Blog, Poker

Omaha is Game of Illusions

Almost every hand in Omaha, especially high-low split, looks like it has great possibilities. Everyone envisions a winner.  Of course, that’s not true.  There are over 5,000 combination of cards in every hand dealt.  You need patience and discipline to wait for good starting hands.All four hole cards need to work together.  If that doesn’t happen, be prepared to fold. Omaha…

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Blog, Poker

Change Directions

Shortly before the pandemic, I played in a tournament at one of the most interesting tables I’ve ever experienced; loose calls, no regard to position, and testosterone-fueled aggression.  What to do?  I simply shut down, relaxed, played only super premium hands, and let the uber-warriors knock each other out.   And, they did.  I basically folded my way stress-free to…

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Blog, Poker

Continuation Bet

The increasingly popular continuation bet, also known as a C-bet, is a wager after the flop (no matter the cards dealt) from the pre-flop raiser. It’s most effective when done in position and usually clears the field when your opponents do not connect.  It’s a good strategy because if you check, everyone gets a free card.  When isn’t it a…

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Blog, Poker

Set Over Set

A recent tournament found me on the short end of an all-in hand.  Someone said, “Tough to lose set over set.”  To be precise, it was set over trips.  There is a big difference, but over the years the terms set and trips have become interchangeable (incorrectly).   A set is when a pair in the hole matches a card…

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Blog, Poker

Think it over

A great quote from a cowboy trucker I ran into in Mesquite, NV.  “I play poker so I don’t have to gamble and I play Omaha so I don’t have to play poker.”  I agree….

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Playing Short Stacked

I’ve been in a home game for over 25 years. There’s a $50 buy-in and rebuys can occur when your chip stack is less than $10.  The other night, the host asked me if I’d like more chips and I replied, “No, I like playing short-stacked.”  I started thinking about why.  Of course, one doesn’t like getting into that position…

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Poker, Poker Resorts

The Jewel of Jamul

The small town of Jamul is located in San Diego’s East County. Its highlights are the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge and several regional parks offering camping, hiking, fishing, and grand vistas.  My visit was to check out the three year old Jamul Casino located 20 minutes from downtown San Diego. Tribal History The Jamul Indian Village is one of…

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A Hand Not Played

Why do we remember the hands we folded only to see the one card we needed turned up?  For the most part, we never think about our good folds. My 17 year old grandson is going to be a very good poker player; he likes math and thinks logically.  Of course, I have to break him of believing bluffing is…

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Blog, Poker

Set Over “Set”

A recent tournament found me on the short end of an all-in hand.  Someone said, “Tough to lose set over set.”  To be precise, it was set over trips.  There is a big difference, but over the years the terms set and trips have become interchangeable (incorrectly).   A set is when a pair in the hole matches a card…

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