Texas Hold'em

[Crumb]

I am going to a $10 buy-in tournament tonight. I have never played before, but I won't miss my ten dollars. I have watched the pros on TV a couple times. I understand the basics on how the game is played.

It will be fun. It's at a fellow teachers house and will be a good natured game.

Is there anyone here who has played? Any pointers?

[King Louie]

OK dude listen up. I'm going to stream-of-conscience this thing, because I'm playing right now as we speak.

What's it going to be? About six or eight of you? I bet that's what it's going to be.

First of all -- will there be any drinking taking place? That's gonna be important. Keep that in mind until the end of my post.

O.K. so, here's the trick, to playing texas hold 'em at your teacher's house:

First of all, and this is the most important thing: toss everything, until the moment you have two cards that you want to stick with.

Now listen: I don't give a lumpy crap if there's a dude at your table who keeps saying, "AW COMON CRUMB! BET A LITTLE!"

Pee pee on that guy. You want to win money? Then pee pee on that guy. You don't call a bet until you have a good hand, you hear me?

So what's a good hand, you ask?

I've heard it said that the best "pocket" hand you can have is a suited Ace/King. Those are normally pretty good. And I've found lately -- on the really good tables -- pairs of aces in the pocket, down to pairs of tens in the pocket, are pretty good to go "all in" with. But you wont always win.

I tell you what: if you get a pair of tens in the pocket; and if the betting is pretty serene, then check them, and see what you flop. If you flop another ten, then bet the crap out of them.

No, scratch that: if you get another then, then bet them a healthy amount -- let them sucker themselves in. When they do, raise the crap out of them, and take all their damn money.

Here's another great tip -- and you're gonna win a lot of money this way.

Let's say you're sitting at the "low blind" spot, and everybody on the table folds. And now, it's your bet, and the dude to your left has alread paid the big blind.

Now if you sinply call the big blind, this dude gets to check, no matter what he has -- he could have a friggin 2/3 for that matter. But if you only call up to the big blind, then he gets a free ride.

So here's what you do: if you have even one face card in your hand, and if you're feeling the friggin flow, raise the bet to double the blind, and I promise you this: the dude in the blind seat will fold and give you his money.

If this does not work, do not expect another snail mail from me, paying you the money you lost.

That is, unless you'll return a SASE paying me the money that I've lost.

Good luck dude. There's nobody at the table that deserves it as much as you.

From the Jungles of Spades, Clubs, Diamonds, And Most Importantly, Hearts,

Kang Louie

[Crumb]

First of all -- will there be any drinking taking place? That's gonna be important. Keep that in mind until the end of my post.
There will be drinking.

You want to win money? Then pee pee on that guy. You don't call a bet until you have a good hand, you hear me?
I am not so into winning money, but it would be nice. I will try what you are recommending.

So what's a good hand, you ask?

This is really what I am after and I appreciate your comments.

This I am a little rusty on:
Let's say you're sitting at the "low blind" spot, and everybody on the table folds. And now, it's your bet, and the dude to your left has alread paid the big blind.

Now if you sinply call the big blind, this dude gets to check, no matter what he has -- he could have a friggin 2/3 for that matter. But if you only call up to the big blind, then he gets a free ride.

So here's what you do: if you have even one face card in your hand, and if you're feeling the friggin flow, raise the bet to double the blind, and I promise you this: the dude in the blind seat will fold and give you his money.
I guess I am a little unsure how the blind thing works. The blinds are bets that the players have to make right? Maybe you could explain that to me.
If this does not work, do not expect another snail mail from me, paying you the money you lost.
Even if I let you pay me back in scumbags? :)

[Godwhacker]

Our family plays once in a while...small stakes (10 cent raises). Fun game, but if you really play it right, you need at least six people, as you should really fold quite often unless you have good starting cards. If you get a string of bad cards, and you have to fold alot, it can get pretty boring...

[John Carter]

There is no such thing as a "friendly" poker game. You are either there to take everyone's money, or you are there to donate.

The blind works like this: There is a "small blind" and a "big blind". The small blind is half the big blind, and the big blind is equal to the minimum raise. The person to the dealer's immediate left has to bet the small blind proior to the deal, and the person to his/her left bets the big blind.

[CARLA]

CRUMB,

:cards: :cards: I love this game. I have been watching tournament play on TV, just fascinates me to watch the PRO'S play. Just have fun, and winning is a good thing.. :wink: :wink:

[Crumb]

Hey, I just got back. There were 8 of us. I had a few good hands but was about 4th when the first man was out. But the chip leader played very aggresively with his money, I took a lot from him and he was out in third place and I had a big pile o' chips. :tmgrin: My opponent had very little. She won some back, I bought a few pots and kept the stakes high. She scared me for a second when things were going her way, but I DID IT! :snoopy: I won first prize. :cheerful: I have the 40 :dollgrin: to prove it. :) woo hoo!!!

:woohoo: :bundance: :bundance: :pbjnana: :hotmoves: :pbjnana: :bundance: :bundance: :woohoo:

[Dingfod]

That's what they all say.

[Crumb]

:ptht:

[Dingfod]

I don't think I've ever met anyone that admitted to losing at poker or when they went to a casino. Las Vegas didn't build those huge monuments to the almighty dollar on winners, someone had to lose.

[Crumb]

Yeah, two other people won and everyone else lost.

[livius drusus]

Congrats, Crumb! :victory: What was your winning hand?

[bobeh]

I have played lots of that game...in fact am playing online right now. Thousands of games. It is an infernal game. I do win more than I lose...but I wouldn't want to play for money.

I'm fair on the limit tables - patient and grind it out. But on no limit I suck (on line). I suspect I play too conservatively for "play money".

My advice. Play at least 10,000 games on line before you ever bet any real money. And read up on the game - learn to do the math instantly, intuitively.

But for $10 maximum - who cares. Have fun - or I guess you already had the fun.

[King Louie]

I get a cut of that.

King Louie
4555 Banana Lane
The Jungle, Alabama 45820

From the Jungles of A New Haircut,

Kang Louie

[Crumb]

What was your winning hand?
Pair of 8s. heh.

I get a cut of that.
Checks in the mail. :shifty:

But for $10 maximum - who cares. Have fun - or I guess you already had the fun.
That was my logic, too. Thanks for the advice though.

[CARLA]

Excellent Crumb.. :appl: :appl: Now you will be dying to find a pickup game everyday of the week. :wink: :wink:

[Crumb]

Ha ha. I doubt it, but I don't think I will turn one down.

[Skep]

I saw this quote by Steven Wright on the WPT this evening.

Last night I was playing poker with Tarot cards. I got a full house and four people died.


:rimshot:

[Crumb]

:chuckle:

[Dingfod]

Here is some real Texas Hold'em. (http://www.utsa.edu/today/2004/10/jail.cfm)