Poker: hands analysis, useful stuff and general discussions

[patt0]

I finally managed to reload some hands to the new database, so I am ready to start hand discussions. Hope, it will increase an interest to the topic. Sometimes I will share hands with stopping action on the decision I doubt to avoid result oriented opinions. Today I have quite a non-standard spot to discuss.


Top 3 of live event satellite. First and second places get 5.5k$ worth packages on EPT event, third place gets something like 80$.

1) What would you do here - all-in or just call?
2) Why would you choose this option?
3) If you choose to call, what are your plans for turn and river?

Well the BTN didn't show a lot of strength with his pre-flop raise (not even 3x BB, so it's almost like a limp here). Maybe he was just trying to put pressure on the blinds, and trying to steal them. The flop was actually nice to Hero, because there are no big cards on the table, and the BTN bet was quite weak (I don't even consider that a continuation bet). Since Hero hit top pair, and still has a backdoor flush draw I would just raise to $18k. This would show some strength since it was a check raise. BTN most likely didn't hit anything. Hero would probably win the hand right away. He would already be quite committed to the hand, so BTN would think twice before trying to bluff him out of the hand, because Hero would probably reply with an all-in.

If hero wants to be really aggressive he could just go all in straight away, but just calling would be a bad move. If a figure shows up on the turn, he just couldn't keep making calls.

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[HugoStiglitz]

I finally managed to reload some hands to the new database, so I am ready to start hand discussions. Hope, it will increase an interest to the topic. Sometimes I will share hands with stopping action on the decision I doubt to avoid result oriented opinions. Today I have quite a non-standard spot to discuss.


Top 3 of live event satellite. First and second places get 5.5k$ worth packages on EPT event, third place gets something like 80$.

1) What would you do here - all-in or just call?
2) Why would you choose this option?
3) If you choose to call, what are your plans for turn and river?

Well the BTN didn't show a lot of strength with his pre-flop raise (not even 3x BB, so it's almost like a limp here). Maybe he was just trying to put pressure on the blinds, and trying to steal them. The flop was actually nice to Hero, because there are no big cards on the table, and the BTN bet was quite weak (I don't even consider that a continuation bet). Since Hero hit top pair, and still has a backdoor flush draw I would just raise to $18k. This would show some strength since it was a check raise. BTN most likely didn't hit anything. Hero would probably win the hand right away. He would already be quite committed to the hand, so BTN would think twice before trying to bluff him out of the hand, because Hero would probably reply with an all-in.

If hero wants to be really aggressive he could just go all in straight away, but just calling would be a bad move. If a figure shows up on the turn, he just couldn't keep making calls.

3x BB raise would be an awful decision in this spot, especially with aces. Firstly, t gives the chipleader on SB an opportunity to take the pressure on the Button by restealing very wide range and BU must fold nearly 99% vs 3-bet all-in because of the ICM considerations. Secondly, it doesn't give me enough chances to protect my big blind, which he certainly wants me to do)
As for the advice to raise, I really like it, thanks. Such commitment opens great prospects to mind games and leveling and I think in this circumstances it can give even more folding equity than just moving all-in because it seems much stronger. I haven't thought about this option, but it definitely worth to be considered, thanks again)


Guys, check this topic. Maybe somebody missed it and would like to participate: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3613739.0

[tokeweed]

Since Galfond's upcoming poker site was discussed here, then we might as well keep updating its progress...

Here's the latest from Galfond and it's looking good imo.  No HUD but with dynamic avatars showing how a player is playing from your own personal POV depending on how he has been playing against you.

Anyway, read about it below.  I think it's a breakthrough of sorts for online poker.

Laying the Groundwork
https://www.runitonce.eu/news/2-laying-the-groundwork/

[HugoStiglitz]

Since Galfond's upcoming poker site was discussed here, then we might as well keep updating its progress...

Here's the latest from Galfond and it's looking good imo.  No HUD but with dynamic avatars showing how a player is playing from your own personal POV depending on how he has been playing against you.

Anyway, read about it below.  I think it's a breakthrough of sorts for online poker.

Laying the Groundwork
https://www.runitonce.eu/news/2-laying-the-groundwork/

I've already written about it here, but thanks anyway. Hopefully, I've expressed my opinion clear enough.

As for your words, I am afraid it's too early to name these things a breakthrough. As far as I heard, the majority of players don't like this news.

[tokeweed]

^  Of course they hate it.  Most of them are prolly multi tabling, HUD loving, break even rake back pros.  They prolly thought Galfond was gonna bring the golden days of online poker by creating his site like the Scheinbergs' Stars.

[HugoStiglitz]

The broadcast from Montenegro Triton Super High Roller Series started nearly an hour ago. Six days of the most expensive tournaments with 36-cards deck and lots of familiar faces. I've read in Daniel Cates's interview that this game is extremely loved by rich Asian amateurs, so it'll be interesting to watch for if it can become popular all over the world. There is much more action in compare with 52-cards deck game. The rules are little bit different, but I still can't understand what exactly hand rankings they are using right now)

Link to the broadcast: https://www.twitch.tv/tritonpoker

[tokeweed]

^  You mean 6 Plus Holdem?  Yeah, I heard that game is played at Macau private games a lot.  I'm not sure if they play it in the casinos tho.

But if they really wanted more action, why not teach them how play PLO then?

[HugoStiglitz]

^  You mean 6 Plus Holdem?  Yeah, I heard that game is played at Macau private games a lot.  I'm not sure if they play it in the casinos tho.

But if they really wanted more action, why not teach them how play PLO then?

It's very close to 6-Plus, but they played with the hand ranking, where straight is higher than three of a kind.
I don't know, why they prefer this game instead of PLO. The only reason I can assume is the fact that online high-rollers have enough skill and experience in PLO to play against amateurs with a big advantage on the distance and businessmen should understand it. 6-Plus is much less popular online, so pros don't have so perfected strategies.

Quite an exciting fact that Phil Ivey played in the T-shirt with Virtue Poker ad. He is their ambassador as well as Daniel Colman and Brian Rast. They finished the ICO a few days ago and raised 100% of the 18.5 mln $ hardcap. I fastly read the whitepaper and it made me think skeptically about their prospects. They emphasized problems of modern online poker pretty well, but I didn't see the way how they are going to fix it. The example of Coinpoker shows decentralization is far away from being the crucial fact for potential players when they decide what room to choose for playing. The most important thing (and the biggest advantage of Pokerstars) is software and I don't believe they can beat Amaya in this issue having 18.5 mln $. I will be glad to be wrong in my estimation, but right now it seems to me they won't manage to become a significant competitor for the already-mentioned monopolist.

[HugoStiglitz]

More news about RunItOnce. Recently Galfond came in Joe Ingram's podcast. Obviously, the main topic was the soon launching of the room. Short summary:

• Anonymous tables with aliases will be only in non-high-stakes cash games. In tournaments and high-stakes cash everybody will be able to see real nicknames of opponents.
• USA, Spain and Italy citizens can't play in the room due to law issues. Playing using VPN is prohibited.
• On the first phase, there will be only NLHE and PLO available for playing. Limit games are planned to be added later.
• Every player can get hands he or she have played in 24 hours after doing it. The format will allow to upload them in a tracker.
• The Security Department in RunItOnce is not so big as in Pokerstars and PartyPoker, but Phil believes his team is much more qualified. Their main purpose is finding and banning bots.

The link to the full podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yb3uz47-X4


I am very glad to see decisions for the problems, about which I've written 2 weeks ago. I've told I consider writing notes and remembering previous actions to be an important part of the technical skill, so it's great I can try to get this kind of advantage in my favorite MTT format)
As for the sending hands on emails, I think it should help in the issue of finding bots by enthusiasts from players.
Other news was quite predictable.

[HugoStiglitz]

Doug Polk and Daniel Negreanu again got nearby boxes at the feature table. Doug prepared perfectly)

[goneapesh1t]

^  Of course they hate it.  Most of them are prolly multi tabling, HUD loving, break even rake back pros.  They prolly thought Galfond was gonna bring the golden days of online poker by creating his site like the Scheinbergs' Stars.

I think he also stated that buying in short stacked will not be an option.  To sit at a table a player must buy in for the full amount..  As a PLO player , this sounds really juicy.  I imagine a lot of my PLO peers feel the same way. I can see a scenario where all of the talent show up for an easy payday but just end playing each other.  The only time I really hear enthusiasm for Phil's site is among seasoned players. Also Myself and a good portion of PLO players don't Use a HUD when playing ring games. So I don't think he really rubbed any Omaha guys the wrong way with the policies. .