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I am trying to make a successful transition from tournament poker to cash play but I do not feel comfortable playing suited connectors in cash games as I tend to hit 'bits' of the flop and spew cash. Should I play them at all, and if so how do I adjust how I play them in cash games compared to tournaments where the stack sizes are typically much shorter? Do you take another card off on the flop or do you have to connect hard to continue with the hand?
Dave Brandon, by email
If anything, playing suited connectors should be more profitable in cash games than in tournaments. The key to playing these sort of hands, or more specifically, calling with these hands, is how deep the stacks of the players involved are, both relative to each other and the size of the blinds. In cash games typically everyone is sitting much deeper and so there is much more post-flop play. The value of these hands is in making straights and flushes, not making one-pair type hands. When play is deep enough there is no harm in passing your hand when you don't flop hard as the times that you do should enable you to win enough to compensate. These hands can be goldmines but at the same time are often over-valued. I'd be looking to fold when play is going to be heads up, when I'm out of position, and when the stacks involved are shallow.
When trying to read an opponent’s hand, what questions are you asking about the player? Is it just a case of thinking about what he or she has played previously? What, if any, are the quick ways of putting an opponent on a range?
Mark Grant, London
Generally, the things I'm considering are: what hands have I seen this player play before, both in this tournament and in previous ones? What position is he raising from? What is his current table image and what his current state of mind is (e.g. has he just doubled up? Has he just lost half of his stack?). Post-flop, your memory bank of hand histories really is key - is his pre-flop hand range consistent with the hand he is now representing post-flop? Is he the type of player who will value-bet thin or does a large bet signify a "nuts or nothing" scenario?
I’m playing my first live deep stack tournament this month, with a 10,000 starting stack. I’ve never played anything longer than 2 hours before so how can I plan out my tournament and what’s the best way of staying focussed for so long? (if I stay in, that is!)
James McMahon, Derby
One thing I would say straight away is, if you are used to much faster-paced tournaments, remind yourself as you begin playing that there is no need to set out at 100mph. In fast paced tournaments, the values of hands are primarily pre-flop. Presuming this tournament has a reasonable clock as well as starting stack, the opposite will be true here, at least in the early stages. Don't be afraid to play flops. Check the structure of the tournament as this will give you an idea as to how to pace yourself. Playing a solid game and building up a good image is often a preferred style before the antes kick in, when pre-flop aggression is rewarded more.
I play pretty tight in MTTs online and this is fine, due to the large numbers of loose players. However, when I get short-stacked after losing a big pot or a bad beat, I'm always unsure how to play as obviously stealing blinds and building that stack back up is where it’s at. What is the best way to do this on these loose tables when my stack isn't big enough to push people off pots?
Allan Turner, London
Don't let yourself get too short before you start pushing and pick good spots to push over the top of loose players who are opening from late position. If you are low enough so that you have no fold equity at all if when re-raising, you need to find a good spot to be first into the pot. When you have a stack between 20 and 15BB don't be opening too many pots, as in today's game you will get shoved on too much. If I can't find a spot to re-raise all-in I would rather let the blinds go through me again and give myself a chance to pick up a hand than lose valuable chips opening a hand where I'd have to fold to a shove, particularly if the line-up of players behind me is very aggressive.
I’m planning a trip to Vegas and have been told to watch out for the local players who, supposedly, get attached to top pair on the flop and chase flush and straight draws. Is this a generalisation or is there money to be had from the American amateurs?
Mark Moody, Swansea.
I’d suggest that that description fits amateur players you may find at ANY live casino, even in the UK. What I would say is that there are many more games in Vegas and with that comes many more bad players (as well as more good ones, of course). Yes, there is good money to be made but as ever be sure to exercise good game selection. If you find yourself sitting in a game where the standard seems to be quite good, don't waste your time - get yourself up and go find a better game. With all the casinos over there now offering poker, there will certainly be one to be found somewhere. |
