Texas Holdem

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July 28, 2005

Despite the lack of information provided by yours truly, it was very interesting to note the real questions raised by these respected Texas Holdem players and authors. Although approaches varied, "stack sizes, position and information relating to opponent styles were indeed as important as the cards dealt." So, the next time you hear, "Cards in the Air," be sure you have all the information available before it's time for you to act "Under the Gun."

Before I raise with this texas holdem hand, however, I've got to be willing to commit all of my chips if any of my opponents come over the top. If I am not willing to play this hand for all my chips, I really shouldn't play it at all. I certainly have enough in front of me to see the impending blinds - and another round after that - and still have more than $50,000 in front of me.

If I raise from under the gun by making it $10,000 or $15,000 to go, my opponents will either credit me for a pair - any pair will do - or a texas holdem hand with an ace in it. I've not yet reached the point where I have to play just about any hand for all my chips; I still can see some cards before my stack is that depleted.

You've left out some important information, how many poker seats are they giving away? Regardless of that fact, considering all the possibilities I move all-in. Since I'm the short stack, I likely have to increase my stack to get a seat. If however I had 300,000 in chips, I would likely make it 20,000 to go and most likely fold to a re-raise.

In the case you describe (BB only $5,000, me as the short stack still $67,000), I wouldn't mess with KJ under the gun, the game still being eight-handed. Had the BB been $20,000, I might very well have committed by raising all-in, but now I have a little more time: if I fold now and I also fold my blinds I still have $60,000 left to try to find a better situation to get my money in.

I still think you need to include the most important detail - How many seats are being awarded? The blinds compared to your stack still give you time to play texas holdem. However, I have no doubts that the chip counts are wrong. Back to the question. I believe the correct answer is to move-in, with Fold being a close second. There is no other choice. You still have enough chips to put a dent in the others, and you don't have to worry so much about the blinds because as many chips as they appear to have, they do not need to play a pot (and most likely wouldn't unless they picked up a real big hand). They wouldn't call with A-10, or A-J for example. (I can say that because you said they were top players) Also, when you move-in in the first position, people put you on a BIG hand.

I'm mucking the hand for several reasons and here are three: #1 - There will be several seats awarded (you haven't said how many but I assume in a super satellite there would be 4, 5, or 6), so I am mostly interested in survival. After I get through the blinds I would still have $60K left and now many hands to look at, possibly in better position. There are too many players to overcome if I commit that early.