Friday 9th May 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 -

       *What an Amazing Check !! and
       *Freerolls to the WSOP and
       *Freeroll info for the Newcastle leg of the GUKPT

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Hiya there and how have you been this week??

I played in last Sunday's Tournament and I had prepared myself well - I was ready to sit and
play tight and make sure I got myself into the money.

About 20 minutes in - I was dealt a pair of Aces on the Button - everyone had folded around
to me - so I raised 3X the Big blind. The Small Blind folded and the Big Blind called.

Three indistinct cards came down on the Flop - he raised - I re-raised and he called.
The Turn was a king - he checked - I bet just over half the pot - he called - same on the
River - He checked - I bet half the bigger pot and he called - he then showed Trip Kings !!!

I was congratulating myself on still having half my starting stack left when I picked up KQ Clubs
in the Big Blind. Everyone folded around to the Button who raised me 3X - I called. The Flop
came down with 3 low clubs - Fabulous - ! I checked - He put me all in - I called - and he
showed Ace/7 Clubs so I was gone in less than half an hour !!

Even with hindsight - I don't see how I could have played any differently - it was just not
meant to be my night and I'm glad I was out with these hands in half an hour than after
3 hours !

Anyways - I've qualified easily for this Sunday's Tournament and I'm hoping - nay - I'm SURE -
I'm going to at least make the money.... Watch this space !

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What an Amazing Check !!

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This week's hand comes from the World Poker Tour that was shown recently on telly. There are
a few events in the WPT but this one comes from the World Championship which is the equivalent
of the Main Event of the WSOP.

The final table started with six players and there are now three left. Kirk Morrison, Paul Lee and
Carlos Mortensen.

A little bit of history for you - Carlos won the WSOP Main Event in 2001 so if he won tonight,
he would be the first player ever to win the WSOP Main Event AND the WPT World Championship.

Kirk Morrison was a pro-poker player many years ago but he developed a bit of a problem with
sports gambling and too much alcohol (allegedly) so he retired to New Zealand for seven years.

During that time - his mates, Daniel Negreanu and Allen Cunningham amongst them - made names
for themselves in the PokerWorld and big big money started coming in - so Kirk brought himself
out of retirement and is doing rather well for himself.

For this hand - the blinds are $150,000/$300,000 with a running ante of $30,000 - so there is
$540,000 in the pot before the cards are dealt.

The chip situation is:
Kirk Morrison: $21,190.000
Paul Lee: $7,140,000
Carlos Mortensen: $3,930.000

As usual Vicky Coren and Roland de Wolfe are commentating and they do a very good job but
I really miss Dave Sexton and Vince Van Patten - anyways....

Vicky: "Like a freak at the circus - we're three-handed! Kirk Morrison - massive chip leader
with over 21 Million - Paul Lee - our former chip leader sitting there with just over 7 million
and Carlos Mortensen - ex-world champion of poker is the short stack. Is it absolutely locked
up for Kirk Morrison now??"

Roland replies: "Anything can happen in this game with these blinds - in three handed one
of the short stacks could win it - he's in control but it could easily escape his grasp."

Paul Lee is first to act and he picks up 7D & 4H and he quickly folds.
 

Next up is Kirk Morrison - He picks up 10C & 6H and he calls.
 

Carlos is in the Big Blind and he picks up QD & 8D and he's happy to check.
 

Vicky: "He's just called with 10/6 - still keeping to the small-pot pre-flop strategy."***

The Flop comes down: 2C 7H QS
   

Kirk indicates a check by tapping the table -

and now... Here is the moment where I believe was very instrumental towards Carlos going
on to win this event...

Carlos thinks about it for a moment and he too indicates a check by tapping the table.

The Turn comes down 10H


Vicky: "And now there's the 10 - cleverly checked by Mortensen on the Flop - Kirk Morrison
can absolutely believe he's winning on the Turn."

Kirk bets out $400,000.

Vicky: "Also looks like a drawing card - 10 hearts - Mortensen could easily disguise a call
as a draw."

Roland: "Yeah - a Jack/Nine is a draw - there's alot of Flush Draws - there's alot of Straight
Draws he could have - Kirk may think he's winning here when Carlos bets into him."

Carlos raises to $1,300,000

Kirk goes into the think tank.

Roland: "Kirk led out and Carlos raised."

Vicky: "Yeah but it wouldn't be the first time in history that Carlos Mortensen had raised
with a bluff or a semi- bluff."

Roland: "No - Kirk could really think his hand is best and call and if a blank comes down
call the end - he could even move all-in here - I mean - Carlos doesn't have that much."

Carlos has been sitting there TOTALLY impassive - he's not moved a muscle and his
sunglasses/shades seem to cover his whole face as you cannot read a single thing from his
face or body language.

Kirk has been playing with his chips and then looking over at Carlos - staring at him - trying
to sniff his aura - anything at all to give him a clue as to the strength of Carlos' hand.

Kirk scratches his chin and replays the hand in his head. He glances over at Carlos' chips to
gauge how much he has left -

Then very quietly and calmly announces: "All in!"

The audience whoop.

Roland gasps: "Kirk has moved all in and Carlos has to call with a top pair for another
double-up !!"

Carlos looks at his own chips then he calmly says "Call"

Kirk sighs quickly and taps the table in respect as Carlos shows him his cards.

The audience rise to their feet and scream their approval. The various factions call for their
heroes and the noise in the arena is intense.

Kirk looks slightly sweaty and Carlos still looks totally impassive - what an amazing talent it is
to be able to hide your emotions as much as Carlos can - Both players wait for the River.

Vicky: "Kirk is DESPERATE to see a 10 or a 6 don't you think??"

(DUHHHH)

Roland: "Yeah I think so - it's alot of money"

Vicky: "Yes - all three of these players are now guaranteed $1,000,000 in prize money -
but third place is $1,000,000 and second place is $2,000,000 so...."

The River comes down: 9D


Carlos finally lets go a bit and punches the air in delight.

***Small Ball Pre-Flop Strategy is expertly explained by Daniel Negreanu who absolutely
recommends this style of play - I wrote about it back in August last year - and if you'd like
to read it again - go to: www.holdorfold.co.uk/eletters/070803.htm

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Post Mortem

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What a complete and utter stroke of genius it was by Carlos Mortensen to tap the table and
check at the Flop. If it was me playing - I'd be thinking that I've got Top Pair with a medium
kicker - not only do I want to find out if the other player has anything but I don't want to
give him a Free card if he's sitting there with a King or an Ace - so I definitely would have
raised at that time.

But by just checking - ok - it is risky to give Kirk a free card - but he's totally giving the
impression that he has hit no part of that Flop - let alone top pair - and this is why Kirk went
on to go All-In and double up Carlos.

Yes it's a risk - but the reward is amazing and it is definitely a move I will be thinking about
as I go and play in my Poker League tonight and hit the casino on Saturday.

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Freerolls to the WSOP

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Every day on Pokerstars - www.pokerstars.com there are Freerolls at 5 minutes past the hour
- The Top 50 finishers advance to the WSOP $1M Giveaway Weekly Final of their choice and
there are three of these every Saturday -

So - this is your chance to go to Las Vegas for absolutely nothing - The only drawback is that
you can only play one of these Freerolls per week - but that's still really good -

What are you waiting for??

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Freerolls to the Newcastle Leg of the GUKPT

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There are 3 Freerolls a day on www.bluesqpoker.com - they are at: 5pm, 8pm and 9.15pm -
get in the top 4 of these and you'll qualify for a $8.80 sub-qualifier on the next day -

Best of luck !

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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