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Friday 8th February 2008
Welcome to Hold or Fold - The UK's only Poker E-Letter dedicated
to
helping YOU become a better player!
In this week's E-Letter -
*And the OSCAR for Best Actor
goes to....
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Hiya there and how have you been this week??
I played in the Freeroll the other night for the Walsall leg of
the GUKPT and was sat next to the famous Hilly the Fish !! I told
him all about this e-letter and I'm hoping that he's now a new recipient
!!
Unfortunately I went out when someone hit their flush against me
- but hey ho - that's how it goes.
I also managed to get up to Step 3 in the EPT steps running on Pokerstars
right now - but again - someone got lucky against me and hit their
2-outer - when this happens - I try not to get too down about it
- if I go in with the best hand and someone's gone against the odds
to call it - if they suck out on me - then they've just got lucky
- and I would do the same every time - the odds are that I would
win 8 times out of 10 and that's good enough for me !!
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And the OSCAR for Best Actor goes to....
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This week's hand also comes from the wonderful series of Late Night
Poker being shown on Channel 4 at the moment.
In the last few weeks, I have highlighted 'How Not to Act on the
Poker Table' - 'HOW to act on the Poker Table' - and this week,
I have a great example of how Padraig Parkinson should receive an
OSCAR for his acting.
In fact - I think they should hold some Poker Awards each year with
one of the categories being 'Best Actor on the Poker Table'
Here goes...
It is fairly early on in the tournament - there are seven players
- two internet qualifiers - three old hands from the Late Night
Poker Series - and two new players currently making a big name for
themselves.
Roland de Wolfe is first to act and he folds.
Dave Colclough is next to act - he picks up 5S & 5D and limps in.
One internet qualifier folds and so does Marc Goodwin.
Action moves to Padraig Parkinson - he's in the middle of telling
some irish story when he picks up AC & AH.
He re-raises to 325 chips while he's still regaling the table something
about getting fit while staying in bed. While he's amusing the table
- he glances at his hole cards and he doesn't break his story -
not for even a milli-second!
The second internet qualifier folds and action moves to Michael
Keiner, the excellent german player who has captained the German
team a couple of times in the Poker Nations Cup.
Michael in the Big Blind picks up AD & JH and calls the raise.
I'm sure that part of his decision is to do with the fact that Padraig
is sitting on the button and he has a reputation of being an aggressive
player.
Action moves back to Dave Colclough who also calls the raise.
So - three players go to the Flop with 1,025 chips sitting in the
pot.
The Flop comes down: 2H AS 10S
Joe 'The Elegance' Beevers commentating: "That's bad news
for Michael Keiner."
Michael looks thoughtful, his hand over his mouth, and he checks.
Dave Colclough looks extremely thoughtful, he's been watching Michael
Keiner like a hawk and he also checks. He then looks straight at
Padraig to monitor his every move.
And THIS is the moment which is the reason for telling you
about this hand.
Padriag mumbles something about checking his hand - obviously he's
trying to give the impression that he's looking at his cards to
see if one of them is a spade - thus 'telling' the other players
that he's up for a Flush Draw -
Padraig looks at his cards for a long moment and says: "OK"
Simon 'Aces' Trumper also commentating notes this fabulous piece
of acting: "Parkinson, is going to do everything he can to
try and extract the maximum."
He checks.
I think that is an absolutely fabulous move. He has definitely thrown
the other players of the scent. He has given the impression, at
this point, that he has at least one high spade in his hand and
he's happy to take a free card to see if he can hit his Flush -
when in fact, you know, I know, the commentators know and everyone
knows apart from the other players, that he's hit Trip Aces !!
The Turn card comes down: 8H
Joe Beevers: "I think we're going to get a little bet
from Michael Keiner here."
Michael reaches for chips - he figures that if no-one bet the Flop
- that his Ace might be good and he's betting out to see if anyone
goes with him...
Michael bets out 600 chips.
Dave decides that he's out of there and he folds.
Action moves to Padraig Parkinson.
Now that Dave has gone - Padraig can make his move - he re-raises
to 1500 chips.
Simon Trumper: "Padriag made a small raise pre-flop, he
CHECKED the Flop, that is what Michael Keiner's thinking, is it
possible that he has better than Ace-Jack??"
Michael is suddenly looking serious. He's biting his finger which
covers his mouth and he's thinking back over the previous action.
He makes the call - so there is now 4,025 in the pot.
Simon: "He doesn't know it but he's drawing dead!"
The River comes down: 4C
Michael checks.
Simon: "The question is how much can Padraig extract from
him... The Pot's 4,000 - how much would you bet here Joe??"
Padraig bets 1,500.
Joe replies: "1,500 !"
They both laugh. Michael has a small smile on his face - personally
I think he knows he's probably beat = but the bet is placed just
low enough to make it tempting to call.
Simon: "I can't see how Michael can get away from this."
Joe: "It's a very very well-sized bet - Michael won't
want to pass - he's still going to have chips left - Had Padraig
really gone for it and put the pressure on Michael - it would have
been an easier pass - Michael is really wishing he hadn't called
the raise with Ace/Jack before the Flop - but with Padraig - you
just never know."
Michael calls and stares over at Padraig.
Simon: "So Michael makes the call - he's not going to
be too happy when Padraig turns over Trip-Aces."
Padraig flips over his bullets and Michael mutters: "Nice
Hand" and makes an impression of a horse hrrrumphing !
Simon: "Yep - look at that - a blow of exasparation! Padraig
Parkinson rakes in the biggest pot so far - he might be chatting,
he might be jovial, he might be making alot of raises - but let
me tell you - when he gets the goods - he knows how to play them
!!"
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Post Mortem
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I am absolutely convinced that the piece of acting that Padraig
made after the Flop came down - is the reason that Michael Keiner
went with Padraig all the way.
Padraig definitely gave the impression, consciously and sub- consciously,
that his hand was full of spades and that he had raised pre-flop
as a 'move' - and the fact that he was holding - or MIGHT be holding
- a pair of Aces - never crossed Michael's mind for a second.
It's these little moves and pieces of acting that can lull your
opponent into making the plays that you want them to make - just
re-read some of the previous e-letters I've written - you'll find
all of them on the website: www.holdorfold.co.uk
- in most of hands that I write about - I try to give descriptions
of body language that players give off - I list the dialogue that
they give and it's an important piece of information you need to
take into consideration when making
your own plays.
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Well I hope you have a good week - may the cards be with you and
I'll see you again next Friday.
All the best
Meg Arana
Hold or Fold
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