Poker Wisdom

I watch a lot of poker on tv.
One thing i've noticed a lot lately
(new shows and old WSOP's too)
is a 'mistake' guys are making in
tournaments. It has to do with
the size of their pre-flop raise.

Playa ZZ bets and Playa EX goes
over the top for all of Playa ZZ's chips.
Playa ZZ goes into the tank, takes 2-3
minutes to decide because he's totally
frazzled and unsure what to do.

Lets say its a satelite tournament
with 100/200 blinds.

Playa ZZ with 2400 chips,
has Ah/Js and bets 700.

Playa EX reraises putting ZZ all in.

There's 3400 in the pot and its
1700 more for ZZ to call
getting 2-1 on his money.
He needs to win [1/3] one third
of the time to make calling profitable.

If he thinks that EX is a loose
reraiser then its an easy call.

If he thinks that EX is a tight
reraiser then its an easy fold.

But if its 50/50 even money,
then i think that ZZ made a mistake
in the size of his preflop raise.

Almost all the hands that would
reraise ZZ, are a favourite over
Ace-Jack offsuit.

If EX has Pocket Aces,
he's a huge favourite.

If he has pocket 66,
then he's a slight favourite.

If ZZ moved all in
(instead of raise to 700),
EX would usually fold hands
like 66 or suited Aces.
The All-in raise would cause EX
to consider what hands would raise
all in with, and realize that many
of them have him beat.
If EX calls the all-in, he's only getting
odds of 2700-to-2400 (9:8),
so he'll have to win 8 of 17 times
(47%) to be profitable.

Sometimes when ZZ moves all-in,
EX will have a hand like AA or KK
and be a big underdog. But in the
above scenario, ZZ was about even
to call EX's reraise anyways,
he's going to run into these big hands
at the same frequency.

Since ZZ's all-in move will often
pick up the blinds, it turns the situation
against pocket 66 from a small loss situation
into a small profit one, every time opponent
EX has a marginal reraising hand.

Something to think about and watch for on tv

Full Tilt Online Poker Series

FTOPS IV Underway at Full Tilt

The fourth installment of the Full Tilt Online Poker Series (FTOPS) is in full swing right now over at Full Tilt Poker. Full Tilt is guaranteeing at least $4 million in total prize money over 10 events, compared to $3.6 million last time.

The poker room is also adding more prizes for top finishers, including:

Limited edition FTOPS baseball caps (to everyone who cashes)
Baseball cap and limited edition FTOPS jacket (final table finishers)
Gold FTOPS jersey and gold FTOPS avatar plus all of the above (tournament winners)


And, as always, the overall leaderboard winner at the end of FTOPS IV will receive a custom avatar for use at Full Tilt.


As an added bonus this year, Full Tilt will hold an FTOPS Tournament of Champions, bringing together the 27 past FTOPS event winners plus the 10 from FTOPS IV to duke it out in a winner-take-all tournament. The champions’ champion will receive a $10,000 seat in the World Series of Poker Main Event.


FTOPS IV Schedule (Full Tilt Host in Parentheses, all times EST)

5/11 @ 9:00pm -- $200 + $16 NL Hold'em -- $300,000 guaranteed (Kristy Gazes)

5/12 @ 4:30pm -- $100 + $9 PL Omaha High w/Re-buys -- $150,000 guaranteed (Eric Froelich)

5/13 @ 6:00pm -- $300 + $22 NL Hold'em -- $750,000 guaranteed (Huck Seed)

5/14 @ 9:00pm -- $1000 + $60 NL Hold'em -- $300,000 guaranteed (Gavin Smith)

5/15 @ 9:00pm -- $200 + $16 HOSE -- $100,000 guaranteed (David Grey)

5/16 @ 9:00pm -- $200 + $16 NL Hold'em 6-Max -- $400,000 guaranteed (Jeff Madsen)

5/17 @ 9:00pm -- $200 + $16 PL Omaha High/Low -- $100,000 guaranteed (Layne Flack)

5/18 @ 9:00pm -- $200 + $16 PL Hold'em -- $150,000 guaranteed (David Singer)

5/19 @ 4:30pm -- $100 + $9 NL Hold'em w/Re-buys -- $250,000 guaranteed (Alan Boston)

5/20 @ 6:00pm -- $500 + $35 NL Hold'em Main Event -- $1,500,000 guaranteed (Gus Hansen)


Ongoing satellites are being held at Full Tilt for every FTOPS IV event. As part of Full Tilt’s “Satellite Challenge,” players may win more than one seat to the same FTOPS event. Cash will be awarded for every seat won after the first.

Click on one of the Full Tilt links on the side,
or just use the bonus code: PPT

*FUNDAMENTALS: Implied Odds

Implied Odds are the pot odds adjusted for future betting.

Lets say you flop a flush draw. There is $500 in the pot and your opponent bets $500. It costs you $500 to potentially win $1000, or Pot Odds of 2:1. You do not have proper Pot Odds to make the call.

But when you consider the Implied Odds, how much you will likely win from your opponent if you make your flush (and it is the best hand) it may be worth calling his bet. Keep in mind that if you are out of position with players to act behind you, a bet from one of them will make your implied odds calculation incorrect.

Vegas July 2007

Just a reminder to everyone....

The trip to Vegas that Sonny Rattan from PIC
was organizing is still a go. It actually has nothing
to do with PIC, its just that he's organizing it.

You can see the WSOP LIVE in Las Vegas!!

Special rates secured for our players at
The PLAZA hotel. The plaza poker room
will be holding Private tournaments,
open to our players only, if enough of us book.

Also during this time, the "POKER EXPO"
show is taking place July 5-8, anything and
everything to do with poker, in one place,
don’t miss it. The biggest names in poker
will be in Vegas for the WSOP, here is your
chance to meet them. (no guarantees, sorry )

Sunday – Thurs $34 per night
Fri & Sat - $64 per night.
Only 20 rooms secured at this rate, if we need
more, I may be able to get more. These rates are
per ROOM, NOT PER PERSON!!
So with 2 in a room, $17 each!!

Join the gang in Vegas, and remember,
What happens in Vegas, gets talked about
for MONTHS when you get home!!

Don’t just hear the stories, LIVE THEM!!

Rooms are available at this rate June 28 – July 10.
You can book any days during this time for our rate,
the actual group dates are July 4-10, Sonny will be
in Vegas from June 28, I'll be arriving on the 30th,
if you want to come early.

Plaza Hotel toll free 1-800-634-6575
You MUST mention SONNY RATTAN Group ,
And special code PIPT628 to get this rate.
If anyone wants to go, and needs a room mate,
let me know, and I will do my best to set you up
with another tour member.