FULL TILT POKER BLOG

A Panel of Experts

Posted by jgreenspan | Filed under Uncategorized

This morning, Full Tilt Pros offered presentations and a panel discussion for its online qualifiers. Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, Andy Bloch, and Clonie Gowen delivered short talks, and then a panel that included all the aforementioned pros as well as Steve Zolotow, Ben Roberts, and Scott Clement took questions.

It was a very interesting couple of hours. Andy delivered a very technical session on pre-flop play; Chris delved into post-flop decisions; and Howard offered a really inspiring talk on the mental approach of the game. What follows are some notes I took during the talks. I’ve also included a short audio clip from Howard’s talk.

Andy Bloch:
Most players don’t vary strategy by position. Recently talked with a beginner who played 7-9 percent of hands, which is way too low.

Aussie Millions is 8-handed, max. 6-handed much of time. You need to play a lot more hands.

Most players too tight on button and too loose UTG. When antes, you need to loosen up considerably in late position. On button wout antes, Andy raises about 45 percent of hands. UTG raises about 14 percent of hands.

With antes, raises about 18 percent UTG, 59 percent on button.
UTG, raising hands:
Pairs, 3s and up
A-x(s)
A-T unsuited.
Interesting note: Andy sees big difference between suited and unsuited Aces.

Button raising hands:
Any Ace, any K, and suited Q. Any two suited cards, 8 or higher.
May vary some depending on opponents, who’s in the SB and BB.

Looking to call a re-raise about half his raising hands on button. Calling re-raises w/ hands he wouldn’t even play UTG.

Chris Ferguson
Too many players don’t take into consideration how many people see a flop. Heads-up post flop, middle pair pretty nice hand. 5-6 people see the flop, middle pair not so great. Instead of check-raising, or betting, check-folding middle pair. 6 people see the flop w/ pocket pairs, 50 percent chance someone has a set.

This tournament, 50-100 blinds, 20k start. You need to be more concerned about monster hands. Too many too willing to go broke on mid-range hand. With AA and a deep stack, he wants to put in 2 or 3 bets, not loving 4. Willing to check a street with AA to avoid putting to much in the put.

Howard on Mental Approach
Win a tournament by playing well. It’s about building your stack, not panicking when bad things happen, and hang in there.

Advice from Dan Harrington: At every tournament table, there will be at least one player who is uncomfortable with the level of play. Uncomfortable people avoid situations by leaving. They don’t like the pressure so they look to bust by playing poorly. Your obligation to help them out. Play pots with that guy.

Playing poker isn’t just about playing poker hands. Also about what you’re doing when you’re out of the hand. Still a lot of poker to be played after you’ve mucked. Really pay attention, even when you’re out of a hand.

Playing deep in a tournament you need to “stay in the moment.” Here and now – this hand, this street, is all that matters. What has happened to you before — “you had the chip lead 20 minutes ago” isn’t going to help you play this hand any better.

More damaging than thinking about the hand you lost is getting ahead of yourself. (More on this topic in the clip below).

Download MP3 file

Howard had16 cashes and 13 final tables before his first bracelet. Got ahead of himself, thinking about how important it was to win a bracelet.

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