Don't call all in without a made hand

Last night we had the office poker game, I made a critical mistake which ended my play.

I had A4, flop came 23x. so I had 4 cards to a straight. However when a co worker shoved all in I called which was dumb. If I had drawn an Ace or 5 I would have won the hand but it didn't happen.

The last thing you want to do in a SNG is gamble! a chip won is worth less then a chip lost.

Company Game

The company poker game is in about an hour, I need to get myself into the right head space, while still getting work done for that hour.

The prize is 400shekels, which I really intend to take down if I can. However as I won the last 2 games I expect my co workers will be gunning for me. Lets see if I can't do something with that.

Don't miss the straight draw

Ok I have no idea what I was doing in this hand after the flop. Yes I had a pair of jacks but when the other play went all in on the turn I should have folded.

Full Tilt Poker Game #15338228770: 250 Play Money Sit & Go (112463809), Table 1 - 25/50 - No Limit Hold'em - 16:13:36 ET - 2009/10/14

Seat 2: CRXED9 (11,165)

Seat 3: big zeekey (1,440), is sitting out

Seat 4: Sicksosick (11,215)

Seat 6: ZachInIsrael (5,750)

Seat 7: Cooskent (4,835)

Seat 8: NotThatMike (3,080)

Seat 9: Ksmith0_1 (3,015)

NotThatMike posts the small blind of 25

Ksmith0_1 posts the big blind of 50

The button is in seat #7

*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to ZachInIsrael [Js 8d]

CRXED9 calls 50

big zeekey folds

Sicksosick folds

ZachInIsrael calls 50

Cooskent calls 50

NotThatMike folds

Ksmith0_1 checks

*** FLOP *** [4d 6c Jh]

Ksmith0_1 checks

CRXED9 has 15 seconds left to act

CRXED9 bets 50

ZachInIsrael raises to 100

Cooskent calls 100

Ksmith0_1 calls 100

CRXED9 calls 50

*** TURN *** [4d 6c Jh] [2h]

Ksmith0_1 bets 2,865, and is all in

CRXED9 has 15 seconds left to act

CRXED9 folds

ZachInIsrael calls 2,865 (This is where I should have folded)

Cooskent folds

Ksmith0_1 shows [3h 5d]

ZachInIsrael shows [Js 8d]

*** RIVER *** [4d 6c Jh 2h] [9s]

Ksmith0_1 shows a straight, Six high

ZachInIsrael shows a pair of Jacks

Ksmith0_1 wins the pot (6,355) with a straight, Six high

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot 6,355 | Rake 0

Board: [4d 6c Jh 2h 9s]

Seat 2: CRXED9 folded on the Turn

Seat 3: big zeekey didn't bet (folded)

Seat 4: Sicksosick didn't bet (folded)

Seat 6: ZachInIsrael showed [Js 8d] and lost with a pair of Jacks

Seat 7: Cooskent (button) folded on the Turn

Seat 8: NotThatMike (small blind) folded before the Flop

Seat 9: Ksmith0_1 (big blind) showed [3h 5d] and won (6,355) with a straight, Six high

What size Sit And Go

So what size SNG should one play? Full Tilt offers SNGs starting every few minutes and in NL Hold'em they come in a bunch of different sizes, 6, 9, 18, 27 and 90 players. So the question is which size is the best to play. Of course that depends on a few factors:

1. How long do you wish to play for
2. The number of places paid
3. The size of those prizes

In in terms of time, the bigger the SNG the longer it will take a 90 player may take 90-120 minutes, while a 6 or 9 maybe 30-45 minutes. A 18 or 27 somewhere in the middle (This is assuming that one makes it to close to the end). So there are many times where a 6 or 9 player will be just the ticket, because a 90 player would be just too much.

In terms of payouts the bigger the SNG the bigger the prize pool, but of course the more people shooting for it. 

The payout structure can be seen in the tournament lobby.

So which do I play mostly the 6 and 27 players, depending on my time, but try them all!

Don't be put all in on A3

9 Player sit and go, down to 3 players, on the button with 2165, SB has 8483, BB 2672

Cards A3, Bet 240, SB calls, BB Folds
Flop A72, (Pretty good) SB bets 120 I bet pot 960, Turn is Jd. SB bets 960 (my stack at this point is 965) I push all in, he calls.  River is Kh. He has AQ to my A3. When he bet on the turn I should have folded. I finished 3rd so in the money (well play money) but should not have fallen for that one

Getting scooped with pocket aces

I'm in the small blind with a chip stack of 1700 in a 27 person play money SNG. Blinds are 20/40

I get pocket aces. 4 players call around to me, I raise to 160, Big Blind folds, UTG+1 calls, next player folds, the next player goes all in 1100, last player folds. I fold as does the other player left in the pot. Other player calls with pocket 3's.

Not sure I played that right. My goal in a SNG was to survive to hit the money, (which I did, by a hair) But I keep thinking that calling him might have been a good choice. He had position on me but I had much better cards.

Poker goals

In order to improve my play I need to set goals for my playing so here are some goals for the next few weeks:

• Play at least 3 9 Player Sit and Goes at the 250chip level per week. (Or if time permits a larger one)
• Find at least one hand to blog about in each SnG. 
• Establish a home game

Beware the full house...

While playing Omaha when the board pairs and the guy next to you raises assume that he has a full house. I had a Ace high flush. On the river the board paired giving the guy next to me a full house. He goes in big and I call all in.

Cash game part 2

A pair of 9's is just not that great a hand. Its worth staying in for the cost of the big blind but not worth most of your stack on when there are other people in the hand you have you the short stack. Going all in on it before the flop is just a bad idea.



Full Tilt Poker Game #14993907155: Table Play Chip 277 - 5/10 - No Limit Hold'em - 15:30:53 ET - 2009/09/28
Seat 1: olpothead420 (5,930)
Seat 2: c4tony (6,431)
Seat 3: sava2277 (1,000)
Seat 4: TheInstag8tor (2,385)
Seat 5: sergiu_hdd (2,840)
Seat 6: Alfadim (520)
Seat 7: Brenda1106 (800)
Seat 8: ZachInIsrael (515)
Seat 9: rboys (1,000), is sitting out
sergiu_hdd posts the small blind of 5
Alfadim posts the big blind of 10
sava2277 posts 10
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to ZachInIsrael [9h 9c]
Brenda1106 calls 10
ZachInIsrael raises to 20
olpothead420 calls 20
c4tony has 15 seconds left to act
c4tony raises to 400
sava2277 folds
TheInstag8tor folds
sergiu_hdd calls 395
Alfadim folds
Brenda1106 calls 390
ZachInIsrael raises to 515, and is all in (This is where I should have folded)
olpothead420 folds
c4tony calls 115
sergiu_hdd calls 115
Brenda1106 calls 115
*** FLOP *** [6c 6s Jh]
sergiu_hdd checks
Brenda1106 checks
c4tony bets 5,916, and is all in
sergiu_hdd has 15 seconds left to act
sergiu_hdd folds
Brenda1106 calls 285, and is all in
c4tony shows [8s Ad]
Brenda1106 shows [5d Kc]
ZachInIsrael shows [9h 9c]
Uncalled bet of 5,631 returned to c4tony
*** TURN *** [6c 6s Jh] [Ks]
*** RIVER *** [6c 6s Jh Ks] [Jc]
c4tony shows two pair, Jacks and Sixes
Brenda1106 shows two pair, Kings and Jacks
Brenda1106 wins the side pot (570) with two pair, Kings and Jacks
ZachInIsrael shows two pair, Jacks and Nines
Brenda1106 wins the main pot (2,100) with two pair, Kings and Jacks

Cash game part 1

I have mostly been playing sit and goes, but sometimes I try a cash game (still for playmoney). I need to learn that a cashgame is all about waiting. And when you don't make a hand get out. But calling a big bet and hoping on a strait draw on the river is just a bad idea.


Full Tilt Poker Game #14993855416: Table Play Chip 277 - 5/10 - No Limit Hold'em - 15:28:26 ET - 2009/09/28
Seat 1: olpothead420 (4,910)
Seat 2: c4tony (6,416)
Seat 4: TheInstag8tor (2,400)
Seat 5: sergiu_hdd (3,300)
Seat 6: Alfadim (540)
Seat 7: Brenda1106 (890)
Seat 8: ZachInIsrael (965)
Seat 9: rboys (1,000)
TheInstag8tor posts the big blind of 10
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to ZachInIsrael [Kh Ad]
sergiu_hdd calls 10
sava2277 adds 1,000
Alfadim calls 10
Brenda1106 calls 10
ZachInIsrael raises to 20
rboys folds
olpothead420 calls 20
c4tony calls 20
TheInstag8tor folds
sergiu_hdd calls 10
Alfadim calls 10
Brenda1106 calls 10
*** FLOP *** [Qd 8s Jc]
ZachInIsrael bets 60
olpothead420 calls 60s
c4tony folds
sergiu_hdd calls 60
Alfadim folds
Brenda1106 calls 60
*** TURN *** [Qd 8s Jc] [5d]
sergiu_hdd checks
Brenda1106 checks
ZachInIsrael checks
olpothead420 bets 370
sergiu_hdd calls 370
Brenda1106 folds
ZachInIsrael calls 370 (This is where I should have folded) 
*** RIVER *** [Qd 8s Jc 5d] [Qh]
rboys is sitting out
sergiu_hdd has 15 seconds left to act
sergiu_hdd checks
ZachInIsrael checks
olpothead420 checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
olpothead420 shows [Jd 5s] two pair, Queens and Jacks
sergiu_hdd mucks
ZachInIsrael mucks
olpothead420 wins the pot (1,480) with two pair, Queens and Jacks

Not sure if I played this one correctly

This was in a 2000chip play money 90 player tournament. I started the hand with 1470 chips and am in the small blind position. Blinds are 15/30

I my cards are 4c 4h, the bet is 60 when it comes around to me and I raise it to 90.

Flop is Kh 7h 8h, so now there is a flush draw on the table, and I have 4 hearts. I lead off betting with 210, all players but one fold. he calls.

Turn is 6h, I bet 300, villain raises to 600, I counter raise to 900, and he goes to 1200 all in, I call and am also all in. At this point I have a K high flush.

cards are turned over he has a flush ace high. I'm out of the tournament. I guess outside of a straight flush this was the one card that could have beet me .

So my question is did I play this right? How would people have done it differently?

When there are 3 clubs on the table assume a flush

90 player sit and go, 2000 chip buy in (playmoney) Blinds were 25/50 I was sitting one off the big blind, so I did not have great position. 


I had 8♠Q♠, I call the blinds. Flop is 6♣ Q♣, 5♠, I put out a bet of 150 to try and build the pot and drive a few people out. ( I think this was a good move) 1 Player calls the other 3 fold.
Turn is K♠ I put out a bet of 200, River is K♣. Villain checks, I bet 150, he raises to 300, I counter raise to 450 (This is probably where I should folded) he goes all in (815) I call.


Villain has 2♣ T♣ for a King high flush.

I have 2 pair to his flush. Moral of the story when the other guy is betting aggressively with 3 of one suit on the table he probably has a flush.

When the other guy pushes...

OK this one was just dumb.

This was a 27 player sit and go there were 3 of us left. Blinds where 250/500

When the hand started I had 16,095 chips the other player had 14735 chips.

My hole cards where 5♠6♠ I bet 1000 to try and push him out (this had worked a bunch of times before). Opponent calls.

Flop is 8 ♥ 7 ♦ 7 ♣ Opponent goes all in. This is where I should have folded. But of course I didn't do that. I called. He had Q3. Turn is J♠ River is T♥. So At this point it comes down to the high card, my 6 to his Queen.

I'm toast he now at 30,470 and I am at 1610. I go on to finish 3rd. If I had folded I may have finished 1st or 2nd.

Careful of a straight draw

Lesson, why you don't draw the straight, get out

I was in the small blind position

My hole cards where A♥K♣ , blinds were 5/10 (play money)

A bunch of players call around to me, I raise to 50, 6 players call, 2 fold. Flop is J♥K♥Q♠. I need a 10 here for a straight, so its worth staying in (I think feel free to tell me why not) and at least I have a pair of Kings. I start the betting at 50, then am raised to 100, everyone calls.

Turn is 7♦ I bet 50, another player raises to 400, (I should have folded here). 3rd player calls all in.

River is 9♦. At this point there is a possible straight on the table and I only have a pair of kings. I check. Other player bets 400, I call.

Dumb. Between the turn and the river I am out 750 on a hand I should not have tried to make. When I was raised on the turn I should have folded.

Pocket kings with aces on the board

Last night I was playing in a free NL Texas hold'em 90 player MTT tourney and I messed up on this hand, I thought I would share. My hole cards were a pair of king, good cards pre-flop. but the flop did me in. The flop was 5,A, A. Important point, When there is a pair on the table at the flop 2 pair is not a very good hand. When that pair is of aces it is even worse, it would probably be safe to assume that someone at the table has another ace or a matched pair to make a full house (which is exactly what happened).

Here is the transcript from the game, the place in red is where I should have folded.

Full Tilt Poker Game #14735465401: 250 Play Money Sit & Go (108212825), Table 2 - 15/30 - No Limit Hold'em - 12:26:57 ET - 2009/09/16

Seat 1: EIephantus (1,395)

Seat 2: dsab1953 (1,170)

Seat 3: kimberly8 (8,205)

Seat 5: vamshiakkin (1,380)

Seat 6: Doc Holy (1,305)

Seat 7: retiredmama1 (1,320)

Seat 8: titanmet (1,110)

Seat 9: ZachInIsrael (2,250)

vamshiakkin posts the small blind of 15

Doc Holy posts the big blind of 30

The button is in seat #3

*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to ZachInIsrael [Ks Kd]

retiredmama1 calls 30

titanmet folds

ZachInIsrael raises to 60

EIephantus calls 60

dsab1953 calls 60

kimberly8 calls 60

EIephantus: noob

vamshiakkin folds

Doc Holy calls 30

retiredmama1 calls 30

*** FLOP *** [5s Ad As]

Doc Holy checks

retiredmama1 checks

s-t-a12rus sits down

s-t-a12rus adds 1,440

ZachInIsrael bets 60

EIephantus calls 60

dsab1953 folds

kimberly8 calls 60

Doc Holy has 15 seconds left to act

Doc Holy calls 60

retiredmama1 calls 60

*** TURN *** [5s Ad As] [8h]

Doc Holy checks

retiredmama1 checks

ZachInIsrael bets 60

EIephantus calls 60

kimberly8 calls 60

Doc Holy has 15 seconds left to act

Doc Holy raises to 240

retiredmama1 calls 240

ZachInIsrael calls 180

EIephantus folds

kimberly8 calls 180

*** RIVER *** [5s Ad As 8h] [Qs]

Doc Holy has 15 seconds left to act

Doc Holy bets 945, and is all in

retiredmama1 calls 945

ZachInIsrael calls 945

kimberly8 folds

*** SHOW DOWN ***

Doc Holy shows [5d 5c] a full house, Fives full of Aces

retiredmama1 mucks

ZachInIsrael mucks

Doc Holy wins the pot (4,530) with a full house, Fives full of Aces

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot 4,530 | Rake 0

Board: [5s Ad As 8h Qs]

Seat 1: EIephantus folded on the Turn

Seat 2: dsab1953 folded on the Flop

Seat 3: kimberly8 (button) folded on the River

Seat 5: vamshiakkin (small blind) folded before the Flop

Seat 6: Doc Holy (big blind) showed [5d 5c] and won (4,530) with a full house, Fives full of Aces

Seat 7: retiredmama1 mucked [Jc Jh] - two pair, Aces and Jacks

Seat 8: titanmet didn't bet (folded)

Seat 9: ZachInIsrael mucked [Ks Kd] - two pair, Aces and Kings

Following bad hands

Lesson for 17 Sept 2009

This happened in a MTT but it could happen anywhere.

In the progress of the game it is quite likely that at some point you will get 4 or 5 bad hands in a row and fold them, I find that a trap is that after those 4 bad hands you may get a hand that is better then those but still not great (like say Q/7 off suit) now normally you would just fold it but after 4 worse hands it looks better so I played it.

Lesson to learn in a play money tournament.

An Introduction

HI I'm Zach and I live in Israel, this is my poker blog.

I learned to play poker from my grandfather when I was a boy. He had made good money on the troop ship coming home from WWII and thought the family needed to learn to play. So we played penny ante cards at their house in Laconia NH when I was a kid. This was all 5 card draw and 7 card stud, we had never heard of Texas Hold'em in those days. From about the age of 8 or 10 until a few months ago (I'm 36 now) I had not played really at all.

Well a few months back my boss decided to hold an office tournament of No Limit Hold'em. Freeroll style, he put up 400* Shekels for first prize and 200 for 2nd. I went in thinking it would be a nice change and hoped I would not be the first one out. I was rather shocked when I actually won the whole thing. The next month we held it again, and I won it again. So all of the sudden I have 800 shekels that I was not expecting to have and found that I really enjoy the game.

This blog is part of my plan to improve my play. I am planning to play online tournaments with playmoney for now and real money when I am up to it. For each season I hope to derive some sort of lesson for myself and anyone else out there who might be interested.

* 400 Shekels is about $105 US