Here's the plan for this post:
-Thank you to Microstakes
-Brag
-Turn Betting Strategy
Thank you Microstakes. I appreciate all the advice I received on my hand posts.
Now, here comes the brag:
Most of you here don't know me, but I used to 12-table $100NL back in day at 10BB/100. I quit poker 2 years ago, but I recently decided to get back in the game. I had one of my buddies send me over $300 and I decided to take a shot at $25NL (I know 12 buyins is not ideal, but I was willing to take a shot). Anyway, in 5 days, I had built my bankroll to $750 and had a 15 buyin roll to take a shot at $50NL. 6 days later, my bankroll was around $1900 and I was confident about moving up to $100. I ran really hot at $100 and today, 12 days after I started playing poker again, my roll is at $2550 after paying back my buddy the original $300. Before you say I just run sick-hot, note that I played 50,000 hands in these 12 days. I can play around 1000 hands per hour 12-tabling 6-max. Anyway, here are some graphs:
BB/100
$25NL
$50NL
$100NL (so hot)
Ok, brag done.
Finally, I wanted to contribute a bit with a strategy post. Here, we'll talk about the turn. It's a weakness for many players.
The essence of turn strategy is pot control. Obviously there are a million exceptions and you should mix up your game, but for simplicities sake, you should always have the following in the back of your mind: bet/raise the turn if you want a big pot. Check (or fold to a bet) on the turn if you want to keep the pot medium/small. I see many players building a big pot on the turn and then not knowing what to do on the river with a TPTK.
Here's an interesting hand. By the turn, I don't want to make this into a huge pot. I want to get to showdown for cheap. Checking the turn allows me to easily call the river bet.
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (6 handed)
Poker Stars Converter Tool from
FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: 2+2 Forums)
saw flop|
saw showdown
SB ($70.60)
BB ($117.75)
UTG ($53.75)
Hero ($46.25)
CO ($59.50)
Button ($38.65)
Preflop: Hero is MP with J
, J
.
1 fold,
Hero raises to $2,
1 fold, Button calls $2,
2 folds.
Flop: ($4.75) 7
, 6
, 8
(2 players)
Hero bets $4, Button calls $4.
Turn: ($12.75) A
(2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.
River: ($12.75) 3
(2 players)
Hero checks,
Button bets $5, Hero calls $5.
Final Pot: $22.75
Results in white below:
Hero has Js Jc (one pair, jacks).
Button has Td Jh (high card, ace).
Outcome: Hero wins $22.75.
Here's a common problem: You bet preflop, bet the flop, and now if you check the turn, you think it makes your hand look weak. That's not as big of a problem as it might seem... Most of the time, you'll have a hand with decent showdown value and by checking the turn, you might inspire a bluff which you can pick off on the river. You'll also mix up your play and occasionally check the turn with a monster. Finally, by not betting the turn, you have an option to bluff the river (less expensively than if you had bet the turn).
Just remember that the turn is the key street in controlling pot size. The very general guidelines (again lots of exceptions) are: Bet/raise the turn for big pots (you can easily push-all in on the river) and check/fold the turn for small pots.
Anyway, thanks again to everyone at Micro. I wish you all the best of luck and feel free to ask me any questions.