Jan 14 WSOP notes
The current instalment of my stream-of-conscousness notes... coments welcome.
Friday, January 14, 2005
I have been spending a lot of time thinking about “small pot poker.†I think that adding “small pot v. big pot†as a constant monologue in my head I may find salvation from my tendency to call too much in tough situations.
A lot of players basically play tight and look for an opportunity to double through in a single hand. This is the way of the rock. And, this is the way to the rail. It is much more important to slowly add to your stack with a minimal chance of going broke. Thus, the goal of small pot poker:
Manipulate the betting such that you avoid getting pot committed. Look to win lots of little battles and avoid the big battles.
Frankly, a lot has been written about small pot poker and although I have listened and tried to apply it I have not done a good job of it. I tend towards monumental confrontations – real or on a bluff. There are many many players that should simply be ground down slowly over the course of many hands.
Friday, January 14, 2005
I have been spending a lot of time thinking about “small pot poker.†I think that adding “small pot v. big pot†as a constant monologue in my head I may find salvation from my tendency to call too much in tough situations.
A lot of players basically play tight and look for an opportunity to double through in a single hand. This is the way of the rock. And, this is the way to the rail. It is much more important to slowly add to your stack with a minimal chance of going broke. Thus, the goal of small pot poker:
Manipulate the betting such that you avoid getting pot committed. Look to win lots of little battles and avoid the big battles.
Frankly, a lot has been written about small pot poker and although I have listened and tried to apply it I have not done a good job of it. I tend towards monumental confrontations – real or on a bluff. There are many many players that should simply be ground down slowly over the course of many hands.
Comments
What you have written pretty much echoes that sentiment. If that is good enough for 2 poker gods, it should be good enough for me. :redface:
I find there are a lot of people who will call with top or middle pair, over and over again, as long as the last bet isn't too large on a small pot. Even if I'm holding the nuts, I bet low enough to lure them in. lol Cuz some is better than none.
While a bet or call may be positive EV it may not warrant the risk in a tournament. For me it's not small pot poker, but rather a consderation of the risk I'm taking vs. what the return will do for me -- not the actual return. So, if the return is that I'm now able to take a few more "risks" like calling raise with a medium pocket pair, then I might go for it, if the risk doesn't cripple my stack. If I'm big stacked, then I really don't want to take risks -- play the nuts or push off players who missed their hands. I still can't explain this complex thought in my head though.
Cheers
Magi