DANGER HANDS (Part 1)
I am going to talk about the most common problem hands in regards to tournament play, the ways you can get into trouble with them and how to recognise danger. Remember that hand values constantly change during the different stages of a tournament. I would apply these to tournaments with a buy-in of $5 and above or good quality games which we have at pokerchipsquad.com. If playing freerolls or donkaments the same rules only sort of apply!
A-K
Main danger- under-playing pre-flop and over-playing post flop
Pre-Flop
Correct to be very aggressive before the flop, after all its favourite over everything bar pocket pairs, and even then its usually only a coin-flip. The hand is only really in trouble against K-K (30% win) and A-A (10%win) In most tournament situations you are rarely doing much wrong if you get all your chips in pre-flop. A common mistake players make is calling a large re-raise wuth A-K for a decent portion of their stack- say 30%- and then folding when they miss. Remember that your only going to make a pair on the flop around a third of the time, so if your going to play A-K, you’re probably best re-shoving all-in pre-flop. You could force your opponent (s) to fold, and, if not, you get to see all 5 cards to improve.
Post-Flop
If your A-K doesn’t improve on the flop you should usually fold to any strength unless you have the nut flush draw. The harder decisions come when you make top pair, top kicker. Against aggressive, tricky players you might want to slow the action down with measured check-calling. At lower levels…. well you have to decide but be preared to get your chips in.
K-Q
Main Danger- Making top pair and playing a big pot when your hand cant be good
Pre-Flop
You can often find yourself in trouble against dominating hands, for that reason you need to minimise potential problems by coming in raising especially if you are 1st into the pot. If your raise is attacked by a non-tricky player you should probably fold because their ABC raise usually mens they have you dominated ( with a hand like Q-Q or A-K or A-Q) or they are slightly ahed with a pocket pair. Never limp into a multi-pot with K-Q as you give the advantage to hands that play well mob-handed like suited connectors and low pocket pairs. Raise or play in heads-up pot only.
Post-Flop
Danger on the flop with this hand. you can get away if you dont hit but if you hit top pair and get a lot of action then you dont know where you stand. Best to keep the pot small in this situation. If you hit top 2 pair or the straight…play as the situation dictates.
J-J (can also be applied to 10-10, 9-9 and 8-8)
Main Danger – Playing a big pot when dominated.
Pre-Flop
Play aggressively by betting. Great advice until the time its not! Problem is when an opponent wants to get all his chips in too its often because he has the dreaded overpair. If you have a shortish stack in an STT or MTT you are hardly ever going to lay this down but if you and your opponent are deep-stacked in a cash game or MTT it might be wiser to muck them. You need to be wary of calling re-raises pre-flop with J-J as there are only a few flops that will help your hand.
Post-Flop
Few flops will help your hand. More than half the time you will see at least 1 overcard. If there is strong action on the flop you could be up against two-pair, a set, or overcards with a huge draw. You must decide if your jacks are still good. If your jacks are the overpair to the board then you must apply pressure and raise as it it possible your opponents have a smaller overpair to the board, a draw or Ace high.
A-A
Main Danger- Not being able to give them up when you’re beaten.
Pre-Flop
Raise, re-raise do what you can to get the chips in pre-flop. At the start of a tournament I try not to fall in love with this hand too much. When the blinds are low a x10 raise could be called by anything. Middle to late in the tournament it is rarely wrong to shove with this hand or even playing a bit deceptively at times, however playing strong and fast is usually the best policy. Be very careful if you find yourself in a multi-pot, be prepared to give them up if the action gets too hot.
Post-Flop
Can be difficult and get you into trouble. If someone has played a small pair or suited connectors knowing you have a big hand and he hits that flop big then yo are in trouble. Things can be easier to work out if there has been a lot of pre-flop action with raises and re-raises, here you might be up against a smaller pair and on a low flop you should bet accordingly.
8h-7h (Suited Connectors)
Main Danger – Paying too much pre-flop and getting lost post-flop.
Pre-Flop
Drawing hands that have little or no value pre-flop. Only see a flop when you and opponent are deep-stacked, you are investing money in the implied odds f getting paid off when you make flushes or straights. Dont get into the habit of playing them in raised pots, try to play into a limped pot, or raise into the pot (this disguises your hand), or you are making a play against a specific player. Important to be in position if playing these hands.
Post-Flop
Danger- you catch a bit of the flop but still might not have the best hand. For instance middle pair. Do not get too many chips in the pot with this marginal hand. Danger- say you played it out of position and your 1st to act with a gutshot and a flush draw you have to play as you see fit. The other danger is that if you hit your straight or flush you will be beaten by the bigger one. You can counteract these dangers by playing suited connectors in position so you can control the action but make sure you extract maximum value when you make a big hand.
Ace-Rag
Main Danger- Playing the hand because its an ace (or because you’re French)
Pre-Flop
Ace-Rag means A-9 and below unsuited(or suited when the flop has no flush potential) The only time they have any value is when shoving all-in during a tournament with less than 10 big blinds, or in a short handed or heads-up situation. It can be possible when deep stacked to limp in from late position with these hands especially when suited but you must hit big on the flop because……………….
Post-Flop
Impossible to play – unless you have limped in a hit really big (nut flush or straight). if you flop an Ace you will not know if you’re ahead or behind. Dont play like a donk even though every donk has his day!
4-4 (small pairs)
Pre-Flop
I like to limp with these in an unraised pot at the first few stages of a tournament or see a mulipot on the cheap. I may also play them by pushing when seriously short stacked.
Post-Flop
Fold if you dont hit flop and there is aggression. Sometimes if the board is paired I like to raise to try to take the pot there and then especially if its a low pair. I have found it best to play the hand fast if I hit especially if you can put your opponent on an Ace and there is an Ace on the flop, even better if he has top 2 pair, and for that reason do not slow play and let them catch up unless of course you have hit the full or quads!
More to follow…….
