The arsenal of ‘poker weapons’ included in the strategies that each of you bring to the tables have often placed you in the final 10 of a cash or free online poker Multi-Table Tournament (MTT). And, on a fairly consistent basis (likely in the area approximating 20% of the time) they have also placed you in the position of playing ‘Heads-Up’ for a tournament title.

Moreover, whether you’ve specifically chosen to play in a ‘Sit-n-Go’, or you’ve ended up at a MTT final table, you’re going to experience multiple similarities between the 2 events that host a total of 10 players….the final 10 from a MTT, or the 10 who joined the ‘Sit-n-Go’. This commonality, plus the subsequent practical issues tied to ‘Heads-Up’ play, require some advisories.

Now….I know y’all get to a final table with a degree of regularity. But, I also know that many of you have a problem getting beyond 10th, 9th, 8th, 7th, 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd, and 2nd place finishes.

Additionally, I’m fully aware of the fact that those of you who are ‘stuck in this rut’, are unable to find a cure to the problems that are ‘rustling you into this rut’. And, the fact that you’re doing so is costing you money.

Fittingly, might it not be a good idea to ‘rid ourselves of the rut’.

Of course it is! The 2 guys named ‘Dumb’ and ‘Dumber’ ain’t here. Both of them finally decided to get on the bus with all those bikini glad young ladies; some form of sanity intervention deposited on each of them implanted a modicum of intellect….or, they saw the ‘Alpha Bull’, and decided on the better option.

We also have a ‘better option’ regarding our approach to final table play.

> It incorporates the dictum that ‘Tight is Right’….at least until we reach the point where there are only 4 players left in the game.

> Additionally, we no longer want to view the table in 3 sections….i.e: Early, Middle, and Late.

> Change is necessary. The final table of any MTT (or ‘Sit-n-Go’) has only 2 sections: Early and Late. No Middle positions exist!

> What were the Middle positions now become Early positions. It’s a different game. Adjust!

Having written the above, keep your ‘Playable Pockets Matrix’ (PPM) in mind.

> It tells you that Early position playable pockets are limited to AA, KK, QQ, AK, and AQ suited.

> Thus, when you’re seated in what was the Small Blind (SB), Big Blind (BB), Under The Gun (UG), Middle 1 (M1), Middle 2 (M2), Middle 3 (M3), and Middle 4 (M4) positions, you’re not gonna’ be in too many hands any more.

> Again, a reminder, ‘Tight is Right’.

The ONLY exception to the above are pockets 22 through JJ.

Whenever any of these 10 pockets are dealt to you, call the forced Big Blind bet, hope that only ‘limpers’ enter the pot, and then pray that you flop a set.

Of course, if someone raises the forced Big Blind bet, whether you’ve already ‘limped in’ or have yet to act, lay down your pocket pair. This includes the Jacks (there’s a 66% chance that an Ace, King, or Queen will be a part of the flop).

‘Tight is Right’, and you want others OFF the final table before you begin to play competitively for the tournament title.

> And, of significance, that competitive point in time occurs when you and 3 other players remain in the game.

> Plus, by then, by the the time it’s just the 4 of you left, you’ll clearly have an understanding of the style of play and idiosyncracies associated with the game put forth by your 3 opponents.

Now, when play does begin on the table of 10, the size of your stack dictates your actions.

> If you’re among the low stacks, DO NOT go crazy with an Ace/rag pocket

> Try as best as you can to let 2 or 3 other players make the Ace/rag mistake, or the King/rag mistake.

> And, in so doing, as they get eliminated, move up from a potential 10th place finish to at least a 7th or 6th place finish.

> Again, lose the inclination to play Ace/rag (a frequent action on the part of many players who are low-stacked).

Or, fail to do so, and remain in a 10th place rut.

> Additionally, lose the inclination to go ‘all-in’ with a low pocket pair; 22 through JJ.

> Certainly you’ll want your low pocket pair to be hunting for a set, but you ought not be willing to take an ‘all-in’ loss on a low pair.

> Set mining….Yes. All-in….No.

However, if you’re one of the low stacks, and any one of the 5 playable pockets does come your way, get your chips into the pot, it’s one of the few times we’ll allow ourselves to act with aggression in the early stages of final table play; hopefully you’ll double up.

And, yes, you actually just read a sentence where I suggested, proposed, or alluded to an ‘All-In’ bet. Is the world coming to an end? Vadnais and an ‘All-In’ bet. Good Lord!

“I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul”….these are the last 2 lines from the poem ‘Invictus’ by William Ernest Henley. And, in the instance of a low-stack, with you in possession of one of the 5 playable pockets, and a brief prayer to your God, the British poet’s words DO NOT apply. Serendipity does!

Allow ‘Lady Luck’ to to be the master of your fate, allow ‘divine blessings’ to be the captain of your soul. So, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, the ‘all-in’ bet is acceptable.

If you’re mid-stacked or average-stacked, pound the words ‘Tight is Right’ into your mind.

> Primarily because your singular goal at this stage of play is to get to the final 4.

> Of note, since you’ll be involved in game play with ONLY the 5 playable pockets (and the low pairs of 22 through JJ), you’ll experience a ‘Flops Seen Percentage’ of much less than 10%

> Far lower than the 16% to 24% that you might normally identify as your customary number.

If, on the other hand, you have a large stack, or, if you are the ‘chip-leader’, you have a choice to make.

> And, it would be wise to make the choice that represents the opposite ‘style of play’ versus the ‘style of play’ that you generally compete with.

> Essentially throwing a ‘curve ball’ at the other players.

Remember, many of them are not familiar with the WAFABA group, they play well, they maintain a consistency of focus, and they know your game.

> They’ve seen both your ‘fast ball’ and ‘slider’.

> Thus, you unquestionably need the ‘curve ball’.

> At this point, it’s the only pitch they’ve yet to play against.

So, you can choose to play ‘Tight is Right’, or, you can choose to play very aggressively.

You have no other options. Unless, of course, someone has taught you ‘a new truth’ about the game, or a new ‘pitch’ to use as a metaphor or an option.

And, if that’s the case, I desperately need to have a special tutorial delivered for my benefit, heck, even at 67, I learn something new every day.

When you choose the latter ‘style of play’, very aggressive, you’re looking to steal as many blinds as is possible.

And, since the other players, in their attempt to get to the final 4, are probably adhering to a ‘Tight is Right’ approach, the pressure you apply to the table should be adding what are now fairly large blinds to your stack.

When you choose the former ‘style of play’, conservative, or ‘Tight is Right’, you’re looking to sit back, pick up on tells, discern playing habits, and let the competition eliminate each other from the game.

And, while you’ll be losing some blinds, while you’ll be moderately lowering your stack, it won’t be long before you end up finding yourself amongst the final 4.

Then, and only then, does the ‘real’ end-game play begin.

Now, at the advent of final 4 play, it’s ‘abandon the PPM time’, the Playable Pockets Matrix.

> Get in the hand for the cost of the Big Blind with suited connectors and suited one-gappers (like 6h/8h or 7c/9c).

> Get in the hand for the cost of the Big Blind with Ace/rag suited, King/rag suited, and Queen/rag suited.

> Plus, if you’ve been dealt a low pocket pair, push out a 4x the BB raise, where you’re looking to isolate your play against just one competitor.

> Hey! Take notice, you just became an extremely aggressive player.

And, from final 4 play to ‘Heads-Up’ play, it’s ‘extreme aggression’ that will produce significantly increased 3rd place, 2nd place, and 1st place finishes for you.

> Post flop, if the board does not fit with your pocket cards, get away from the hand.

>Alternately, if the board does fit with your pocket cards, vigorously maintain your aggression.

> And, you accomplish this by either pot-size bets or overbets, even when you hold a ‘nuts’ hand.

What? Betting with a ‘nuts’ hand, not ‘slow-playing’. YES !!!!

Simply because any one of your opponents could have reached the ‘limit of their frustration’.

By that I mean they are tired of playing, or bored with the game, or running out of patience, or dinner is ready, or fooled by your aggression, or, any combination of the five “I’ve had enough” mumbled words that they might be saying to themselves.

And, their call of your bet opens the door for their departure from the game.

Also, recognize that I’ve made no mention of ‘Continuation Bets’ (CB), for just cause.

> CB bets do not enter your game until Heads-Up play commences

> Then, you may well be consumed by Continuation Bets

> It’s one of a half-dozen keys to winning in Heads-Up (HU) situations; whether the play be in a 2 handed ‘sit-n-go’ game, a Heads-Up multi-player elimination event, or final table play between the last 2 players in a tournament game.

Importantly, you need to understand that you’re going to be in ONLY one of two positions when the HU action begins

> You either hold the chip lead, or you don’t hold the chip lead.

> And, the actions you will use during game play are directly correlated to which position you find yourself in

> Ahead in the chip count, or behind in the chip count.

When you’re behind, you need to be incredibly aggressive.

> This works to your advantage because your opponent is ‘hell bent’ on maintaining his or her chip lead.

> Additionally, you need to eliminate any fears you may have about Heads-Up play in general,.

> Simply think of it as a table of 10, with just you and your sole opponent remaining in the hand

> All the other players have folded

> 8 players watching the hand, 2 players competing in the hand.

The fundamentals to Heads-Up play when you DO NOT have the chip lead (you’re the lower stack) should be ingrained with ‘incredibly aggressive’ play as follows:

- anytime you’re dealt a Q/8 or better, put out a 3x the Big Blind raise

- post-flop, with or without a good hand, make a strong Continuation Bet

- in either instance, get out of the hand when an Over-The-Top raise occurs

- or, if you have a strong post-flop hand, push ‘all-in’ and try for a double-up

When you’re ahead, you need to be incredibly conservative.

This works to your advantage because all you need is one good pocket and board to claim victory.

You really don’t need to win a lot of hands, you really don’t need to steal a lot of blinds, you really don’t need to ‘bully’ your opponent – NO; you just need one ‘all-in’ winning hand. ‘

Tight is Right’ and ‘Patience’ should completely control your game play.

The fundamentals to Heads-Up play when you DO have the chip lead (you’re the higher stack) should be ingrained with ‘incredibly conservative’ play as follows:

- never initiate the ‘all-in’ bet, but call with pocket AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AK, and AQ suited

- never raise the Big Blind, but call a raise with the above pockets and any pair.

- always ‘slow-play’ your current ‘nuts’ hand, looking for an ‘all-in’ bet from your opponent

- never initiate any bet; allow your weak hand to be drawn against (put no chips at risk)

- your primary goal is to protect your lead; it’s NOT to defend your blinds

Were the fundamentals somewhat anti-climatic? Perhaps so! Yet, should you opt to follow each of them as listed above, along with a bit of practice, and a little more practice, you’ll eventually discover that approximately two out of every three Heads-Up game play situations will end up as an add to your victory column….and, an add to your bankroll.

Best of Luck at the Tables,

D. Michael

by D. M. Vadnais. (c) copyright; March, 2010; no reproduction, all rights reserved by D. M. Vadnais

Practice poker versus your computer with integrated lessons in “Poker for Dummies” Perfect for the times when you just really don’t feel like playing real people

And play a poker championship in Governor of Poker 2

Read the Previous article in the Advanced Poker Strategies at advanced free online poker part 8

A bit advanced for you? Check out Poker 101 our Learn How to play poker for beginners series or Build a Bankroll for intermediates.

While the intent was for this to be a series of seven Articles, retrospective thought has identified a need for an eighth and ninth Article.

Keep in mind the fact that y’all are playing at NoPayPoker; a free poker site. And, even though the word ‘free’ can’t be transposed with the word ‘donk’, it’s likely that you fully understand the relationship between the two words.

Frankly, greater than 95% of the players you compete against at NoPay Poker are either new to the game, or, they’re devoid of any ability to learn practical lessons on ‘how to play the game’.

That said, there is a necessity to identify the mistakes made by these players, and the mistakes made by each of you.

And, just because many of you have been identified as qualified, competent, accomplished, and cash-winning players doesn’t mean that you don’t, every so often, fall into the ‘mistake pit‘….a dangerous place to be.

Primarily because the ‘pit’ is a portal to the domain of the ‘Alpha Bull’, and, it’s essentially the beginning of the application process for a WAFABA membership; something we ought not be interested in.

Now, as has been so frequently scribbled by me, the biggest of all mistakes is a lack of patience.

And, since it has been written about ‘ad nasuem’, there can be no compelling reason to further elaborate on the subject matter other than to render a reminder.

• In real estate it’s ‘location, location, location’ (the rule of 3).
• In business it’s ‘product, price, promotion, and placement’ (the four P’s of marketing).
• And, in ‘pppppoker’ it’s patience, patience, patience, patience, and patience (the 5 P’s of poker); enough said.
• You’re familiar with the drill….or you better be !!!!!! If not, you’ll be opening the door to the 6 levels of torment commonly found in the ‘Farm Animal’ pastures.

The second biggest mistake made by many good players is the failure to allow an ample amount of ‘game play’ time to settle under our belts and into our minds.

If we don’t develop a somewhat comprhensive command of how our opponents play the game, if we don’t develope an ability to ‘read’ their actions, how can we possibly destroy their stacks and truck them off to ‘DonkeyTown’.

Certainly, one of the major factors contained within our ‘advantaged’ play is the ‘consistency of focus’ that we apply to the game.

It produces the ‘reads’ we need to accumulate chips, and it produces the acquisition of the requisite social graces we need. Without which, we wouldn’t be able to introduce Bozo, Dumbo, and BananaHead to the WAFABA group and the Alpha Bull.

In the end, said introduction is likely a positive experience for them; it’s something they’ve earned. And, everyone likes recompense for their efforts.

Additionally, the process of ‘game play’ time expanding minute by minute, puts us in the position of avoiding the opening Multi Table Tournament hands dominated by ‘chip-flinging’. Where, the aforementioned Bozo, Dumbo, and BananaHead are basically playing Bingo to decide who ends up with the starting chips that each were allotted when the table opened.

Moreover, these initial minutes of play allow us to identify targets….and, when targets are available, it would be an enormous mistake to have not identified them.

Third, in our queue of mistakes, are the vast numbers of players at No Pay Poker who are completely enamoured with ace/rag pockets.

• The ace, in and of itself, provides liscense for them to believe that they’re half way home to a pair of aces….a hand they believe will win the pot.
• Yet, they always fail to realize that it’s a Negative Expected Value (-EV) pocket; destined to produce loses over the long-term.

Plus, these ‘Farm Animals’ will push bets onto the table with regularity; never once realizing that another player could easily be holding a pocket ace with a better kicker, or, other players could be holding any of approximately 30 pockets with a Positive Expected Value (+EV).

Next, and 4th on the list, is the common failure to respect the Big Blind (BB) position when only limpers have entered the pot.

• When a flop of K/9/4 hits the board, and Bozo has a pocket King, he’s absent any regard for the BB player….
• who, because it didn’t cost him anything additional to see the flop, could be holding pocket 4/9.
• Thus, Bozo does some ‘chip-flinging’, and the Big Blind happily raises.

Of note, the table position at the felt that wins the most hands is the Big Blind.

Importantly, for each of you, since you’re the better players, it’s okay to bet out so that the waters can be tested….but, the bet should be moderate in size.

Then, if the BB comes over the top, allow your player notes to dictate your actions….and, as learned, it’s perfectly acceptable to lay down a once powerful hand (Article 4).

Fifth, none of us can count the times when we’ve been witness to Dumbo and his WAFABA co-members play hands completely oblivious to Pot Odds, Implied Odds, or both; neither are a part of their thought or sight capacities; donkeys have limited intellect and don’t see too well.

Plus, none of them would be able provide you with a definition of either. And, as a result, they often bet irrational amounts….frequently yielding acceptable Pot Odds to the other players currently in the hand.

Unquestionably, not one of you would ever have an excuse for this type of action.

• Y’all learned long ago that you are principally a pot size bettor.
• And, you learned the lesson for a very good reason….a pot size bet rarely gives your opponent playable Pot Odds.
• They’re gonna’ fold, or, if they’re dumb enough to accept undervalued Pot Odds, it creates all the more justification for their claim to residency in the pastures, and their intimate relationship with the Alpha Bull.

Moving on, we get to an ignorance associated with overcards….it’s sixth on our list of mistakes.

• And, Article 4 of this series, “Folding: Laying Down a Once Powerful Hand”, recently ‘bookmarked’ by one of NoPayPoker’s best players (KajunSpice), brought you all of the information you need to avoid the blunder.
• However, since Bozo, Dumbo, and BananaHead didn’t read Article 4, be prepared for them to often carry a pair of Tens through the process of betting post-river….even though the board contains an Ace, a King, and 3 suited cards.

Seventh, and always fascinating to me, is the remarkably stupid action of Overbetting.

• In truth, even when the WAFABA member holds a pair of pocket Aces the insanity is present.
• It’s either a 10 to 50 times the Big Blind bet, or an all-in bet.
• They’ve no knowledge of the ‘money-winning’ strategy associated with the holding of the current nuts hand….yet, we all know that the strategy is called ‘slow-play’.
• And, we all know how much profit the ‘slow-play’ strategy puts into our bankrolls.

Importantly, we also know that there is an acceptable time for us to actually initiate an overbet. It’s almost always an action we use when we want to protect what appears to be a current nuts hand, and we don’t want any callers.

An example would be when we hold pocket Jacks, and the flop showed 2/6/T rainbow. If there was $600 in the pot, a $1,000 bet would be more than acceptable….because such a bet gives no one acceptable Pot Odds.

Then, there are the ever present all-in bets that are made by PinBrain when he holds a low pocket pair….this would be 8th on the list.

Of course, I’m not considering the opening few hands in any MTT; there we’re seeing a ‘chip-flinging’ fiasco of monumental ignorance.

No, I’m talking about middle and late game action. Pocket Sixes, not the low stack, all-in? Come on! For the most part, the only callers are going to be players with paint pocket pairs or Big Slick….and, combined, those callers make the pocket Sixes an underdog.

Ninth, and my favorite in terms of observing stupidity in game play, is the degree to which ‘suited rags’ are played by the ‘Farm Animals’.

• Anything from 2/3 suited to 4/J suited is worthy of a bet or raise from the critters who reside in the pastures.
• Somehow, they believe that the flop is going to yield 2 or 3 cards that match their suit….not realizing there is only a 13% probability that 2 cards will appear, or only a 2% probability that 3 cards will appear.

At intermittent points in time they must marvel at what they would describe as ‘bad luck’. It’s certain that they don’t use those ‘points in time’ to marvel at their inability to play the game with any level of skill.

Speculatively, I imagine that most of these Dumbo’s believe that the game of poker is a game of chance.…never could they think of the game as a skill event.

The latter would require that they both read and learn. And, remembering that a donkey has both poor eyesight (hard to read) and limited intelligence (hard to learn), they are forever relegated to the dung heaps that surround them.

Tenth has to do with game play out of the 3 early table positions.…

• The Small Blind (SB)
• The Big Blind (BB)
• The Under The Gun (UG) seats.

Each of us understands that the pockets with a Positive Expected Value (+EV) are limited to AA, KK, QQ, AK, and AQ suited.

However, the WAFABA group teaches an alltogether different approach. Their belief is centered around the idea that you can’t get lucky if you’re not in the hand….so, play any pockets. And, I will admit that sometimes it works to their advantage.

Such is true because every once in a while a flop fits with the rags they’ve chosen to play. Yet, we know to be extra careful when we’re playing against only limpers and the Small Blind, Big Blind, or either one of them.

Perhaps, the occassional win delivered to the WAFABA member who plays garbage out of early position, generates the motivation to continue pursuing their extraordinary level of ‘dumb’. In the end though, when day is done, you go home with money, and they go home with empty wallets.

Next, since the reason for playing poker is to win money (with a bit of social interaction added), we know that we need to outlast the ‘bubble’, get to the final table, and then look to win the tourney. Thus, eleventh on the list is about money….and the absence of ego.

But, the near opposite is true for the WAFABA pinheads. Sure, they’d like to win money; yet, how often have you seen 2 or more of them fling chips at each other while playing with terrible cards….hand after hand, one right after the other. And, rarely with exception, they’re doing that because of ego. “Nah na nah, nah na”, “I’m better than you”.

Twelfth, at the final table, all but you and one other player eliminated, Heads-Up (HU) play commences.

• And, for even some of the really good players at NoPay, the mistakes that can be observed are numerous.
• The biggest of all is the failure to recognize that aggression rules in Heads-Up action.
• And, while I’ll not do more in this Article than impart the last sentence, I do expect to post a future article or blog on the details related to game play requirements once you’ve gotten to the point of just you and one other competitor. [Please look for this post in the near future.]

Last, in the 13th spot, is ‘Style of Play’.

But, not as you might immediately think of it. I’m not talking about ‘passive’ versus ‘aggressive’, or ‘tight’ versus ‘loose’.

I’m, oddly enough, talking about geography. Because players in different parts of the world address the game with one very profound distinction….’decision making’ on a pocket cards analysis basis versus ‘decision making’ on a post-flop basis.

• Players from the United States are most often making the decision to play the hand or not play the hand based on the pocket cards they were dealt.
• Players from Eastern European countries are most often making the decision to play the hand or not play the hand based on the 5 cards available to them post-flop.
• Players from Western Europe and Australia can do either.
• Thus, the need for a little social-interaction….or ‘info’ seeking interaction is necessary. It’s not difficult to ask a player who is new to you “Where are you from”.

Interestingly, or coincidentally, we’ve ended up with 13 mistakes….the unlucky number. And, if any of you fall into the pit by playing with, or into, any one or more of these mistakes, you’re on a road that could easily open some very negative doorways.

The 1st is a door that could start the WAFABA application process, the 2nd is door that could find you in the company of the Alpha Bull, and the 3rd is a door that introduces you to a ATM….where a stream of withdrawals by Bozo and his co-horts could decimate your bankroll. None of which should be placed before you, and none of the doors should be opened.

Best of Luck at the Tables,

D. Michael

by D. M. Vadnais

(c) copyright; March, 2010; no reproduction, all rights reserved by D. M. Vadnais

We’ve come a long way in these ‘Expanding Your Bankroll’ free poker Articles, and I’m very pleased that you were my guest. I hope some usable information was made available to all of you, and I hope that additional profits will accrue to your benefit.

Plus, in that this is the last Article, I want you to know that I’m intent on bringing home a powerful, profound, and purposeful 3 word message: THINK, THINK, THINK.

To start, please take a few minutes to THINK about these great quotes.

Each was culled from a quality professional poker player or a good published writer.

They sum up some of the interesting and most practical ideas associated with the game of poker….a game that is truly played in a 6 inch chamber; not on a 12 foot table. (Don’t be concerned; we’ll define the 6 inch chamber shortly.)

1. David Sklansky on Poker
“When we play, we must realize, before anything else, that we are out to make money.”

2. From Big Deal by Anthony Holden
Poker is a science, a semblance of warfare, an art form or indeed a way of life – but it is also merely a game, in which money is simply the means of keeping score.”

3. David Mamet on Poker
“Poker reveals to the frank observer something else of import—it will teach him about his own nature. Many bad players do not improve because they cannot bear self-knowledge.”

4. Bobby Baldwin on Poker
“The mark of a top player is not how much he wins when he is winning but how he handles his losses. If you win for thirty days in a row, that makes no difference if on the thirty-first day you have a bad night, go crazy, and throw it all away.”

5. Jack Strauss on Poker
“Limit poker is a science, but no-limit is an art. In limit, you are shooting at a target. In no-limit, the target comes alive and shoots back at you.”

6. From The Gentleman’s Handbook on Poker by William J. Florence
“Never lose your temper, either with those you are playing with or, more particularly, with the cards. There is no sympathy in poker. Always keep cool. If you lose your head, you will lose all your chips.”

7. From A Girlhood Among Gamblers by Katy Lederer
“The cardinal sin in poker, worse than playing bad cards, worse even than figuring your odds incorrectly, is becoming emotionally involved.”

8. Amarillo Slim on Poker
“It never hurts for potential opponents to think you’re more than a little stupid and can hardly count all the money in your hip pocket, much less hold on to it..”

Next, THINK about this: “The Game is Played in a 6 inch chamber”‘

….not said by a poker professional. Rather, it was said by a golf professional….Bobby Jones; and as you may well know, he was a very famous and successful competitor. He dominated the game when he was an active player, and he attributed his near-countless accomplishments to a very simple belief.

That belief, so ardently adhered to throughout his career (in golf and as a lawyer) can be paraphrased as follows: “Competitive golf is not played on a 7,000 yard course, it’s played in a 6 inch chamber”. And, as you might easily conclude, he was making reference to the gray matter between the ears….he was talking about the brain; not just his, but also those belonging to all of his opponents.

And, our game, as skilled as it is, as ‘advantaged’ as it is, always finds us seated at a 12 foot table, more accurately at it’s online equivalent.

Yet, we always play the game within our individual 6 inch chambers….I’ve never been able to come up with an exception to that Bobby Jones ‘piece of wisdom’. He used it for golf (and legal matters), we use it for poker; and, hopefully, we’ll use it elsewhere.

Recognizably, there could be a small number of you who would argue that ‘instinct’, not ‘thought’, often initiate our game play actions.

And, while I’ll not disagree with that point, it’s important to note that ‘instinct’ is akin to, or parallel with, ‘habit’.

Therefore, when we realize that just about all of our game play ‘habits’ are the direct result of what we’ve learned, what we’ve analyzed, we’re back to the ’6 inch’ chamber.

Plus, it’s our ’6 inch’ chamber that competes against everyone else’s ’6 inch’ chamber. Granted, it’s a simple task to overwhelm the ‘Farm Animals’....they’re pretty much lost in any environment where ‘thought’ is a pre-requisite for survival. They, and their play, bring to mind a comedy routine once used by the late George Carlin.

He would say that there was “a worst doctor in the world, and a number of people have appointments with him right now”. And, when we transfix the words ‘worst doctor’ with the words ‘worst poker players‘, we don’t need to look very far to find them. You play with them everytime you visit the NoPayPOKER site.

They don’t use their ’6 inch’ chamber; many of them do not believe that the gray matter existing within that chamber was meant to be used; with the singular exception that it’s intended purpose was to formulate sounds; like “Moooooooooooooooooo”….the bellow noise that emanates from the pastures.

However, the existence of one or more opponents at any 6 inch table who possess the ability to think is a reality that we need to deal with on an every day basis….even at NoPay. Don’t ever underestimate the talent of the ‘better’ players on the site; they know the game, they win money.

And, in non-gratuitous fashion, let me point out that there are many ‘solid’ players on the site; along with a few of NoPay members, who, if properly taught, if ‘risk-tolerance’ is not an issue, could become very profitable Brick and Mortar cash game players. In all candor, I’d thoroughly enjoy an opportunity to get the latter group in a classroom setting.

Therefore, it would be a mistake to play the game at NoPay with the belief that you’re always ‘underwhelmed’ by your competition.

And, that being true, it would be a marked signature of your intelligent approach to NoPay game play to adhere to the ‘advantaged’ tactic of identifying table targets….where the ‘better’ players are not targeted; at least not until you’ve surpassed the bubble, and you’re assured of a money payout.

Finally, to conclude this free poker Article, take a moment to THINK about some etiquette, a few rules, and a bit of protocol.

Poker, like most games, has it’s own forum of etiquette. It has grown up around the game, and it’s something everyone learns when they begin to play regularly. And, since we all behave differently, dependent on circumstances and environment, it’s important to know that what’s okay in one sport may be considered rude in another.

For example, you’re expected to yell and scream at a horse race or a football game, but maintain complete silence when you’re standing at a golf green. Both are forms of etiquette, it’s what’s expected of us, contingent on the unwritten code of conduct that’s grown up around the event. And poker has a set of rules all it’s own….it’s own code of conduct.

Most of pokers rules and protocols exist to speed things up and to keep things honest. The rules and etiquette are a part and parcel of poker….just like the cards and the chips.

In fact, after you first ventured into a game at NoPay, poker’s protocols and etiquette probably became vividly clear in a very short period of time.

Here, then, is a summary of some of the most important rules regarding online play:

• Discussing your hand with others at the table, even if you have mucked the cards, may yield information that provides an opponent with an edge. Don’t do it.
• Sending IM’s to a friend who’s also in the game, or colluding via telephone, is not just stepping outside the rules and protocol, you’re cheating. Don’t do it.
• Everyone wants a speedy game. Sure, you’ll see poker pro’s on television taking a long time to act. But, online, it’s both annoying and rude. Don’t do it.
• Never make fun of other players….especially those who have made what you would define as a ‘Farm Animal’ mistake. Don’t do it.
• Whine when you lose! Never….we all fell prey to an impossible draw against long odds. It’s poker, ‘stuff happens’, whining shouldn’t be a part of your game. Don’t do it.
• Poker’s defining rule: no advice to an active player during the playing of a hand, and no advice after the hand has finished. Don’t do it.
• Patterns of culture vary from society to society, and, while talking trash at the table in the US is generally the accepted rule, it’s not the rule internationally. Don’t do it.
• Don’t ever ‘slow-roll’. In online poker that would be described as taking an inordinate amount of time to call an ‘all-in’ bet when you hold the ‘nuts’ hand. Don’t do it.

In parting, I know we’re all familiar with real estate’s ‘rule of thumb’, “location, location, location. And, I know that each of you are aware of my poker ‘rule of thumb’, “patience, patience, patience”.

But let’s now add a competitive ‘rule of thumb’, a business ‘rule of thumb’, a relationship ‘rule of thumb’, a family ‘rule of thumb’, a friendship ‘rule of thumb’, and a decision making ‘rule of thumb’….”THINK, THINK, THINK”.

Best of Luck at The Tables.
D. Michael


———————————————————————————————————————-
Pronunciation: (flok”su-nô”su-nī”hil-u-pil”u-fi-kā’shun)
Meaning: the estimation of something as valueless or worthless.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc.
———————————————————————————————————————–

I don’t know if it’s the longest word in the English language, but I’m very comfortable in describing it as the ‘weirdest’ word in the English language: ‘floccinaucinihilipilifcation’.

And, while Random House provides it’s meaning (the act of estimating as either valueless or worthless), I’d like to add that any attempt on my part to properly pronounce the word comes as close to valueless or worthless as is possible. Maybe it’ll be easier for you!

Yet, as the word potentially relates to poker (and, oddly, it does), it’s definition is ‘true’ on some occasions, and ‘false’ on other occasions.

However, while I clearly concede that Dr. Ferguson (Chris “Jesus” Ferguson), an unquestioned authority on ‘game theory’, would never agree with my last sentence, I would, none-the-less, like to use this Article to demonstrate the validity of the assertions I’m taking the liberty of introducing: ‘sometimes true’ and ‘sometimes false’.

But, prior to offering up these assertions, it’s imperative that I get all of you to steer clear of any individual, WASABA member or otherwise, who tries to involve you in their belief that luck is a dominant factor in the game of poker….it ain’t true.

And, there have been countless times when I’ve been witness to Dumbo, Pinhead, and Bozo attempting to convey their ill-founded belief about luck’s pre-eminence in poker to other players.

Avoid these ‘Farm Animals’, and ignore their words; they’re fundamentally ‘stuck on stupid’ (SOS).…they just don’t know it. Their ‘SOS’ is a by-product of their flawed approach to the game.

They neither seek knowledge from the countless ‘tutorial’ books on how to play the game, or they fail to attain knowledge from their own experiences while playing the game. Their inability to ‘learn’ has destined them for the ‘Farm Animal’ domain….too bad; it’s their problem. We’ll just let them slop around in the dung that surrounds them.

Most problematic for these ‘whine and cheese’ cry babies is that they’re involved in way too many hands….playing without regard to the PPM.

As a result, they often encounter a turn card, or a river card, that shoves them in the direction of the ‘alpha bull’. When, in fact, it never should have happened to them in the first place….they didn’t belong in the hand; they should not have played the Negative Expected Value (-EV) pocket they were dealt.

And, if these WAFABA members continue to play in conflict with the fundamental rules of winning poker play, they’re often going to see Lady Luck put forth cards that benefit the opponents they’re up against….and, when that happens, especially given the frequency with which it happens, they come to believe that the Lady plays a much larger role in the game than she actually does….they’ll even believe that her ‘poison pill’ cards are solely directed at only them. And, Lord knows it’s tough to get someone off  ‘Stuck on Stupid’.

However, the above is not meant to say that luck is not a factor in the game. All of us know full well that we’ve been the recipient of ‘good fortune’ on multiple tables and in a variety of hands.

We also know full well that the very same ‘good fortune’ has been gifted to our opponents on many more than a few occasions. But, each of us is intelligent enough to understand that the process of dolling out luck is random….it’s not pre-ordained.

Lady Luck does exists….as a figurative being, not as a literal being. And, she holds the potential to ‘blast’ many of our best laid plans, tactics, and strategies into oblivion.

Her presence at the poker table is inevitable, and she can’t be ignored. But, for Dumbo, Pinhead, and Bozo to suggest that she controls the game is bordering on insanity.

And, as an alternate, let me suggest that her presence is properly bordering on serendipity….a fortunate accident.

Her involvement in the game, over the long-term, is completely neutralized by time. Ultimately, the ‘good’ she does, and the ‘bad’ she does, is 100% balanced….for all of us; that includes both the ‘advantaged’ players, and the WAFABA members.

Granted, as previously explained, the WAFABA’s will experience a lot more of the ‘bad’ that she doles out; solely because they’re playing pockets that they shouldn’t be playing. Yet, I still refer to that as 100% balanced….it falls in line with the adage “you reap what you sow”.

Thus, what becomes most important to us, is to learn the ways in which we can minimize the effects of the ‘bad’ she tosses at us; who cares what she dumps on the WAFABA’s. And, minimizing the ‘bad on us’ is undoubtably something that all of us as ‘advantaged’ players can accomplish.

On occasion, our use of Pot Odds will be ‘blasted’ by her….that renders the act of estimating as worthless. Conversely, on occasion, our use of Implied Odds will be ‘blessed’ by her….that renders the act of estimating as meaningful; and, therein lies the premise I cited above: ‘sometimes true’, ‘sometimes false’.

But, as stated in the previous paragraph, we can minimize her involvement….especially as it relates to the potential for large loses.

If we were holding pocket Eights, and the flop showed 3/8/J rainbow, we would deploy our very profitable ‘slow-play’ strategy. And, after our ‘check’, after an ‘alpha bull’ associate pushes out a bet, after Dumbo and Pinhead call, we are rapidly progressing toward a ‘sweet and special’ moment with the Mystical Lady.

Clearly, she ‘blessed’ us on the flop, and, for now, we’re perfectly content to continue our ‘slow-play’, and only call the bet….no raise.

For good reason! The 3/8/J that hit the board was not a ‘dry’ flop….was it? No way! The Eight and the Jack have the potential to ‘undermine’ the ‘blessing’ that Lady Luck bestowed upon us.

Because, any one of the 3 other players in the hand could be holding pocket 9/T. Which gives them 8 outs on both the turn and the river….the 4 Sevens, and the 4 Queens. Or, stated with more clarity, the player who’s holding 8 outs needs Pot Odds of 2 to 1 to attain ‘break-even’ status, and, he’s actually getting Pot Odds of 4 to 1.

Additionally, it’s possible that one of our three competitors is holding pocket Jacks. And, if that’s true, what we originally thought of as a ‘blessing’, was really a ‘blasting’; simply disguising itself as a gift from Lady Luck.

In either case, the potential for 8 outs to a straight, along with the potential for hidden pocket Jacks, puts us in the position of validating the eficacy of our ‘slow-play’ strategy.

We don’t need to finalize this hand. My point about ‘sometimes true’ and ‘sometimes false’ has been made. Lady Luck can ‘bless’ us with pockets, flops, turns, and rivers….and, in opposite fashion, she can ‘blast’ us with pockets, flops, turns, and rivers.

Moreover, she can do both to us in the very same hand; as might have happened in the hand described above.

So, again, I’ll say, “we need to learn the ways in which we can minimize the effects of the ‘bad’.

1. First, unless we hold a ‘nuts’ hand, we don’t ever go all-in.
2. Second, we employ ‘slow-play’ on a near constant basis.
3. Third, we abide by the Playable Pockets Matrix.
4. Fourth, we analyze the texture of every flop.
5. Fifth, we always asses Pot Odds and Implied Odds.
6. Sixth, we play cautiously against a Big Blind limper.
7. Seventh, we never drop our Consistency of Focus.
8. Eighth, we avoid playing hands against low stacks.
9. And, ninth, we limit our aggression and bluffing until post-bubble.

Plus, while it doesn’t necessarily ‘minimize the effects of the bad’, we are required to keep our emotions in check. What many of you might call a ‘bad beat’ was delivered to you by Lady Luck; the very same Lady who often ‘blessed’ a similar hand on your behalf. She doesn’t know that she was doing it to you, she acts randomly.

Thus, our commitment to Emotions Management is an additional tool that minimizes the effects of her ‘blastings’….and, whenever I’m asked, I’ll answer that there is no such thing as a ‘bad beat’. Without any hesitation I’ll respond, “the Lady has a binary RNG, it was his turn for the positive, my turn for the negative”.

In the end, it’s poker! That being true, she’s gonna’ be around. Her presence will be made known in many hands, and we’ll never know when she intends on showing herself.

Yet, we do have the ability to play the game with a distinct ‘advantage’….whether she’s around or not around. We have developed a ‘winning’ game, and the talent to win money.

She’ll never have what might approach an even ‘minor’ impact on our game play….thus, I’ll choose to think of her as a friend, and keep her closely associated with the word ‘serendipity’.

I’ll ask you to do the same. Plus, I’ll remind you to ignore the ‘stuck on stupid’ (SOS) crowd who believe that she is a big-time factor in the game; they would lead you to the untruth  that she has as much as a 90% effect on the game.

And, they’re wrong. They’re living in a pasture, eating grass, passing gas, and breathing foul-smelling air. When was the last time they were right? I’d say “twice a day….like the broken clock”.

Of note, you’d have a very difficult task if you tried to get any professional poker player to admit that Lady Luck has more than a 5% influence on the totality of the game.

When was the last time they were right? Well….keep watching the replays of major tournaments on television. It’s all-too-frequent that the very same Professionals end up ‘in the money’, and, often, ‘at the final table’. How much more ‘right’ could they be?

Yes! The Lady has a dramatic influence on many hands in the game. But, long-term, she disperses the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ with absolute fairness; she’s unable to do it any other way.

Best of Luck at the Tables,
Michael.

Is the subject matter of poker betting a ‘stand-alone’ issue, or is it interwoven with any number of other poker considerations?

To answer, let me assure you that if it did ‘stand-alone’, I’d never be at the opposite end of the spectrum with the WAFABA members who are always trying to make their case as they’re playing the game, or when they’re discussing the game….their pursuit of ‘stand-alone’ validation is a near-constant at free poker sites such as NoPayPoker.

Wait….I owe you an explanation! Since all of you are ‘quality’ players, none of you have ever even heard of the WAFABA group; my apologies. Clearly, there would be no cause for any of you to have ever been in contact with them.

That being so, you are completely unaware of who they are, or what words the acronym shortens. It’s ‘World Assembly For Alpha Bull Associates’. And, presumably, while unknown to me, they must have some useful purpose!

We, on the other hand, have a well-documented, well-defined purpose; winning money. Plus, we know that the words ‘when’ and ‘why’ are of major consequence. Moreover, we fully comprehend that betting is, in fact, dramatically interwoven with many other poker considerations.

Remember, the ‘turnip truck’ is long gone. Or, we never had a need to get off the truck….because we were never on the truck.

Our ‘advantaged’ view tells us that all of the following are closely tied to betting:

• Patience
• The Playable Pockets Matrix
• Flops Seen Percentage
• Flops Seen Win Percentage
• Return On Investment
• Patience
• Pot Odds
• Implied Odds
• Flop Texture
• Premium Membership of NoPayPOKER
• Positive Expected Value
• Negative Expected Value
• Consistency of Focus
• Patience
• Table Position
• Emotions Management.
• Oh my….did I list Patience three times?

(Editors note - If you are not familiar with any of the above or below then you are to far ahead and need to go back to the earlier Vadnais articles in the awesome “Building a Bankroll” series…learn how to play poker online basics to intermediate where you walk then jog, then run and then jump in a rocket and go orbital)

Moreover, our ‘advantaged’ view brings the words ‘when’ and ‘why’ into a synergistic, and forever constant, association with the various types of betting that are available to each of us. There are very valid, profitable, and rational reasons for our use of:

• Pot-size Bets
• Value Bets (underbets)
• Overbets
• Continuation Bets
• Slow-Plays (no bet)
• All-In Bets
• Bluffs.

On 8 to 10 handed tables, when our ‘Flops Seen Percentage’ exceeds 20 to 25%, we’re calling the Big Blind bet way too often.

When our ‘Flops Seen Win Percentage’ is less than 50 to 55%, we’re calling pre-flop bets way too often.

And, in both cases, especially in light of the ‘STATS’ box available to each of us at NoPay, we know full well that an adjustment is required in our game play. We’re not looking to become members of WAFABA, we’re looking to re-instate big profits and a winning discipline.

• Why are we so committed to the Playable Pockets Matrix?
• Why do we pay so much attention to Table Position?
• Why are we so inclined to allow Patience, Patience, Patience, to dominate our approach to the game?
• And, why are Postive Expected Value (+EV) and Negative Expected Value (-EV) an intergal part of our game.

Damn! Where these four questions would send WAFABA members into a dizzying spin, they send us into an arena of unparalleled confidence.

We know that each answer provides us with an increased ability to win money….and, money is the primary motivation for all of us to be playing the game.

When Pot Odds, Implied Odds, Flop Texture, and Consistency of Focus….combined together….dictate to us that the actions of Bozo, Pinhead, and Dumbo are going to significantly add to our stack, we’re delighted; and, we fully comprehend, over the long-term, that our net worth is going up.

Plus, we’ll be maintaining our Return On Investment; likely in the area of 50%….or, we’ll be getting our ROI to 50%; then maintaining it.

Why do Emotions Management matter to us?

Clearly, we understand that if we’re not relaxed at the table, it’ll be difficult for us to win.

And, why would Premium Membership be important to us? Well….it’s a source for increased profits; additional money to be added to our respective bankrolls. And, ‘Expanding Your Bankroll’ is not only the title of this series of Articles….it is the ONLY goal tied to the reading of these Articles.

Premium Membership, increased profits, a large ROI? Any of that ring a bell? I hope it does….because back on May 17th of this year a mini-article was posted at NoPay that detailed the reasons for becoming a Premium Member.

The mini-article explained why a Premium Membership would vastly improve your Return On Investment (ROI). And, I wrote about a very good player. I specifically said that the player “is an individual who wins with a consistency that almost all of us would be envious of, almost all of us would look to be duplicitous of”.

Plus, I said “it would be unfair to identify the individual by name. Therefore, the screen name will be held by me in anonymity”; both statements remain in place as of this writing.

Further, I explained that the player uses the monthly allotment of 30,000 Bonus Chips to participate in 500 FreeD Bonus Chip freerolls….with a 2,000 Bonus Chip buy-in.

But, I would like to update the statistics associated with that players results over the most recent 90 day period of time; thus the following summary:

• 99% money pay-out
• 99% getting to the final 20
• 99% getting to the final table
• 80% getting to the final 5
• 57% getting to the final 3
• A touch over 20% finishing 1st

The end result remains the same….every 1,000 Bonus Chips used by this player produces 37 cents of winnings.…or, a total of approximately $11 per month.

Which, at $7.95 per month for Premium Membership produces an ROI of 38%. At $4.95 per month the ROI is 122%. And, at $2.95 per month the ROI is 272%.

Per the mini-article, possibly, none of us can replicate the ‘quality of play’ held by this individual; yet, I doubt that. As previously written “there are way too many ‘good’ players on the NoPay site”. Then again, maybe none of us can attain a monthly win rate of $11; maybe the win rate will only be five-eighths as good; something like $7 per month.

If so, if the win rate ends up at $7 per month, not $11 per month, the Return On Investment still remains a very positive number; it’s 41% (versus the annual Premium Membership cost of $4.95 per month).

And, the 41% ROI takes into account the assumption that the ‘good’ NoPay players are only about 60% as ‘good’ as the ‘really good’ player who wins the $11 per month. Should you become a Premium Member? The question doesn’t mandate a whole lot of thought. Does it?

Fortunately, for all of us, we long ago came to realize how important Pot-Size betting is….how it helps us to attain our ‘winning money’ goal.

Metaphorically, it is our Bible, Koran, Torah, or agnostic template; we can’t be true believers in poker, or poker’s goal of ‘winning money’ without an absolute commitment to the strategy of Pot-Size betting.

If we hold a hand that’s worth betting, we’re most often making a Pot-Size bet.

We’ve used it so frequently that it has, in combination with patience, defined our game….in combination with Pot Odds, delineated our game….and, in combination with Implied Odds, distinguished our game.

It’s use almost always puts our opponents in the position of having to decide between being a gambler or being sane and sensible; and thereby folding.

Yet, from time-to-time, in the interest of alternating our style of play, we are forced to include other types of betting in our battle-ready tactical strategies.

Not necessarily as substitutes for Pot-Size betting, but, rather, as betting that fits with the composition of our pocket cards and the Flop Texture that has been displayed on the board.

On occasion, we need to make use of Value Bets.…

• Essentially betting relatively small amounts of money in relation to the size of the pot.
• Most often, we’re going to put forth this type of bet whenever we’re holding a ‘nuts’ hand, and, whenever we anticipate that one or more players are going to call.
• They might even raise, believing that our bet announced a weakness.

Plus, the Value Bet, acting as an inducement to siphon money away from the competition, serves as an alternate to our ‘Slow-Play’ strategy….we require diversity in our game, and the switching back-and-forth from Value Bets to Slow-Play accomplishes a small measure of that desired diversity.

Anything we can do to keep our opponents away from ‘reads’ on our play adds to our advantage.

Sometimes, we need to make use of Overbets….

• Fundamentally betting a larger amount of money than our customary Pot-Size bet.
• We’ll do this only in an extremely well defined situation.
• The combination of a ‘fairly dry’ Flop Texture.
• One opponent
• And the holding of what we believe to be the current winning top-pair hand.

For example, we hold pocket Tens, and the flop showed 2/5/9.

• Importantly, we have good cause for the Overbet.
• We don’t want to provide any sort of sensible pot odds to the one opponent we’re playing against.
• Our Tens, with the 2/5/9 flop, are at least a 3 to 1 favorite to win versus two overcards.
• And, our Tens, with the same 2/5/9 flop, are a 4 to 1 favorite to win versus mid-pair or low-pair.

Plus, to insure that our opponent will not get useful pot odds, the Overbet has got to be very specific.

• If 450 chips are present in the current pot, and we made a bet of 900 chips, we would be creating pot odds of 3 to 2 for our competitor.
• Thus, in the above examples, where he is a 3 to 1 and 4 to 1 underdog, he’s not calling.
• Or, if he holds pocket 3/4, with 8 outs to a straight, he still needs pot odds of 2 to 1….for a long-term break-even bet.

Again, he’s not calling. Unless, of course, he’s a WAFABA member. And, we have no aversion to politely remove chips from the stack of a WAFABA member; frankly, it’s one of our obligations, one of our responsibilities

Rarely, will we ever entertain the thought of Continuation Bets (CB)….

• Betting without regard to the absence of help from the flop.
• Where our intention is to have our opponent fold.
• In just about all respects, the CB bet is nothing more than a Bluff.
• And, we discussed ‘Bluffing’ in Article 1 within this series….take a few minutes to re-read this free online poker Article.

However, at some point in time, through NoPayPoker, we’ll get an Article posted that deals with Heads-Up play….then, you’ll be consumed by Continuation Bets; it’s one of a half-dozen keys to winning in Heads-Up situations; whether the play be in a 2 handed ‘sit-n-go’ game, a Heads-Up multi-player elimination event, or final table play between the last 2 players in a tournament game.

Last, we need not discuss ‘Slow-Play’ (the no bet) or ‘Bluffing’.…we’ve already done so in previous Articles.

Nor, do I believe that we need to discuss ‘All-In’ betting; not necessarily because we have already discussed it, but because it’s something we perennially keep ‘on the back burner’.

We don’t ever initiate an ‘All-In’ bet, but, when we’re holding a ‘nuts’ hand we do call an ‘All-In’ bet. And, when we make those calls, collect the pot, expand our bankrolls….we’re always grateful to the WAFABA organization; without their members we’d be in possession of a lot less money.

Best of Luck at The Tables.

D. Michael

by D. M. Vadnais

(c) copyright; March, 2010; no reproduction, all rights reserved by D. M. Vadnais