"Low-Limit" Questions

[shagnscoob]

I just played a tournament game with my friends last night, after reading halfway through Lee Jones' "Winning Low Limit Holdem", and destroyed my friend. No-stakes unfortunately, but now I know I've got the know-how to beat em. I have a couple questions about adjusting to different styles of play...

1. Jones describes odds in a way that seems to fit fixed bet ratios in "low-limit" holdem. Do they work the same way in tournament style where the raises could be any size? I'm having trouble trying to imagine odds working well when you're seeing your opponent drop a huge raise and then more raises until it seems like NO pot odds would be good enough for any hand that you have... Maybe I'm just confused about how odds work. I was trying to incorporate it last night but I couldn't figure it out...

2. Now that I know sort of how to handle myself in a tournament game, what should I start doing to get ready to play ring games so I can start playing online/casino games?

Thanks guys!

 

[F Paulsson]

Pot odds come into play heavily in tournaments, but not until the stacks are shorter, which happens later on as the blinds increase in proportion to the stacks (i.e. at the final table in large tournaments or when there are only a few people remaining in a single table tournament). In deep stack no-limit play, it's often not pot odds that are of interest, but implied odds.

I recommend Ed Miller's "Getting Started in Hold 'em" as a general primer for all hold 'em games. You're on the right track, keep at it.

... and welcome to CC.

 

[F Paulsson]

Oh, and shameless plug:

Expected Value (EV) Explained, Poker Probabilities.
Pot Odds & Implied Odds - Poker Mathematics
Poker: About Position
Taking the Pot Size into Consideration in Poker.
Poker: Equity

And this: Poker Advice for New Players - Beginners guide to Poker.

Good luck.

 

[shagnscoob]

Well since I feel like a total beginner now I'm curious what the best way to play hands is? I imagine online, but seeing where I'm coming from what would you guys recommend?

 

[F Paulsson]

Best way to hands?

 

[shagnscoob]

Hahah oops, it's late.

Best way to play hands, get experience... that kind of thing.

 

[F Paulsson]

The answer you're looking for is the topic of 20 or so books that I have at home, and won't really fit into this post.

Read the Beginner's Guide to Poker linked above though. It's been awhile since I wrote it, but I still think it's solid advice.

 

[shagnscoob]

Alright, I'll read those and get back to you hahaha

 

[shagnscoob]

Okay I'm glad you at least wrote that no one actually calculates the EV in their head when it's their turn to check/bet. I was trying to figure out the odds thing but now it seems a lot clearer to me...

if you've got a flush draw on the river (4:1 underdog) then you need AT LEAST 3 other bets to make it worth it, IE there has to be either 3 other players calling, or 3 other players that WILL call, or even one other player that can be check-raised and then will call the raise...

I'm starting to understand a lot better now, because it's quick to see how many people are in the pot/will call the raises is almost a direct indicator of the pot odds instead of sitting there thinking about how much money is actually in...