Use the "checkers" strategy in your poker games....
PLAYING CHECKERS Regular readers will be aware that the favourite maxim quoted here in the column has tended to be the famous Chris “Jesus” Fergusson mantra, “Pump ‘em or dump ‘em!” In other words, if a hand isn’t worth pumping (betting on) you may as well dump it. This is true in the majority of cases but as a wily old pal of mine is keen to point out he has stolen the occasional pot by choosing his moment to play what he calls “checkers”. This simply means that just because you have an average hand doesn’t necessarily mean it needs to be immediately mucked. For example, if you find yourself in a loose game, sometimes you can get away with checking all the way down to the river. The point to remember is that a check is basically a bet that costs you nothing. Each time you check it takes you one step further into the game for free. All the time you are gathering intel on the general mood of the table. It’s obviously not often that hanging on in a game on the cheap allows you to steal a pot of gold but it happens. When it works, it’s great and when it doesn’t the checking hasn’t cost you any more than folding would have done.
FREQUENTLY ASKED POKER QUESTIONS Q: What is a delayed bluff? A: A delayed bluff would be typically defined as calling a bet with the intention of bluffing on a later card. Another form of delayed bluff would be checking on a scary flop, this time with the intention of stealing the pot on the turn. Let me give you an example: You raise before the flop and get one caller from the blinds. A high pair hits on the flop such as King-King-Two and your opponent checks. If you check behind him, his reaction is likely to be that you are deliberately slow-playing your hand. Usually under these circumstances your opponent will check the turn and you’ll frequently win the pot by simply betting.
Q: I know bluffing is a tricky business and it’s over-used by a lot of new players like myself. Do you have a favourite bluff that has worked for you? A: When it works, bluffing is fun and it’s an essential part of poker. Use it sparingly and use it against seasoned players. It’s a disaster against newbies. Here goes: Raising with something like Eight-Five suited before the flop, checking the flop, and then watching your opposition fold smugly thinking they’ve made an intelligent lay-down. That’s a satisfying bluff.
