 GOAT
- “What the hell is Goat talking about?
You have to lose to win?? Sounds like Goat
has been munching on too much grass.”
You gotta lose to win. You have to risk
chips, in the right situations, to win chips.
Sometimes you will lose more chips than
if you would have just folded when you didn’t
hit the flop and someone bets before you.
What are these plays then?
I guess my best answer is it depends on
what you personally like to play aggressively.
I don’t know that answer, I’m
just a rook myself, but I want to learn
how to play better.
Let’s say you’re a fan of Ah
10c (as I am in certain situations). 10
handed game online at Partypoker and you
are 2 from the button. Not great position,
but pretty good. UTG folds, 2nd folds, 3rd
calls and 4th raises to you…. What
do you do here? Lot’s of people would
fold it and save in essence 1 big bet, or
call 1 big bet to see how the old flop falls.
If you’re comfortable folding here,
go ahead and fold no problem. But if you
would just like to call it, Instead, try
risking 2 big bets for some “pot ownership”
type displays. Raise it, make it 3-bets
to go. Now if you are in a loose table,
you could likely have 2 more callers behind
you… or just as likely they could
all fold. I would count on the Big Blind
calling w/ a drawing hand, so watchout for
him if he just calls to the river and there
is a possible draw completed.
Anyway, right there you raise it and you
find out where you stand. If you get a re-raise,
someone probably has high pockets or A/Ks.
Your raise puts you at a potential advantageous
position after the flop. In more flops than
not, you miss, right? So do I. Sometimes
I hit great though. Regardless, you’ve
just put yourself in the position to win
the pot after the flop. Let’s say
that the big blind calls along with 1st
and 4th seats.
Flop: 4s 8s Qd
Ok, so that pretty much sucked. You’ve
a 2 outer for a straight, it’s rainbow,
board.
First position checks.
Seat 4 bets out into you.
Now I’d ask myself 2 questions. First,
Is this guy for real or is he trying to
take it from me? That depends on how he
has been playing. I recommend taking notes
(partypoker features a ‘notes’
section available, USE IT). Poker is a game
about feel… if this guy is a “Mouse”
More or less if this guy never bets unless
he has hit top pair, I’d probably
fold right there… or the more likely
story would that this guy is with 2nd pair
or a draw.
So, what do you do here? Again, it’s
feel, maybe raise it up. If the Bigblind
didn’t hit something he will fold
and my guess is first position will have
the check/fold button already pressed. When
it gets back around to 4th position, he
could likely fold it right there giving
you the pot as well. Not too bad, you just
took down a nice little pot, and a little
pot is always nice.
So you go ahead and raise, saying “No
sir, you’re 9’s and your drawing
hand are weak. My A/Q is much more powerful”.
The big blind folds his spade draw.
So now it’s up to 4th position to
act. If he was totally bluffing he folds,
if he was on a decent draw he folds or calls,
if he has a strong hand he raises. If he
raises you there, he’s probably got
ladies with a high kicker. He’s re-raised
you twice, I would in most situations fold
unless I got a read on the player, then
I try to go with it. Remember, this is about
learning, if you don’t lose some chips
you won’t win some.
Let’s assume for further discussion’s
sake, that he calls your bet to see the
turn
Turn: 5s
Current board: 4s 8s Qd 5h
Ok, if he was on a draw that card didn’t
help. In a lot of the online passive (lower
limit games, where rooks like me dwell)
you will get a check here. Why? Because
you’ve represented that you’ve
got this hand, you’ve raised twice.
He didn’t hit his draw he checks.
He might even have a pair of 8’s and
is leary of you having a Q, you’ve
certainly represented that you have a strong
hand. He might even a have a pair of jacks
or lower in the pocket. If he checks to
you, a bet is certainly in order. You are
giving yourself the opportunity to win the
pot right there. What if you checked it
and an 8 comes on the river? What if you
check it and an K comes up, did he just
hit his K/8? Risk some chips to win some
chips I think. Bet it and see. Again, you
have the opportunity to win the entire pot
for 1 bet right here. Lot’s of people
will call in the lower limit games on the
river because of ‘pot odds’.
Try and win it there.
Well, this dude just won’t go away.
No respect for you whatsoever. Quite likely
on the old flush draw. He calls your bet
again, deciding see the river.
Ok, so now it’s river time. You are
still in the advantage here at this point.
Regardless of how the river turns out, you
get the last move.
River: 5d
Final board 4s 8s Qd 5h 5d
So, you’ve got a pair of 5’s
with an A kicker. My guess is I’m
up against a stronger pair, but he doesn’t
know it. He’s got 8’s with a
K or maybe a J. He checks to you and now
its up to you. For one more bet you have
a chance to win this pot right here, and
it’s a pretty sizeable pot. On the
other hand, will this guy really fold with
the pot this size? You’ve played the
hand aggressive so far, you’ve gotta
bet it again at the river. Again, give yourself
the chance to win it. A check leaves it
up to the cards and I would have to think
that I’m probably beat. So bet it
again. Again, putting yourself in position
to win. My guess is unless he has just been
smooth calling you all along he will either
call or fold. More times than not he will
call. Yeah, but you only need to win a few
of those pots to make it worth your wile
to try it on occasion. Lose some, win some.
My experience has shown me that by making
aggressive plays similar to this is that
I win the pots before we reach river. If
I’m aggressive pre-flop and right
after flop then when I make my bet/raise
on the turn that I’ll win lots of
pots right there.
Well, that’s all from this rook. Just
play your game to learn what works for you,
if this is the most idiotic advice you’ve
read, well… at least you’re
reading.
Peace.
Goat
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