Weighing up and calculating the percentages will give you an idea on the chances of earning some cash. For instance I’m taking part in a free poker game with twenty nine other opponents and ten of us getting waged. The percentages are quite easy to work out: one in three, and for this I would play quite mild for the majority of the game. Don’t be fooled into thinking I’m not going to be the front runner come the end of the night- but most of the time the cards dealt in the first forty five minutes will determine this.

During this article I am going to tell you some of the better hands that I get and what I do with them. Keep in mind the real game is far from starting at this point. 77 I flat call and get a 2x bet back to me and call. Flop comes 6d,3h,4h first player to act moves all in on $165 pot with 3k. I fold, most likely he had better pockets or a nut flush draw/str8. Although I had a good shot at having the best hand at the time its way to early for something that insane.

99 I flat call and the same opponent as previously shoved all in on flop 8D, 8S, 8H; I’m now wondering if I was incorrect on the previous play but I still fold regardless. He shows a Jtwo so I’m deciding I was right before. KJ off I flat call only due to the fact the pot is higher due to another player calling prior to me. We’re around fifteen mins in and I hold two thousand nine hundred of my initial three thousand dollars.

AJ I slow play A,6,9 flop and a player bets $350 the pot at this point was only $115 and the blinds $20/$40 so I fold. This player gave to much away with the size of his bet, if it were only me and him I would have reconsidered but I would like to think he wouldn’t try that with more players in the hand. I put him on a higher kicker, A6 suited or A9. Just in case I mention that he “should start showing a few to make it more believable.”

By doing this if he was being sneaky he may start to think about what I said and believe I know his game. It’s a no lose situation as if I’m wrong he will be wondering if I think he’s blagging & could call if he continues. The truth is as explained I’m just making remarks to keep him in check.

About 20 minutes later I catch him pushing with K8 on a K66 flop while I had A6. Needless to say I double up and get some valuable information. He does have hands when he does these silly bets but the hands he is doing it with are easily beatable. He is relying to much on his odds because the table is short handed at the moment.

Until this changes my job at the table will be to catching him with another mistake. The player next to me pushes all in pre-flop thinking about the same thing that I am but going about it all wrong. He is aggressive with his hands, not an imbecile. I am still riding out that 6k double up here at 1st break one hour into the tournament. There are still 22 players remaining.

About 1 hour and 41 minutes in I catch the same player again slow playing AK for an even 9k bringing my total now up to 12k with 7 players left I am in 3rd place. So although this player was able to amount about 18k in chips with aggressive behavior he finishes in 8th place while the low stack at the previous table is now in the running’s for 1st place. Finding a target and sticking with it can pay off in the long run but be sure to find another means of making money to keep yourself around long enough for the big pay out.

AA I gamble the smallest I can as I don’t have much to play with. The second hr is now in the books and I’m in last. Forth place with six grand so I will go all in blind regardless. The nearest opponent has sixteen grand and blinds are six hundred / one thousand two hundred. Fifty five and flop comes Qfive hundred and ten- a bit of good fortune never hurt anyone. I put down a AQ off to a gamble that would go in all in. I didn’t feel I wanted to lose my new chips so quick. Went out third place with A4 suited against K10 off. Not to shabby for a free poker tournament where I won some dollars although could have been WSOP from top table!

I look forward to playing you in a free poker tournament soon!

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