WORLD RECORD TOURNAMENT RE-BUYS! There are always interesting facts which trickle out in the massive wake left by a World Series of Poker and this year’s recently completed circus has been no exception. One of the statistics which caught my eye was ex-Champ Daniel Negreanu’s record number of re-buys in the $1,000 Event. Daniel called for more chips and threw down an extra buy-in no less than forty eight times! Seems crazy but Daniel has his own rather eccentric strategy for re-buy events. He likes to gather in as many chips as possible as early as he can. He then switches tack with the intention of collecting chips from all the other players who are re-buying. “It’s true I ended up re-buying forty eight times. But I was playing really really well!” chuckled the affable ex-Champ, before admitting more candidly, “No I didn’t!”
FREQUENTLY ASKED POKER QUESTIONS Q: What’s the most common or significant weakness you see in a beginner’s game? A: The most infuriating error that comes up time and again is new players insisting on drawing to a flush even with the weakest of hands. Usually it starts with them landing suited connectors. It’s as though “they must” see their hand all the way to the river “just in case” and no matter the odds or the cost. Emotionally it’s understandable but strategically it’s an illness. You’ll also see a lot of experienced players doing this exact same thing in the early stages of tournaments where the pressure is really on to accumulate chips in fast and furious fashion before the blinds increase and begin to erode their all important chip stacks. Whilst this is more understandable, given that the aim of tournament play is different altogether to a simple cash game, the fact remains the attempt still carries the same punishing odds.
LUCKLESS LUKE FROM LUTON Q: Lately I’ve been keeping notes of my hole cards because I have had a very bad run. Seven-Two, Nine-Three, Jack-Four, Five-Two, Ten-Three, Queen-Five, Eight-Three. What do you make of this lot? A: Well here’s my advice. Don’t cross roads. Buy a Hummer or a tank to get around in and work for an old established insurance company with a copper bottomed retirement plan. If you’re rich, call me so we can arrange a private cash game.
Q: How can I get the most out of Pocket Aces when I land them? A: I’ve played these twins every which way and come to the conclusion that being aggressive from the outset is the best ploy? Here’s why. The biggest error you can make playing Aces is to expect too much from them. If you play them slow to keep other players in the game you increase their chances of making a hand which trumps you. And that happens a lot if you take the cautious route. By playing aggressively from the outset it’s true you drive away some of your potential pot value but you are narrowing the odds in your favour and increasing your chances of nailing the real life money. It takes five cards to make a winning hand. Don’t give too much value to just two cards, even if they are the best two.
