please can you help
thanks alot"

any advice you could offer Matty would be fantastic.

Thanks in advance.

penguin7

Hi Matty

Nobody else has had a go yet so I will try !

Your problem is quite common. As a tourny specialist I find the early stages the most challenging. Many times I may win an early pot and then go card dead and see the field getting away from me.

As you are playing BHs you need to stay aggressive. If you do get a hand play it strong, never limp in the hope of getting customers.

But the best tip I can offer is to play from position, look to raise the limpers from the button with even marginal hands. And make your Cbet strong enough to take it down there and then.

Also watch the other players carefully, in low/mid level BHs you often find serial limpers everywhere. Some of them will limp in most hands with any two, but how do they play a better starting hand? And how do they react to your raise? Players with lesser abilities will often just call, then your position gives you the edge postflop in most hands. These are obviously the players you need to target, rather than those who are good enough to reraise.

Dont throw away chips by limping into pots in early position, it is often tempting to look for a cheap flop with small pairs or suited connectors. This is fine if you know you will not be reraised, but if there is a good player to act after you it will just be wasting chips. A 3xBB bet or a fold may be a better option.

If you do lose a few and get short, never give up. Just be more selective about the hands and situations you play. You cant afford to waste any chips by calling. Raise strongly from position, and if you get a good hand out of position dont be frightened to shove. In a BH it amazes me the poor calls I can attract.

Finally, it is often good to regularly play in the same tournies. You need to build up detailed knowledge of your usual opponents, and also create your own image as a player not to be messed with !

Good Luck m8

Tony