Been playing a little while now and always have the SkyPoker "Recommended hand requirements based on position" handy for when I start playing badly (a lot of the time!).
One phrase has always puzzled me. It lists:
additional hands that may be playable from the
blinds if the pot size grows accordingly
What does ...if the pot size grows accordingly..... mean in this context?
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Comments
a) Everyone folds except one player in late possition who raises to 5x the big blind (50p) and is called by the button.
b) A player in early possition makes a raise of 4x the big blind (raise to 40p ) and three other players flat call.
In the first example it is wise to fold. The pot is £1.15 with only two players in and you must pay an additional 40p to see a flop. And judging by the early action both players will most likely have over cards or even have you dominated with AJ or JJ.
In the second example the pot is now £1.75 with four players in and you must pay another 40p to see a flop. In this spot you might consider a call with the idea that you could hit the flop hard and make a huge pot. Say the flop comes KsQsTd..... you have flopped a straight with a re-draw to the second nut flush and a straight flush. But with all that paint on the board there is also a good chance that one of the four players has hit a pair, two pair or even maybe a set. You will get paid off so big if this unlikely flop occures that it's worth making the call for 40p.
The important thing to remember is that if you miss here you have to fold the flop. Don't chase a flush or a straight and don't think that a pair or jacks or nines will be good enough.
Check out this article by Victoria Coren for some interesting thoughts about these sorts of hands: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/may/11/poker-victoria-coren?INTCMP=SRCH