That Fat Tricky Hobbit!
by: Nicolas Fradet
Just like Gollum can?t live without the ring, some poker players can?t sit down at a poker table without trying to be tricky. If Sam can tell that Gollum is not being fully truthful in his actions, in this mighty quest of the ring, then Gollum?s master plan can fail. If your opponents can tell you are not being fully truthful in your actions, then your master plan can fail.
While deceiving your opponents is surely a step in the right direction towards poker success, you should always carefully decide whether a play is really worth it. Being tricky usually means not playing in the most profitable way, so you can profit more in later plays. You sacrifice a little equity in a hand so you can be less predictable and therefore profit on your future hands. However, I believe most of the times, it is better to simply bet your hand accordingly. Your opponents might actually not give you credit for the hand you are representing and that in itself might be tricky (without losing profit).
As you move up in middle and higher limits, most of the hands are going to be either heads-up or three handed. Many marginal hands now become raising and reraising hands. You might end up playing middle pair the same way you play top pair, simply because you can?t give your opponent credit for any hand (for example if he was in steal position). When you play in games like this, it?s important to get in your opponent?s head. How is he going to react to my bet or raise? What is he going to think I have? Is a straight forward betting approach the better play?
Let?s say a player open-raises from the button and you call from the big blind with 8h7h. Let?s look at some reasonable flops:
1- 8d 6c 2s (giving you top pair)
2- Ks 7d 6c (giving you middle pair)
3- Ah 6c 3h (giving you a flush draw)
4- Jd 9h 6c (giving you an open-ended straight-draw)
All these flops are ok. Some are better than others but considering the action before the flop, you should probably play these flops the same way: you should play them aggressively (by probably check-raising your opponent on the flop). But that?s not what typical players do. They?ll raise with flops 1 and maybe 3 and they?ll call with flops 2 and 4. But what if you had pocket sixes and had flopped a set? Now the typical player will call the flop and try to check-raise the turn. Many times this will lead to your opponent folding his hand on the turn. But if you really want to be consistent with the rest of your game, you probably want to raise on the flop. And guess what, since you might be raising with, top pair, middle pair, a flush draw or a straight draw, raising with a set is actually more profitable and way trickier! Even if your opponent has not flopped anything, he should at least call your flop raise. And if you get in your opponent?s head, he will not give you credit for a hand that strong, and he might end up overplaying his hand and giving you too much action.
Here?s a hand I played recently in a 30-60 Hold?em game. I was sitting in the big blind with 88. A player open-raised from early-middle position and I was the only caller. This opponent and I play a lot against each other and he knows I can be really aggressive with many hands in a heads-up situation like this one. The flop came 8 8 Q, giving me quads and an almost unbeatable hand. Chances are that flop did not hit him (he knows that I know that), and I might raise here with almost any pair, a queen, or a hand like JT, J9 or T9. But would I raise with an eight? If I want to balance things out and be less readable, I have to be aggressive with an eight too (and with quads). So I checked-raised his flop bet.
Most typical players would never be aggressive on the flop with quads. The fact is, I might lose him right now, but if he flopped some kind of hand, I might get him to overplay his hand. Plus like I said if I?m only aggressive with draws and marginal hands, I?m becoming predictable and that?s not a good strategy.
He reraised me and I capped the betting. When I?m out of position I don?t waste any time. He might have raised me to get a free card. The turn was a blank and I bet. He raised me again! That told me he had a good hand, top pair with a good kicker or better. I three bet and he capped! He probably put me on a Q if he had AQ, KK or AA. Or maybe he had QQ and put me on an eight. The river was another blank, and I bet out again. He finally just called and flashed AA when I took the pot.
Did I get lucky out flopping his aces? Sure. But the way I played the hand was the best way to maximize my profit considering the situation and my personal general pattern of play. In this case, playing straightforwardly was a tricky play. And, it was the most profitable way to play the hand. When you are playing at the higher limits, try to always put yourself in your opponents? shoes. What will he think if I do this? How will he react if I do that? What will it look like? Then, you can decide which play is the best and the more profitable.
When Mike Caro coined his FPS, Fancy Play Syndrome, it was a great way to summarize the thinking of many typical / average players. The fact is that many times the trickier play is actually the play mediocre players will make; betting and raising good hands on the flop. And at the medium and higher limits, since you are going to be more aggressive with marginal hands in short-handed pots, you should counter this strategy by being as aggressive with your stronger holdings. It?s a balancing act, and the better you are at it, the bigger your profits will be.
About The Author
Nicolas Fradet runs http://www.livestraddle.com, the leading resource for
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Irish Wedding Rings
Irish Wedding Rings
by: Martin Smith
There are a number of Irish Wedding Rings that include Spirals, Triskeles, and Triquetas, Shield Knots and Sun Symbols.
The most popular ring by far is the Irish Claddagh and it is surrounded by a romantic legend.
The Claddagh is as was said, the most popular in Ireland. The ring symbolizes love, friendship , and loyalty. The ring is named for an Irish fishing village. The design of the Claddagh is constructed of two hands holding a heart with a crown on top of it. The hands represent friendship, the heart represents love, and the crown represents loyalty.
Various traditions give different meanings to the ring depending on how it is worn. As a wedding ring
it is worn on the left hand with the heart pointing inward to the wrist. As an engagement ring it is on the right hand with the heart pointing inward toward the wrist. For friendship it is worn on the right hand turned outward.
...
Gold ring > Irish Wedding Rings
Don't Want Another Carpet Sweeper This Year For Christmas? Unique "Sent-A-Hint" Plan Sends Your Gift Wishes Via E-mail
Don't Want Another Carpet Sweeper This Year For Christmas? Unique "Sent-A-Hint" Plan Sends Your Gift Wishes Via E-mail
by: Diana Ennen
Sure, they love you and each year they try their best to find you the perfect gift. But let?s be honest, sometimes they need a little help. Here?s your chance to let your husband, parent, or special someone know exactly what you want. Sign up now for our Bragelet?s Sent-A-Hint feature and get the gift you long for at a price you can afford.
You simply fill out the ?Sent-A-Hint? form and your gift selection is e-mailed to your loved ones complete with ordering details.
They can then sign up for our newsletters and be advised of upcoming specials so the next holiday you might really be surprised.
Bragelets were designed because Moms Love to Brag! More than just another piece of jewelry, this is a true reflection of you and your family and the pride and joy you feel towards them.
Bragelets...
Gold ring > Don't Want Another Carpet Sweeper This Year For Christmas? Unique "Sent-A-Hint" Plan Sends Your Gift Wishes Via E-mail
Twelve Tips for Greater Enjoyment of your Gold and Silver Jewelry
Twelve Tips for Greater Enjoyment of your Gold and Silver Jewelry
by: Sam Serio
Jewelry can be beautiful to look at, fun to buy, and can make bold and revealing statements about you. Hear are some tips for greater enjoyment of your favorite gold and silver jewelry.
1. Never swim in a chlorinated pool while wearing gold and silver jewelry.
2. Always apply make-up, perfumes, oils or colognes before you put on your gold and silver jewelry
3. Keep both your skin and your gold and silver jewelry clean and free of oil.
4. Using an absorbent, abrasive-free body powder on areas that your gold and silver jewelry touches your skin can help with skin discoloration.
5. If you do have any skin discoloration you may need to move to a higher gold content. Say, from 14K gold jewelry to 18K jewelry.
6. Are your gold and silver chains all tied-up in knots? If so, here?s a nifty little trick for straightening them out. Dust your chain...
Twelve Tips for Greater Enjoyment of your Gold and Silver Jewelry
Gold ring > Twelve Tips for Greater Enjoyment of your Gold and Silver Jewelry
Music to Your Eyes: Diamond and Sapphire Engagement Rings
Music to Your Eyes: Diamond and Sapphire Engagement Rings
by: Taylor Henry
Sonny and Cher, Fred and Ginger, chocolate and peanut butter...some things are just meant to go together. And diamonds and sapphires are no exception. With so many choices, a diamond and sapphire engagement and wedding ring set can go down in your personal history with as much romance and excitement as Antony and Cleopatra...with a much happier ending, of course!
No need for the blues, with sapphires you can branch out into a variety of melodies. While sapphires are usually associated with the deep blue only a sapphire can exude, sapphires cover a large portion of the rainbow from purples to reds to oranges and yellows. Imagine the glitz and glitter of a brilliant white diamond surrounded by a sparkling ruby sapphire...there's something you'll enjoy looking at for years to come! And if you love the idea of a colored diamond, such as a pink or yellow, you can find the...
Music to Your Eyes: Diamond and Sapphire Engagement Rings
Gold ring > Music to Your Eyes: Diamond and Sapphire Engagement Rings
Use Blogs and RSS Feeds to get your New Sites and Pages Indexed Fast!
Use Blogs and RSS Feeds to get your New Sites and Pages Indexed Fast!
by: Craig Desorcy
They say its a dog eat dog world out there.
Everyone is fighting for their right to lead the pack.
Cyberspace has it?s own virtual rendition of this cliche...search engine optimization.
Marketers around the globe are struggling to get their products at the top of search engine listings. They go to great lengths to produce material with high keyword density in an attempt to entice robotic spiders to visit their sites.
Robert was in over his head.
He?d posted projects on freelance websites hoping to hire writers to supply him with keyword dense content.
This was his fourth attempt.
Good writers were worth their weight in gold.
The only problem was that he didn?t have much of the gold stuff to throw around.
He?d taken a chance, and accepted the bid of someone he knew wasn?t top-quality,...
Gold ring > Use Blogs and RSS Feeds to get your New Sites and Pages Indexed Fast!