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Old 06-04-2006, 03:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tom.hunter
Hi

Thanks for looking here are just some random questions that propped into my mind when reading a poker book:

If someone would be so kind as to give me a little help i would be much obliged.

q. Does it really not matter how good you are at maths in the long run since you only really use it to begin with when you actually workout the odds etc, as later on you just get a feeling after playing the same situations many times over.

A. math always matters but in certain common situations the math is virually automatic such as a a 4-flush draw has 9 outs = 4 -1 odds on the next card and a 4-card str8 draw is 8 outs = 4.7 - 1 for one draw. This isn't rally feel but recogntion of a calculation done thousands of times so all you really have to do is check the pot size and the bet size to determine your action. For example a guy bets $10 into a $20 pot on the turn when I'm on a flush draw costing me $10 to call into a now $30 pot. I only have one draw to the flush and the odds that will happen are 4-1 so I don't have the expressed (actual) pot odds to call and should fold. However if I thought I could get at least another $10 out of the guy if I make my flush that would give me the 4:1 odds I need to call - this assumtion is called 'implied odds'! Implied odds allow you to 'make a mistake' by calling when the expressed odds say fold but have the potential to make a it correct if you connect! Confused yet? You really need to study a basic book to get a fuller understanding of the math that a few short post cannot do justice to.

q.Can you bluff by betting and raising say on the river to make it look like a card has hit you with say a flush when actually it hasn't? (ie is this a good tactic in bluffing)

A. This is using a 'Scare card' to make a bluff. Commonly done but easily read if you try it too often. Bluffing while an important part of poker is much less successful at the micro and low limits because it's attempted so often by newbies and it's not that expensive to call and catch them at it. Bluffing can be sucessful if you're preceived as someone who doesn't bluff (or at least seldom does) so as you're learning the game do it seldom and when you do maybe restrict yourself to sem-bluffs (a bluff for a hand not yet made but has outs to get made if the bluff part doesn't work - for example a 4-card flush or str8 draw)

q. OK this is the most newbie question every but ill fire away...

What are the betting limits of say a 5/10 table at each stage of play in a hand of holdem?

A. Depends on the game - Limit or No Limit! Of course in NL there are no limits - bet your whole stack if you want. In 5/10 Limit the bets preflop and on the flop would be 5 (called sm bets or 1/2 bets) while the bets on the Turn and River are 10 (call big bets or full bets). Usually in Limit poker each street (stages as you called it and there are 4 = PreFlop; Flop; Turn & River) you can bet and raise to 4x the bet size (called capping) for that street so a capped bet PF and Flop would be 4x 5 = 20 while on the Turn & River acpping would be 4x 10 = 40.

another newbie question (hey at least its in the correct place )

And sometimes you get the option to bet or to raise or just to call for example what determines these options you get at certain stages in the game.

A. The math - see your first question! Also there is your position at the table; how loose/tight the table is playing; how many entered before you; did they limp or raise in; who are they? (not their names but what kind of player are they - loose/tight);and YOU! As said before you really need to get a basic book to get started - check out the Book Review section on this site for some reccommedations.

and 1 more quick thing whats this "limping in"?

A. Entering a pot by calling the big blind. This is the least you can come in for without raising. In poker circles, coming in for the least you can is weak or 'limp' - hence 'limping'. Cheers guys
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