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Lindgren wins Pocker Showdown

June 28, 2006

Talk about being well prepared. Pocker star Erick Lindgren wins Pocker Showdown in a pre WSOP tournament. He should be a big threat.

Eventually you'll be able to focus on more complex tendencies such as The Cincinatti Kid which opponents like to checkraise, which opponents like to slowplay, and which opponents like to semi-bluff. I often like to compare learning Hold'em to learning a foreign language. As soon as you feel like you've reached a plateau, something new will become obvious to you and your skills will jump to another level. So pay attention and develop your skills in reading your opponents to help you make better pocker decisions.

In this case, checking gains you a bet while betting out probably gains you nothing. On the other hand, if you are against an aggressive player who tends to call too often with weak pairs then it is probably correct to bet. It is unlikely your opponent holds a pair of kings since an aggressive opponent probably would have raised either the flop or turn. He most likely would have raised a flush draw also at some point.

So how should you make decisions when applying odds? In limit pocker, you should make them one street at a time. On the flop, calculate the odds of improving on the next card and then compare them to the implied pot odds you are receiving. When using odds with two cards to come you sometimes commit yourself to seeing the river no matter what happens. This can be a mistake as the pot can be raised, the turn will change the context of the board which may counterfeit your outs, etc.

For example, 55 is generally not a profitable hand against one caller; however, this hand can be quite profitable if six players have limped into the pot. The more players that are seeing the flop the better your implied odds. Loose games allow you to play slightly more hands. Another good example, yet less subtle is when you are in early position. QJs is a borderline hand when played from early position. However, whenever a player limps in before me I will be more likely to play the hand. I am getting better implied odds for my draws.

Among the final table participants were pocker legends Mike Ivey and the "pocker brat" himself, Phil Helmuth, with yet another record-breaking final table appearance. Phil Helmuth, winner of 28 World Series of pocker gold bracelets was chip leader and found himself in great position to take home his 4th World Series of Pocker main event championship. As the field got narrowed down, Joshua's relentless aggressive play put him into position to battle the legendary Helmuth for the championship.