Page 13 - September 2004 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Each month, Pechanga Resort & Casino hosts its “Big Showdown” tournaments for which players qualify throughout the month and play head to head and hand to hand for a seat in the next installment of the World Series of Poker. The winner also keeps his or her winnings from the tournament. After more than 200 players at the outset of the tournament, John Farrell from San Diego was the last man standing, or sitting with the most chips. With his WSOP entry, John won a total of $10,720.
2004, 2500 people played. And remember, the World Series of Poker has a $10,000 entry fee.
But before you race down to the casino and sign up for a tournament, you may want to learn the basics of the game and get some experience in low-limit games.
e matches on television are No-Limit Texas Hold’em games. is is a great format for tournaments, but as a beginning player you may rst want to learn Limit Texas Hold’em. Limit games have structured betting rounds where you are limited to the amount you can bet during each round. Some of the low-limit games you may nd in the poker room have a betting structure of $2/$4, $3/$6, $4/$8. After you gain experience you can move up to the higher limits or No Limit if you desire, but you have to learn to walk before you can run.
How to Play.
Texas Hold’em is a deceptively simple game to learn, but a harder game to master. Each player is dealt two personal cards and then ve community cards are turned up on the board. e object is to make the best ve-card hand using any combination of the seven cards. For this example we will use a low limit structure of $2/$4. ere are four betting rounds and the rst two have a limit of
$2 and the last two rounds have a limit of $4. You must bet or raise only the amount of the limit for that round.
The Start
To start a new hand two“Blind” bets are put up or“Posted.”
e player immediately to the left of the dealer puts up or “posts” the small blind which half the minimum bet one dollar. e player to the left of the small blind posts the big blind which is equal to the minimum bet which is two dollars for this game. e rest of the players do not put up any money to start the hand. Because the deal rotates around the table, each player will eventually act as the big
blind, small blind and dealer.
The Opening
Each player is dealt two cards face down with the player on the small blind receiving the rst card and the player with the dealer button getting the last card. e rst betting round begins with the player to the left of the big blind either putting in two dollars to “Call” the blind bet, or putting in four dollars to “raise” the big blind or folding his hand. e betting goes around the table in order until it reaches the player who posted the small blind. at player can call the bet by putting in one dollar since a dollar blind was already posted. e last person to act is the big blind. If no one has raised,thedealerwillaskiftheywouldliketheoption. is means the big blind has the option to raise or just “check.”
By checking, the player does not put in any more money. A rookie mistake sometimes occurs here. Because the blind is a live bet live, the player with the big blind has already put his bet in. I have seen some players throw their cards in not realizing that they are already in the hand. Another
rookie mistake is betting or folding your cards when it is notyourturn.Youmustwaitbeforeyouact.
The Flop
After the rst betting round is completed, three cards are dealt and turned face up in the middle of the table. is is known as the “Flop.” ese are community cards used by all the players. Another betting round begins with the
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STARTING HANDS
The most important decision you will make is choosing to play a starting hand. The biggest mistake a player makes is playing too many hands. Being aware or your position in relation to the dealer is important. You need a stronger hand to act from an early position because you have more players acting after you who may raise or re-raise the pot.
The player to the left of the big blind acts first before the flop. He, along with the other two players to his left, are in early position. The next three players are in middle position, and the ones after that are late position.
In Early Position
Raise with A-A, K-K and A-K (suited) from any position. Call with A-K, A-Q (suited), K-Q (suited), Q-Q, J-J and T-T. Fold everything else.
In Middle Position
Call with 9-9, 8-8, A-J (suited), A-T (suited), Q-J (suited), A-Q, K-Q
In Late Position
Call with A-X (suited), K-T (suited), Q-T (suited), J-T (suited), A-J, A-T and small -pairs. (X denotes any card).
THE BLINDS
Once you post your blind, the money no longer belongs to you. Don’t waste additional money on marginal hands, and don’t automatically call with the small blind if you have nothing. Saving half a bet will pay for your next small blind.
AFTER THE FLOP
Deciding whether to continue playing after seeing the flop will be your second biggest decision. It can also be one of the most costly decisions if you continue after the flop with an inferior hand. If the flop does not give you a top pair (or better), or a straight or flush draw, then you should fold if there is a bet in front of you. If you played a small pair from late position and you do not flop a third one for a set, you should throw away the pair if there is a bet.
THE TURN
If you think you have the best hand after seeing the Turn card and are first to act, then go ahead and bet. Many players will try to get fancy and attempt to check raise in this position. If the other players also check, you have lost a bet or two.
If another player raises on the turn and you hold only one pair, you are more than likely beaten and should fold.
THE RIVER
If you have been playing properly, you will not see the river card unless you have a strong hand that is a favorite to win, or you have a draw to a winning hand. Once the river card is turned over, you know exactly what you have. If you were drawing to a hand, you know if you were successful or not.
As with the turn, you should bet your hand if you are first to act. If you bet and the other player folds, then they more than likely would have just checked if you had checked in an attempt to check raise.
September 2004 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE Page 13