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 he Guardian Poker Column |
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| Victoria Coren |
| Wed 6 April 2011 |
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Following last week's logic I felt committed to the hand. In retrospect, that was a mistake ...
Last week, I said you should not bet a third of your chips unless you're prepared to put the rest in. How quick poker can be to remind us of the exceptions.
In a lively cash game, a couple of days ago, an aggressive player raised to £75 and I called from the small blind with QQ. I could reraise, but in a cash game I don't like to make the pot too big, out of position, before seeing a flop. I don't mind folding this hand cheaply on the wrong sort of flop, and waiting for a better situation. |
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Here, the flop came T 6 4 (perfect) and I bet £100. The pre-flop aggressor raised, as I intended, but only to £200. I stuck in £700 more and he moved all in.
I had £900 left. Shocking amounts to some, I know, but if you're a smaller-stakes player, the gist is simply: I'd put in half my chips and the pot was offering over 3-1. By last week's logic, I felt I'd committed to the hand and must put the rest in. In retrospect, this was a mistake. Unlike last week's tournament player who bet out a third of his chips immediately, my small opening bet had triggered enough action back-and-forth for me to know my opponent must have a real hand. The only real hand I was beating was JJ. More likely he had AA, KK or a set. (It was AA). Against these hands, even a price of 3-1 was too mean. Besides, it was a cash game; folding would not leave me with "a weak stack" but with £900. I could always add more ammunition.
Thus, a modification: do not open the pot for a third (or more) of your stack unless you're ready to put the rest in. Sometimes, the chips get there in such a way that you have enough information to fold.
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