hi guys mega show as usual MY POKER WAKNESS my biggest weakness is playing to tight, onli play the ak,aq,kq,kj and pocket pairs to see if i hit on the flop, is this a good thing in the long term as i seem to win abit and then loose abit never seem to make any cash, as when i paid all my blinds then get dealt a good hand if i win then im back to evens and then quite alot of times for example i play ak and someone calls with a rag ace i hit an ace on the flop then they hit 2 pairs with there rag and win the pot, should i change my play and start to see the flop more and carry on the way i am or is this too predictable??? i would be very grateful for your advice many thanks wardy Posted by wardyr617
Hi Wardy,
Thanks very much for the question, sorry we didn't get time for it on the show.
It sounds like you've nearly hit the nail on the head, and that you are doing alot right.
I would say that your instinct is right; it sounds like you need to open up your game a bit. I would suggest two main ways, with two different types of hands.
The first we are going to call "taking a shot" hands, and they are the small pocket pairs and suited connectors. Your aim with these hands is to get in as cheaply as possibly, and and even better into a multi way pot. Play them just to try and hit gin. If you hit anything but gin (i.e. a set, flush, straight, or really good draw), you're going to get out for cheap. And if you do hit, you've got a chance to win a really big pot. It's a good way of having very small, albeit more frequent, losses, and a few really big wins.
The second type of hands are the ones that come just under your favoured premium hands on the spectrum- i.e AJ, QJ, KT and QT (particualrly when sutied), and maybe the next few down. These hands are not strong enough to play just for the value of hitting a flop, and so we need to be a bit more aggressive with them. I would recommend trying to re-raise (3-bet) these hands in position whenever you get a good spot. This begs the question as to what a good spot is; well, the very best spot is when you have the button, and a loose player has raised in front of you. Your aim is not necessarily to win the pot straight away with your 3-bet, but to plan to make a continuation bet on the flop if your opponent calls pre-flop, whether or not you hit the flop. It's amazing how many pots you can win this way without any right to do so.
So, there will be some games where a tighter, more simple style is right, especially when the game is very loose or weak, and there are many "cally" players in each pot. Unfortunately, those spots are rare in poker now, and I think you can really add to your profits in better games with some nice "take a shot hands" and nice aggressive plays with lesser hands.
Comments
All very close, & on the right lines, but nobody has given the exact full name yet.
Did very well in the 2011 Six Max
Liam Batey, correct.
He used to be quite a force in the world of BMX.
Precisely. Ishish.
Thanks very much for the question, sorry we didn't get time for it on the show.
It sounds like you've nearly hit the nail on the head, and that you are doing alot right.
I would say that your instinct is right; it sounds like you need to open up your game a bit. I would suggest two main ways, with two different types of hands.
The first we are going to call "taking a shot" hands, and they are the small pocket pairs and suited connectors. Your aim with these hands is to get in as cheaply as possibly, and and even better into a multi way pot. Play them just to try and hit gin. If you hit anything but gin (i.e. a set, flush, straight, or really good draw), you're going to get out for cheap. And if you do hit, you've got a chance to win a really big pot. It's a good way of having very small, albeit more frequent, losses, and a few really big wins.
The second type of hands are the ones that come just under your favoured premium hands on the spectrum- i.e AJ, QJ, KT and QT (particualrly when sutied), and maybe the next few down. These hands are not strong enough to play just for the value of hitting a flop, and so we need to be a bit more aggressive with them. I would recommend trying to re-raise (3-bet) these hands in position whenever you get a good spot. This begs the question as to what a good spot is; well, the very best spot is when you have the button, and a loose player has raised in front of you. Your aim is not necessarily to win the pot straight away with your 3-bet, but to plan to make a continuation bet on the flop if your opponent calls pre-flop, whether or not you hit the flop. It's amazing how many pots you can win this way without any right to do so.
So, there will be some games where a tighter, more simple style is right, especially when the game is very loose or weak, and there are many "cally" players in each pot. Unfortunately, those spots are rare in poker now, and I think you can really add to your profits in better games with some nice "take a shot hands" and nice aggressive plays with lesser hands.