Poker Forum

I was looking at the first episode of the NBC HU poker challenge and I was surprised to see how many coin flip were taken. I don t mind coin flips in cash game as long as I am on the correct side of the odds but I don t really understand it in a tournament format where a loss means you are out.

I understand that sometimes you do not have a choice because of the opponent playing style but for example I do not understand the call from Phil H. with AJ on Mike sexton all in with QQ for example. He knew it was at best a coinf flip and could possibly ( even probably ) be crushed by AK, QQ, KK, AA.

At least we didn t heard him complain this time because someone sucked up on him as this time he had a lucky A on the river.

After listening to the PokerRoad Radio broadcasts, it sounds as if the blind structures are very fast in those matches. That would mean that you have to take more risks. Most of the guys interviewed said it made it somewhat of a crap shoot. However, there are definitely people who have success every year so there is probably an optimal way to play it. just like everything else i guess.

Based on how it sounds, I took the liberty to send all the participants a copy of Mr.D's "Playing from a short stack". This book specifically informs the reader that is is okay to play poker with fewer chips than you started and that is is okay to not shove everything preflop just because you are down a little.

Based on the comments I received so far, they found it invaluable and are looking forward to using this information next year. Phil Hellmuth commented, "I thought I knew it all. But, it is very obvious that the person who wrote this is even more screwed up than me. I now understand the stretegy behind all of the donks who always beat me. I will surely benefit from this and if I use his short stack strategy and combine with my large stack knoweldge, I will truly never lose, just as it should be!"

Next year, we will be able to truly see the power of this strategy as we can compare the performances of those who used this revolutionary system and those who didn't.

I was going to say, "Let me put my boots on. It's getting deep in here." But rereading MrD's post, "Let me get my waders on, my boots aren't high enough."

Actually it would make sense, all those pro do not play fast level blind increase and might not be able to deal with it very well. This seems to be the only event with this type of skill level and such quick blind increase.

I don t know why you would go for a coin flip with 15k and blind at 300/600 for example. All those pro should train with me at the PS 5$ HU I ll show them how to play correctly