Hand Quiz
Game: Tournament in Panama City, buy-in $ 530 Hand: 9 ♣-7 ♠ Position: BB Players: 9 Blinds/ ante: 60/ 120 You are in the same $ 530 Panamanian poker tournament. Your opponent here is a 24-year-old who keeps shifting back and forth in his hoodie. He looks unsure of himself. Despite that, he has played well so far. Preflop: Hero is BB with 9 ♣-7 ♠ 6 folds, Button raises 321, 1 fold, Hero calls 201 Flop: (702) 6 ♥-5 ♥-4 ♥ (2 players) Hero checks, Button checks Turn: (702) 6 ♥-5 ♥-4 ♥-K ♣ (2 players) Hero...?
Answer Hero bets 1,000. Explanation This is a classic example of an overbet spot. Your opponent checked this flop. He is unlikely to have done that with a set, two-pair, a straight, or a flush. He likely has one pair. That king is a horrible card for him. If he has a four, five, or six he is inwardly hating himself right now. The money probably means a lot to him, given the value of a dollar in these countries. If he does call you, then you have a backup plan.
Game: Tournament in Las Vegas, buy-in $ 500 Hand: A ♦-Q ♣ Position: BTN Players: 5 Blinds/ ante: 3,500/ 7,000 You are in the final 27 of a large $ 500 event in Las Vegas. The opponent in the big blind is slightly overweight, wearing a hoodie, and hasn't shaved in a few days. Curiously, he looks to be in his forties. The rail is packed with people. You have to protect your hole cards more than usual to make sure no one sees them. Preflop: Hero is BTN with A ♦-Q ♣ 2 folds, Hero raises to 17,500, 1 fold, BB calls 10,500 Flop: (42,875) 8 ♠-3 ♣-2 ♠ (2 players) BB checks, Hero bets 21.437, BB calls 21,437 Turn: (85,749) 8 ♠-3 ♣-2 ♠-K ♠ (2 players) BB checks, Hero bets 42,874, BB calls 42,874 River: (171,497) 8 ♠-3 ♣-2 ♠-K ♠-10 ♠ (2 players) BB checks, Hero...?
Answer Hero bets 130,919 (all-in). Explanation If the big blind is calling you on the flop with mostly pairs, raising the flop with some flush draws, and raising the turn with some small flushes, then he doesn't have many flushes on the river. He will only call you with a good flush and, the majority of the time, he doesn't have one.
Game: Tournament in Warsaw, buy-in € 235 Hand: J ♣-9 ♠ Position: BB Players: 8 Blinds/ ante: 2,500/ 5,000 Preflop: Hero is BB with J ♣-9 ♠ 2 folds, MP1 raises 10,000, 4 folds, Hero calls 5,000 Flop: (22,500) Q ♣-10 ♣-3 ♣ (2 players) Hero...?
Answer Hero bets 17,667, 1 fold. Explanation This is a perfect donk bet. A check/ call is nonsensical, because you're missing so many turns or hitting them imperfectly. Your hand is too good to check/ fold. You do not want to build a pot out of position with such a mediocre hand through a check/ raise. A donk lead is the only option that makes sense.
Game: EPT event, San Remo, buy-in € 5,300 Hand: K ♥-10 ♣ Position: BTN Players: 6 Blinds/ ante: 1,000/ 2,000 You are in the money of EPT: San Remo. First place is over two million Euros! In the big blind is an Italian gentleman with immaculate hair and designer clothes. His girlfriend and friends are watching from the rail. Preflop: Hero is BTN with K ♥-10 ♣ 3 folds, Hero raises 4,999, 1 fold, BB calls 2,999 Flop: (10,998) 7 ♦-6 ♦-6 ♥ (2 players) BB checks, Hero bets 6,099, BB calls 6,099 Turn: (23,196) 7 ♦-6 ♦-6 ♥-10 ♠ (2 players) BB checks, Hero bets 12,198, BB calls 12,198 River: (47,592) 7 ♦-6 ♦-6 ♥-10 ♠-A ♣ (2 players) BB checks, Hero...?
Answer Hero bets 18,000. Explanation If you're not going to get these bets, then you should quit the game right now. When he check/ calls you on the flop he has a ton of sevens you still beat, such as K-7, Q-7s, J-7s, 9-7, 8-7, 7-5s and 7-4. He check/ calls flop with 10-9, along with 10-8. He would have check-raised some of his 9-8 combos on the turn. It's hard for him to have called you with a bare Ace-high twice here. Since his friends and girlfriend are watching, and because he obviously cares so much about appearance, he is not likely to just angrily jam as a bluff on the river. They'll see his shame if he's wrong. If he calls and is wrong, then he can just make up something before he mucks.
Game: Home game, Seattle, buy-in $ 55 Hand: Q ♥-9 ♥ Position: BTN Players: 9 Blinds/ ante: 60/ 120-15 You are in the middle stages of a $ 55 home game tournament in the Seattle area. The person who runs the game, Keith, uses almost all of the normal casino rules because he is a poker dealer himself. Your opponent is a guy who plays a number of these home games with seriousness. He is wearing a baseball cap and a button up. The baseball cap has sweat lines from overuse. Preflop: Hero is BTN with Q ♥-9 ♥ 6 folds, Hero raises to 300, 1 fold, BB calls 180 Flop: (795) 8 ♦-7 ♠-5 ♠ (2 players) BB checks, Hero bets 397, BB calls 397 Turn: (1,589) 8 ♦-7 ♠-5 ♠-J ♥ (2 players) BB checks, Hero bets 794, BB calls 794 River: (3,177) 8 ♦-7 ♠-5 ♠-J ♥-K ♦ (2 players) BB checks, Hero...?
Answer Hero bets 2,387 (all-in). Explanation This is a textbook triple barrel. Our opponent is taking the game seriously and likely doesn't want to table a bad call. Due to Keith running the tournament, he will likely have to table his hand in the event of an all-in, to "prevent collusion". When he calls you preflop, we can rule out most overpairs. When he calls you on that board, we can rule out two-pair and better. The jack and king are unlikely cards for him to hit, but they are bad cards for all 8-x, 7-x, and 5-x hands. This is the time to pull the trigger.
Game: Charity tournament, Manhattan, buy-in $ 550 Hand: A ♥-4 ♥ Position: BB Players: 9 Blinds/ ante: 20/ 40 A young guy who works at a bank sits down. He opens into your big blind on his first hand. He is wearing a suit. Preflop: Hero is BB with A ♥-4 ♥ 3 folds, MP2 raises 80, 4 folds, Hero calls 40 Flop: (180) 8 ♥-6 ♣-5 ♠ (2 players) Hero...?
Answer Hero bets 200. Explanation This is a good donk bet, because it's hard to represent anything with a check-raise when you are this deep. Check/ call is almost always weak, and it is in this hand too. Check/ fold is too tight, given we have a straight draw, backdoor flush draw, and an overcard. More importantly, this works as a donk bet because there are many turn cards that help you fold his pairs. We discussed how overbets help fold pairs, but some boards help you fold pairs as well. A turn nine doesn't help you, but it is also likely to make an average player fold his 8-x, 6-x, and 5-x.
Game: Las Vegas tournament, buy-in $ 1,000 Hand: 7 ♦-5 ♦ Position: MP1 Players: 9 Blinds/ ante: 1,250/ 2,500 You're deep in a $ 1,000 buy-in Las Vegas tournament. The player in the big blind is a fairly disciplined man in his 30' s. Preflop: Hero is UTG with 7 ♦-5 ♦ 2 folds, Hero raises 5,000, 5 folds, BB calls 2,500 Flop: (11,250) J ♥-10 ♣-4 ♣ (2 players) BB checks, Hero...?
Answer Hero bets 3,375. Explanation This is a terrible board, with two Broadways (one being a ten) flopping out there. However, you are betting whatever will get high cards to fold. This player is short stacked, and is likely playing fit or fold on the flop. You are in position and have a tactical advantage. This will make a disciplined player far less likely to play. Whenever you are considering checking back because a board is so bad, ask yourself if a very small bet would fold out high cards.
Game: Live tournament WSOP, buy-in $ 2,000 Hand: J ♣-10 ♦ Position: SB Players: 9 Blinds/ ante: 250/ 500 You are several levels into the event. The player to your left is large, has a thick beard and is buried in a sweatshirt. He has been playing competently all day. Preflop: Hero is SB with J ♣-10 ♦ 7 folds, Hero raises 1,250, BB calls 1,000 Flop: (3,000) 8 ♣-7 ♣-4 ♥ (2 players) Hero bets 1,770, BB calls 1,770 Turn: (6,540) 8 ♣-7 ♣-4 ♥-K ♦ (2 players) Hero...?
Answer Hero bets 3,540. Explanation Remember our continuation-betting theory. We are betting to fold out the high cards. That generally makes our bets profitable. In a blind versus blind scenario, there is no chance a competent regular is folding a high card to a continuation-bet. There are more competent regulars than normal in higher stakes events, such as this one is. Bet again to fold the multitudes of high cards he floated with.
Game: Charity tournament, Manhattan, buy-in $ 550 Hand: 9 ♥-8 ♥ Position: BB Players: 8 Blinds/ ante: 40/ 80 You are still at the same charity poker tournament. The button player is a Persian with several pinky rings. Buy-in was $ 550, but this gentleman got in for free. Preflop: Hero is BB with 9 ♥-8 ♥ 5 folds, Button raises 180, 1 fold, Hero calls 100 Flop: (400) K ♥-Q ♥-5 ♠ (2 players) Hero...?
Answer Hero bets 300. Explanation Small flush draws are perfect fodder for donk bets. They don't work well as check-raises in many instances, they're too good to fold, and they're weak when check/ called. If you check/ call, it is going to be extremely difficult to make money. If you hit the turn, what is your plan? If you lead, it looks like you have hit your flush. If you check, and he checks back, you have lost a street of value. If you check-raise, everyone is going to know what you have. Donk leading allows you to blend your range and get more value when you hit. You also induce many folds with turn semi-bluffs, which add additional equity to your play.
Game: Home game, Costa Rica, buy-in $ 40 Hand: Q ♥-10 ♥ Position: MP2 Players: 7 Blinds/ ante: 60/ 120 You are playing in a home game in San Jose, Costa Rica. The owner of the house likes every player to have a ton of chips. He loves to play poker. Preflop: Hero is MP2 with Q ♥-10 ♥ 2 folds, Hero raises 420, CO calls 420, 3 folds Flop: (1,020) 8 ♣-8 ♦-6 ♦ (2 players) Hero...?
Answer Hero bets 360. Explanation Paired boards are an excellent opportunity to bet small. The small bet will get the opponent to call with all of their high cards. They assume because the flop is so "hit or miss" that you likely have nothing, and it's cheap to see what you will do on the turn. Once they call with everything, you can then bet the turn, causing them to fold a majority of the time.
Game: Tournament at the Venetian, buy-in $ 660 Hand: K ♥-5 ♥ Position: SB Players: 8 Blinds/ ante: 600/ 1,200 You have made day two The big blind is a young Jewish kid from Montreal. He has consistent results, but you've never seen him play. He is 27 years old. Preflop: Hero is SB with K ♥-5 ♥ 6 folds, Hero raises 3,000, BB calls 2,400 Flop: (7,200) J ♥-J ♣-9 ♣ (3 players) Hero...?
Answer Hero bets 6,120. Explanation He has high cards the majority of the time on this board. Do what you have to do to make him fold them. Half-pot and third-pot bets would leave him options on the turn, whereas you'd have to commit yourself to do anything. With this bet, you have leverage. You can part with your flop bet, but he is committed if he does anything versus it.
Game: Tournament in Panama City, buy-in $ 530 Hand: A ♦-10 ♠ Position: BTN Players: 8 Blinds/ ante: 30/ 60 You're in Panama City. The local casino mogul is throwing a stupidly deep poker tournament. There's a lot of aggressive Latino pros, and a number of fish. The rotund brother of a famous Costa Rican pro opens ahead of you. He has been opening 30% of the hands. You wisely decide to three-bet him. Preflop: Hero is BTN with A ♦-10 ♠ 2 folds, MP1 raises 120, 2 folds, Hero raises 300, 2 folds, MP1 calls 180 Flop: (690) J ♠-10 ♥-4 ♥ (2 players) MP1 checks, Hero bets 365, MP1 calls 365 Turn: (1,420) J ♠-10 ♥-4 ♥-3 ♠ (2 players) MP1 checks, Hero...?
Answer Hero bets 600. Explanation This is a good example of "buying the showdown". If you check, you have no idea if he'll bluff the river with missed draws or not. You'll be flying blind. If you bet the turn, you'll know that everyone on earth calls too much. You'll be getting value from K-10o and K-10s, Q-10o and Q-10s, 10-9s, 10-8s, 10-7s, K-Qo and K-Qs, 9-8s, Q-9s, and possibly 9-9 and 8-8, not to mention all the flush draws. That's a lot of value!
Game: Irish Poker Open, buy-in € 2,250 Hand: A ♠-8 ♠ Position: UTG Players: 9 Blinds/ ante: 50/ 100 You are in the beginning stages of the event. The locals have been friendly. They like to see a number of flops, but they get more serious after that. You haven't seen a three-bet in the first two hours, so you open up your opening range. Preflop: Hero is UTG with A ♠-8 ♠ Hero raises to 200, 6 folds, SB calls 150, BB calls 100 Flop: (690) K ♠-7 ♠-5 ♣ (3 players) SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets 300, SB calls 300, 1 fold Turn: (1,290) K ♠-7 ♠-5 ♣-10 ♣ (2 players) SB checks, Hero...?
Answer Hero bets 650. Explanation Notice how that this hand involves the pesky middle card! While you might want to check here and just see if your flush comes in, that wouldn't be a great idea. That turn was a bad card for all his middle pairs, fives, and sevens. Fire again! He probably would have check-raised his sets already. If he's going to do anything on this turn, it will be call. You'll still get to see if you hit your flush!
Game: Tournament in Pendleton, Oregon, buy-in $ 320 Hand: A ♠-J ♦ Position: CO Players: 6 Blinds/ ante: 15,000/ 30,000 You are at the final table of a $ 320 tournament in Pendleton, Oregon. The big blind is a young Native kid with long hair and a plain white T-shirt. Blinds are 15,000/ 30,000. Preflop: Hero is CO with A ♠-J ♦ 2 folds, Hero raises 75,000, 2 folds, BB calls 45,000 Flop: (165,000) 10 ♥-6 ♠-4 ♣ (2 players) BB checks, Hero...?
Answer Hero bets 81,500, 1 fold. Explanation Just because you have a hand that can be checked down doesn't mean it should be. Just because you block some Ace-highs doesn't mean the majority of your opponent's range isn't still high cards. If you bet here versus a shortstack, most guys will play their pairs and fold their high cards. They will have enough high cards to make your bet profitable. If you check and he leads turn, you will have no idea what he is doing that with. Lock up the imperfect but profitable play and move on.
Game: Live tournament, Budapest, buy-in € 530 Hand: A ♣-3 ♥ Position: BTN Players: 6 Blinds/ ante: 80/ 160 You are in Budapest, playing one of the new digital live tables. Most of the players who have signed up for the odd event are in their 20' s and 30' s. They tend to play online. They all know each other, and they talk constantly about who is better than who, and who just got lucky to win a tournament. Everybody is sitting around a felt table, but they are playing on a small handheld screen. You can look across the table to see your opponent's expressions. The big blind player is 29 years old and Vietnamese in ethnicity, but you hear him speaking Czech. Preflop: Hero is BTN with A ♣-3 ♥ 3 folds, Hero raises to 320, 1 fold, BB calls 160 Flop: (840) Q ♦-J ♠-2 ♠ (2 players) BB checks, Hero bets 399, BB calls 399 Turn: (1,638) Q ♦-J ♠-2 ♠-9 ♠ (2 players) BB checks, Hero bets 1,153, BB calls 1,153 River: (3,944) Q ♦-J ♠-2 ♠-9 ♠-7 ♦ (2 players) BB checks, Hero...?
Answer Hero bets 9,285 (all-in). Explanation Remember, overbetting is always an option. Your opponent's likeliest hand is a jack or a queen. He generally would have re-raised preflop with an overpair. He would have raised on the flop with two-pair. Most young guys fastplay their hands too much. They are worried about not getting value. They also worry about being outdrawn and looking silly.
Game: Side event in the Bahamas, buy-in $ 320 Hand: 5 ♠-2 ♠ Position: BB Players: 7 Blinds/ ante: 3,000/ 6,000 You are at the final table and first place is worth $ 27,000. Your opponent, a 28-year-old with hygiene issues, opens and adjusts his flat brim. He looks deeply concerned about his disappearing career. It's folded to you in the big blind. Preflop: Hero is BB with 5 ♠-2 ♠ 1 fold, MP1 raises 12,000, 4 folds, Hero calls 6,000 Flop: (27,000) 10 ♠-9 ♦-3 ♦ (2 players) Hero...?
Answer Hero checks, MP1 bets 15,600, Hero raises 42,000, 1 fold. Explanation Go through each option before you try to donk bet. Sometimes, I tell people they can donk bet to see if they'll hit their backdoor draws. Because they like to gamble, and hitting draws is exciting, they donk lead constantly after I tell them this. Do not do that. Donk lead when no other option works. Donk lead backdoor draws when it's likely your opponent will call with high cards on the flop and fold them on the turn. In this case, your opponent's chip stack is so disadvantaged, and he is so likely to be opening wide, I'd recommend a small check-raise. If you check he might check back an Ace-high. He's worried about making a mistake at this juncture. The check-raise is more likely to be fool proof; people can't help continuation-betting when they have nothing.
Game: Home game, Kansas, buy-in $ 40 Hand: K ♣-9 ♠ Position: BB Players: 8 Blinds/ ante: 20/ 40 First prize is going to be a little over $ 500. The players are loose and having a great time, but they're not the most educated. Preflop: Hero is BB with K ♣-9 ♠ 4 folds, CO raises 120, Button calls 120, 1 fold, Hero calls 80 Flop: (380) Q ♣-10 ♣-10 ♠ (3 players) Hero...?
Answer Hero checks, and then folds to a continuation-bet of 120. Explanation: Do not fall for this trap. Always ask yourself these questions before you donk bet: "Does this hand work as a fold? Does it work as a check/ raise? Should I check/ call with it instead?" You should donk bet after you've explored every other option.
Game: Tournament in Las Vegas, buy-in $ 235 Hand: 10 ♠-9 ♣ Position: CO Players: 9 Blinds/ ante: 300/ 600-50 You are in the middle stages. The players behind you are average. Preflop: Hero is MP2 with 10 ♠-9 ♣ 5 folds, Hero...?
Answer Hero raises to 1,800. Explanation The big blind has a stack that has to be three-bet all-in, if three-bet at all. If you open to 2x, the button has a simple three-bet to 3,000. They will need their bet to work around 50% of the time for it to be effective. You, however, will have to either call out of position or move 17,000 chips effective into the middle. If you open to 3x, you freeze this player out from making a 3,000 chip three-bet.
Game: Home game, Seoul, South Korea, buy-in $ 109 Hand: J ♣-10 ♠ Position: CO Players: 9 Blinds/ ante: 25/ 50 Everyone is drinking heavily. Most of the other players are expats from the US, although there are some locals. The buy-in is $ 109. The grand prize is $ 3,000 + and a case of Soju. Blinds are 25/ 50, and you inexplicably have 200 white chips that are worth one whole tournament chip. The player who calls you here is a tall white American wearing sandals and cargo shorts. His eyes are glassy. Preflop: Hero is CO with J ♣-10 ♠ 5 folds, Hero raises 100, 1 fold, SB calls 75, 1 fold Flop: (250) A ♦-8 ♥-5 ♠ (2 players) SB checks, Hero bets 84, SB calls 84 Turn: (418) A ♦-8 ♥-5 ♠-9 ♦ (2 players) SB checks, Hero...?
Answer Hero checks. Explanation Remember, you're trying to fold out high cards. If this guy is folding his King-highs, he's doing it to any bet on the flop. He probably folded all his other high cards already. If he didn't want to fold King-high on the flop, it's hard to believe he will do so now.
Game: Tournament in Eastern Europe, buy-in $ 530 Hand: A ♥-10 ♣ Position: MP2 Players: 8 Blinds/ ante: 50/ 100 The players to your left are aggressive pros. You know nothing about them specifically. Preflop: Hero is MP2 with A ♥-10 ♣ 3 folds, Hero...?
Answer Hero folds. Explanation Against players who are likely to three-bet with anything, A-10o is not a good flatting hand out of position. Your profits with A-10o were negligible to begin with. Give up on this hand.
Game: Home Game Tournament, Costa Rica, buy-in $ 100 Hand: A ♥-8 ♠ Position: BB Players: 3 Blinds/ ante: 20/ 40 The tournament director loves a long tournament, so he's given everyone a ton of chips. The button is a 24-year-old aspiring pro. You don't know anything about him, other than the fact he seems angry all the time. Preflop: Hero is BB with A ♥-8 ♠ Button raises 80, 1 fold, Hero calls 40 Flop: (180) 7 ♦-3 ♣-2 ♣ (2 players) Hero checks, Button bets 80, Hero...?
Answer Hero folds. Explanation Almost all check-raise bluffs are designed to fold out your opponent's high cards and some pairs. Those two portions of his continuation-betting range add up to 60%, thus making a profitable check-raise. In this case, you're so deep, it's quite possible he could just call with a high card to see what you're doing. You also have an ace in your hand, which makes it less likely that he has an A-x high card he's willing to bet/ fold. Finally, if he flats you and you turn your ace, you're in for a world of hurt when he called with A-7, A-3, A-2, and superior Ace-highs. Normally, a call can be considered, especially versus an opponent who is likely to shut down. However, since he's an angry person, it's possible he's going to bluff you on the turn... or he might not. Since you don't know anything reliable about his barreling frequency other than "likely high" it's okay to cut your losses here and make a really tight fold.
Game: Heartland Poker Tour Main Event, buy-in $ 1,100 Hand: Q ♥-J ♠ Position: BTN Players: 7 Blinds/ ante: 1,500-3,000/ 300 You have made it to the final 27 of a Heartland Poker Tour Main Event. The blinds are 1,500/ 3,000 with a 300 ante. You just made it into the money. The villain is a man in his mid forties. He seems relatively calm. We haven't seen him raise an A-x unsuited hand. Preflop: Hero is BTN with Q ♥-J ♠ 2 folds, MP2 raises 6,000, 1 fold, Hero...?
Answer Hero folds. Explanation We don't know if he's opening J-10o, which means we can't count on unsuited Broadways being in his range. People also tend to tighten up as they get deeper in live tournaments. That wouldn't mean much if the guy was in his 20' s or 30' s, but a calmer 40-something is terrifying. He's not trying to prove anything. He might have a tighter range. For lack of a better play here, you should fold.
Game: Live tournament WSOP, buy-in $ 2,000 Hand: J ♣-6 ♦ Position: SB Players: 9 Blinds/ ante: 250/ 500 You are in the same situation as the last hand, but your opponent has called the turn bet. Preflop: Hero is SB with J ♣-6 ♦ 7 folds, Hero raises 1,250, BB calls 1,000 Flop: (3,000) 8 ♣-7 ♣-4 ♥ (2 players) Hero bets 1,770, BB calls 1,770 Turn: (6,540) 8 ♣-7 ♣-4 ♥-K ♦ (2 players) Hero bets 3,540, BB Calls 3,540 Turn: (13,620) 8 ♣-7 ♣-4 ♥-K ♦-2 ♣ (2 players) Hero...?
Answer Hero moves all-in. Explanation Your move was thwarted on the turn, but the river brings in the flush draw. Remember, your opponent rarely has a flush here. Many players would raise their great flush draws on the flop. If they did call on the flop with a flush draw, they are not always calling the turn. He would have raised his sets and two-pairs on such a coordinated flop. That means the majority of his range here is sevens and eights that are holding on for dear life. I generally am not a fan of triple barrel bluffing, but a serious regular will often let you pick up the pot here. They know most people will not triple barrel bluff, but they will double too much blind versus blind, so they fold their second and third pairs after calling on the flop.
Players: 9 Blinds/ ante: 400/ 800-100 You are deep in a tournament in Quebec. The player to your left is fairly aggressive. Preflop: Hero is SB with 9 ♦-3 ♥ 7 folds, Hero...?
Answer Hero raises 2,400. Explanation This is a common misconception perpetuated by professional poker players. We are often told raising into "rejam" stacks (chip stacks that are easily moved all-in) is bad. The truth is, raising into several rejam stacks is bad. In this case, our raise of 2,000 (remember, the small blind is already in the pot) is being used to win a pot of 3,875 (we get our bet back when we succeed). Our raise, as a complete bluff, needs to work 2,000/ 3,875 = 0.516 or 51.6% of the time. Let's simplify that to 52%. That means our opponent needs to defend versus our 3x raise with a rejam stack with roughly this range.
You are in the beginning stages of a strange bar tournament with stranger denominations. The players to your left are somewhat aggressive regulars. Preflop: Hero is MP2 with 10 ♥-6 ♥, 3 folds, Hero...?
Answer Hero raises 280. Explanation Remember, the 3.5x raise is great at dissuading people from three-betting! If he flats A-Jo and 8-8 here to your open, then he's flatting or folding 95% of the time.
Game: Private cash game, Nevada, $ 10/ $ 20 Hand: 10 ♦-9 ♦ Position: BTN Players: 9 Blinds/ ante: $ 10/ $ 20 Preflop: Hero is BTN with 10 ♦-9 ♦ 3 folds, MP2 calls $ 20, MP3 calls $ 20, 1 fold, Hero...?
Answer Hero raises to $ 220. Explanation You want to get one guy to call you or no one at all. Dealing with one recreational player is easy. A gang of them will outflop you most of the time.
Game: Side event at Pokerstars Festival, Budapest, buy-in € 300 Hand: J ♣-7 ♣ Position: BTN Players: 5 Blinds/ ante: 25/ 50 You're in Budapest, playing a side event at a Pokerstars festival. One player has yet to claim their stack. Most of the players at your table are young. The buy-in is 300 Euros. Blinds are 25/ 50. You are at the beginning of the tournament. Preflop: Hero is BTN with J ♣-7 ♣ UTG raises 100, 1 fold, Hero...?
Answer Hero raises to 300. Explanation Although Europeans generally open tighter ranges, people always lose their minds in six-max events, especially if they start short-handed. They open any Broadway and many suited-gappers, meaning they will completely miss most boards. Early in the event, it is unlikely they will four-bet you.
Game: Tournament in Baltimore, buy-in $ 1,000 Hand: Q ♣-3 ♦ Position: BB Players: 3 Blinds/ ante: 4,000/ 8,000-1,000 You are fighting for first place. The player on the button is a 25-year-old player, wearing a backwards hat and a basketball jersey. He talks often in poker lingo. Preflop: Hero is BB with Q ♣-3 ♦ Button raises 16,000, 1 fold, Hero calls 8,000 Flop: (36,000) K ♠-8 ♣-2 ♠ (2 players) Hero checks, Button bets 12,800, Hero...?
Answer Hero raises to 40,000. Explanation This is the classic check-raise. You have a guy opening too much due to short-handed play and age. He is continuation-betting this board practically always. Your raise only needs to work 44% of the time, and he's going to have nothing more than half the time. You also represent a number of hands, because you could be check-raising a king, set, or flush draw. Unless he plans to come over the top or flat with a high card, you're good to go. Just so you know, that does happen on occasion. But you'll make a lot of money betting against it.
Game: Tournament in San Jose, Costa Rica, buy-in $ 560 Hand: Q ♣-9 ♣ Position: CO Players: 6 Blinds/ ante: 20/ 40 This is a weirdly-stacked tournament from a new poker site's live event. Villain is a 27-year-old Canadian. Preflop: Hero is CO with Q ♣-9 ♣ UTG raises 120, 1 fold, Hero...?
Answer Hero raises to 420. Explanation The average guy under thirty there is not folding J-10o at the beginning of a live tournament, because he's bored. That means he's opening all the Broadways. That means he's missing the flop (no pair, no draw) upwards of 40% of the time. If he's opening as wide as most guys, he will miss closer to 50% of flops. He also will not four-bet in the first stages with jacks, queens, ace-king, or sometimes even kings. Which means you get free flops out of it.
Game: Side event, Punta del Este, Uruguay, buy-in $ 500 Hand: K ♦-10 ♥ Position: BTN Players: 3 Blinds/ ante: 800/ 1,600 The mix of Brazilian and Argentinian pros in this event are extremely aggressive. They are also well-versed in common poker strategy, having grown up with American influence. Many of the early pros they followed cut their teeth in the United States. Both players left are very solid and competent pros with millions in earnings. Preflop: Hero is BTN with K ♦-10 ♥ Hero...
Answer Hero raises to 6,000. Explanation You are likely outmatched by these two players. Even on their worst days, Latino players will play hard at you, making your life difficult. If you make it 6,000, everyone will be weirded out by your raise. Most will just fold to you. Or call. Both of these are beneficial. If you open to 3,200 or 4,000, these aggressive regulars are going to be very good at three-betting you. If you make it 6,000, any three-bet represents a huge portion of their stack. If you pick up the blinds and antes, that is huge. Your hand is worth half a big blind if you're lucky. Here, you can make five times that. If someone calls, you have a great hand to play postflop in position. If you hit the flop, you can start the proceedings with a small bet, which will be confusing to the opposition. They will often just call, allowing you to buy the showdown on the turn. If you miss the flop, your continuation-bet will be difficult to check-raise or float out of position.
Game: Live tournament in Dortmund, buy-in € 330 Hand: K ♦-10 ♥ Position: BTN Players: 7 Blinds/ ante: 100/ 200 You are in a € 330 tournament in Dortmund, Germany. The players in the blinds both have hoodies and short blonde hair. They have been playing like 20-something regulars the whole day. You are in the beginning stages. Blinds are 100/ 200. Preflop: Hero is BTN with K ♦-10 ♥ 4 folds, Hero...?
Answer Hero raises to 600. Explanation One of the biggest mistakes young pros make is not three-betting from the big blind. They call too much. You want to take advantage of this at the beginning, because later in the tournament they will turn to their 25-35 big blind game from online MTTs and make your life difficult. Raise the largest amount they'll still call from the big blind, but don't raise so small that they can easily three-bet. If you flop something, bet flop and turn. Leave the option open to triple barrel the river. If you're worried about a check-raise on the flop, bet slightly larger. They'll probably still hero call you, but they'll be too confused by a 2/ 3-pot or 3/ 4-pot bet to check-raise.
Preflop: Hero is UTG with A ♣-K ♥ Hero raises 240, 1 fold, MP1 calls 240, 2 folds, Button calls 240, 2 folds Flop: (840) 7 ♦-K ♠-10 ♣ (3 players) Hero bets 420, MP1 calls 420, Button raises 1,245, Hero...? Should hero...? a) Fold. b) Call. c) Raise all-in.
Answer a) Fold.
Game: WSOP Event, buy-in $ 565 Hand: 10 ♥-6 ♦ Position: BB Players: 8 Blinds/ ante: 125/ 250-25 You're playing day one and the antes just kicked in. The cutoff is a studious man, mid-forties, wearing a cardigan. Preflop: Hero is BB with 10 ♥-6 ♦ 4 folds, CO raises 500, 2 folds, Hero calls 250 Flop: (1,125) Q ♠-5 ♣-2 ♦ (2 players) Hero checks, CO bets 500, Hero...?
Flop: (1,125) Q ♠-5 ♣-2 ♦ (2 players) Hero checks, CO bets 500, Hero...? Answer Hero check-raises to 1,500. Explanation:He is short stacked, so he can't three-bet bluff or flat with nothing... not that he'd ever dream of making those plays.
