One Thousandth Post - This, That and Limping

MediaBLITZ

MediaBLITZ

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THIS AND THAT
The number one leak in poker – thinking you are a better player than you actually are. This will get you into situations you can’t get out of. I am not Tom Dwan… I am not Tom Dwan…

Never limp. Always raise. * See below

There is no such thing as never or always in poker.

There is no such thing as the nuts preflop.

The flop changes everything.

The turn is the new flop.

Defense still wins championships.

When the old man with gray hair comes over the top – he’s rarely bluffing.

Big hand, big pot – small hand, small pot. Don’t escalate betting with mediocre holdings.

TPTK is not the nuts – proceed with caution.

Your back is against the wall in a tournament and you flop TPTK – bet it like the nuts.

In order to bluff you have to write a good story. Don’t bluff someone who doesn't know how to read.

Most of the money you will in poker is not your great play, but the poor play of others.

LIMPING
*Why you do not limp with big hands. Let’s take AK. I’m sure you have already been told you need to raise to isolate, but no one probably told you why. I have AK UTG. AK is 65% to win against a single random opponent (before the flop). I like those odds so I am going raise it up and get all those wannabes like suited connectors and small pocket pairs out of there. Also I have represented power so if I hit a dry flop I can continue on like I have a big pair and have another chance to take the pot down that doesn’t require AK2 on the flop.
“But I’m a pussy. I’m scared that if I bet this out someone might have KK or AA or even worse, I might miss the flop. I just cannot risk it. I am going to limp from UTG. Heh heh heh… but if I do hit the flop no one will see it coming. I am so smart and devious. I go ahead and limp. Fold, fold, call, fold, fold, fold, fold, call, call, check. Excellent… (doing your best Montgomery Burns). Well what do you know – the BTN called, well yeah I guess since he has position. Huh, the SB called too? Oh yeah, he’s already halfway in. And of course the BB is in – it didn’t cost him any extra. That’s four other guys in the hand. Oh crap now I’m 68% to LOSE versus the field. That can’t be good. Flop comes K73. Hell yeah!!! TPTK!! Let’s go!”
Cut to showdown – “Oh that’s why the BB kept calling me – he had 73! He shouldn’t have even been in the hand!!!” BINGO
 
alaskabill

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In order to bluff you have to write a good story. Don’t bluff someone who doesn't know how to read.

My favorite line. Great post. I always like reading your views even when I disagree at times. Nothing to disagree with here though. I also enjoyed the line about defense. Not paying off and saving some bets adds up over a session.

Did I interpret that correctly?
 
JDAWG5

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clapping.gif



Great Post!
 
MediaBLITZ

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Yes Bill, your interpretation aspect is correct. But feel free to let me know when you disagree - I'm still learning. Just started playing in April.

WOW - Billy Dee! Thank you man!

Oh crap - found a typo
Most of the money you will win poker is not your great play, but the poor play of others.
 
seqas

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i enjoyed reading this. think i will bookmark it and go back looking when i need or if i should make the mistake which i properly will lol. not sure if your post should be taken as some other or if i didnt understand, either way then its indeed some i can use.

nighty :)
 
ythelongface

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Excellent post man! Lotta good info in here that we all should know but I have no doubt we forget some of them. Always enjoy reading your posts and seeing your take on things. Keep doing what you do!:cool:
 
alaskabill

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Care to explain?

Obviously I'm not OP but I'll take a shot. No hand is a hundred percent (i.e. the nuts) favorite AIPF. Even some idiot shoving 7-2 off can suck out on you from time to time. Also, say you have AA pre flop raise and get called. Right now you are ahead of everyone but obviously on certain flops you won't be happy because AA by itself is not the nut hand. If the board comes low, connected and two-toned Your hand is almost certainly not the nuts.

In other words don't get married to hands.

That's my take anyways.
 
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Obviously I'm not OP but I'll take a shot. No hand is a hundred percent (i.e. the nuts) favorite AIPF.

The nuts is very often not 100% before the river. It's simply the best possible hand at the time.

Sorry for nitpicking though, decent post OP.
 
Kenzie 96

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The nuts is very often not 100% before the river. It's simply the best possible hand at the time.

Sorry for nitpicking though, decent post OP.

Yup, no such animal as the absolute nuts pre flop.
Very nice post op & congrats on reaching the 1000 post milestone.
 
Matt Vaughan

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The number one leak in poker – thinking you are a better player than you actually are. This will get you into situations you can’t get out of. I am not Tom Dwan… I am not Tom Dwan…

The number one thing that has helped me improve at poker is realizing just how bad I really am.

Thanks for the thoughts, and congrats on your 1,000th post! :congrats:
 
cool32steve

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"In poker, the nut hand, is the strongest possible hand in a given situation."

In a preflop situation, AA is the nut hand at that time....
 
LarkMarlow

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Magnificent post, MB; poker words to live by. Kudos and congrats on 1K!
 
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Great post.

I like the first line..definitelly a leak of mine. As far as those situations lol....my default when I'm over my head...is aaaaaalllllllllin (mixed results).

Your note on not limping is a good one, and generally better play. Like you said tho, no nevers in poker...there are definitely situations that call for slowplay.

Lol aldito
 
alaskabill

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"In poker, the nut hand, is the strongest possible hand in a given situation."

In a preflop situation, AA is the nut hand at that time....

A pre flop situation doesn't exist in a vacuum. You are never drawing dead pre flop even with something like 7-2 off suit. Post flop you can however be drawing dead.

http://poker.about.com/od/pokerglossary/g/thenuts.htm

Definition: The absolute best possible hand in any given hand of poker. The unbeatable, unbreakable hand.
Also Known As: nuts
Examples:
When the fourth diamond fell on the river, I knew I had the nuts -- I had the ace of diamonds, giving me the nut flush.

Anyways I would guess that MB's point was don't get married to a hand just because its strong preflop. AA is just an over pair. (Although an awful pretty one). :)
 
acky100

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In order to bluff you have to write a good story. Don’t bluff someone who doesn't know how to read.

I like this.

I could probably argue that TPTK is usually the nuts unless the board is super wet, against the majority of players, but i think the point was to be cautious when facing any heat, hopefully people don't go checking a street with TPTK just because people can have sets. One thing which is very true is that if you're not occasionally value towning yourself with TPTK then you're not playing properly :)

Nice post.
 
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A pre flop situation doesn't exist in a vacuum. You are never drawing dead pre flop even with something like 7-2 off suit. Post flop you can however be drawing dead.

http://poker.about.com/od/pokerglossary/g/thenuts.htm

But it's still the nuts at the time...

These are both nut hands, but neither are 100%, one is even a 2:1 dog vs. two players. AA is the nuts pre, fact.

Board: Ac Td 2h
Dead:

equity win tie pots won pots tied
Hand 0: 99.899% 99.90% 00.00% 26703 0.00 { AA }
Hand 1: 00.101% 00.10% 00.00% 27 0.00 { 72o }
Board: Ts 9s 8c
Dead:

equity win tie pots won pots tied
Hand 0: 33.610% 33.22% 00.39% 8100 94.50 { QJo }
Hand 1: 34.884% 34.88% 00.00% 8505 0.00 { TT }
Hand 2: 31.506% 31.12% 00.39% 7587 94.50 { KsJs }

The nuts is simply the best possible holding on a given street.
 
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great post, great insight

will look forward to reading more of your posts
 
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Colbefc

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Congrats on your 1000% post and completely agree that the number one leak is thinking you are a better player than you are.
Hard experience has made me realise that I am at best an average player, but accepting my limitations has helped my poker 1000%.
Great post. :)
 
Arjonius

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The number one leak in poker – thinking you are a better player than you actually are. This will get you into situations you can’t get out of. I am not Tom Dwan… I am not Tom Dwan…
But if you're not Tom Dwan, doesn't it increase the chances that I am? Maybe I should go check my bank account....
 
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Hardcorecake

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Solid stuff MB, all very useful tips.
 
MediaBLITZ

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The nuts is simply the best possible holding on a given street.

Thank you for reminding me of another -

Your leak is just about always a direct connection to the way you think. Your pre-suppositions, your paradigms. Sometimes this is passed on to you - whether given erroneous information from Wikipedia or misinterpreting what has been handed down or just making it up based on wishes and dreams.

The nuts is a hand that is unbeatable - period. To consider you have the nuts for the time being is a suicidal tendency that will lose money. You will drop your guard and get your ass handed to you.
When you have the best hand for the time being that is referred to as "having the best hand for the time being".
 
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