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FREQUENTLY ASKED POKER QUESTIONS Q: I’ve just started playing Texas Hold’em online this week. Can you explain what a short-handed game means and what are its advantages and disadvantages? A: Generally speaking a full table at Texas Hold’em will mean ten players. A short-handed game is any game with six players or less. The differences really arise because in a short-handed game the odds of you winning a hand improve and the power of your cards improve. If you think about it, with less players in the game, your chances of winning increase. If you land a high pair as your two hole cards in a short-handed game of say just four players your chance of taking down the pot are a lot higher than if you are using those same cards to face down nine other opponents. The disadvantage with a short-handed game is that there is obviously less potential money going into the pot. Given the choice, I would tend to choose a short-handed game because you can sharpen your focus on fewer players and therefore get a better “read” on them. This improves your odds because “reading” an opponent is a skill you are bringing to the table. It’s not an element of chance. Creating an edge is a key factor in winning at poker.
SUITED CONNECTORS V SMALL PAIRS Q: How would you value suited connectors as hole cards against something like a small pair? A: Generally speaking combinations of suited hole cards from Nine-Eight down to Five-Four would hold about the same value as a small pair. However, if I had the choice to play either, I would choose to go with the suited connector cards because the potential rewards with a fortunate flop are higher. You have the chance of catching some cards towards your straight, towards a flush and if it’s really your day, a running flush.
“INSIDER” DEALING Q: What is an inside straight draw? A: Let’s suppose you are holding Six-Eight as hole cards and the flop has delivered Ace-Nine-Ten. You will need a Seven from the turn or the River to slide “inside” and complete your Six-Seven-Eight-Nine-Ten straight. It’s worth considering that if you have two connected hole cards and you are “hoping” to develop the three remaining cards for your straight from the flop, the turn and the river your odds against pulling this particular rabbit out of the hat are a minimum of twenty three to one and carry a possible maximum of seventy one to one.
MOOD MANAGEMENT ISSUES Q: I’ve been told I’ve got mood management issues. What has my mood got to do with my ability to play poker? Does this kind of mumbo jumbo speak make you want to scream? A: Or hit someone? Maybe even, quite reasonably, set fire to the felt? You might want to cut down on raw meat.
