I have heard it said, there are no good
hands, only good flops. In Texas Hold-em if you’re holding a pair of high cards – be careful. Make sure to pay close attention to the flop and what is possible for straights and flushes. Nothing changes the value of your hand like a flop with three of the same suit or a three-card sequence. Too often these will lead to a lower chip stack if you try to hold on too long.
You should always pay attention to the best possible hand on the cards that are up on the table, but sometimes it’s hard to let a big pair go when a sizable bet comes your way.
You sometimes have to just let it go.
Paul Smith
Poker Night in America
Filed under Poker Night in America, Poker Tip of the Month
In Texas Hold-em, a straight is a very good hand, but can be dangerous. Make sure that if you have a straight, you check a few things before you think of betting all-in or bet yourself into a corner. 
If you’ve made a sizable bet and are being raised, start thinking… what is the best hand possible?
First question; are there any pairs on the board?
If not, you can rule out a four-of-a-kind and full houses. Next, are there any 3 of one suit on the board? If not, we can rule out the possibility of a flush… leaving the next highest hand a straight.
Now, what is the highest straight possible? If the board is 3,7,8,9,King – the best hand is the “10,Jack” making the highest straight possible (7,8,9,10,J) given the cards on the board. Now if you have a 6,7,8,9,10 giving you a 10 high straight, you’re looking at the second best possible hand. You might be being raised by the “10,Jack” but not likely – having both cards to complete the straight is a very strong hand indeed. I have dropped out of hands due to over-thinking the possibilities. Only to have an opponent show proudly, triple-9’s… and I folded a low straight that would have won, and he say’s “Oh, I didn’t even see the straight possibility.” Knowing the caliber of your competition is very important too.
When the board has 4 sequential cards with openings on both ends that will complete the straight, be careful and aware that even if you have the high card to complete the straight, the person raising you could have the two top cards for the higher hand.
Your hand 5,6,7,8,9, their hand 5,6,7,8,9,10.
Keep asking yourself, what is the highest possible hand and your game will improve.
Paul Smith
Poker Night in America
Filed under Poker Night in America, Poker Tip of the Month
I would like to share an experience with you about drinking and driving.
As you well know, some of us have been lucky not to have had brushes with the authorities on our way home from the various social occasions over the years.
A couple of nights ago, I was out for a few drinks with some friends and had a few too many beers and then topped it off with a margarita. Not a good idea.
Knowing full well I was over the limit, I did something I’ve never done before:
I took a taxi home.
Sure enough I passed a police road block but because it was a taxi, they waved it on through. I arrived home safely without incident, which was a real surprise.
I have never driven a taxi before and am not sure where I got it.
Filed under Joke of the Month, Poker Night in America
