October 05, 2005
Online I have found lack of observation skills to be further in the norm, since many Partypoker players try to compete at two or more tables simultaneously. To have one's tightness countered effectively, a player must observe the button folding multiple times in similar situations, and then they must be advanced enough to know how to use this information.
- The ability to take a free card makes the button's hand three times more profitable than a call alone. But there's a real problem. Most shorthanded Partypoker players beyond the lowest limits are quite familiar with semibluff or free card raises, and they will not let them work so often. If the big blind bets out again on the turn (even if they only bet when a nine or less falls), then the button's raise on the flop becomes a significant loser.
- It should be incredibly clear from the calculations above that the rake one pays will play a huge role in their chances for success. So, consider carefully when choosing your game and your limit. For one Partypoker player to make $3000 in a month, the other nine players must lose a total of $19,000 combined. Of that amount $16,000 will go to the dealers and the 'house'. The average player plays 40 hours a week, 4 weeks in the month. Ten players contribute $10/hour average in rake and tokes.
- When the button will not give further action after the flop, it is best to get money into the pot as quickly as possible, so that the payload is larger when the button does fold. This critical concept makes check-raising the superior play almost all the time when heads-up against a preflop raiser. Not only is there an enormous profit to be made from taking down the pot uncontested, but the reward is even higher when taking down the pot after a check-raise.
- In other words, check-raising earns extra profit because the big blind is still a favorite. Similar results would occur if the button only called, rather than raised. In fact, if the button held a lesser draw, the check-raise would yield still healthier profits. Many Partypoker opponents would semibluff raise with the open-ended straight draw and position to gain a free card (I certainly would), and some opponents would also 3-bet on the flop to attempt to gain a free card (again, I would.) Either way, let's assume as the big blind, we would not reraise with our mediocre pair. Instead, we'd like to see the turn, where we can bet out again to put the button to the test.
Do they bet with nothing but overcards on the turn or give up the Partypoker hand? Finally, will they bet if a scare card arrives on the turn but they still hold a decent hand (such as middle pair)? Against a fast opponent who constantly attacks on the flop and continues on the turn, it may be worthy to penalize their aggression with a turn check-raise. The big blind can earn as much as an extra big bet by slowplaying.
I thought maybe I was imagining the increase, so I asked several dealers. Without exception, they expressed shock at how many tables were running, and claimed their rooms were busier than they ever recalled. I cannot disagree; six months ago, I saw more than one cardroom struggling to keep even a single table in action. Earlier this month, I went to the same casinos and never saw less than three games running.
I make the distinction because the mentor doesn't even need to know they are teaching. Confused? With even a fair amount of time, you will likely know who the "winner" at the Partypoker table is. When I say the "winner," I of course am not referring to the winner of a specific session. I'm talking about the player everyone respects and fears, the player who brings home the chips in the long run. Now, keep that player in mind.
