The Life and Trials of FFcowboy

After a nice long break to recharge my batteries I re-entered the fun filled world of online poker. I’m reminded why I took a break, too many thin skinned people hiding behind a computer. There are too many people out in this world with a tilted sense of how online poker should work. Everyone figures that they should win EVERY hand they are ahead in. I’m gonna say this once and I’m done touching on this topic. UNLESS YOU HAVE A ROYAL FLUSH, YOU CAN BE BEAT. It happens, everyday to everyone. Get over it. If you don’t want to get sucked out on, take up a different game. It happens all the time in poker.

Ok, now back to my first day back in the poker world.

I played 6 sit and gos and 1 multi-table tourney. I cashed in 3 of the 6 sit and go’s and flopped on the multi-table. Now that I’ve played a few hands, there are a few things I want to touch on.

First, just because you are short stacked doesn’t mean you can’t continue to play your game. I’ve watched many players push hand after hand just because they are short stacked. When they get called they flip over J8 off or A6 off and are praying that they hit the flop and that it misses their opponent. Here’s a novel concept, if you would normally limp with the hand, then limp. Why not out play your opponent AFTER you see three cards instead of leaving your tourney life to a wing and a prayer. I’ve cashed in many tourney’s while riding the short stack to the money. Let the fools pin their hopes on the wing and a prayer theory, while you play poker. It will usually pay out in the end for you.

Second, why do so many people out there play the weak A likes it’s untouchable. A4 off isn’t the best hand to start with, especially to a raise. (This particular hand didn’t beat me, just an example.) Now, let’s say you have Ah 4d, called a late players raise, and the flop is Ac, Ts, 9h. What is your action? Do you bet or do you check? That is the biggest problem with playing weak A’s. You might flop the A, but how do you play it. Does your opponent hold AK, AQ, AJ, or some other quality starting hand that most likely has you beat. If you bet and they raise, now what? You just wasted chips on a hand you shouldn’t of played in the first place. Now I know you thinking, Scott, what about A rag suited? They are not much better. The only possibility you have is to either flop your flush or four to the flush. Now you are chasing draws. Next thing you know you are going all in with J8 off and hoping on a wing and a prayer. Save yourself some chips, fold the weak ace pre-flop, even if it is just a limp.

I will write more about my theories on tourney play, but for now I must go get my beauty sleep, lord knows I need it.

Filed under: FFcowboy