Today, I am covering the $3,000 NL event.  Some big names, but a lot of the top tier names are over in the $10,000 Limit Event.  I would much rather be there, but I guess I have to do time in the NL jail.  Actually, it’s not too bad to cover.  Its actually simple.  I think thats the point.  Its so simple a game that after a while, everything is routine.

After this event, in three days I cover the $10,000 Omaha 8 or Better World Championship.  That should be a lot of fun.  The only down side to all this is that I am beginning to miss some of my friends, which was to be expected.

Unless I make a last minute change, I probably wont play in a WSOP event this year.  I am planning on playing the Stud 8 or Better event down at Binion’s on the 24th, but right now anything else will depend on my schedule and how I feel.  I may hang around and play over at the Orleans open next month, but I haven’t decided.

Anyway, I will try and write again before the end of the 3k event, but this event isn’t all that exciting.

No Limit Holdem satellite that pays a seat to 10 players. There are 11 players left. Average stack is 35,000.  You are in 5th chip position with 41,000 with blind of 1000 – 2000 with a 100 ante.  The chip leaders have over 100k each, and 2 short stacks are below 15k.   One of the chip leaders raises from middle position and your on the button with A, A.   What do you do?

Stud 8 or Better.  You have rolled up 9’s in a loose game that has 6 players see 4^th street.  Besides yourself, the other callers are a 9, A, K, 2, and 4.   The Ace pairs up on fourth and bets.  The King calls.  You raise and all other players but the other 9 folds.  On 5^th, the King now pairs up.   Your hand has not improved.  Aces bet, and the kings raise.  What is your play?  This is only the 2^nd hand you have played in this game.

Razz.   You have rolled up Aces and last to act.   A king brings in, and every other card on the table is 9 and above.  A Jack and a 9 call the bring in.  What should be your play here?

Omaha 8 or better.  This is a $2 – $4 game and every player at the table saw the flop with no raise.   You hold A, 3, J, 10 with no suits.  The flop comes 4c, 5c, 8h.  There was a bet and 5 players including you called.  Turn comes the 9c.  It is 3 bet by the time it arrives to you.  What is your play here?

Limit Holdem   You are dealt a Jh, 10h in the big blind.  3 people see the flop with you.  The flop comes Ah, 4h, Kd.   What is the best play here?

Stud.  You are dealt Kc, Qc, Jc.   You and three other people call the bring in bet from the 9s, which is the lowest card showing.  The other up cards are the As, Ks, Qh.  Fourth street unravels as follows.  You catch Ac.  The other three are showing As Kc,  Ks Qc,  Qh, Ah.  What is your play here?

Pot Limit Omaha.  50 – 100 blinds.  You have 25,000 in chips.  You are dealt As, Ad, 5c, 9h.   The bet is potted and repotted to you.  What is your play here? 

1. What is a low?

   A low is a 5 card hand that contains 5 unique low cards, typically 8 or below.  An example would be 2, 4, 5, 6, 7

2. Are wraps a good thing or a bad thing?

   Wraps are good.  Wrap starting hands are 4 cards that are closely coordinated for straight possibilities, such as J, 10, 7, 8.  A wrap straight draw is  a draw where at least 3 cards can come to give you a straight, such as a  8, 9, 6 flop with the previously mentioned hand. Any Queen, Seven, or Five will give you a straight in this example.

3. How is the size of a bring-in bet usually determined?

   In Stud games, the bring-in bet is usually twice the size of the ante.

4. Do you even know what a bring-in is?

   A bring-in is a forced bet made by the lowest showing up card in Stud and Stud 8 or better.  It is made by the highest up card in Razz.

5. John has a number 1. What does John have?

   John has a 2, 3, 4, 5, 7.

6. What game is John playing in question 5.

   John is playing 2-7 Lowball.

7. A flush beats a full house in what poker game? (This is a casino game, not some odd home game.)

   Mexican Poker.  This is a popular poker variant in California.  In Mexican poker the 7’s, 8’s, and 9’s are stripped out the deck.   As a result, it is much harder to make a flush in Mexican Poker than a Full House.

8. California and Kansas City are forms of what game?

   Lowball.  California lowball is 2-7 lowball and Kansas City Lowball is A-5 lowball.

9. You can make a double bet on an open pair on fourth street in 7 Card Stud 8 or better.

   False.  Only in Stud Hi.

10. Your starting hand in Omaha is a set of 10’s with a 7 kicker with no suits. What is your play?

    Fold.  You have to play 2 cards in your hand and 3 on the board.  Starting with a set in your hand is very bad as you only have one out to improve your PAIR.

11. At what point do antes come into play in most Limit tournaments?

    Unless you are playing Stud based games, there aren’t any ante’s in Limit tournaments.  

12. You are holding Aces full of Kings with a 67 in Razz. Your opponent has a King high straight with an 87. Who wins and why?

    Your opponent wins.  You opponent actually has Jack high where you hold a pair of Aces with a K, 6, 7.

13. You hear 10 people talk about HOE in a casino but there are no prostitutes anywhere. What are they talking about?

    A rotation game consisting of Holdem, Omaha 8 or Better, and Stud 8 or better.  Otherwise, they are likely farmers or construction people.  J

14. In what game is the first raise not truly a raise?

    Any stud based game.  In Stud based games, the first raise is actually a completion of the first bet.  It is even referred to as a completion.

15. You have a wheel, but only get 25% of the pot. What crazy game are you playing and why are you only getting 25% of the pot??

    Omaha 8 or Better.  You have the best low, but someone else has a wheel. 

16. Badugi. Tell me what it is.

    Badugi is a triple draw game where the object is to get 1 card of each suit in your hand.  The lowest 4 card badugi hand wins.  A four card hand consisting of one of each suit is a badugi.

17. What is the best hand in badugi?

    An A, 2, 3, 4 badugi is the best hand. 

18. What is HORSE?

    H.O.R.S.E is a rotation game consisting of 5 variants of poker.  Limit Holdem, Limit Omaha 8 or Better, Limit Razz, Limit Stud, and Limit Stud 8 or Better.

19. You have QJ108, with the Q10 of hearts. You flop Ace of hearts, Jack of hearts and an 8 of clubs. Someone potted and repotted. What do you do?

    You call or even reraise.  This is a Pot Limit Omaha hand with a boatload of outs.  The King of hearts gives you a Royal.  Any heart gives you a flush.  Any non heart King gives you the nut straight.  Any Queen or 10 gives you a full house.  Any 9 gives you a  Queen high straight. 

20. In the game California referred to in question 8, you have a wheel. How good is your hand and why?

    Your hand sucks.  California Lowball is 2 to 7 lowball.  Straights and flushes hurt your hand and Aces are always high.  You have Ace high.  (You do not have a straight because Aces are always high.)  If this was Kansas City Lowball, you have the nuts…literally the nuts.

Scoring Chart

1-5 Correct : You’re a Holdem player only aren’t you

6-10 Correct:  You’re a mixed games novice or maybe a Stud Player

11-15 Correct: Well rounded player but not in obscure games most likely.

15-20 Correct:  General Poker Expert.  Go find your own table.  These are MY fish.

My first event was a $500 buy-in 7 Card Stud event and Chris Grigorian was at my table as well as Al Barbieri. I lasted about 2 and half hours. The experience was great, and I knew I had some things to learn. The next day was a Pot Limit Holdem event in which I played with Mickey “Mouse” Mills. Mickey is an older gentleman with over a million in tournament earnings, numerous wins, and a couple WSOP final tables under his belt. I don’t know if it was Mickey’s good nature or something about my play, but Mickey started sharing a few Holdem tips. I was happy to listen as I really did not know how to play the game. My game improved immediately. I wound up winning about another 1500 in satellite chips based on some knowledge gained from him. Later that weekend, Mickey introduced me to a friend of his. This friend was someone that he considered a mentor and he claimed was personally responsible for giving him knowledge that helped him make a WSOP final table. This gentleman was also a poker author. His name was Bill Boston. At the time, I didn’t think much of this. I thought to myself, “Well that’s cool. I met a poker author.” However, I really wasn’t super impressed or anything as we didn’t get to talk much.

The next day was the $500 buy-in 7 Card Stud 8 or Better event. I arrived early, as I tend to do for most poker events I play, and to my left sat down Mr. Boston. This was kind of nice because this gave me someone at the table I could talk to. Bill and I exchanged some idle chit chat and the event began. I played several hands, and wasn’t doing so well. Personally, I thought I was just getting unlucky and not catching cards. Around the end of the first level, Bill leans over to me and says “Later on let’s get together and talk about Stud High Low Split.” The first thought in my head was “I must suck.” I did. I busted out just after the first break.

Five hours later, I ran across Bill in the poker room. He had just busted out of the event. He started out with rolled up Aces and caught Aces Full by Fifth Street. Unfortunately, someone else started out rolled up with Kings and caught Quads on 7^th and Bill was knocked out on a horrific bad beat. Bill looks at me and says “James, do you have anywhere you need to be? If not, let talk a little about Stud 8 or better.”

Actually, I did have somewhere to be. I had a dinner date planned with this gorgeous brunette I had met down there. At the same time, I had an opportunity to gain a lot of knowledge from someone who had been around the block a few times. I look at Bill and say “Let’s go over to table 14.” For the next two hours, Bill sat there and gave me a crash course on how to play Stud 8 or Better. He answered any questions I had and basically gave me a strategy that he recommended I work on. He then did something I didn’t expect. He took out a card and pen and gave me his email address to contact him at. “James, I want you to go home and use the strategy I just gave you and then tell me in 2 weeks to a month about how it’s working for you.” I didn’t quite know what to say other than thank you.

I went home and did what Bill told me. I played exactly the way he taught me, even if I didn’t agree with the strategy, and to be honest, I didn’t like some of it as it seemed even tighter than I even normally play. It took 3 games to see a difference in my play and that difference was dramatic. I went from being a player that would be lucky to cash in a sit n go once every 6 tries to someone that would be lucky NOT to cash in a sit n go 1 in 6 tries. Granted, I was playing at the free money levels. My live money games were about 50% cashes, which was about where Bill expected me to be.

The very next thing I did was buy Bill’s book on Omaha 8 or better and start working on my game. He also offered me a lot of instruction as well. I decided to take my turn at some event out in LA and see if I could do any better than my trip to Tunica. My trip to LA did not turn out much better than Tunica money wise, however, I made it deep in several events and barely missed cashing in both the Omaha 8 and Stud 8 events I played in. The difference in my play was night and day.

I continued to work on my game, and the next tournament set I went to, I ended up cashing in 3 events, including a Stud 8 event. Of course, the first person I told was Bill, who was ecstatic to hear about my accomplishments. Since then, Bill has been a good friend and mentor to me in Poker and in life in general. He has seen me go through ups and downs and has always given me very sound advice. I have not always taken his advice, but I listen, and he makes me think.

If you know someone that is particularly good at poker and they are willing to teach you or help you with your game, then take advantage of the resource. It does not have to be a pro or former professional player. I was lucky in that regards. No matter how much you learn, you can always learn more in Poker. In addition, mentors can help you through the rough times with solid advice or at least a shoulder to lean on. If you do not have a poker mentor, I personally recommend you get one. I can tell you from experience, I would not be the player I am currently without a mentor.

Last night I decided that I would log onto Full Tilt Poker and try and play a mixed Sit N Go tournament. As soon as I logged on I saw a HORSE Sit N Go for $1.25 buy-in. Yes, this is micro stakes, but HORSE doesn’t go off easily in SnG’s, so I figured I would play. I love mixed games as most anyone that knows me can attest.

We started with Limit Holdem and I was on the button. The first hand I was dealt a pocket pair and I raised. Everyone folded. What? Micro Limits and a fold? A few hands later I get AK and raise. One person called, and we saw a Flop of K, 3, 4. I bet and the caller folded. This doesn’t sound very interesting; except for the fact this was micro limits. Usually at this limit, you get a lot of calling, raising, and reraising with any type of hand. I thought to myself, “Wow, this is a tight table.” Then the level switched to Omaha 8 or better.

The first hand 7 out of 8 players were in the hand to 1 raise. You can guess who didn’t play the hand. Next hand the hand was raised and called by 6 players. Ok, tight image of this table just got thrown out the window. At this point I am just barely above my initial stack, when I am deal KQ24 with the Q4 of hearts. Not that great of a hand. It has possibilities if you can see the flop cheap, or in the case of this game, if almost every player is in the hand. I flop the nut flush draw and turn a 2^nd nut low. Suffice it to say the betting went bonkers 5 handed the whole way and by the end of it, I took high for the flush and amazingly enough the 2^nd nut low held up. I’m over 3400 in chips.

Welcome to Razz. 3 people called a bring in with a card higher than 9. I’m sitting here with a smile on my face, basically waiting to get a solid hand that I can dominate with. 2, 4, 6 is dealt to me about the 3^rd hand of Razz. I proceed to catch a 5 and a 7 with 3 people calling my bets all the way. In the end I take another big pot and am over 4700 in chips. The Stud 8 round only saw me win one pot and the subsequent Limit Holdem round I didn’t do much in. Then we are back to Omaha 8. 7 players remain.

At this point, I have about 4300 in chips and have a comfortable chip lead. I am mostly taking advantage of a lot of bad play with solid starting hand which is a pretty basic strategy. The hand that gave me a dominating lead came during this round. A248 with one suit. 6 players saw the flop. 2, 5, 6 was the flop. Two pair with a 2^nd nut low. I bet and it is 3 bet. I call the 3 bet. Turn card is gin when a 3 hit the board. Now I’m pushing the betting like mad because even if I get quartered, I still win money. 4 players stayed in to the river, which came a King. Again, I pushed the betting, expecting at best case scenario to split the pot. I was the only person that had a 4. SCOOP! One player was all in and was eliminated, leaving 6 players and I am sitting with 7400 in chips. 2 players are around 2000 and the other players are super short stacked.

During the subsequent Razz round, I continued to catch cards. One player was eliminated when my 753 beat their 764. Another player was eliminated when I drew to an 8 and they started and finished with a Jack. This left 4 players, all of which decided to tighten up. I am not typically an overly aggressive player, but this situation was too good to pass up. I started raising with every low card that was ahead on razz and doing the same during the Stud rounds with every high card, with VERY little resistance. Finally during the Stud round a player went all in with Jack high verses another players 2 pair. We are now in the money. I have around 9000 and the next closes player 1800.

Raise and take it was pretty much the name of the game at that point and I took a lot of pots that way. During the Stud 8 round, I’m sitting on 5^th street with an 8 low, another player has Trip Queens and the 3^rd player has a pair with a low draw. My 8 improves to a 7 and the low stack that had the low draw did not improve and we were now heads up. My opponent had around 2000. I’m sitting almost at 10.

The very last hand of Stud 8, I had my opponent all in. I had 4 cards to a 7 straight and my opponent had two sixes and a 3 low. I made my 7 low, but my opponent hit runner runner for a 6 low and scooped. During the Holdem round, my opponent flopped a set of 9’s and then slow played them to get a couple of extra bets. He worked his way back up to around 4000 in chips. Then, my opponent decided that he was going to wait for good hands. Ok, raise and take it with reasonable hands and see flops with crap. I got about 1200 of his 4000 that way.

Then we switched to Omaha. This game was his weak game and it showed. The flop came giving me a straight draw and he bet out. I called. Turn card came and paired the board. He checked to me. At this point I knew he was scared of the board pairing and if my straight came, I was good. The straight came on the river and I got an extra bet out of him. At this point he is now down to about 1200. The final hand of the game saw me turn a set of 5 vs. his two pair and he was eliminated.

This was a remarkable simple win for me. Yes, I do prefer mixed games and most play them, but this one was beyond simple to win. I did catch some cards, but at the same time I was able to exploit other player’s weaknesses. Early on, I waited for solid hands to get involved with and then as the tournament went on, I took advantage of tight play and played proper late game strategy. All in all, I am pleased with my performance. What was my win you ask? Four dollars. For me, poker isn’t about making the most money; it’s about making good decisions and winning. If I can do that, then I am happy. The money is just an added bonus.

I normally don’t look at my cards until it is my turn to act in Texas Holdem. It gives away less information, and it allows me to look at the other players. After a while, people learn your tendencies and many players will just assume you always do the same thing. Well, one thing people should learn is there is never an always in poker. The first example of how I play a hand blind usually occurs when I am getting short on chips. I take a very quick peak as each card is dealt to me. I try to make sure that people are not looking at me when this is happening. If I use this tactic, there is only one move, “Blind All In.”

Everyone will usually give me the “What the hell” look. I was in one game one time where it was three handed and I was short stack at the table, but it was still big enough to put a big hurt on the other 2 players. I had looked down to AJ and called “all in” before the last player got their cards. One thing I also will do is leave the card in the same position as pitched to me to give the illusion that I did not even look. I had done so in this case. The first player to act after me folded and then the other guy went into the tank. I REALLY wanted a call, and the guy that folded was trying to convince the other guy to call me. This is a rules violation and poor etiquette, but I was acting like I didn’t care. Finally the player actually folds pocket 10’s face up!! After that, every raise I made was called or reraised. Of course, I was playing strong hands and ended up coming back to take the chip lead in short order.

Another option in playing a hand bland is just that, playing it blind. However, I would recommend doing a few things when playing a hand blind. First, you don’t want to be calling raises blind typically. If you’re playing Limit holdem, and you’re in the big blind, you can call 1 raise. Second, what is the mindset or demeanor of the table? Will this move actually affect your table image? If you’re in a 2-4 game where you have 6 callers on average, nobody will really care, other than for entertainment value. However, if you in a NL tournament and you haven’t played that many hands that day, this may really screw with their heads. Last, pay attention to your position. You do not want to truly play a hand blind in early positions. There are too many people left to act and a better hand will of course raise. If I am going to play a hand blind, I typically will do it from the blind, the button or maybe one from the button.

If you play the hand blind, you have to decide how much you want to commit. If I play a hand blind and my opponent checks to me on the flop in Limit Holdem, I will bet. Since I am playing blind, most opponents will bet out at me if they hit the flop. They want to see if I am really going to play. At this point, it is up to you to decide which way you’re going to play the hand. Are you really going to play the hand blind, or are you going to look and stay in if you have a hand. That choice is up to you and what you want to accomplish from playing the hand.

It is a great feeling to play a hand blind and the hand hold up. Of course, it is pure luck, but it still feels good. Of course, few things are worse than some idiot playing a hand blind and beating your hand, especially if you started with a good hand. THAT feeling is what you’re trying to get from your players. You want your players grumbling about your play so that next time you’re in a hand; they will chase you down with inferior garbage. Do I recommend playing hands blind a lot? No. It is a tactic just like many others that have their time and place. If used properly, it will give you a reckless looking image that will either increase your stack, or get your opponents talking for a while. Keep them guessing. In the long run it will pay off.

The 50k HORSE event on the other hand is a total different beast. You cant just be a Holdem specialist or an Omaha specialist and win the event. You have to be skilled in at least 5 forms of poker to win this event. In addition it’s a LIMIT event. You cant just suck out early on in the event on one hand or go on a run and build up an insane amount of chips and then coast. You have to play. I personally think that the 50k HORSE event should be the Main Event. Will that mean I will ever be able to play the Main Event if it was switched to 50k HORSE. Chances are I will not. I will however be able to look at the winner of that event and be confident that they are true World Champion.

HORSE is nowhere near as exciting for the casual poker fan as NL Holdem. I understand this. In the real world however, which players are really more feared in a mixed game. Do you think Phil Hellmuth is feared in a mixed game? Not hardly. Is Chris Moneymaker or Joe Hachem feared. I doubt it. Let Phil Ivey, Cindy Violette, Greg Raymer or the like sit down, and anyone that knows anything about poker will tell you that your in trouble in a mixed game. Players that can play all the games get respect. Holdem gets boring after a while. Negraneu has said so and many other pros have said so.

The Main Event should be HORSE. Anything else is just another NL Holdem tournament. I am not saying don’t have a World Championship NL Holdem event. What I am saying is don’t deem someone a World Champion of Poker because they did well in a big NL Holdem event. Let someone prove their prowess in HORSE and THEN I will buy into the claim that they are a World Champion.

Jerry Yang is the current World Champion of NL Holdem. Freddy Deeb is the World Champion of POKER.