(THIS ARTICLE IS A CONTINUATION OF THE PREVIOUS MONTH’S POST (article 10 of 11)

If you’re serious about playing even modest free poker, if you’re serious about tossing donkies into dung heaps, if you’re serious about moving average players to farm pastures, if you’re serious about holding an advantage over good players, if you’re serious about embarrassing skilled players, and if you’re serious about winning ‘serious’ amounts of money….then you’ll need to develop a ‘serious’ Player Note Log (PNL).

And, what is a Player Note Log? Well….it’s no more than a storage tool intended to house all of the information you’ve gathered about your competitors. It could be in your head….if you’re intelligent enough to retain vast amounts of data; I’m not. It could be a note book of some type….large or small; possibly similar to the one used by Greg Raymer. It could be a PC based spread sheet, or a self-designed PDF file. It could be a somewhat cumbersome file of Index Cards. It could be a 3-ring binder filled with ledger paper. Or, it could be any device for data retention that will ultimately suit your need to record solid notes.

And, what are the notes that you need to record? Or, what notes do I record? Better yet, what notes do the professional players record? Wait…possibly of even greater significance, what notes should be recorded concerning the players who participate in the NoPay free online poker games? Or, maybe none of these questions really matter.

What does matter is that I have already provided you with the necessary materials in Part 1 of this Article such that you should be able to record the ‘player notes’ that create the highest possible advantage for your individual gaming environments. Obviously, if you’re playing free texas hold em exclusively at NoPay, there need not be any sophistication to the type of notes you record. The vast majority of players here, as y’all well know, are about as proficient at the tables as would be a ‘Farm Animal’ costumed as Einstein.

If, on the other hand, you play for ‘real money’ in online poker, you’ll clearly want to be playing at a site that offers a ‘note taking’ option as part of their software. And, importantly, of the countless sites I have visited, the effort required to record notes is minimal. Usually a ‘right click’ on your mouse brings up the software’s note box. Granted, you’re gonna’ have to develop your own ‘note taking’ coding system. And, the codes are gonna’ have to be memorized in order for you to maximize their use during game play. But, if I’ve been able to do it, then you can also.

Next, if you’re playing in home games, even the less intelligent amongst us (including me), should be able to use their heads to retain sufficient player notes on the six to eight friends in any one game. Moreover, at least for me, I view a home game as a place to socially interact, and to seek out a form of entertainment. I’m not at all concerned with emptying the wallets contained within my friends’ pockets. Conversely, however, if you play in a non-social home game, quickly start to think of it as the equivalent of playing in a casino.

And, last, if you’re playing in a B&M card room (or casino).…well, there is ‘serious’ money involved, there should be ‘serious’ notes, and you’ve got a ‘serious’ job to do. Thus, here’s a reminder from Part 1 of this Article as to the ‘things’ you need in your PNL: your competitors’ style of play, your competitors’ everyday table habits, your competitors’ level of skill, your competitors’ emotions management capacity, your competitors’ betting patterns, your competitors’ risk tolerance, your competitors’ attention span, your competitors’ stack management ability, your competitors’ table tells, your competitors’ play habits, your competitors’ pocket card preferences, your competitors’ chat utterances, your competitors’ time clock utilization, and your competitors’ note taking ability.

Can you do all that? Can you ‘code’ all of that? Can you memorize all of the codes? It ain’t easy….but, the results are sure worth the effort. It’s what separates the ‘good’ players from the ‘big time’ players. It’s what separates the 3 and 4 figure winners from the 6 and 7 figure winners. It’s what separates the amateur players from the professional players. And, in all candor, it’s what separates the little known Pro’s from the big name Pro’s (and some Pro’s you’ve never heard of because they only play in cash games). Yet, it’s not for all of us….it’s a lot of work, and it’s time consuming. Plus, you CAN be a winner without ever taking a single note; especially here at NoPay.

Now, moving forward, it’s time for BUTZ; the ‘faux-acronym’ for biggest mistakes; where BUTZ could have been named ‘butts’, ‘bums’, ‘arses’, ‘asses’, or any word implying a degree of stupidity. And, for your edification, the two biggest mistakes made in every poker enclave….including NoPay, other Internet sites, home games, B&M venues, and elsewhere….are ‘lack of patience’ and ‘not paying attention to pot odds’. Of note, the combination of the two, is a clear indicator that the player is suffering from RCI.

If, by chance, you’re prone to making the first mistake, ‘lack of patience’, take the time to read the good Article posted by TRUMMY, or take the time to re-read Article 1 in this ‘Building a Bankroll’ series of Articles. The combined read of both Articles won’t take more than about 10 to 12 minutes of your time. And, if you follow the tutorials contained within these posts, you’ll be on your way to a relatively quick fix of the problem.

If, by chance, you’re prone to making the second mistake, ‘not paying attention to pot odds’, please re-read Article 04. Interestingly, you’ll find that you’re not alone. If you take a look at the number of views to each of the Articles, you’ll find that Article 04 holds the second highest view count. For good reason! The subject matter involves some arithmetic, and many of us are uncomfortable in the world of mathematics….many of us need a second or third attentive read of the text contained within the Article. And, it’s OK. No one will ever know how many times you’ve read the Article….it’s just you and your PC screen.

Or, If you’re making both mistakes, immediately stop what you’re doing, pack a light lunch, and get on the next bus to Donkeyville; the ‘Farm Animals’ will be delighted to know that you’re coming to stay with them. And, fear not! Rectal Cranial Inversion (RCI) is not a terminal disease….it merely stops you from utilizing any form of intellect at a poker table. You can still play, but you won’t ever win any money; not on a long-term basis anyway.

On to GUTZ; the next ‘faux-acronym’. And, if I were to use an alternate word, it would be ‘guts’. Where….you would need those ‘guts’ to include the conditional value of low Suited Connectors (3/4, 4/5, 5/6, 6/7, 7/8, and 8/9) in your play. Where….you would need those ‘guts’ to include Shifting Gears once you’ve gotten by the bubble (some very good players on this site fail to do so). And, where….you would need those ‘guts’ to handle the Risk Tolerance issues that exist (a major obstacle for many players who are trying to advance through the stakes levels). So, I’ll briefly present some commentary on all three components of GUTZ.

Suited Connectors….specifically, 3/4, 4/5, 5/6, 6/7, 7/8, and 8/9….can possess a Positive Expected Value (+EV). However, the occurrence of a +EV happens only when you are seated in the following three spots at the table: Dealer Button, Small Blind, and Big Blind. Also, four or more other players must have called the big blind (creating a Family Pot). Both of the preceding conditions must be met; not just one of them, but both of them. And, needless to say, your cost to see the flop cannot be greater than the cost of the big blind.

The bottom line here can be simply stated. Given that it’s a Family Pot, given that you have good ‘notes’ on your competitors, given that each of the players who called the big blind have at least one paint card (if not two) in their respective pockets, you’re likely to see a flop that fits well with the low cards you’re holding. And, as an aside, I’ll note that many excellent players will also include ‘suited one-gappers’ in this type of play (by one-gappers I mean 3/5, 4/6, 5/7, 6/8, and 7/9). I don’t! But, they do….and, many of them have kicked my butt on more occasions than I choose to remember.

Shifting Gears….specifically post-bubble….is a mandatory step in order to ultimately arrive at the final table with a competitive chip stack. Your goal is not limited to picking up a small portion of the prize pool. Your goal includes the intent of taking down the winner’s share of the prize pool. And, if the better players in the game have developed usable notes to identify your approach to table play, you’re pretty much stuck in a position where the chip stack you currently hold isn’t gonna’ expand. They know your game, and they ain’t gonna donate to you. So, shifting gears becomes essential to placing an invisible ‘Null and Void’ stamp on your competitors’ note books.

And, last (relating to GUTZ), is Risk Tolerance. A subject matter, by the way, that deserves a full length Article unto itself….and, unquestionably, it’s one that I’ll put into print sometime in the not-too-distant future. For the moment, though, let me equate Risk Tolerance to a process that I don’t want you to test; ever….just play it out in your mind. Yet, it is exactly how I came to understand it….it is exactly how I came to play in high stakes games at the B & M card rooms. The next paragraph briefly describes how a well-known Professional Tournament Player (both an author and a friend) taught me about the parameters surrounding individual Risk Tolerance.

The Bankroll Management’s ‘Rule of 5%’ needs to enter the picture. So, hypothetically, let’s identify a bankroll of $10,000. And, the ‘Rule of 5%’ dictates that we can’t enter a buy-in tournament or a cash game with more than $500 (5% of $10,000 equals $500). Now….I want you to visualize five $100 U.S. bills in your hand. Look at them; green, valuable, possibly necessary to meet certain household expenses, and spendable….it’s real money. Can you rip them up? Can you shred them? Can you render them unrecognizable? Can you instantly part with them? Without suffering any form of emotional duress! If your answers are “No”, then your Risk Tolerance is less than $500. And, to find your Risk Tolerance, you’ll need to work your way down the monetary scale to the point where you’ve identified the amount of real money that you can destroy.

This now leaves us with TUTZ….the end of the ‘faux-acronyms’. Loosely translated, it means ‘total’, or the Italian word ‘tutti’ (all things). It’s each of the Articles; starting with Article 01, and ending with Article 11. It’s all of the books, penned by all of the authors, I’ve made reference to in Article 01 through Article 11. And, it’s the balance of the poker parlance to be addressed shortly. When all is added together, it equals 100% of the skills and assets you’ll need to bring to every game you play; sit-n-go, tournament, and ring. If you truly want to win money, you’re now able to do so.

What remains to be addressed? Just two items….one minor, yet important, the other major, yet beyond your control. The minor element is Poker Etiquette; where table chat issues and table courtesy issues should always be a part of your game play. The major element is Lady Luck; where you need to recognize that she perennially acts in a fair and unprejudiced manner. And, regarding the latter, no one should ever think that they’re either lucky or unlucky. She simply doesn’t permit any such thing to happen….certainly not over any extended period of time.

Now, let’s address Poker Etiquette; the manner in which you behave at the tables. It can’t possibly be a difficult undertaking for any of you. Simply allow a tutorial given by your parents to dictate your behavior….”if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all”. Thus, your chat box statements are either pleasant, or you avoid any chat whatsoever. Also, you never….again, never….be the player responsible for a ‘slow-roll’. I have literally seen fist fights in a casino because a player has had the arrogance to present a ‘slow-roll’ to his competitors.

For the purpose of your developing a precise understanding of ‘slow-roll’, here’s a definition: a ‘slow-roll’ is the last act in any one hand, perpetrated by the last player to call (where no other bets can be made), when that last player holds a Type ‘A’ NUTZ hand, and he chooses to delay the play by taking way too much time to either call or show his cards to the table. He’s being rude, he’s being antagonistic, and, sometimes, in a B & M card room, he’s been punched out because of it. Please….make a note to never do it. A ‘slow-roll’ is the most offensive of all behaviors at a poker table.

And, to finish this Article, Lady Luck takes center stage. Plus, the word ‘serendipity’….my favorite word….comes to the forefront; it means a fortunate accident. Yet, Lady Luck knows no accidents; she hands out her ‘good fortune’ and ‘unfortunate beats’ with absolute equality. She favors no one, she disfavors no one. Over time, each and every one who plays the game of poker will benefit from her actions, and each and every one who plays the game of poker will be hurt by her actions. Plus, when the good and the bad are tallied over any long-term period of time, the end result of her actions are a whitewash….she allows nothing else.

Certainly, there are stretches of time when cards appear in pockets, flops, turns, and rivers where serendipitous results accrue to any one player. Yet, there are also stretches of time where disastrous results accrue to any one player. And, you need to take the good with the bad. If it’s ‘good’, silently tell Lady Luck “thank you”. If it’s ‘bad’, actively exercise your first poker skill….Patience. Most importantly, accept the fact that rarely does any one win a tournament without one, or more, good tidings from the magical, mystical Lady.

Best of Luck at the Tables

Michael

(c) copyright 2008; no reproduction, all rights reserved by D. M. Vadnais

In this, the penultimate free poker education lesson in the Bullding a Bankroll beginner to intermediate poker training series we’re looking at what you need to do to bring your solid poker skills skill-set upto the 100% mark.

So, Michael, take it away:

I suppose that two or more of the above words might make you think that I’m writing this Article in a language unknown to mankind; ZUTZ for one, TUTZ for another. But, as is every so often the case, they’re simply an example of the relative frivolity I put to use in creating ‘non-English’ words that serve me a reasonably intelligent ‘faux-acronym’ purpose.

That being said, I sincerely hope that all five ‘non-words’ will help you as well. And, you can opt to use my bastardization of the King’s (Queens  English, or you can choose to create your own version of a monarch’s set of ‘faux-acronyms’. Either way, once the inherent poker principles that apply to each word or acronym are absorbed into your game play routines, you’ll be sitting down at every game you enter with a 100% command of the multi-dimensional aspects of quality poker play (assuming, of course, that you’ve read all the free online poker coaching Articles….and, a number of the better poker books; written by Harrington, Caro, Gordon, Unger, Brunson, and others).

So, we’ll begin with the first of the five odd-sounding words; NUTZ.

In the instances where you possess very specific knowledge about your competitors’ style of play, about your competitors’ everyday table habits, about your competitors’ level of skill, about your competitors’ emotions management capacity, about your competitors’ betting patterns, about your competitors’ risk tolerance, about your competitors’ attention span, about your competitors’ stack management ability, about your competitors’ table tells….there is, in fact, more than one type of hand that is guaranteed to win the pot.

And, when all of the ‘competitor data’ is known by you, playing the NUTZ hand doesn’t always mean you’re playing the best hand. Surprised? I guess you should be! It’s certainly an odd way to define a NUTZ hand.

Curious? You gotta’ be! Yet, I can’t say that I blame you. It all sounds so bizarre. However, please accept my belief, and the belief of countless other poker professionals….by vocation, or avocation….that there are two different types of NUTZ hands. A ‘simple’ one, and a ‘complex’ one.

The ‘simple’ one….well, you, me, and all of our families are undeniably familiar with; it’s 2 pocket cards, in combination with the 5 board cards, creating a 5 card hand that can’t lose. Clearly, this type of NUTZ hand requires no further discussion on my part. I call it a type ‘A’ NUTZ hand. You win, you’ve got the best 5 cards; the contents of the pot get moved to your stack. And, you further the process of ‘Building a Bankroll’.

The second, not black and white I should note, is a touch harder to understand, and it’s even more difficult to use with a degree of accuracy that equates to 100%. But, it not only can be done, it’s done with so much regularity that you might find the whole concept somewhat incomprehensible.

Yet, the seasoned Professional cash and free poker online player uses it to stash additional cash in their pocket every single day that he or she plays. And, there’s no reason that you can’t do the very same thing.

It has everything to do with ‘knowing your opponent’, and it has nothing to do with whatever cards you may be holding.

If you’re a Donk, or if you prefer to briefly think like one, you can call it a bluff….a semi-bluff….a shot in the dark….a chance at redemption….a hope for vindication….a flirt with Lady Luck….a madman’s fantasy. However, I’ll never call it by any of those names.

You see, when a bet always takes down the pot, always produces a win, always adds to your chip stack, it can’t be any of the above…it’s just a winning play; it’s a NUTZ hand. I call it a type ‘B’ NUTZ hand.

Now, if you truly understand this second type of NUTZ hand, then you’ve ‘Zoned’ in (‘Z’ as in ZUTZ) on your opponent. If you don’t understand this second type of NUTZ hand, then you’ve got a bit of work to do (and we’ll do that ZUTZ work together in this free online poker instruction Article).

For the moment, though, accept my proposition, accept the professional players proposition, that a NUTZ hand is any play that guarantees a win….or, guarantees an extremely high long-term ROI (Return On Investment).

Keep in mind that the size ‘B’ NUTZ hand relates to ‘knowing absolutely everything about your opponent’ (again, it has nothing to do with whatever cards you might be holding). And, unless you were a member of one of my No Limit Ring Game Classes, you probably have little or no idea as to what I’m talking about. Now, you’re not alone; there have only been about 240 students to-date (including 12 present day students).

These students have all learned to record salient information about their opponents. And, subsequent to their individual ‘note taking’ tasks, when that ‘note’ information is used properly by each of them, it guarantees a win….or, if nothing else, it guarantees a Return on Investment (ROI) that exceeds approximately 110% (i.e. for every $100 any one of them put into play, the user of the type ‘B’ NUTZ hand gets back at least $210; a ROI of 110% (or more)). This, by the way, vastly exceeds the Professional Players average ROI of about 40 to 50 percent.

Clearly, it’s one thing for me to offer a general description of the type ‘A’ (simple) and type ‘B’ (complex) NUTZ hands, however, unless I get you to completely comprehend all that is involved with the task of being attentive to your poker play environment (ZUTZ; zoning in on all players, all actions, at all times), the fact that there are two different types of NUTZ hands isn’t going to do you one iota of good.

Why? First off, you already know how to play the type ‘A’ hand; so you’d be learning nothing new. And, second, you’ll never be able to successfully use the type ‘B’ NUTZ hand, unless you fully grasp all that is involved with the composition of ZUTZ.

This being the case, the timing is appropriate to welcome three new elements to your ever expanding skill set; and, these three elements combined make up the totality of my crazy acronym ‘ZUTZ’ (a faux-acronym).

The first is a Consistency of Focus (COF), the second is a Player Note Log (PNL), and the third is an awareness of Competitor Table Tells (CTT). And, while all three are far removed from nuclear physics, none of the three will be learned by the ‘Farm Animals’….they’ve learned nothing to-date, so I can’t imagine they’ll start now. For one thing, if nothing else, they almost all suffer from RCI.

The herds of pasture dwellers….almost all of them….are, to my belief, afflicted with the dreaded poker disease Rectal Cranial Inversion (RCI); an ailment that increases anus functionality, and, concurrently, significantly, and in direct proportion, decreases brain functionality.

The ‘Farm Animals’, most of whom are suffering from RCI, will continue to fling chips around as though they were immersed in a contest to discover who amongst them is today’s king of the dung pile. The winner, I might add, is always the jackass who has accumulated the most ‘nothings’….they must have a way of keeping score, but I’m not familiar with the ‘dead flies in a heap’ counting method; it’s my understanding that they use this to accurately, or erroneously, maintain a scoring list.

Now, zoning in on your opponents table behavior (ZUTZ) begins with a powerful resolve on your part….no exceptions.

When you’ve chosen to sit at a table, you must also chose to fully commit your eyes and mind to all that is happening….all that has happened….and all that is about to happen. No one becomes a very good poker player without a complete and total commitment to Consistency of Focus (COF).

Should your COF be absent during a game, you’ll invariably attain the level of no more than ‘just an average poker player’. I, for one, would find that unacceptable….I think you should also.

Thus, the Consistency of Focus that I make reference to in this free online poker training Article (and in prior Articles) is more than just a suggestion by me; you’d be well advised to view the task as a fundamental part of your ‘winning future in the game’.

You can’t allow your eyes or mind to wander while seated at the table….any table. If you were to permit either to happen, you could easily miss a key piece of information; something so important that your tournament life, or cash game life, could be put at risk in a yet-to-be-played hand. Remember, we don’t play to lose….that outcome is the primary subconscious goal of the gambler.

Plus, without complete and exacting focus, you’ll never be able to record truly accurate notes about your competitors’ play habits, play styles, pocket card preferences, betting patterns, chat utterances, time utilization, and more….all of which, once properly notated by you, could make the difference between his dispatch of you to the ‘Farm Animal’ filled losers domain, or your dispatch of him to the very same pastures of stench and filth. Where, I might add, there are no ‘acronyms’, faux or otherwise….quite possibly the only positive about the place.

Consistency of Focus (COF) is a pre-requisite to maintaining a Player Note Log (PNL). Plus, Competitor Table Tells (CTT) is an integral part of a PNL. The three are all closely aligned with one another.

And, all three acronyms, or sub-acronyms, are components of the ‘faux-acronym’ ZUTZ. The COF aspect of this three way relationship requires no further explanation on my part….and, you must recognize it’s significance in your multi-dimensional approach to the game.

Your eyes and mind are always occupied while seated at a table, your focus is intense; interruptions are an absolute ‘No-No’. Don’t play if you can’t concentrate on everything happening at the table.

Moreover, you don’t ever take a seat in a game when you’re dealing with an Emotions or Stress Management issue of any kind.

If one exists, you must automatically ‘sideline’ yourself. Stress that may be sourced in family matters, work concerns, financial problems, dating dilemmas, health worries, bankroll misfortunes, or anything else that elevates your emotions to the forefront of your thoughts, are all more than justifiable causes for you to be uninvolved with poker. Deal with the issue first, and, when it’s resolved, completely resolved, you can once again deal with the dealer.

Now, before any discussion of a Player Note Log (PNL) can take place, you’ll need to make yourself aware of fairly common Competitor Table Tells (CTT). However, the ‘tells’ to be described relate ONLY to online poker play….not B & M play.

What tells? It’s a game on a PC! I know, but there are quite a few. The most common, the simplest, and the easiest to pick up on at the outset, are as follows:

• Time clock utilization
• Chat box statements
• Underbets
• Overbets.

Often, a player with a really good hand will bet quickly….or, a player with a really good hand will bet slowly. You’ll need to focus on the way each of your competitors bet when they’re in the mix; not everyone does this, so be careful before jumping to a quick, and possibly false, conclusion.

Alternately, a player with a bad or ‘drawing’ hand might bet slowly….or, a player with a bad or ‘drawing’ hand might bet quickly. Again, you’ll need to focus on the way each of your competitors bet when they’re in the mix; remembering, of course, that not everyone does this….exercise caution before arriving at what could be a false conclusion.

And, to put the above ‘possible’ tell into perspective, make sure you’re waiting until the hand ends before you decide that there could have been a tell. Then, after seeing a reasonable number of similar time clock utilization’s by any one competitor, after seeing the very same type of hand being played by that particular competitor during just about all of the time clock utilization’s he/she has exercised, then, and only then, are you in the position where you can decide that you have identified a tell….or, a ‘possible’ tell.

A careful read (literal) of chat box statements can easily identify another tell. The “I gotta go, so I’m all-in”, or, “Time for dinner, see you guys”, or, “Enough for me, I’m outa here”, are all potential indicators of a powerful hand. Not every time it’s said, but when it is consistently said by the same competitor, and when the outcome of the hand consistently reveals a ‘good’ or ‘winning’ hand from that competitor, would you not learn that the individual who is chatting is essentially ‘tossing the bull’ to everyone in the game.

And, conversely, there are instances where the very same utterances could mean that the player really is leaving….thus, it presents you with a possible opportunity to play your current hand with weaker cards (versus the quality of cards you might normally play).

Or, think for a moment about how many times you’ve seen a Bozo display his pocket cards after he took down a pot. Sure, it’s not chat, but it might as well be. He’s providing you with visual information….when he never needed to do it. Whenever someone does ‘show’ their cards, the information must be considered a ‘tell source’. It may not be. Yet, over time, you’ll be able to determine whether it is or isn’t.

And, last, the Competitor Table Tells include both overbets and underbets.

An overbet being a wager that significantly exceeds the size of the pot, and an underbet being a wager that is significantly lower than the size of the pot. Both types of bets could be ‘tells’….again, when they are consistently done by the same individual (and verified at the conclusion of the hands).

The overbet is often put forth by a player who believes that he has the current best hand, and doesn’t want anyone drawing against him. The underbet is often put forth by a player who has a NUTZ hand, and wants everyone else to be drawing against him.

There are other CTT’s, and you’re more than capable of identifying them. And, while the underlying component of discerning ‘tells’ is your Consistency of Focus (COF), neither the unrelenting focus that you bring to every table, nor the invaluable ability that you use to ‘pick up’ on ‘tells’, will serve you any valid purpose unless you have a way of accurately recording the information you’ve gathered. Stage right! Here comes the Player Note Log (PNL).

Best of Luck at the Tables

Michael

(c) copyright 2008; no reproduction, all rights reserved by D. M. Vadnais

(THIS ARTICLE CONTINUED IN NEXT MONTH’S POST)

Next in your free poker training strategy lesson course is The Nutz, Zutz, Gutz, Butz and Tutz equals 100% – Part 2
See all the free online poker coaching education lessons and learn poker online free
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In this free poker training strategy lesson we continue our education on managing our money. If you’ve not read the first part go to it here.

(THIS ARTICLE IS A CONTINUATION OF THE PREVIOUS MONTH’S POST Article 8 of 11)

You find yourself in very diverse company. The crowd is composed of all types of people…all of whom possess all kinds of reasons for taking their respective games to the free poker tables here at NoPay, and elsewhere.

Some are present to be social, others are present for entertainment, many are around for ‘poker promiscuity’….they’d be the chipflingers and imbecilic donkeys….and, countless players participate solely to flirt with Lady Luck; never realizing that their thoughtless play parallels their potentially biggest real-life problem.

Yet, you’ve opted to join because of a dual interest; you want to learn as much as you can about the game, and, you want to win….not pride, not ego, just money. Aside from your quest for a 100% command of the multi-dimensional aspects of the game, winning money has been the sole purpose for your read of these free poker training Articles….’Building a Bankroll’. And, you’re not flirting with Lady Luck….you don’t have a gambling problem, you play with an advantage. Or, you should be playing with an advantage; this is Article 09.

Yet, as highlighted above, many of the others who have chosen to participate in your games are not at all aligned with your duality; their involvement at the felt is founded in reasons that you likely have little understanding of.

Nor, in the absence of a very ‘good read’ on your part, you’ll never have an understanding of their wanton rationale for participation in any poker gaming environment.

Please note, however, that my reference to a ‘good read’ is not about an astute observation you’ve made at the table…it’s not figurative, it’s actually literal. There exists a book that I believe to be a must read for everyone involved with poker.

The book is so good that It has been made into a ‘knock-off’ screen play on more than a half-dozen occasions, and each of the films were fairly well done. One of the knock-offs used the same title as the book. And, once you’ve read the book, assuming you’re a movie buff, you’ll quickly identify all of the film titles; including ‘Rounders’.

So, by whatever means possible, find the time to get the book into your hands, then find the time to read and comprehend the constant subtlety presented by the manuscript. You will spend no more than a 5 to 6 hour period of time to finish this pleasurable read.

Yet, you’ll spend the balance of your lifetime benefiting from the singular lesson presented by the author: Fyodor Dostoevsky (long ago, and to this day, considered to be a major contributor to what has been for years described as classic Russian literature).

The books’ title is ‘The Gambler’. It is one of the least known books that were penned by Mr. Dostoevsky.

However, it was the only book he wrote that has any bearing on your world of poker. More specifically, it’s the only book that will immerse you into the mindset of the vast majority of participants who join you at the tables. The manuscript is a novel where gambling is the central theme to the story line.

Yet, what the book is going to teach you has as much value as almost all of the poker books you’ve ever read combined. The lesson lies in the gamblers mind set…how he thinks, why he thinks it, and what his goal is; yes, goal (singular).  Get the Gambler on Amazon

Granted, the goal will never become an open admission on the part of the gambler….ever; unless the gambler is in the private confines of a psychiatric practitioners’ office.

However, no matter how difficult it may be for you to come to believe the truth of the goal, the fact is that the vast majority of gamblers all share this common goal: A GAMBLER GAMBLES TO LOSE (with but one caveat: a minority of gamblers do share a less self-destructive goal; they gamble for entertainment).

Clearly, while I recognize that the five capitalized words above may have come across as a complete shock, the reality of those words are going to add a rather large amount of money to your respective bankrolls. Also, not one of you should be a gambler…not in this series of free poker training Articles, not if you’ve paid attention to my written words, not ever. Your money should only enter the pot when you’re in an advantaged position. It’s not your goal to lose; it’s their goal….the gamblers goal.

Yet, in order to extract money from the game, you’ll need to apply all of the lessons you’ve learned from the previously posted Articles, from the quality poker books you’ve read, from the poker forums you’ve participated in, from your poker playing experiences, from your personal poker practice sessions, and from this newest lesson; the gamblers’ mindset.

But, how do we use this lesson such that it presents us with a clearly defined advantage?  I believe the answer lies within your Consistency of Focus (COF)…the constant attention you give to all that is happening at the tables during your games. And, I have complete confidence that each of you holds the ability to identify the gambler, or gamblers, at any poker table.

I believe that they each display an imaginary ‘sign’ which tells most of you that their real names are Bozo….or Dumbo….or ChipFlinger….or MeatHead. They also regularly put forth ‘literal’ plays that quickly let you know about their thirst for action, their quest for excitement, and their lust for Lady Luck.

In the end….with their action, excitement, and fantasies aside….since a gambler is playing to lose, and since you’re playing to win, I need you to visit a Library, I need you to borrow the book, I need you to read the book, I need you to learn the gamblers mindset, and then I want you to use the newly acquired knowledge to your advantage.

Go ahead….ask! “Why read the book?”.  “Why spend 5 hours absorbing Mr. Dostoevsky’s words?”.

The answer to both of these questions resides in a very simple premise. One that should be easily understood. YOU DON’T GAMBLE…MANY OTHERS DO. Not everyone, but countless players that you’ll end up competing against do gamble.

And, as long as these players remain a constant at your tables, and they will, you’re going to regularly strip them of their cash. Plus, you’ll have assisted them in attaining their subconscious goal of losing….in some ways, you’re doing them a favor.

Now, let’s identify the types of actions these gambler players routinely include in their game play; actions that are not only the rudiments to their gambling-based, and problematic, constant involvement in the game, but are also the fundamental cause for their money to rapidly become your money.

First, and foremost, they’ll play pocket cards that possess a Negative Expected Value (-EV); they possess ‘zero’ patience, and they want to participate in almost every hand.

Think for a moment about how many times you’ve seen them play Ace/Rag from any position at the table. Think for a moment about how many times you’ve seen them play unsuited connectors from any position at the table. Think for a moment about how many times you’ve seen them play King/Rag suited, or Queen/Rag suited, from any position at the table. And, think for a moment about how many times you’ve seen them play Rag/Rag suited, be they connectors or not, from any position at the table.

Truthfully, the number is so high, y’all can’t count the times you’ve seen these plays made by others. And, since all of the plays carried with them a Negative Expected Value (-EV), you also can’t count the number of times these plays have significantly reduced the stack sizes of Mr. and Mrs. Gambler; their money has gone to one or more of the players whose ‘Style of Play’ is similar to the ‘Style of Play’ you bring to the table.

Next, focus briefly on a Gambler’s propensity to overplay pocket paint. Whether it be Ten/Jack offsuit, or Ace/King suited. And, everything in between. Does pocket King/Jack offsuit carry with it a Positive Expected Value (+EV) from Early Position?

No, it doesn’t. Does pocket Queen/Ten suited carry with it a Positive Expected Value (+EV) from Early Position? No, it doesn’t. Does pocket Ace/Queen unsuited carry with it a Positive Expected Value (+EV) from Early Position? No, it doesn’t.

And, if you were using the ‘print out’ of your PPM (Playable Pockets Matrix), or using the section of your brain where you’ve committed the Matrix to memory, the "No" answers given to all three of the above questions should have been shouted aloud by all of you.

Yet, the Gamblers at the table are completely unaware of the long-term negative consequences associated with the way they all play these pockets. And, play them they will…with a recurrent benefit to you that is something of a ‘Christmas in July’.

Plus, they’ll perform the very same ‘Insanity Dance’ regarding the Middle Position pocket cards that carry a Negative Expected Value (-EV). Additionally, they’ll regularly participate in ‘Dung Tossing’ regarding the Late Position pocket cards that carry a Negative Expected Value (-EV). It’s nothing more than their way of playing.

Hey, they’re gamblers; they don’t know how to win. And, they’re not going to put themselves through any tutorial where they could learn to win.

Furthermore, they’ll just about always put money into the pot without any regard for the Pot Odds they’re receiving…why would they care, they’re gambling. Plus, they’ll initiate betting into a pot with a dollar amount that allows the good players to call because they fail to recognize that the pot odds their bet created justify calls by players with legitimate draws.

Again, why would they care…they quite literally have no idea that Pot Odds are a tool used by good players.

Of even greater negative consequence to the gambler, is their ignorance of the semi-complicated method used by the good players to factor Implied Odds into possible ‘calling’ situations.

Many gamblers wouldn’t be able to give you a single hint as to an accurate description of Implied Odds; and, most of the remaining gamblers, those who could describe Implied Odds, almost never allow Implied Odds to enter into their thinking while they’re playing and betting. Why would they care? They’re gambling.

And, while the gambler overtly believes that he’s playing to win, he has no cognizance of the covert, or subconscious, goal he truly brings to the table. Let’s all remember Dostoevsky’s accurate insight regarding a gambler’s mindset. He is gambling with the unknown goal, intent, purpose, and desire to lose.

There’s more…so much more. The gambler is almost always an aggressive player; with a complete absence of any ability to lay down premium cards. The gambler has little, or no, patience; he’s at the table to play as many hands as he can.

The gambler has little, if any, regard for money; he simply views it as disposable, or replaceable. And, the gambler possesses an extraordinarily quick ’tilt’ mechanism; he just got beat, and he now thinks it’s his turn to win.

Does any of this remind you of people you’ve played with at free online poker sites such as NoPay….at Home Games….at Card Rooms….at B&M’s….at Internet real money venues? It should…these types of players fill many of the seats in all the games you’ve opted to join. They’ve done so in the past, they do it now, and they’ll do it in the future.

The gambler plays only his cards; he’ll rarely, if ever, bother to hypothesize what may, or may not, be held as pocket cards by others.

Frankly, he doesn’t really care what cards are held by others. If he/she is holding premium cards, or near-premium cards, or Ace/Rag cards, he/she is generally in the pot through, and including, the post-river betting.

The gambler always overbets AA, KK, QQ, any A/K, any A/Q, and any Ace/rag…plus, he’s so aggressive that he most often does likewise with pocket JJ and Pocket TT….together with all of the low pocket pairs.

And, he has more tells than the young man who has just been invited to an ‘introductory carnal knowledge’ experience. All you need to do is maintain your Consistency of Focus (COF); the gamblers plethora of tells will become patently obvious to you.

Of profound importance, keep in mind that the gambler requires lots of encouragement. You don’t want him ‘sulking’ off with a feeling of despair. You want him leaving the table with a sense that he simply got unlucky, and that he should look forward to tomorrow.

His presence, on any one day, adds to the potential amount of money you can win…you want him around; you’ll need to openly verbalize sentiments that boost his ego, sentiments that give him a sense of pride, and sentiments that create the false belief that he’s a good player.

Clearly, you don’t ever want to present him with any advice on how to play the game. That would be akin to telling the young male with the ‘initial carnal knowledge’ invitation that he needs to stay away from the willing and forward female who made the offer because his Mom told him “Don’t talk to strangers”.

Also, you can never engage in any type of ‘smack’ talk with the gambler; you’ll simply need to leave him alone.

If you suffer any loss to him because of a Lady Luck induced turn or river ‘suck-out’, you actually need to do the exact opposite of ‘smack’ talk…you need to go out of your way to congratulate him. You want him believing that he’s got your number; you want him around. He’ll eventually be the source of a whole bunch of money flowing in your direction.

He’s got the problem, you’ve got Dostoevsky’s book, and you now own about 90% of all the poker knowledge you’ll ever need to become a consistent winning player.

Best of Luck at the Tables

Michael

(c) copyright 2008; no reproduction, all rights reserved by D. M. Vadnais

Next in your free poker training lessons strategy lesson course is The Nutz, Zutz, Gutz, Butz and Tutz equals 100% – Part 1
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In this free poker strategy we’ll look at a critical part of poker success – money management. If you have no skill here then even if your playing skills are amazing you will end up broke.

Please understand that in the next three paragraphs I will not be pontificating. Nor, will I be trying to tell you how to run your life….or, how to handle your money. Both of these responsibilities belong to you, and, in all candor, neither is any of my business. But, since I’m about to detail my thoughts on Bankroll Management, Stack Management, and a third subject matter (as all three relate to poker), I wanted to make mention of your first, and foremost, money management priority.

It would be terribly difficult to handle the everyday financial demands you have concerning yourself and your family if you weren’t capable of properly managing your money. Just about everyone has monthly bills for shelter, food, clothing, utilities, transportation, insurance, health, and a myriad of other ‘mail box’ notices calling out for a portion of your hard-earned income.

Then, when all of your monthly obligations have been met, the amount of money remaining in your possession….by the definition of Economists….is known as ‘disposable income’. However, you not only have the task of handling current bills, you also have the task of preparing for future bills. You can label this as ‘Savings’ or ‘Retirement Planning’ or  ‘Emergency Funding’.

And, it’s often suggested by money management professionals that a minimum of 15% of your monthly income take an immediate path down the allocation road to ‘preparing for the future’. Clearly, not everyone can do this, not everyone can afford to do this, and, not everyone even knows to do this. That’s it, enough said….the first money management task is history; I made mention of it….you can take it as ever you wish.

NoPay is a free poker site….and, you can only win money; never make a deposit, never suffer a loss of your own funds. Your involvement in the game of poker, however, isn’t always free. Many of you play in Home games, play in Card Room games, play in Brick and Mortar (B &M) Casino games, and play in online poker real money games.

Moreover, just about everything I’ve addressed in this series of free poker strategy Articles was intended by me to be used not only here at NoPay, but also at ‘real money’ games. That being true, the first money management task was important.

No one should ever be involved with a real money poker game who has not properly handled their first, and primary, money management responsibility; so, if you can’t afford to play, don’t play.

The second money management consideration deals with playing online poker for real money on the Internet. And, as mentioned above, I suspect that any number of you, from time-to-time, partake in this gaming venue….possibly, some of you do so frequently.

Well….I can’t stop you from doing this. But, I can strongly advise against your participation in the Internet poker play community; at any of the ‘real money’ poker sites.

And, I’ll tell you why. With the advent of inexpensive, or free, communication methods….such as cell phones, long-distance land lines, PC messenger services, private chat sites, text messaging, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, raspberries, dummyberries, or whatever….you would have to be fairly unencumbered with intellect to not recognize that many of your opponents are conversing with one another during game play.

Plus, the nature of their chat is not about the weather….it’s about online poker. More specifically, it’s about the hand that you’re currently playing.  Fundamentally, you must accept the fact that cheating exists on the Internet. And, you must recognize that cheating is not limited to just communication issues.

Both Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet Poker recently had software cheating scandals well publicized; as has been the case with a number of other reasonably prominent on line poker sites. And, the bottom line is fairly simple: you don’t belong in a gaming environment where cheating occurs; or, you don’t belong in a gaming environment where the possibility of cheating even exists.

Get away from the ‘real money’ Internet sites, and place yourself in a ‘trusted’ Home Game, an ‘automated shuffle’ local B &M Casino game, or an ‘automated shuffle’ local Card Room game.

And, take note, that the ‘automated shuffle’ is an incredibly important consideration. Without it, a dealer and a player could be conspiring against you, and everyone else at your table….with a degree of frequency that you’d spend the better part of a month identifying. Plus, during that month, you’d experience a serious ‘hit’ to your bankroll.

That last word….bankroll….brings us to the third money management topic for this free poker strategy Article. And, while what I am about to convey has bearing on all of your poker playing environments, the central theme to my scribblings will principally relate to your gaming at NoPay….as it should; you’ve spent approximately six or seven months ‘Building a Bankroll’, and you most assuredly should know how to properly manage the bankroll you’ve worked so hard to build. Otherwise, what the hell have we been together for….we ain’t swappin’ spit, and we ain’t cohabiting in the ‘Farm Animal’ pastures.

The primary governance regarding bankroll management (not stack management) is ‘The Rule of 5%’.

In rudimentary English, this rule translates to never committing more than 5% of your current bankroll to any gaming venture. If your current bankroll stands at 10,000 FreeD’s, you can not participate in any poker game where it would cost you more than 500 FreeD’s to buy into the game (500 is 5% of 10,000).

Should you lose the 500, you’d be left with a bankroll of 9,500. And, your next foray into the poker gaming enclave would be limited to the use of 5% of the 9,500; or, 475 FreeD’s. Obviously, had you won when you used the 500 FreeD’s, and your bankroll expanded to something like 12,000 FreeD’s, your next foray into the poker gaming enclave would also be limited to the use of 5%….yet, that 5% would now become 600 FreeD’s (600 is 5% of 12,000).

And, any win, or any loss, will always adjust the amount of your bankroll that is available for your use in your next poker session (although nothing is carved in stone mandating that you use 5%; you’re simply limited to the use of up to 5%).

The key to the entire function of bankroll management (and the ‘rule of 5%’) is stepping down a notch after you’ve experienced a loss, and stepping up a notch after you’ve experienced a win.

However, there is a well known charter outside the world of poker, and inside the world of business. It’s contained within a book written by Peter Drucker….the title of the book is ‘Management’; and the book is widely used in both undergraduate level, and graduate level, university business classes.

And, no, I’m not asking you to read the book. Mr. Drucker has identified this charter as the ‘Peter Principle’. And, while he uses it as a tool in the process of management staff promotions….and potential management staff demotions….you need to use it as a tool in bankroll management (again, not stack management).

The ‘Peter Principle’ essentially dictates that a successful individual is promoted through the management ranks as long as he or she can handle the new assignment effectively. 

Conversely, when a promotion is given to an individual who fails to live up to his or her responsibilities and expectations for the new job, that individual is demoted to the management level where he or she performed their work with a degree of excellence. In effect, promote until the person fails, then demote (back to the management level where exceptional work was done).

This very same principle needs to be applied to your bankroll management efforts. As your bankroll grows, as your skill levels expand, as your winning continues, you should be overtly willing to commit yourself to higher stake levels….this would be particularly true in cash (ring) games. But, it applies as well to tournament buy-in games.

Eventually, though, as is the case in the business world concerning successful executives, the overwhelming majority of all ‘talented’ poker players will one day be caught up in the ‘Peter Principle’.

You will have attained a stakes level where you are not only competitive, but where you are a consistent winning player. Then, the proverbial stuff hits the fan just about every time you take a step beyond that level….beyond the level where you’re routinely winning.

The advanced level, the level you’re losing at, is the ‘Peter Principle’ level, and it’s time for a demotion….where you will no longer seek to climb the stakes level ladder; at least temporarily. You have, for the most part, ‘maxed’ out your now-current abilities. And, you must now be content to remain a ‘winning player’ at the demoted level….again, at least temporarily.

Yet, there is no failure associated with the fact that the ‘Peter Principle’ has taken hold. Actually, just the opposite is true, congratulations are in order. You have demonstrated the skill and courage to move through the stakes levels, and, then you’ve demonstrated the wisdom to recognize and respect your limitations….whatever they may be.

Plus, as you gain more experience, learn new lessons, advance your skill sets, and move through possible ‘risk tolerance’ issues, the stakes level ladder will always remain available to you.

The fourth segment of money management relates to the way in which you would handle your stack during game play….and, it’s most often referred to as Stack Management.

It could, however, also be called Objectives Management; where there are four objectives.

• Your primary objective is to survive the tournament beginning….the ‘Farm Animal’ chip flinging.
• Your secondary objective is to survive the onset of the bubble….dumping the ‘Pinheads’ into the dung filled pastures.
• Your third objective is to reach the final table….waving goodbye to the herds of Jackasses.
• And, your last objective is to win the game….thereby fulfilling your ‘Building a Bankroll’ mission.

With limited exception, you’ll use Patience (Article 1) to attain your first goal; sit and watch as the ‘Farm Animals’ toss chips around in a moronic frenzy.

A few will survive, most will be trucked off to the confines of the fly-infested, muck-filled dung fields. And, in the course of your visually entertaining observations of the ‘beanbrain’ hysteria, you will have identified the targets for your ensuing premium pocket card play….assuming, of course, that both the dealer and Lady Luck opt to deposit some decent cards in your pockets.

Next, also with limited exception, you’ll use your Playable Pockets Matrix (Article 2) to attain your second goal; surviving the bubble. For the most part, the essence of your game play will be very conservative….you’re not necessarily looking to take the chip lead, you’re principally looking to progressively build your stack; maybe a little at a time, or maybe in a lump sum with the good fortune of being dealt pocket Kings or Aces that hold up through the river.

Once you’re in the money, once you’ve gotten by the bubble, it may well serve your interests to moderately shift your style of play.

After all, you should, at this point, be fully cognizant of who the bad players are, who the good players are, who the aggressive players are, and who the timid players are. And, all of that information combined should be used by you to dictate the degree to which you move into a semi-aggressive posture.

The meek do not win tournaments; they merely collect a portion of the prize pool.

The prelude to the ultimate goal is now in sight….you’ve made the final table; it’s time to garner a tourney title. How?

Well….it’s not easy! But, you know your opponents, you know your skill level, you have a complete command of Pot Odds, and you understand the importance of table position. So, put on your very best ‘game play’ hat and shades, softly whisper a pleasant greeting to Lady Luck (you’re gonna need her at least once), and cast any form of timidity aside….the winner is most often the aggressor.

Plus, it’s fitting that stack size now becomes one of the most significant components of final table play….especially since the subject matter contained within the last few paragraphs has been stack management. If you’re the low stack, and you’re dealt any worthwhile pocket cards, your play is going to be super aggressive.

Alternately, if you’re the high stack, maintain the semi-aggressive posture that got you to the final table in the first place….let your opponents knock heads, and watch them depart the game one by one.

If your mid-stacked, play the advantaged game you’ve come to learn, be ever mindful of Pot Odds, completely ignore Implied Odds (they serve almost no useful purpose in final table play), be certain that all of your bets are equal to the size of the pot, try to slow-play any ‘nuts’ hand that you hold, and always be extremely attentive to the Big Blind/Small Blind hands whenever there is a ‘no pre-flop raise’ situation. These two seats have the potential to turn pocket rag/rag into a monster hand if a terrible flop hits the board.

Best of Luck at the Tables

Michael

(c) copyright 2008; no reproduction, all rights reserved by D. M. Vadnais

(THIS ARTICLE IS CONTINUED IN NEXT MONTH’S POST)

Next in your free poker lessons strategy money management lesson course is A Lesson from Russia – The Gambler’s Mindset
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In todays free online poker training you’ll learn about playing the 5 pocket paint pairs as well as the pairf known as the big slick.

In my 65 years I’ve rarely met anyone who described any shade of gray as their favorite color. Nor, I should add, is gray remotely close to being my color of choice. However, in our world of free poker, we’re about to discover a series of reasons to immerse ourselves in what can be best described as ‘Shades of Gray’; specifically as that metaphor relates to Paint Pocket Pairs….Tens, Jacks, Queens, Kings, and Aces. Plus, a few words about Big Slick (Ace/King; both suited and off-suit).

We’ve worked our way through a number of black and white issues concerning poker; things like Patience, Playable Pockets, Table Position, Pot Odds, Implied Odds, Blunders, Calamities and a few of the other multi-dimensional aspects of the game. Our skills and assets have grown from 0%, all the way up to 80%. This leaves us with a need to acquire the remaining 20%. And, we’ll accomplish that task through the remaining five Articles; including this posting, Article 7.

My sincere hope is that the preceding Articles have aided you in the process of ‘Building a Bankroll’. And, if the tutorials contained within these Articles were cause for you to be attentive, then I’m convinced that you’ve added considerably to your individual account balances.

Alternately, if the tutorials contained within these Articles were merely an “I’m bored, let me read what this bozo has to say” exercise, then I’ll assume that you’ve already self-gathered the necessary skills and assets to regularly add FreeD’s to your account balance. Either way, it’s the bankroll growth that matters.

Granted, here at NoPay, there is one caveat. I’ll agree that the member involvement on this site is also about social interaction….and then some, all-too-often negative; like debates, arguments, name calling, resentment, jealousy, mod baiting, and a variety of other unpleasant chat box utterances and forum posts.

Why? I’m not sure. You’d think that a free online poker site would only bring out the positives in people. Possibly the answer lies in the extremely high percentage of the membership who live in the ‘Farm Animal’ pastures. I guess they need to vent their self-sustaining animosities and frustrations on someone, on something; in some form or another.

And, while these clowns are adrift in a sinking mudboat splattered with shotgun holes, aching from the pellets resting uncomfortably in their dung-stained backsides, you’re in the midst of a quest to garner all of the poker related skills and assets available to you….either here in these free poker education Articles, or in the many excellent poker books available at your local library, neighborhood bookstores, and Internet web sites.

Frankly, it doesn’t matter how you acquire the requisite skills, just go about the process of acquiring them. That’s black and white; it’s either a ‘Yes’ or a ‘No’….there is no gray.

But, there is the poker equivalent of the color gray. Lou Krieger writes quite a bit about it, and I’d suggest that if the opportunity presents itself to you, it would be advantageous for each of you to read all he has to say.

However, when reading his excellent poker advisories, keep in mind that there is no one right way to play this game; he’s a winning player, and much can be learned from the many words he’s put in print. Take the time to bring his thoughts into your consideration; it can’t hurt….the more you learn, the better your game play becomes.

Most of my advocacy toward the elements contained within ‘Shades of Gray’ pertain to the 5 paint pocket pairs….10/10, J/J, Q/Q, K/K, and A/A; plus A/K (which, I should add, Mr. Krieger has expended quite a bit of time writing about).

However, other than agreeing with his ‘gray’ on A/K, my tutorials, or ‘playing preferences’, associated with the Tens, Jacks, Queens, Kings, and Aces emanates from my own experiences at the poker tables. You’ll have to decide if what I have to suggest blends with the style of play you need to bring to the tables….or, you’ll have to decide if what I have to suggest belongs in File 13 (colloquially, in the U.S., meaning the garbage can).

To begin our foray into the ‘gray’, I’m going to group pocket pairs 10/10 and J/J together; and, at the outset, I’ll tell you that I have a complete disdain for both of these pocket pairs. Yes, the two pockets do possess a Positive Expected Value (+EV) from Early, Middle, and Late Positions at the table.

But, over the long term, neither provides a Return On Investment (ROI) that meets a minimal standard; and that minimum, at least for me, is a 50% ROI. The pocket Tens, and the pocket Jacks, don’t produce any such return….they do win money long-term, but it’s not at, or near, the 50% level.

Here’s the problem. If you’re holding pocket Tens, the upcoming flop has about a 90% chance of showing at least one Jack, or one Queen, or one King, or one Ace (assuming any one of your opponents holds any one of the 4 paint cards). And, that puts you in a precarious situation versus your competition.

If you’re holding pocket Jacks, the upcoming flop has about a 70% chance of showing at least one Queen, or one King, or one Ace (assuming any one of your opponents holds any one of the 3 paint cards). And, that puts you in an almost similar precarious situation versus your competition.

How would you deal with a post-flop bet when you’re looking directly at an overcard on the board? Clearly, since our approach to the games played at NoPay thus far has been conservative, you’re left with only one option when a respected player bets….folding.

Therefore, with pocket Tens or pocket Jacks, you should be willing to play pre-flop for an amount that does not exceed three times the big blind when you’re seated in Middle and Late positions (hopefully, you can get away with a simple call of the Big Blind when you’re in Early Position).

And, you would be well advised to routinely play the two pockets as though they were low pocket pairs….exactly the way you would play pockets 2/2 through 9/9 (low pocket pairs were discussed in free poker education Article 3). Obviously, using this approach, you’re looking to flop a set (which, pray tell, you would slow-play).

Or, if the flop lays out three undercards, you should be more than willing to push a pot size bet into play. And, please note, if you’re going to bet, the pot size bet is mandatory; you don’t want to create Pot Odds that would justify calls from any potential ’9 out’ flush draw, or any potential ’8 out’ open-end straight draw.

Shades of Gray? I would think so! Mostly because there is no one correct way to play pocket 10/10 and pocket J/J.

You can chose between the suggested method of play as described above, or, you could chose an alternate method of play. Either way, there’s no escape from the ‘all gray’ dusk, dim, and near darkness that prevents a definitive choice. Simply learn to live with it….you’ll need to; you’re going to be in this situation about 1 in every 100 pockets.

Pocket Queens, unlike pocket Tens or Jacks, will produce a long-term ROI marginally greater than 65%….and, you should abandon the ‘low pocket pair’ mentality when you are dealt these special Ladies.

Rather, plant the seed for ‘premium pocket’ in your thoughts. Or, at least get ready to plant the ‘premium pocket’ seed. Sure, there exists the possibility that an Ace or a King will hit the board with the flop….the odds of that happening are about 40%. And, if it does happen, followed by a bet from a respected opponent, it’s probably best to abandon the ‘near germinated’ seed, and toss the now unfaithful Ladies into the muck.

However, post-flop, when an Ace or a King has not hit the board, consider the Q/Q seed as germinated, and proceed to a pot size bet. Do not give your opponents any opportunity to take advantage of favorable pot odds.

In a worst case scenario, pocket Queens have approximately a 28% chance of beating any 8 random hands….with all of the hands playing through the river. Said differently, if you’re dealt pocket Queens in a 9 handed game, and everyone plays the hand through the river card, the pocket Queens will win about 28 out of 100 hands (pause for a moment to understand that the Queens will beat any group of 8 random hands through the river 28 out of 100 times).

Thus, in a low buy-in game, or in a NoPay free poker freeroll game, when a King or an Ace are not contained within the flop, let go of your conservative style, and align yourself with a bit of aggression. Importantly, while it’s 28 out of 100 versus 8 hands, it’s considerably higher than 28 out of 100 versus the 2, 3, or 4 opponents you’re presumably competing against in the current hand….the hand where you hold the pocket Queens.

Shades of Gray? I would think so! Mostly because there is no one correct way to play pocket Q/Q. You can chose between the suggested method of play as described above, or, you could chose an alternate method of play.

You can go silent into that good night with passive play. Or, you could rage against the dying of the light with aggressive play. Learn to live with it….you’ll need to; you’re going to be in this situation about 1 in every 200 pockets.

Next, Pocket Kings. They’ll produce a long-term Return On Investment (ROI) of about 80%, and we ought not be simply thinking that we hold a ‘premium pocket seed’, we need to fully recognize that the seed has already germinated, the produce is close to being ripe, and the ‘Farm Animals’ are about to lose sight of the large apples they’ve been eyeballing. Plus, we’re not in the habit of flipping apples to donkeys, and we’re sure as hell not going to feed the multitude of inept free poker jackasses who play carelessly here at NoPay.

No way….these apples are intended for our gastronomical pleasures, and it’s the ‘poker pinheads’….hired by you….who are going to do the preparation, cooking and cleaning in your kitchens. The pies and cobblers will be set aside for your feasts, and the ‘pinheads’ will be left to pick away at the discolored apple skins….which, by now, have probably turned into any one of the many variations of the color gray.

Be mindful of the fact that the pocket Kings have a 32% chance of beating any 8 random hands….even when all 8 of the random hands are played through the river. And, when you consider that you’ll likely be competing against 2, 3, or 4 players, the 32% chance of winning expands dramatically.

Of note, when you’re holding pocket Kings, there is somewhere in the neighborhood of a 20% probability that an Ace will be included in the flop (this assumes that one of your opponents is holding a pocket Ace).

And, if an Ace hits the board, together with a post-flop bet made by a respected player into the board Ace, you’d be well advised to fold your pocket Kings. It won’t happen often, but why take the chance of carrying a once dominant pocket all the way to the river, when post-flop it has become somewhat evident that the ‘good’ player you’re competing against is in possession of a pair of Aces….one on the board, and one in his pocket.

Of enormous consequence, keep in mind that one of the hallmarks of a truly excellent player is the ability to toss away once powerful cards when fairly solid evidence becomes available that the once powerful cards have turned into a ‘dung dropping’.

Never marry a hand unless you have absolutely no doubt that you hold the ‘nuts’, and can’t be beat. The above example of a flopped Ace pair held by a player who you know to be talented, is ample cause to test your mettle against the ‘excellent player hallmark’….don’t fail the test.

Shades of Gray? I would think so! Mostly because there is no one correct way to play pocket K/K. You can chose between the suggested method of play put forth in my scribblings above, or, you could chose an alternate method of play.

The ‘all gray’ dusk, dim, and near-darkness aside, the Dylan Thomas poetry reference aside, you’re still gonna’ have to learn to live with it….you’ll be dealt pocket Kings once in about every 200 hands. Plus, unlike 10/10, J/J, and Q/Q, the two Monarchs are a powerful pre-flop weapon, And, as such, you’ll need to take maximum advantage of the opportunities….when presented.

Pocket Aces….I pass. If anyone attempts to specify a correct way to play the ‘rockets’, walk away, and consider the individual to be no more than a person who is just a touch too full of himself, or herself. There have got to be every bit of 2 dozen different ‘correct’ ways to play this 1 in 200+ gift from the dealer.

You can, however, on occasion, witness a situation where the most prudent play on your part is to fold.

Stop laughing!

The Aces have a 36% chance of beating any 8 random hands through the river. Therefore, if all 8 of your competitors are committed to flinging chips around until the river card is exposed, you would actually be a 2 to 1 underdog in the hand. Or, said differently, the 8 opponents have a combined 64% chance of winning the hand, and you have a 36% chance of winning the hand. Shades of Gray? I would think so!

Certainly, I’m not suggesting that you make a habit of folding pocket Aces….far from it. Remember, to be an underdog, you would have to be playing in a family pot; there would need to be four, five, or more, players in the hand.

So, develop your own way of playing Ace/Ace. And, do as best as you can to vary your style of play. If you’re one-dimensional with the Aces, your competition will easily attain an ability to accurately read your hand.

And, finally, pocket Ace/King (suited or unsuited).…where you will experience approximately 36 out of 100 flops that show an Ace or a King; fundamentally making you a 2 to 1 ‘dog’ versus any 8 random hands.

Yet, we all should rest comfortably with the traditional labeling of these cards as a ‘premium pocket’. Principally because it’s not commonplace to be competing in a 9-handed ‘family’ pot. For the most part, we will more often find ourselves competing with 2, 3, or 4 other players.

And, when that happens, the potential 2 to 1 ‘dog’ status, usually changes to a situation where the pocket A/K becomes a favorite to win the hand.

However, Ace/King questions abound. So, I can easily imagine that you could conjure up any one of no less than 25 questions as to what to do if you hit a flopped pair, and what to do when you don’t hit a flopped pair.

Therefore, take a moment to let some of those questions come to mind….let them float around for a minute in a thought provoking manner. And, I’ll take one paragraph to give you an answer….mind you, it’s not my answer, it’s a quote from Lou Krieger.

He says, “These questions are not easily answered. Neither I, nor anyone else, can provide a recipe for you to follow. You’re smack in the midst of the gray zone….where even the very best players err in judgment. They’ll err more often than you realize, too.

If you expect perfection in the gray zone, you’ve set yourself up for disappointment”. Shades of Gray? I would think so!

Now, do you want to count the shades of gray? Or, would you rather count the number of free poker ‘Farm Animals’ you’ve tossed into the pastures? Chose the latter! The running total will serve as a validation tool in confirming how much better your play has become….and, it’ll also be somewhat entertaining.

Best of Luck at the Tables

Michael

(c) copyright 2008; no reproduction, all rights reserved by D. M. Vadnais

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