I've Been Away for a While...
...and I've been so occupied by other things (wedding) that I haven't had a damn bit of time to update the blog (or read anyone else's, either). I'd like to thank those who commented on my AK post, and I'd also like to send a shout-out to everybody over at Bet The Pot, a fantastic community of poker players who can have great, entertaining, and civil discussion unlike some people over at that other board.
As some of you know, I'm getting married in less than 2 months (July 23, 2005, if you wanted to know), and as all of you know who have planned these affairs in the past, the last two months is the time when things get crazy. Now is certainly that time. Consequentially, not a lot of poker, and not a lot of wisdom, except for this one nugget:
But I have played a little at the tables, and I have had the chance to notice something. People love to play suited connectors, and sometimes, the connector part is optional. For a mathematical guy like myself, this is kind of interesting, so...
The mathematician in me knows that it's 4.25-to-1 that you will be dealt two down cards of the same suit in Texas Holdem. I also know that it's 25.5-to-1 for you to be dealt suited cards that also connect. So it's pretty rare, right? Just because something's rare doesn't mean it's worth a 5 BB pre-flop raise or cold calling a 3-bet, though.
I see more players playing suited junk and connectors out of position now than ever. The scary part is that those are the worst beats a solid player usually gets. Your flopped set that you played hard gets beaten by a nine-high flush the guy caught on the river. You just want to reach through the internet and wring his neck, right? But remember, he did beat you...
In his outstanding book, Small Stakes Holdem, Ed Miller says that in a loose game, which many small stakes games are, you should be limping 98s from any position, all suited connectors down to 43s in late position, and any two suited from the blinds. I personally disagree. Playing suited connectors or any two suited out of position is an advanced play, one that could cost you greatly if you're not real sure of what you're doing. If you have position on a bunch of limpers, I can definitely see it. The connectors could hit a straight, a draw, or even a flush, but the important thing is to know when to let them go. For example, if you're not aggressive protecting your hand (and even sometimes if you are), you could flop your flush and lose your hand. Case in point: You're in MP, dealt 9h 8h, and 3 limpers enter the pot. The flop comes down 2h 6h Kh. You've hit your hand. Now what? Do you bet it, and risk losing customers? Do you slow play it, and hope that nobody else has big hearts on the table? This is the dilemma you're in playing these cards. Say for example someone took my advice and limped with Ah Kd. Now he has TPTK and the nut flush draw. Bet hard and lose customers. Play it slower, and risk your extremely vulnerable hand being beaten. See the problem?
These hands (98s, 87s, 76s, 65s, 54s and other suited junk) will make you some decent pots if you hit them. In the above example, if he goes all-in to re-raise you, and no heart falls, you will scoop a large pot. However, a heart beats you immediately. The moral of the story is this: Mix in your suited junk for variety--if you get lucky (what it really is) and hit your hand, enjoy the rewards, but like AK before, these are all drawing hands, and need to be played with caution. Don't be afraid to let them go if you miss your cards.
Party Poker keeps sending me these "Please Come Back!" bonuses. They just plop $20 into my account, and I can withdraw it after 200 raked hands. Watch me freeroll the $25NL tables...The screen name is Tiburon41, so say hi if you see me. I'll be the LAG nitwit playing 98s all the time. Hey, it's not my money right?
As some of you know, I'm getting married in less than 2 months (July 23, 2005, if you wanted to know), and as all of you know who have planned these affairs in the past, the last two months is the time when things get crazy. Now is certainly that time. Consequentially, not a lot of poker, and not a lot of wisdom, except for this one nugget:
If you're planning on getting married, make sure someone else bankrolls you--otherwise, it's -EV.
But I have played a little at the tables, and I have had the chance to notice something. People love to play suited connectors, and sometimes, the connector part is optional. For a mathematical guy like myself, this is kind of interesting, so...
Playing Suited Connectors and other Suited Junk
The mathematician in me knows that it's 4.25-to-1 that you will be dealt two down cards of the same suit in Texas Holdem. I also know that it's 25.5-to-1 for you to be dealt suited cards that also connect. So it's pretty rare, right? Just because something's rare doesn't mean it's worth a 5 BB pre-flop raise or cold calling a 3-bet, though.
I see more players playing suited junk and connectors out of position now than ever. The scary part is that those are the worst beats a solid player usually gets. Your flopped set that you played hard gets beaten by a nine-high flush the guy caught on the river. You just want to reach through the internet and wring his neck, right? But remember, he did beat you...
In his outstanding book, Small Stakes Holdem, Ed Miller says that in a loose game, which many small stakes games are, you should be limping 98s from any position, all suited connectors down to 43s in late position, and any two suited from the blinds. I personally disagree. Playing suited connectors or any two suited out of position is an advanced play, one that could cost you greatly if you're not real sure of what you're doing. If you have position on a bunch of limpers, I can definitely see it. The connectors could hit a straight, a draw, or even a flush, but the important thing is to know when to let them go. For example, if you're not aggressive protecting your hand (and even sometimes if you are), you could flop your flush and lose your hand. Case in point: You're in MP, dealt 9h 8h, and 3 limpers enter the pot. The flop comes down 2h 6h Kh. You've hit your hand. Now what? Do you bet it, and risk losing customers? Do you slow play it, and hope that nobody else has big hearts on the table? This is the dilemma you're in playing these cards. Say for example someone took my advice and limped with Ah Kd. Now he has TPTK and the nut flush draw. Bet hard and lose customers. Play it slower, and risk your extremely vulnerable hand being beaten. See the problem?
These hands (98s, 87s, 76s, 65s, 54s and other suited junk) will make you some decent pots if you hit them. In the above example, if he goes all-in to re-raise you, and no heart falls, you will scoop a large pot. However, a heart beats you immediately. The moral of the story is this: Mix in your suited junk for variety--if you get lucky (what it really is) and hit your hand, enjoy the rewards, but like AK before, these are all drawing hands, and need to be played with caution. Don't be afraid to let them go if you miss your cards.
Party Poker keeps sending me these "Please Come Back!" bonuses. They just plop $20 into my account, and I can withdraw it after 200 raked hands. Watch me freeroll the $25NL tables...The screen name is Tiburon41, so say hi if you see me. I'll be the LAG nitwit playing 98s all the time. Hey, it's not my money right?
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