|
||
|
||
|
Server Time: 5/16/2012 9:21:34 PM PACIFIC |
 An approach to pre-flop play., Paul Stine, 6. Apr 2003 22:25 | ||
| View ( Message | Thread ) | Return to Thread List | |
| Here is an approach to pre-flop play that you might help find helpful. The typical player approaches his hand, pre-flop, in the following manner: Method I a. Look at thier cards. b. Decide what action thier cards warrant. c. Wait for the action to reach them. d. Act on thier hand according to b. Do you buy this as accurate? Is this what you do? Try this instead. Method II a. Watch the action develop; who fold; who calls; who raises or re-raises. b. Decide which possible hands warrant which possbile actions based on what was observed in a (both the actions made and players who made them.) c. Look at your cards. d. Act according to b. Method II helps keep you from forming an emotional attachment to your hand while you are waiting to act. It helps you to act rationally instead of emotionally. Here is an example that uses the same hand and the two methods described: You hold TT sitting two seats in front of the button (call it seat 8 with the button in seat 10.) The player UTG (seat 3) limps, there is a fold, another call, then a raise and a cold call. Now it is your turn to act. There are 7 and a half small bets in the pot and it is two beys to you. Method I: a. Hmmm, TT. Cool a big pocket pair. b. I can easily call with this hand and maybe even raise. I am going to take down a bit pot with these babies. c. {Whistles idley while dreaming of raking in a huge pile of chips. Mmmmm... ten-ten.} d. Dang! A raise!? Probably AJo! Well, I can still call and flop a set. {tosses in two bets} Compare this to Method II: a. Hmmm, UTG limps in, he is a pretty tight player so he probably has a good hand, but not good enough to raise with. Call, fold and now a raise. That player won't tangle with UTG without the goods. Cold call. b. Wow, that is some strong action for this lineup, there are 7.5 small bets in the pot but it is 2 small bets to me. I am going to need some strength here. An ace or king with a suited connector would be good for a call or a big pair to three bet. c. Let's see, T ... T. d. Well, I can't re-raise with it and I can't call with it ... {so, into the muck it goes.} Again, the first method allows you to start hoping, to start dreaming about the huge pot you could (if you weren't already beaten in two place) win. The second method allows you to act without emotion according to what you have observed. To be able to do this during online play put a small post-it note on your screen over the place where your cards are displayed. Now, don't look at your hand until it is your turn to act. In live play, don't look at your cards until it is your turn to act. You should be able to immediately recognise what type of hand you have and act, because you have already decided what hands merit what action based on what you have observed. Paul Stine College Station, TX | ||
| Return to Thread List | ||
| Re: An approach to pre-flop play., Mark, 7. Apr 2003 13:40 | ||
| View ( Message | Thread ) | Return to Thread List | |
| Interesing... I guess i'm a method I player. Online, i obviously look at my hands first. In live play, i usually try to read my opponents and look at my cards when its my turn to act. Until recently, i still played my hands according to their strength. Just lately, i started really playing my hands according to how others play theirs, but i was not thinking about or following a set process. I'm going to try this new thought process for a little while and let you know if my results change. Thanks | ||
| Return to Thread List | ||
| Re: An approach to pre-flop play., MouseBeast, 7. Apr 2003 19:02 | ||
| View ( Message | Thread ) | Return to Thread List | |
| I couldnt agree more to that approach. I recall a 'friendly' home game several years ago where I fired up a nice little game of Russian Rape...5cent ante.... the pot grew and grew to around 800 bucks... It was down to a buddy and myself and i cold called without even looking at my card. He folded a face card over it, and only because he couldnt get a read on me. I never forgot the lesson. It's helped countless times in Holdem and Stud games even to this day. Keep it Squeaky, MouseBeast ~~(__)8> | ||
| Return to Thread List | ||
| Re: An approach to pre-flop play., Andrew Wells, 8. Apr 2003 09:44 | ||
| View ( Message | Thread ) | Return to Thread List | |
| Paul should have mentioned another important benefit of Method II. Playing this way, it is impossible to give a reliable tell to a player in front of you. | ||
| Return to Thread List | ||
| Re: An approach to pre-flop play., stdioh, 8. Apr 2003 10:13 | ||
| View ( Message | Thread ) | Return to Thread List | |
| Indeed. I would say that close to 10% of my profit at poker comes from preflop reads. It goes a long way when you fold your JJ in early position because somebody in late position is practically jumping out of his chair waiting for his turn to raise. Likewise, when you can look across the table and see that at least 5 players are about to limp, playing that 78s under the gun doesn't become too terrible a prospect. These little pieces of edge can add up - don't give them to anybody else. | ||
| Return to Thread List | ||
| POKER FORUM HOME | POKER FORUM | LINK TO US | ARCHIVE | ONLINE POKER | Copyright 2002, United Poker Forum |
|
Getting Started |
UPF Tournaments |
Poker News, Views, Rules |
Poker Strategy & Psychology |
Money and Bankroll Poker Bonuses & Promotions | World Series of Poker (WSOP) | Play Online Poker | Poker Odds & Statistics | Tournament Poker | Poker Books, Videos & Learning Tools Looking for a Poker Game | Poker Bad Beats | Not Quite Poker | Quizzes and Polls | Forum Suggestions & Bugs |
|
|
|
|
Interesting Links: Online Poker | Free Poker Games | United Poker Network | Find Vancouver Businesses |
|