Poker Exam

Al,

This exam was set by poker pro Carl "The Dean" Sampson. It is taken from the March edition of WPT Poker.

If you have read this before please do not answer.


Q1. You are seated in a $25/$50 NLHE game online. You have $7,500 on the table (above average stack). You are dealt 10-10 UTG and your first to act after the BB. What is your play and why

1)Call
2)Raise
3)Fold

Q2 follows shortly

I quickly fold and run away with the money which is 10000000X my bankroll.

Really, we can limp or raise here based on table conditions. I'd be more inclined to raise at a tighter table, and less at a more aggressive table since we'll be OOP the whole hand.

Call.

I don't want to show off my hand yet. I'll disguise it the best can and hope the flop hits a set. I still have fold equity and am vulnerable to an overpair.

That is funny Chuck because I was writing at the same time as you and I changed my mind after writing something like this.

Raise.

I want to show strength because we will be out of position the rest of the hand.

I decided that the call was the safer play because of the fold equity.

Chuck. It says nothing about the table. Only 1 answer allowed lol

lol...k I say standard raise then

with above avearage stack here I raise it to 250-300 to see where I am and to try and only keep a player or two in and have a little bit of an edge in a race

All In. I have outs, this aint a great hand, and I don't want anyone to call...
Then I pray.....

But since ALL IN is not an option, I would limp. I might call a raise if I can close the action.

I agree with Chuck that table conditions play a huge roll here, but since you have to answer anyway I'm pretty sure I would go for standard raise, since it would be a very hard fold and limping in doesn't seem wise.

It's a very interesting question. Dam, now that I wrote it maybe limping in might be ok, because if you get 4 way action and the flop doesn't look favorable you can fold at a cheap price.

But lets say you go for the standard raise, what do you do if you get reraised by a player in MP? That would scare the shit out of me.

Anyway, what did they answer to the quiz? Are you going to post it?

In that case the question sucks as any of the three answers can be correct depending on table conditions (mind you it's WPT magazine, so no surprises that it sucks tbh... ).

I raise here about 70% of the time and limp-call 30% of the time against a table of unknowns. Table conditons/stack sizes and reads are essential in answering this question, so its fairly spack IMO.

Edit : I can almost guess the 2nd question

End of quiz.

Too many pros and journalists around

I'll give the answer as it probably appear in WPT magazine then.

If you answered (1) you are too passive! No Limit Hold'Em is a game which rewards bold, aggressive plays like the ones that Doyle Brunson makes and the ones that make Mike Sexton and VVP have orgasms on air on every WPT show!

If you answered (2) well done! You're ready for the next WPT event, champ!

If you answered (3) you are too tight! No Limit Hold'Em is a game which rewards bold, aggressive plays like the ones that Doyle Brunson makes and the ones that make Mike Sexton and VVP have orgasms on air on every WPT show!

You're such a smart ass, Chris.

lol

Come on man, you made me curious. What did they say the correct answer is?

Oh no he's not. He actually got the question wrong

Correct answer = 1

Chris. It is the answer as given by the pro (the guy who set the paper) not the magazine writer. I thought I had made that crystal.

I would still raise.

Just curious, what reasoning did "The Dean" give for this being the right answer?

I personally agree with calling, as I normally like to limp/call a small raise with 10's from early position. But the answer can't be just cut and dry, it is also dependant on peoples personal style and how the table is being played out. Either way what reasoning did this guy give?

Tell you later when I get home. And if the thread is no longer cut to pieces, I will post Q2.

It was after all posted for a bit of fun.

The phrase "Don't shoot the messenger springs to mind"

Any play of a hand like p10s depends on table conditions, esp. UTG, so I can't see that there's a "right" answer as posed.

waw,

I, and I'm sure anyone else who's chimed in with a smart-ass comment mean nothing against you personally - I know you're just relaying the questions to us.

Even if the questions do all suck there's definite educational value here in analyzing exactly why they suck, so please continue.

(I honestly didn't expect the 'correct' answer to be 1, heh)

the most 'correct ' answer would be to raise althoug u could call sometimes to switch up your game but most times you should raise and raise big at least 4x the BB because online you see idiots raise like 2x the BB and get mad when they get alot of callers. The more vulnerable the hand is , the more you want to raise to eliminate alot of action. So if instead of 10s the ? said Aces then you should be inclined to limp more if the table is aggressive so you can come over the top and you could raise less like 3x the BB because you want some action . Online I would still raise strong with Aces because I dont want to lose the pot to the donkey who called with 72s . I think I gave the best explanation in here , you are welcome!

I am sure they didn't Dorkus (as indeed you didn't). Probably a bad day on my part and for that I apologise for "Flying off the Handle".

Will continue asap

Thanks

I would more than likely limp in to try and get the below average stacks to raise and hope for all small cards on the board.

It really depends on what kind of people you're playing with.....if they're all tight, raising would be good to knock mostly everyone out

Calling would be a bit more sneaky and stupider especially if you're playing with donks who will call with K3 or J 7 sooted....

This thread confirmed the online-poker-agression-syndorome. That is not to say that this hand can't be played with aggression. It even should be some of the time. I'll give the Pro's and Con's to calling a hand like this.

Pro's:
1) Calling disguises your hand preflop and allows you to make some plays postflop that you wouldn't be able to otherwise. Such as sem-bluffing that you made the straight already, or got your set.

2)You have fold equity post flop. I can see the flop cheaply or just get out of the way if the board is scary and we have 4-way action.

3)If there is a raise we can still call or reraise using our reads.

Con's:
1)We haven't done any pot building and the flop may be favorable.

2)By limping this pot may become a 4-way+ and this would limit our ability to play the hand aggressively from OOP after the flop.

What do we gain by raising here? Sure, I don't want to get in a 4-way. But is that all we will be gaining. Please criticize all you want.

I may be playing too tight from early position.

I don't know how much limping disguises the hand as when someone limps UTG I'm automatically thinking some kind of pocket pair, although TT would be at the top of that range.

And by limping I'm worried about letting the blinds, and other limpy players, play with 95 and hitting two pair on a 952 flop where I am sitting with an overpair.

OMG, withawedge was gonna post when he/she got home. No post, home from where? SHould I imagine sirens, and flashing lights?

I would raise 50% of the time and 50% limp in, in that position.

To me pocket tens arent good enough to play in early position at those stakes. But then what do I know. I would never be found near those stakes for the next decade. Anytime I have ever tried to limp in UTG at $1/$2 dollar stakes, I had to be prepared to face off against 4xBB minimum, so I learned very early to either raise or fold. Ahhhh just kick me back to the micro tables... why did I even post this.

Fresh thoughts

The problems with TT UTG is that there is so much play in TT, against not quite (close tho) as much risk. You can almost expect a race to develop.

Somehow I would very much like to see a flop. WIth a decent stack, calling is no problem. This is where the table conditions come in, could a raise likely take the pot right there, etc, etc.

Safe is call, adventure is raise. How are we feeling tonight?