Check Raising On The Button
By The Hendon Mob 6 September 2007
Have a look at this neat little online trick that can be used again and again...
You're probably a little confused by the title of this Pro Tip. There are certain situations that are better exploited online than in live play. We explained in a previous Pro Tip that very often you can make a huge oversized raise pre-flop and players will call you with hands that you would never get the action from in a live card room such as pocket 10s or K-Q suited. The following Pro Tip will work in certain situations but works better in the online environment as the minimum bet is a single click.
Let's look at a particular example. Blinds are $5/$10 and it's NLH. You're on the button or in late position, a mid position player makes a standard raise and you call with Ah-Qh, both blinds call. The flop brings 10h-Jh-5c and the action checks to you. We have 12 big blinds in the pot ($120) and you have $1,000 left in front of you. What is the correct play? Well, you could bet and if you get raised commit your chips but if you... Read more...
Opportunities To Steal Those Blinds
By The Hendon Mob 21 August 2007
There are times when you can raise someone's blind in the knowledge they will let you take their chips
This article is written by The Hendon Mob and originally appeared on www.thehendonmob.com
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There are a number of times when you can get away with stealing blinds in a tournament that for various reasons will work better. That is to say that you are more likely to get away with them.
If your opponent is eating at the table and you raise his blind he is less likely to defend. He is not focussed on the hand and he is far more likely to pass marginal holdings against you.
If your opponent has just won a big pot and has a huge pile of chips in front of him he is less likely to defend whilst he is busy stacking. This is the case for two reasons. Firstly he is less likely for the reason above in the eating scenario, and secondly, he has just won those chips and is probably a little excited with the...
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Compound Errors
By The Hendon Mob 4 August 2007
Do you really want to limp with those rags pre-flop? asks the Hendon Mob...
This month we have a very simple Pro Tip but an important one. There is a trap that many players fall into again and again without actually realising what's happening. Hopefully after reading this you will learn to avoid it...
If you were to ask a group of poker players, whether professionals or otherwise, what the most important thing is to be a winning poker player you will come up with an array of answers.
Patience, discipline, understanding of odds, bluffing, being able to read you opponent. Surely the most important thing though is the cards!
Some may put it top of their lists but not as many as you may imagine.
Many people's starting hand requirements are too vague. "Well it's only a fiver before the flop and three people have already called," is a common excuse many use. What they don't realise is what happens next!
The Art Of The Deal
By The Hendon Mob 23 April 2007
There is a fine art to doing a deal at the business end of a tournament, says the Hendon Mob...
This article is written by The Hendon Mob and originally appeared on www.thehendonmob.com
Many tournament poker players like to discuss the ramifications of 'deal making'. We would, however, like to point out that The Hendon Mob do not do deals at the final table, this Pro Tip is simply to help any of you that may wish to make deals but are unsure about how to go about it.
Many are of the view that prize money is too top heavy and that you play a long time to get short-handed and into the money but play for a relatively short period of time where the biggest financial differences are. In the WPC held in Dublin first prize was Euro 250,000, 2nd was Euro 100,000 and third Euro 72,000. Play lasted nearly 15 hours to get to the heads-up stage and then only a further two hours for the small matter of the Euro 150,000 difference. This month's pro tip is not intended to deal with this matter...
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The Importance Of Being Honest
By The Hendon Mob 22 Jan 2007
If you're going to be a winning poker player make sure you're scrupulous about keeping records, say The Hendon Mob...
This article is written by The Hendon Mob and originally appeared on www.thehendonmob.com
We are often asked what makes a good poker player or a winning poker player. There are many different things but the two that are always there at the top of the list are patience and discipline. When we gamble we develop habits; always backing favourites, chasing, never slow playing aces. Poker is very habit forming and it's important to get into good habits as bad habits can be very hard to break and very expensive as well.
We are going to ask you three questions…the first is do you win? Wait don't answer it just yet.
If you walk into any licensed betting office on the high street or go to the track and ask a total stranger the same question they will invariably answer, "I do ok, just about break even". Did you know that nearly everyone that gambles loses? Yes, nearly...
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Does It Matter Where You Sit?
By The Hendon Mob 9 January 2007
You can optimise your play by sitting in the best seat, say The Hendon Mob
This article is written by The Hendon Mob and originally appeared on www.thehendonmob.com
Many players like to sit next to their friends so that they can chat. Some like to sit next to the dealer or maybe in the middle of the table so that they 'can see the flop better'. Some even have a 'lucky' seat. But does it really matter?
Yes it does!
Take, for example, an aggressive player who raises a lot or a player who has a very big stack of chips. Some players would like to sit to their right so that if they find a big hand, maybe even Aces, once the aggressive player raises there will be more money from the calls around the table enabling you to raise a larger amount when the action gets back to you. You are then more likely to restrict the field getting 'the best of it' from the maniac player. There is some weight... Read more...
Chip Tells By The Mob
By The Hendon Mob 14 Dec 2006
You can learn a lot about someone%u2019s style of play just by looking at their chips, say The Hendon Mob
This article is written by The Hendon Mob and originally appeared on www.thehendonmob.com
How can you tell just by looking at someone's chips what kind of player they are?
Chips can give a lot away about certain types of poker players and we're going to share a few things to look out for.
For instance, you're playing in the WSOP and you're in the level with a $25 running ante. A player who has very few, or maybe none, of the $25 chips in his stack is probably playing very tight and very few hands. If he enters a pot be careful! If a player has huge stacks of $25 chips he is probably playing lots of hands and stealing a lot. Your hand selection to play against the first player would be much higher than against the second. Obviously this isn't foolproof as the second player may have just found a very good sequence...
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Focus and Preparation
By The Hendon Mob 23 November 2006
Guest bloggers The Hendon Mob says it's crucial to develop the right mindset before a tourney
This article is written by The Hendon Mob and originally appeared on www.thehendonmob.com
Have you ever found that sometimes you start tournaments well and in others you just can't get 'tuned in'? Sometimes you make finals but when the money counts you make mistakes and have difficulty focusing? What should you do about it?
Let us consider a trained athlete just before he/she runs in the 100 metre final at the Olympics. What do they do? Are they in the bar having a beer or chatting to their friends in the crowd? Not usually. They can be seen 'blocking out' all outside interferences. They may be sat with their heads in their hands or standing with their heads bowed. What do they think about? Winning! Having that gold medal placed around their necks!
How do they achieve the 'focus' that everyone talks about? They probably go...
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