Developing Poker Skills and Books to Read - April 18th, 2008

Paul from Vancouver, BC asks: How did you develop your poker skills when starting out? Did you read books? How long was it before you were a winner?

Paul, When I learned that poker was legal in California (where I was working) in the early 1990s, I met poker legend Lee Jones, who suggested that I read Doyle Brunson’s classic Super System and David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth’s Hold ‘em Poker for Advanced Players. I read them cover-to-cover and dutifully headed off to a local cardroom to play the tightest 3/6 Limit Hold‘em known to man. Believe it or not, this unimaginative, boring approach was profitable in the rip-roaring 3/6 and 6/12 games in Northern California fifteen years ago. There will always be certain games and/or certain periods of time within a tournament in which tight play will be a winning strategy (sometimes it is even the best available strategy). Fortunately, this is rarely true at higher levels of play. I say “fortunately,” because poker would barely be more interesting than blackjack if tight play were actually frequently called for. Thus, I guess you could say that I was a winning player from the beginning. However, those wins were quite modest and I didn’t really start playing anything like I do now until I played a bit higher and against tougher players. In the late ’90s, in Casino San Pablo, I had the experience of playing against some very talented players, including Matt Lefkowitz, Todd and Matt Keikoan, Bill Gazes, occasionally Gavin Smith, and also a young Erick Lindgren. Erick often says that the best way to improve your game is to play against better players and find a way to beat them. I wholeheartedly agree with E-Dog on this topic. Please note, however, that this strategy is in direct conflict with the often-touted (by others) strategy that emphasizes game selection. Game selection is for nits and for those interested in short-term profit maximization. Taking on better players is the best way to improve your game. You need to ask yourself if you want to be good or great and act accordingly. I highly recommend the two above-mentioned books (I have been quoted as saying that Doyle’s chapter on No Limit Hold ‘em changed my life) and would add Sklansky’s Theory of Poker (the best book I have ever read on poker) and Dan Harrington’s red book on tournament poker (the best book on tournament poker) if, like me, tourneys are your thing. Kick some ass and let me know how your progression goes (especially if you try to be great)! Thanks,
Bill

Poker Role Model - April 15th, 2008

Fausto from Miami, FL asks: Most of us know that you are one of the top players right now. With this in mind, how does it feel to be looked upon as a role model to millions of people in the poker world including WSOP champ Jerry Yang?

Fausto, Very funny. I assume that your question is tongue-in-cheek (if yours isn’t, some similar ones are); but I chose to answer this one because I get kidded so often about (1) whether some short-term success means that I am a top player (no, it doesn’t); and (2) what Jerry Yang said to me when he knocked me out of the 2007 Main Event. First of all, the more accurate number is in the tens of millions of players for whom I am their role model. Do not sell me short. Secondly, Jerry is one of my favorite people in poker. He’s a truly kind man, one who is unafraid to say nice things about others (even if they inadvertently cause the recipient of his compliments to be kidded mercilessly). Finally, I want to go on record as saying that Jerry played very well in winning the Main Event. In my view, commentators and observers (who have often been critical of his play): (1) undervalue aggression in tournament poker; and (2) often come off sounding jealous of his incredible feat. Way to go, Jerry! Thanks,
Bill

Six Handed Tournament Strategy - April 12th, 2008

Paul from California asks: In a six-handed tournament, what is the ideal approach? Lowering starting hand requirements, raising small to medium pocket pairs, and so on. Please tell me your advice on how to succeed in a six-handed tournament as you did in last year’s WSOP.

Paul, Six-handed poker is to nine- or ten-handed poker what my wife is to the Golden Girls. OK, bad example, since my wife’s beauty is on the inside. Still… I wish that six-handed tournament poker were the future of the sport. The shorter it gets in poker, the more interesting it is. Also, generally, more skill is required as the game gets shorter. I love that Matt Savage, the great Tournament Director, has set up the Main Event at the Shooting Star in San Jose to play 6-handed when 36 or fewer players remain. I’d love to see more tournaments with a similar structure. As for the ideal approach to six-handed play, the answer is quite complicated. In general, the shorter the game, the greater the variety of poker skills you need to employ. As compared to a nine-handed game, you will need to mix up your play more, play more hands pre-flop, and play more aggressively. Note that it is much less likely that your opponents have premium starting cards in short-handed situations. Thus, “trouble hands” (e.g., A-Q, A-J, A-10, K-Q, K-J) go way up in value because they are less likely to make a costly second-best hand. Since flops are rarely seen by more than three players, implied odds for suited connectors and small pairs go way down. If you want to win, you will need to trust your reads and be willing to go with weaker hands than you may be accustomed to gambling with. Be aggressive and play the player even more than in a full-table situation. Thanks,
Bill

Showing Cards - April 9th, 2008

Calvin from Phoenix, AZ asks: I was playing in a small free tournament. I had K-Q suited and was up against one other player. I raised. My opponent turned his cards over, showing pocket queens and then announced "all in." All of this happened pre-flop. Is this a legitimate move? If not, what would be the penalty in a regular tournament?

Calvin, It is not a legitimate move in tournament poker to show your cards in order to stifle action. The principal reason for this is that all other players generally benefit from action between their competitors. The TDA rule (which may or may not be in effect in your tournament) is that the hand would be played out and the player who showed his cards would be given a penalty in which he would have to sit out two rounds immediately thereafter. Jack McClelland (of the Bellagio) would penalize the player a specific amount of time (perhaps 15 minutes) after the play of the hand in question. Thanks,
Bill

Online Bad Beats - April 6th, 2008

Rob from Pensylvania asks: Why does it seem, from playing live and online, that in online play you always run into bad beat city? It just seems that it always hits the fan, but in live games hardly appears. Is there something to this or is the wind just blowing against me?

Rob, I do not feel that this is just your imagination. My observation is that, in a live setting, players play more conservatively. This is a generalization, of course, but - to the extent it’s true - it implies that a player is likely to bluff less frequently and make fewer marginal calls in live play than on the net. Thus, on the net, you see the flip side of this equation: Players are making more marginal calls against you online and, thus, are drawing out on you more. Of course, the good news is that, when your hands hold up, you will make more money. If the calls are in fact bad ones, you’ll make more money in the long run. Although it’s not always easy, try to let this be your solace when a calling station gets lucky on you either on-line or in live play. Thanks,
Bill

Defending Blinds Late - April 3rd, 2008

Jeff from Columbus, OH asks: Defending your blinds late in a NL Hold’m tournament is crucial to stack maintenance. What types of hands would you defend with late in the tournament against aggressive players with deep stacks?

Jeff, The answer to that depends heavily on my stack size. If I am deep, I will defend with a large variety of hands (perhaps the top 40% of holdings). We will both have to (i.e., we both get to!) play post-flop poker. If I am short, I will rarely call. Thus, the choice is generally between folding and shoving. In making that decision, I note the following factors: The raiser’s range is quite wide (you said that the raiser is aggressive); I likely have little or no fold equity (you specified that the raiser is aggressive and I stipulated that I am short); if I’m in the small blind, the big blind should not be ignored. Given this, I’ll shove with hands that figure to play profitably (given the overlay of the money already in the pot, including antes) all in versus the wide range of the raiser. If I have a medium-sized stack, my decisions are the toughest (and most interesting). Note that calling is now certainly an option. Also, reraises now have fold equity. As with the previous topic, pages could be written on this situation. In this forum, I’d like to emphasize that critical to your decision should be the raiser’s quality of play. Important advice in many contexts in poker: See more flops against weaker players! Thanks,
Bill

Playing Suited Connectors Pre-Flop - April 1st, 2008

Mark from Pomona, CA asks: Congratulations on being 2007 Player of the Year. My question for you is regarding suited connectors, particularly, jack-10 suited, 10-9 suited, 8-7 suited… etc. How do you play these hands pre-flop? Do you base your decision on how you play them just by your position or do you play them a certain way regardless of your position?

Mark, As you’ve probably heard many times, it is important to mix up your play. If you are a tight player, just playing these hands at all can be a way to mix up your play. If you area player who plays more hands pre-flop, it is important to occasionally play the same hand in different ways in order to avoid being read by your opponents. That said, I’ll try to explain how I generally like to play suited connectors. First, let’s talk about the strengths and weaknesses of these hands. The beauty of suited connectors is that they play well in multi-way pots, often flop situations in which they carry large implied odds, and even more often flop semi-bluffing opportunities. Semi-bluffing is the heart and soul of No Limit Hold’em; if you are the type who likes to wait for made hands and thinks that the object of poker is to extract the most value from these (sadly infrequently held) hands, then I wish you the best (but advise you not to read my poker columns, since I will rarely write about this topic). The problem with suited connectors is that they contain small- or medium-rank cards. You will most often either flop nothing or flop second or third pair and will have to make tough decisions. What does all of this imply? In deep-stack situations, it probably means that you normally want to see flops cheaply with these hands. Occasionally, you should raise pre-flop, though. When you do, continuation bets are almost automatic since your opponents will likely be putting you on big cards. Thus, either you have flopped a hidden gem and don’t mind action from suspicious opponents, or you will have missed the flop and (wanting to take down the pot) will have an easy laydown if your opponent plays back against you. An additional benefit of playing these hands with position is that you often flop nothing, bet, get called, and then turn some kind of draw. The caller will often check to you on the turn and you’ll have the nice option of taking a free card (most likely) or of firing a second bullet. The second bullet is likely to be correct against some players (perhaps perfect against the stereotypical older player, who likes to check-call way too much but may give up to a second bullet - also note the huge implied odds you’ll get if you make the hidden hand and the guy is committed to calling a big bet on the river). These are, of course, just some high-level thoughts on the subject raised by your question. An entire book could be written on how to play suited connectors. If Daniel Negreanu ever writes that book, I’d suggest that we all buy it. Thanks,
Bill

Having Professional Poker Players as Friends - March 28th, 2008

Isidro from Bakersfield asks: Can you tell us how important it is to have friends like Erick and Gavin you can discuss hands with? Also, the info you guys share must improve the games of all three of you, otherwise how is it that all three of you are so good? How has your influence on Erick and Gavin helped not only in poker but in family life? The reason I ask is because I think Erick and Gavin look up to you as a fatherly figure.

Isidro, Erick Lindgren and Gavin Smith are, indeed, two of my closer friends. They both have very logical minds are quite articulate when discussing poker (yes, Gavin really is!). Sadly, I have not talked much poker with Erick over the years. He and I share a love for college football betting which dominates our discussions. Gav and I do talk poker a bit. However, we have radically different playing styles. Thus, it can be a bit difficult for either of us to translate the other’s thoughts into the context in which we play. Regarding the second half of your question, I can say without hesitation that my life is much happier and richer for having them in it. However, as for my alleged influence on these two, I refuse to take responsibility for Erick’s P%&!#-underachieving or Gavin’s unique nightly rituals. Thanks,
Bill

Maintaining Hobbies Outside of Poker - March 25th, 2008

Tim from Newfoundland asks: A lot of the successful local players, as well as many pros who become and stay successful seem to have a certain joie de vivre outside of the poker world, be it another hobby or just making sure they have something else they really enjoy doing off the felt and outside the rail-filled world of the poker room. Do you find it helps with focus and/or other major parts of successful poker to have these distractions? And how much time spent playing poker is really necessary to become and stay successful?

Tim, Those who know me know that nobody loves life more than I. I have been blessed with the most wonderful friends and family and I love what I do. And yes, all of my close friends in the poker world do show a certain joie de vivre. The question is, of course, whether there is a causal relationship and, if so, what caused what. Does a love of life help a player become successful? Or does success help a player love his life? I’ll bet you’ll be surprised when I tell you my best guess is that the two are nearly independent. I can think of too many miserable poker players who have had success to believe differently. Personally, I feel that having a balance in life does help my own poker a great deal. However, there are a lot of successful sickos who do very little other than play poker. Thus, I don’t feel that balance is necessary for poker success; but it sure helps in living a happy life. As for how much poker needs to be played to become and stay successful, I’d have to say the more the better. No matter how gifted you are, experience yields better decisions. Since the advent of internet poker, there’s no excuse for not playing tons of hands. By the way, I never met a Newfy I didn’t like! Thanks,
Bill

Online Poker: Play-For-Free Play Quality - March 23rd, 2008

John from Florida asks: I have a question. It may be silly, but I haven't seen much in the line of information. I play free on Full Tilt and PokerStars. I want to start playing for real money, but I'm somewhat concerned with the players on the free games. It seems that there are lots of river rats and floaters there because it costs no real money to play and recharge an account. In real play are the players more realistic on their hand quality and so do they take fewer chances?

John, Thanks for sending me my first question! My understanding of the low limit games on FTP and ‘Stars is that they are played very much as you describe the free games. I’m sure that players are a bit more careful with real money; but I am just as certain that loose play is still very much the norm. You’ll be able to beat these games by playing solidly, even if unimaginatively. Remember that hand selection is critical to beating low limit games. Play hands that either win a lot or lose a little in multi-way pots (you’ll note that virtually every hand is played multi-way). Suited cards and pairs are what you’re looking for. Avoid the trouble hands (e.g., non-suited big cards other than A-K) because they too often make expensive second-best hands in multi-way pots. Best of luck. Please let me know how it goes. Thanks,
Bill