Ask Garth!

[Garth Kay]

I have recently had quite a few emails, phone calls and questions asked of me about playing poker, poker theory and strategy, hand guidance and tournament rules.

I thought it would be a good idea to start posting questions here that I get asked so all can benefit from the answers.

Now I am no poker authority but I can offer good solid advice for matters from beginner to intermediate and some well above average areas.

So if you have a questions you wish to ask me about anything NPL, Poker or tournament related, fire away!

P.S: there is no such thing as a stupid question, we all had to learn from somewhere and NPL has players of all varying skill levels and playing styles. Anyone who flames any player that asks a question will be in BIG trouble.

[Des]

Me and Scott were discussing this earlier.

In the partners event, would you suggest a partner who is the same type of player as yourself? Or total opposite?

[AceLosesKing]

When do you feel its a good idea to take a race in a tournament? Early? Midstage? Near the money bubble? Start of FT?

[Garth Kay]

Me and Scott were discussing this earlier.

In the partners event, would you suggest a partner who is the same type of player as yourself? Or total opposite?

Des - Partners events do indeed require a lot of strategy and compromising play in a tournament. You do have to remember that your partner will be playing against the same players every blind change and the table image remains the same for each blind level swap.

I would recommend on players having the same playing style, but you will need an aggressive player to help the team out in the later stages of the tournament. Or you can look for a player who is aggressive from the outset and who can accumulate chips quickly or a player who in the second blind level is adapt at playing deepstack poker (< 6000 stack on average with blinds at 50/100, whilst first partner has 3,000 stack at 25/50). It depends on what your strategy is.

My strategy would be this. TAG partner to play first blind level (hopefully picks up one or two hands and a couple of pots).

I play second blind level, testing players and building chipstack. I spend third blind level watching table - I would advise partner to player Tight passive and maintain chip stack and don't play too many big pots.

I play fourth blind level and start playing any style based on my read of tables and opponents. Generally would be TAG in early and Laggy in latter position.

After that we would have hopefully built up a deep enough stack to play ABC and nitty poker in the later stages of the tournament and we won't have to gamble that much, if that isn't the case I need a partner who is equally aggressive like me and not scared to gamble or bring fold equity into the equation, who can read the play and know what he has to do.

Hope that is good enough answer for you.

When do you feel its a good idea to take a race in a tournament? Early? Midstage? Near the money bubble? Start of FT?

AK it depends on the tournament, my stack, average stack sizes and blind levels. In a $10 tourney with a $1500 start stack and ten minute blinds I don't mind racing early but I try to avoid it.

In the early stages of a tournament I like to keep pots small and play a lot more post flop, but normally passive unless I have a lock hand, minimum requirements for me to get super ag is mid set or top two.

Midstage of tournament is normally ABC poker, all stacks are deep enough that pf all ins are scarce unless you are playing some super agro players. three betting or four betting generally won't get all the chips in the middle but it will invest you in the pot. So unless I'm sitting on AA, KK, QQ I will flat any two or three bets dependant on my reads of players.

Bubble play is interesting - if I am super chip leader and know I am racing I will probably call, but I don't like to call all ins at this stage I prefer to be the aggressor and the table captain and dictating the action.

Late stages of the tournament - again depending on everything above, but by know I am generally quite willing to get it in the middle on a coin flip, also depends on the pay jump for next position.

If my stack ever drops below 10BB then I am jamming the middle everytime I believe I am in a 50/50 to a 60/40 position, heads up. And by that I mean I am willing to gamble on 7,9 suited up against A,K or A,Q even 8,8 and below.

[AceLosesKing]

I'm assuming "beeny" is supposed to say "benny the cunt." This is AK.

Anyway, I ask because I took a race in a $11 3000 starting stack today with AK. I was up to 4,120 at 80/160, raised to 520 from UTG with AKs, call from MP, all fold to BB, who shoves for 3,730.

My read on the player right now is that we are racing, I'm thinking JJ at best, maybe AQ (making some lag calls earlier). So I shove all in, MP folds.

BB shows TT, it holds. I felt bad afterwards because I didn't really have to shove. There were 90 from 233 left, top 27 cashed. I know you have to win races to do well in tournaments, but I felt this was one I didn't have to take - I had time to wait, to the BB I had an ok...ish stack.

And seeing as $11 is like 1/11th of my roll, it hurt

[Garth Kay]

You didn't shove, you called an all in.

This is just a simple case of pot odds and early stage play.

Pot is worth 1640 after the shove, with the call remaining at all in.

You have 3,600 left in your stack, to call the all in you are risking 3,600 (and your tournament life) for a pot worth 5240 (3,600 + 1640, opponents all in and pot). You are getting three to five on the pot odds.

The over shove only says one thing to me and the best case scenario for you is pockets 22 - QQ or AQ or AJ. That's absolute best case scenario. Which means you are racing, even with AQ you are only a 65% fav.

So you need 2 - 1 odds on the money to make this a +EV play. But you're only getting 3 to 5.

In short, in the early stages of the tournament, with a lot more play to be had, no you don't call in this situation especially with a stack that leaves you with 22 BB.

[Ondie J]

<Smiles> Great to have you back on the forum as a regular. This is the type of thread that everyone should have a look at. So wish you hadn't put in the line, 'So if you have a questions you wish to ask me about anything NPL, Poker or tournament related, fire away!'

Could have had so much fun.

[Garth Kay]

Always ensure the fine print is there.

So ondie doesn't ask questions where my reply would be; "I'm not exactly sure Ondie, I will ask your mum and see what we did last time".

[Des]

LMAO

I just laughed in the office. Thats one thing thats been missing since Garth's been away... quick witted mum jokes.

And I'm sure another one is coming when he replies to this message

[Garth Kay]

I got asked today whether I really like my job.

My honest reply it is the best job in the world for me. Even when I'm working this hard (for those of you who don't know, Carlos resigned last week and Brayden is away on his honeymoon and won't be back till next year) I still think it is a fantastic role, I am continually striving to bett er myself at everything I do and I love the continual challenges and the fact I deal with so many people that share the same passion as me.

But poker has definitely taken a bit of a back seat since the Vic Champs, I love playing live tournaments but just can't find the time and I really don't miss it all that much (except for the money). And even though it has taken a back seat I feel I have learnt more in the last three months that I have in the last two years when it comes to poker.

I met many good players during the Vic Champs and I had a great conversation the other day with a few of the guys and their ideas and theories on poker blew me away.

So I have decided that after Aussie Millions I will not play poker for two months and I am going to spend every spare moment (not many of them) dedicating myself to learning more about poker and the theories, mathematics and the higher end strategies.

I forgot how exciting Poker was when you first experienced it, how daunting and thrilling and the passion it envoked. And how hard I worked to improve my game to the next limit in the earlier days, I want to get back to that. Yearning to achieve at a higher level and be absolutely great at something.

I did receive a great compliment from one of Australia's best, after my run in Vic Champs I was told by this player last week, that he watched me play closely in day two of the main event and he believe I was one of the most naturally gifted players when I was switched on. With the right tools and education at my disposal I could be a dominating force in any tournament.

Nothing inspires more that positive reinforcing comments from respected peers within your community. I remember a certain young player who lit up once when I commented that he played a hand extremely well and will be a good player one day.

This has inspired me to better myself and drive myself further. I love Poker and everything it brings, not just at the felt but into your life, dedication, discipline and drive.

I just needed to get these thoughts out and I thought this was a good place. Hopefully it inspires other, and remember; no matter how good you think you are, you're just not.