Poker Stars

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Poker Stars is home to all the big names in online poker. Even the WSOP champions, past and present, will play Poker Stars tournaments or play our online poker stars tables.

Today on Poker Stars

June 28, 2005

Two reasons woman are better poker stars players:

1. There's something I call the "bunching factor." This means that when Poker Stars online players voluntarily fold, it tends to imply that better-than-average poker cards remain among the players yet to act. This is logical when you think about it, because opponents are more likely to fold bad Poker Stars cards than good cards. And this means that when everyone folds before you raise that big blind, well ... that big blind is more likely to hold a strong hand than he would if he were starting with a random deal. So, raising the big blind from the small-blind position in a full-handed game after everyone folds is not quite as good a deal as you might think (but usually it's good enough). Raising the big blind from the small-blind position in a heads-up game is better than you might think.
2. Heads up at poker stars tournaments, you're going to be able to act last on the second, third, and fourth (final) hold'em betting rounds. This positional advantage can make up a lot of ground. This reversal of position when heads up also means that you usually should be defensive with medium-strong Poker Stars hands from the big-blind position and aggressive with them from the small-blind position. In other words, in a heads-up game in the big-blind position, you shouldn't three-bet against a raise as often as you would in a full-handed game if everyone folded and then the small blind raised. You also should fold more hands in the big blind than you would in a ring game when the small blind raises.

Now, here's the deal. All that was about what you should do in a full-handed hold'em game when you're the small blind vs. a big blind. But, suppose instead that the game is two-handed from the get-go. Now what?

I'll tell you now what! Now, by convention, the blinds are reversed. Except on the first round of betting, the small blind is in the dealing position and will act last at poker stars tournaments. The big blind, except for the first betting round, will act first. How does this change things? Monumentally! I've been able to consistently route poker stars opponents who don't adjust correctly. You don't need anywhere near as powerful poker hands now to raise or call the big blind as you did in the full-handed game after everyone else folded.

Huh? But, Mad Genius of Poker Stars, you just said that you didn't even need very much to call or raise previously. That's right. And now you often don't need anything at all. In some games against overly cautious Poker Stars opponents, you don't need anything specific to play. Absolutely everything will do!

Neutralizing the Disadvantage but when you have a Poker Stars online player to your left who inadequately defends the big blind, you can go a long way toward neutralizing this overall positional disadvantage. So, in addition to other seating factors that we've talked about in the past, consider changing to a seat where a poker player who doesn't defend the blind often enough sits to your left. This will allow you to make money with weak Poker Stars hands that you otherwise would have thrown away. And many of the poker hands that you normally would play will be more profitable, because you sometimes will win the blind without a contest, and the amount of the blind usually surpasses the profit that you could expect against an active opponent.

But where was I? Oh - what can we play in the small blind against the big blind books explaining blinds after everyone else has folded? Our conclusion is that, depending on the poker stars tournaments opponent, our image, and other factors - 10-8 offsuit is very likely playable in the small blind, and 9-5 offsuit might be. Hands such as 7-3 offsuit, 9-4 offsuit, and 7-2 offsuit, or even suited, often shouldn't be played.

1. You might get raised because the big blind is live.
2. Your opponent in the big blind has position over you and will be acting last on every future betting round. This turns out to be a pretty big issue, and poker players who think position doesn't much matter heads up are quite wrong. But, despite this positional disadvantage on all future rounds of betting, it's often worth calling. And you might even raise, hoping that your opponent will fold his big blind. In fact, you should raise frequently against too conservative Poker Stars online foes. Opponents who don't defend their big blinds are good targets to put on your left.

Generally, poker players on your left have a positional advantage and you'll lose money to them forever. Unless there is a great difference, favoring you, between your skill and theirs, you probably will lose money against poker stars players on your left for your lifetime. There's nothing much you can do about it, except to minimize the advantage with prudent decisions. But don't despair. If you're a skillful poker player, you'll make much more than enough money from players to your right to cover this misfortune.

Why is it close? Because, let's say that it's a $100-$200 game. The blinds then are $50 small, $100 large. This means that you can just call for $50 and get 3-to-1 money odds at this point (subject to adjustment), provided that your Poker Stars opponent doesn't raise. In a sense, you're getting a 50 percent discount over what it would cost if you had to call that $100 cold. Without being too picky about how we analyze it, that means that if this play wouldn't lose $50 if you called cold, you probably should call for $50. And guess what? That 9-5 doesn't lose $50 if you call cold against many poker stars opponents with random hands. So, what's the problem with calling? A couple of big ones:

It's a really powerful concept for those of you who play shorthanded or heads-up poker stars tournaments. And for poker players in full-handed games, it will help explain how to play a recurring situation, too. I'm talking about the small blind, my friends. About two weeks ago, I sent an E-mail tip to my Preferred On-line Mailing List. I've enhanced that tip especially for you. Get ready, because this advice is hot and it's coming right at you. Here's one of the areas of poker stars online where I believe even strong players falter. Let's say that you're playing limit Poker Stars online, just you and one opponent. Picture that. Now, erase that picture. We'll get back to it in a minute. Picture that same poker player, but this time you're in a regular ring game. Well, when you're in a full-handed game, you realize that if everyone folds and you're in the small blind, you don't really need a lot of strength to call or raise the big blind.

Should you usually stay in with 10-8 offsuit? You bet, either raise or just call. But you shouldn't fold often. Repeating: Raise or call most of the time. What about 9-5 offsuit? Well, that's a little trickier. Against many aggressive and sensible opponents, you'll probably lose money playing that hand, but it's close.

1. Heads up, you're going to be able to act last on the second, third, and fourth (final) poker stars tournaments betting rounds. This positional advantage can make up a lot of ground. This reversal of position when heads up also means that you usually should be defensive with medium-strong poker hands from the big-blind position and aggressive with them from the small-blind position. In other words, in a heads-up game in the big-blind position, you shouldn't three-bet against a raise as often as you would in a full-handed game if everyone folded and then the small blind raised. You also should fold more poker stars hands in the big blind than you would in a ring game when the small blind raises.
2. There's something I call the "bunching factor." This means that when poker stars players voluntarily fold, it tends to imply that better-than-average cards remain among the poker players yet to act. This is logical when you think about it, because opponents are more likely to fold bad cards than good cards. And this means that when everyone folds before you raise that big blind, well, that big blind is more likely to hold a strong poker stars hand than he would if he were starting with a random deal. So, raising the big blind from the small-blind position in a full-handed game after everyone folds is not quite as good a deal as you might think (but usually it's good enough). Raising the big blind from the small-blind position in a heads-up poker game is better than you might think.

But where was I? Oh, what can we play in the small blind against the big blind some very nice chips for your home game after everyone else has folded? Our conclusion is that - depending on the opponent, our image, and other factors - 10-8 offsuit is very likely playable in the small blind, and 9-5 offsuit might be. Hands such as 7-3 offsuit, 9-4 offsuit, and 7-2 offsuit, or even suited, often shouldn't be played.

Now, here's the deal. All that was about what you should do in poker stars tournaments when you're the small blind vs. a big blind. But, suppose instead that the poker game is two-handed from the get-go. Now what?

I'll tell you now what! Now, by convention, the blinds are reversed. Except on the first round of betting, the small blind is in the dealing position and will act last. The big blind, except for the first betting round, will act first. How does this change things? Monumentally! I've been able to consistently route poker players who don't adjust correctly. You don't need anywhere near as powerful hands now to raise or call the big blind as you did in the full-handed game after everyone else folded.

Huh? But, Mad Genius of Poker Stars, you just said that you didn't even need very much to call or raise previously. That's right. And now you often don't need anything at all. In some poker stars games against overly cautious opponents, you don't need anything specific to play. Absolutely everything will do!

1. You might get raised because the big blind is live.
2. Your opponent in the big blind has position over you and will be acting last on every future betting round. This turns out to be a pretty big issue, and people who think position doesn't much matter heads up are quite wrong. But, despite this positional disadvantage on all future rounds of betting, it's often worth calling.

And you might even raise, hoping that your online Poker Stars opponent will fold his big blind. In fact, you should raise frequently against too conservative foes. Opponents who don't defend their big blinds are good targets to put on your left. Generally, poker stars players on your left have a positional advantage and you'll lose money to them forever. Unless there is a great difference, favoring you, between your skill and theirs, you probably will lose money against poker stars players on your left for your lifetime. There's nothing much you can do about it, except to minimize the advantage with prudent decisions. But don't despair. If you're a skillful poker player, you'll make much more than enough money from players to your right to cover this misfortune.

Let's say that you're playing limit hold'em, just you and one opponent. Picture that. Now, erase that picture. We'll get back to it in a minute. Picture that same opponent, but this time you're in a regular ring game. Well, when you're in a full-handed game, you realize that if everyone folds and you're in the small blind, you don't really need a lot of strength to call or raise the big blind.

Should you usually stay in with 10-8 offsuit? You bet - either raise or just call. But you shouldn't fold often. Repeating: Raise or call most of the time. What about 9-5 offsuit? Well, that's a little trickier. Against many aggressive and sensible opponents, you'll probably lose money playing that hand, but it's close.