In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Options

Texas holdem help

SilentKnightSilentKnight Member Posts: 2,607 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited March 2005 in General Discussion
Okay, I play Texas holdem alot....and one guy almost always raises ALOT pre flop. Is there any good strategy to combat that....or is the only way to pay up and hope to catch something on the flop?

He can hold almost everybody at bay because no one wants to call his huge pre-flop raises unless they have VERY good cards. And he almost always becomes chip leader right off the bat from taking the big and small blinds so many times.




mid_38605_p_EE2E4369-2B3D-897A-29773ECAA3D0A01D.jpg
Dont mess with Texas

Comments

  • Options
    ameriskinameriskin Member Posts: 1,859 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    have you tried kicking him in the *?[;)][:D] that's all i got, sorry.

    cody
  • Options
    ZERODINZERODIN Member Posts: 6,338
    edited November -1
    Are you playing limit or no-limit? That makes a big difference on pre-flop strategy.
  • Options
    headzilla97headzilla97 Member Posts: 6,445
    edited November -1
    does he do this with any cards or only good hands. if he does that and you have a good cards push all your chips in, that will slow him down

    My old man's backhand used to land,
    Hard on the side of my head.
    I just learned to stay out of his way.
    There's been streetfights, blue lights,
    Long nights with the world sittin' on my chest:
    It just showed me how much I could take.
    Hard times, bad luck.
    Sometimes, life sucks.
    That's all right, I'm ok.
    It ain't nothin' but another day.
  • Options
    n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427
    edited November -1
    Is this an on line game ?? if so just keep folding, dont even play.. He will get the idea sooner or Later, it only works if people call him..I play a little on line at Party Poker. get the Lottery Players,, everyone will set out, untill the Lottery players either leave or start playing right..
  • Options
    MN HunterMN Hunter Member Posts: 2,299 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    try re-raising him every once in a while...try and catch him in a bluff (even if your bluffing yourself) one of my friends is the EXACT same way...he's usually the first or second out....my .02

    "Not many like us, in fact very few, and most of them are dead" LtCol Pratt - USMC
  • Options
    SilentKnightSilentKnight Member Posts: 2,607 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote: Are you playing limit or no-limit? That makes a big difference on pre-flop strategy.

    No limit.

    No this isnt online. Its with my group of friends. The thing is we almost never know if hes bluffing because he never shows his cards(which is the smart thing to do...I do it too). We have to pay to see them....and its usually alot.

    And if we do call him and re-raise hell usually push us all in.



    mid_38605_p_EE2E4369-2B3D-897A-29773ECAA3D0A01D.jpg
    Dont mess with Texas
  • Options
    MN HunterMN Hunter Member Posts: 2,299 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    again...try calling him every once in a while....granted you might lose...might win, but at least you'll get to see his cards and play him from there

    "Not many like us, in fact very few, and most of them are dead" LtCol Pratt - USMC
  • Options
    SilentKnightSilentKnight Member Posts: 2,607 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the advice.

    Maybe ill be able to take him down once I have a 50 BMG round for good luck.[:D] His luck charm is a .45 ACP.



    mid_38605_p_EE2E4369-2B3D-897A-29773ECAA3D0A01D.jpg
    Dont mess with Texas
  • Options
    ZERODINZERODIN Member Posts: 6,338
    edited November -1
    With no-limit, you can afford in the long run to pay to see his cards, or at least pay for the flop if you have a good couple of hole cards. This is because you can win ten times what y'all paid to see his hand. The problem with playing with a limit is that, in the long-run, you'll pay more to see cards than you can win on the next hand.
  • Options
    bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,664 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    he has you all exactly where he wants you ...he is in control. Think logically, he has no better chance of getting good cards on the deal than you do. He eliminates any possible opposition due to raises. Everybody is running scared. He knows that and plays you accordingly. If you have a same suit or a ace or any decent cards, call his butt. He is bluffing most of the time. The odds of him getting good cards all the time are outragous.

    And if by chance you can't pay the mortgage next month tell the wife you thought he was bluffing.[:D][8D][;)][}:)]
  • Options
    ZERODINZERODIN Member Posts: 6,338
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by bpost1958
    And if by chance you can't pay the mortgage next month tell the wife you thought he was bluffing.[:D][8D][;)][}:)]

    SK is young, under 20 for sure, and has no wife or mortgage. He's free to bet it all. [:D]
  • Options
    burnerburner Member Posts: 113 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Easy way to do this. Have everyone fold when he raises huge ammounts pre flop. He just gets his money back and no more playing. He will get the picture.
  • Options
    n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427
    edited November -1
    Since it is "friends" and not online, why not just tell him?...

    Tell him point blank its not "liked" by anyone, and would be appreciated if he stopped....or put a limit on the pre flop bets...


    If being polite fails, tell him to knock it off or he wont be playing any longer....

    cute_skunk.gif

    Hudson.gif
    Lil' Stinker's Opinion
  • Options
    bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,664 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by burner
    Easy way to do this. Have everyone fold when he raises huge ammounts pre flop. He just gets his money back and no more playing. He will get the picture.


    He would have both the big and small blinds. I would get a OK hand and reraise "all in" on him. Once he learns he can't push the table he will stop trying to do it.
  • Options
    SilentKnightSilentKnight Member Posts: 2,607 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Easy way to do this. Have everyone fold when he raises huge ammounts pre flop. He just gets his money back and no more playing. He will get the picture.

    Yup he gets the big and small blinds. And after a while he becomes the chip leader by a pretty big margin and bullies everybody around. Once and while somebody will call his raise but hell actually have a good hand and win. Its hard to read him....and he can read us pretty well. And once in a while somebody will call his huge bets and actually win and hell become the short stacked player and we will eventually knock him out. But that doesnt happen too often.


    quote: Since it is "friends" and not online, why not just tell him?...

    Tell him point blank its not "liked" by anyone, and would be appreciated if he stopped....or put a limit on the pre flop bets...


    If being polite fails, tell him to knock it off or he wont be playing any longer....


    There is no way I or anyother player will ever do that. No limit Texas Holdem is pretty much the only pure game left. What hes doing is perfectly fine with me and everybody else...its part of the game...im(we're) just having a hard time finding a way to beat him.



    mid_38605_p_EE2E4369-2B3D-897A-29773ECAA3D0A01D.jpg
    Dont mess with Texas
  • Options
    mpolansmpolans Member Posts: 1,752 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by SilentKnight
    quote:Easy way to do this. Have everyone fold when he raises huge ammounts pre flop. He just gets his money back and no more playing. He will get the picture.
    <snip>
    No limit Texas Holdem is pretty much the only pure game left.
    <snip>


    This is absolute b.s. Hold'em is just popular because it can be played fast and makes for good TV. If the World Series of Poker wasn't televised, nobody would give a crap whether you were playing 5 or 7 Card Stud or 5 Card Draw.

    Regarding the guy stealing the blinds, y'all just have to cowboy the hell up and bet big (even all-in if necessary) when you have good cards. He's bullying you and treating you like his b**ches because he knows he can (evidenced by y'all folding all the time). If he keeps betting big and you have good cards, start betting back over the top of him. It'll start making him think twice about bluffing.
  • Options
    n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427
    edited November -1
    quote:What hes doing is perfectly fine with me and everybody else...

    Well if its perfectly fine, then why complain?....

    quote:Okay, I play Texas holdem alot....and one guy almost always raises ALOT pre flop. Is there any good strategy to combat that....or is the only way to pay up and hope to catch something on the flop?




    cute_skunk.gif

    Hudson.gif
    Lil' Stinker's Opinion
  • Options
    select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,453 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Just wait till you get some great hold cards and go all in.. Then egg him on... come on big guy..
  • Options
    ZERODINZERODIN Member Posts: 6,338
    edited November -1
    I have to agree with mpolans on this one. You probably wouldn't be playing poker at all if it weren't for the sudden popularity on TV. The good thing about that is that it means I can go to a casino with poker tables and usually walk out ahead of when I came in, because every kid and his mother thinks he's a future poker champion from watching it on TV, and he tries to play like it. I just hope you're not a sunglasses-wearin' punk like most of 'em and the losers who play the $2 million tables and still haven't learned how to use their eyes to their advantage. (There's more to bluffing than a straight face.)

    But mpolans has a good idea - play 5-card draw poker for a while. That'll totally screw with the guy's betting habits. [:p]
  • Options
    SilentKnightSilentKnight Member Posts: 2,607 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote: I have to agree with mpolans on this one. You probably wouldn't be playing poker at all if it weren't for the sudden popularity on TV. The good thing about that is that it means I can go to a casino with poker tables and usually walk out ahead of when I came in, because every kid and his mother thinks he's a future poker champion from watching it on TV, and he tries to play like it. I just hope you're not a sunglasses-wearin' punk like most of 'em and the losers who play the $2 million tables and still haven't learned how to use their eyes to their advantage. (There's more to bluffing than a straight face.)

    But mpolans has a good idea - play 5-card draw poker for a while. That'll totally screw with the guy's betting habits.

    Ive been playing for about 4 years now. I usually just play to have a good time and hang out with the guys....not to win big money. But winning money is always nice.[:D]

    Im not complaining BlackRoses. I just tips on ways to beat him.

    ETA. Because I left some important words out.



    mid_38605_p_EE2E4369-2B3D-897A-29773ECAA3D0A01D.jpg
    Dont mess with Texas
  • Options
    ZERODINZERODIN Member Posts: 6,338
    edited November -1
    So play 5-card draw for a while. That'll beat him. [:)]
  • Options
    SilentKnightSilentKnight Member Posts: 2,607 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote: So play 5-card draw for a while. That'll beat him.

    We havent played 5 card draw yet...but 7 card stud takes forever and is very tricky! You really have to think alot and carefully with 7 card stud.



    mid_38605_p_EE2E4369-2B3D-897A-29773ECAA3D0A01D.jpg
    Dont mess with Texas
  • Options
    sharpshooter039sharpshooter039 Member Posts: 5,897 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I play alot of holdem,have before it was popular on tv,the only difference now is its easier to find a game at a casino and I do go to tulsa to tunica a couple times a month and play.You are going to have to beat him at his own game,when you have good hole cards bet them,raise him and reraise him,after he loses a few hands it will slow him down.you have to bet your cards playing holdem or the chip leader will always bully you around.

    [image]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/869284/nogunnextdoor.gif[/image]
  • Options
    RocklobsterRocklobster Member Posts: 7,060
    edited November -1
    Use your gut. If you have Ace, King, or Queen with high kicker (especially suited), or a pair, go all in. Otherwise call him. Fold if you have nothing, but only then. You're going to have to be able to see his cards sometimes. After a while you'll learn how to read him.

    My mission is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.
  • Options
    fishermanbenfishermanben Member Posts: 15,370
    edited November -1
    Very little good advice in here, SK. You have to separate this play into two different categories. 1. He's Raising Early 2. He's Raising Late. If he's raising early then you can combat that by simply calling if you want to, if anyone reraises after you, then they are after his blood, not yours, and they are the force to be reckoned with. If he's raising late and after you, then you must tighten up considerably pre-flop. That is the only solution.


    If I were you I would make every effort to always sit on his immediate left. I would want to see his move every time before I made my action. You will have to make some uncomfortable calls, and be prepared for him to come out firing when you have both flopped crap. DON'T RAISE HIM PREFLOP!!! You can re-raise on the flop if you want, but don't get in a peter measuring contest with him, because he obviously knows his stuff, and will lead you straight to ruin. The funny thing is, SK, HE MIGHT NOT BE BLUFFING AS OFTEN AS YOU THINK PREFLOP!!! He is probably just aggressively betting his medium strength hole cards frequently, then coming out with big guns on the flop, and looking at your eyes when he does. It's not hard to see fear.

    Another Note(only applies if his tells correspond): Usually his type is very egotistical and arrogant. That type almost always have tells that will show you whether or not they are bluffing pre-flop. Any kind of elaborate chip toss, arm coming up high to make a bet, applying pressure to the chips after he sets them on the table, smacking the chips down on the table, or making direct eyecontact during his preflop betting should be a good indication that he is aggressively playing a weak to medium strength hand. You can punish that by betting the face cards that come up on the flop, and reraising preflop(although the latter will cause him to change his play and make him less predictable in latter games).

    So to refresh:

    Always sit directly in front of him(his left) when you can.

    Play him differently if he is raising early or late--in front or behind you. Fold more when you havn't seen him act yet. Call more when you have. Don't raise him very often, watch what happens when others test his waters(I'd even encourage friends to reraise him--better their money than yours). And remember, he probably isn't bluffing as often as you may think PREFLOP; however, he is probably bluffing more often than you think on the flop.

    Call more, bet less. Let him bet your good hands, but frequently bet the river regardless.

    Watch for his arrogance tells--those are the easiest to spot. And, don't forget, he's not the only player at the table. If you spot his tell, you would be an idiot and a sucker to share that information with anyone.

    Ben

    logo_chc_79x76.jpg
    Cub's preseason is only one week away.
Sign In or Register to comment.