Paul,

Good to hear from you.

I know what you mean about the big pairs.  Just remember – AA and KK
are just single PAIRs – and any pair is the lowest possible poker hand
and easily beaten by all other poker hands (two pair, 3 of a kind, etc.)

Like most new players, I suspect you’re probably spending too much
time focusing on YOUR own hand, and need to concentrate instead on
what hand(s) your OPPONENT most likely holds and then decide
where you believe you stand before deciding how to proceed.

For example, several years ago, I got pocket Aces in a tournament
in Vegas.  I made a big raise, about 4 times the big blind, and
everyone folded except one other player, and the last player
(on my right) goes all-in!  The flop was 2-3-4 (rainbow, no flush
possible).

I got very excited and jumped on it – he held pocket 2’s and now
a set of 2’s!  I overlpayed my Aces, instead of slowing down,
asking myself “why would he go all-in like that?”

He could’ve had a set of 2’s, 3’s or 4’s, or he could’ve had
A-5 and a straight. 

Instead, I never considered what hands he COULD
potentially have, then whether or not I believed he did
have one of those hands (or was bluffing).

Sometimes it’s not possible to get a read, and you just
have to look at your X Factor and determine whether this
is the ONE hand you’re prepared to risk it all on…or if
the other player’s bet just beat you under the circumstances.

And then suddenly that pocket pair doesn’t look so big
anymore, once you can visualize that it’s beaten, so it’s
easier to fold those big starting hands when someone
goes all-in against them.

Had I slowed down, thought about why he’d be going
all-in like that, I’d have concluded he had a lower pair
and had flopped a set or was holding A-5 and had
flopped a straight – the only plausible reasons he
could’ve been going all-in. 

Instead, I was playing in “half-duplex” mode – only
considering my own hand strength.  Nowadays, I
work hard to play “full-duplex” – considering both
my hand and the opponent’s.

To win, you must start considering what hand(s) they
are likely to be holding – a good subject for another
video.  Thank you very much for this feedback.

I hope that’s helpful, Paul.  I’ll add to the list for
future videos.

Happy New Year!

Rick

Paul  wrote:

Rick,

Thanks so much for the online video, very very cool format as we play
along with you.

I’ve read a lot, played a lot online (over a year or so), etc, but
keep losing….

The hardest thing is to NOT fall in love with a hand (like KK) and go
too far. I know what is needed, but just can’t seem to let go.

Your video only showed one ‘bad beat’ of sorts, but I seem to
get many more, probably due to too low aggression.

Are you going to show in future videos when to fold AA, KK on 4th &
5th to avoid getting pot committed and lose to an all-in monster?

Bought your ebook and am looking forward to the DVDs!

Hoping your info will work,

Thanks again,

Paul

Hi,

Many players are interested in how to win and profit at Texas
Hold’em poker tournaments today, for good reasons.   There’s
lots of money at stake – both online and especially offline
in casinos and home games everywhere.

And it’s great fun, especially when you win!

My new Sit and Go Video is designed to teach you fundamentals
and some advanced tecniques for profiting and winning poker
tournaments.  This is the first in a series of these videos.

It’s now available for immediate access and download.

I probably could have charged for these materials, but I
decided to make it free, so everyone could benefit from it,
and to generate wider exposure for my websites and poker
products.

Here’s what’s in the video and where you can access it:

  * The 4 Stages of Sit & Go Tournaments & How to Play Them
  * How to negotiate each stage to Win more consistently
  * My proven “X Factor” poker tournament strategy system
  * Heads-up secrets now revealed and fully demonstrated
  * Much more – over 1 hour of info-packed video

The Sit & Go Video is available to view online using just your
Web browser immediately as streamed media, and also in PodCast
format so you can download it to your iPod and take it with you.

 Sit & Go Video:  http://www.pokertester.com/SitNGo-Video/
 
I created a blog that will be dedicated to discussions, feedback
and your feedback on my Sit & Go Video.  I’d love to hear from
you to understand what else you’d like to see covered in future
poker videos.  As this is my first poker video, your comments are
greatly needed and appreciated:

 Sit & Go Video Blog:    http://sitngovideo.wordpress.com/

I hope you enjoy and benefit greatly from this video.  If you
find the video of good value, all I ask is to please forward
this email to others you know who play poker that would also
benefit and spread the word for me as you see fit.

Please contact me if you have websites, newsletters or other
venues you’d like to suggest the video should be available on.

As always, thank you for being a valued subscriber.

Here’s to a tremendous 2007!

Good luck to you!!

Your friend,

Rick Braddy
rick_braddy@royalflushclub.com

http://www.RoyalFlushClub.com/
http://www.PokerTester.com/
 

This blog is for comments and discussions on my Sit and Go Video, which will be released in 2007.

 Rick