nope didn't see but I saw hear you on that poker equalizer the championship the other week.  :)

keep up the good work!

I have a question about reraises. I'm really stumped as to how to use a reraise effectively without having to raise all in. How do you know how much to reraise? I know there are different strategies in reraising - to get players to fold, or to build the pot, etc., but whenever I use the reraise strategy, I'm always doubting whether I've raised enough, or maybe too much. This is for tournaments like NL/Limit/ basicly every type and game, ring games all types and limits and online poker too.

Ok, this is poker related. I watched you on Poker Equalizer and enjoyed it thoroughly. My question is: The fact is, you are 6' 9" and Ali is not. Was he or was he not "elevated" so the 2 of you standing together did not look weird? I am 4'11" and my best friend is 6'3" and when we go to a restaurant, we walk in alone and meet at the table after one of us is seated. This avoids awkward situations and the annoying "MUTT AND JEFF" comments.

Thanks,

Marti

Embedding a video question? I'm lucky I can even type my own name. I'd actually like to ask questions related to specfic actresses who worked with you on C.P.S, but instead I'll ask the same exact question I just asked another poker pro here on Myspace and that is...

How would you suggest I play medium pockets in early position? It seems like everytime I'm over aggressive with my betting I'll get a caller (or a re-raise) with over cards who wants to see the flop and then I get pushed out if they hit on the flop and even if they miss the flop I still get a fair amount of donkeys that will call hoping to catch on the turn or the river. Now I tend to just limp in and hope to flop a set and if not I get out of the way. That varies depending on the situation (cash game or tourney/my chip count/my reads on the agressiveness of the players in front of me, etc) but in general do you think it's better to be agressive or limp with medium pockets? Thanks
~Scott

How do i improve my game to be a consistent finisher in the top 10? I try all the tricks, check raise, bet the pot, go hard before the flop, or when a small turn card etc but seem to be relying on luck to get me through...is it because i am female that people think i cant play?

oh and i dont know how to do a video one sorry...

There is a little dog track casino near by with a low limit cash game and single table tournaments that I frequent just in order to see live cards from time to time. My question is regarding the ridiculous rakes on the tournaments --there is a $40 buy-in for a 10 person tournament that pays 1st 2nd 3rd $150, $100, $70 respectively --Even if you consider yourself to be one of the more skilled players at the table, considering the payouts, is it ever wise to play in one of these tournaments? What do you consider when buying a seat at a sit-n-go?

THANKS!

Phil,

I am unfortunatley still in the dark ages when in comes to web cams so sorry no video but here we go with my question. The situation is I'm at the final table of a tournament and I'm the short stack (350 in chips) the blinds are at 50 and a 100. I'm the small blind so I only have 300 in chips left. The action is 3rd thru 5th position fold 6th position limps in (and only has 600 in chips after there call) and the button folds. I have a read on the big blind that I think with any kind of raise will fold. So I'm holding A-4 suited I figure the only the two choices I have are to raise all in or fold because of the player in 6th position limping in and my read on the big blind. So I decided to go all in, was my decision right given the above situation.

Thanks for your time,

Chris Cochran

I don't have the ability to upload a video question, so I have to put it here.

What's the best way to shake off rude comments on playing styles?  There are times when the comments get personal and throw me off track.

Here's my question:

What do you think of the "short stack" strategy in no-limit holdem? 

Basically, my last trip to the casinos i started with $60 each session i had at the 1-2 no limit table.  The objective is to wait for a hand to get all of your chips in with and at the same time not lose a bundle if the hand doesn't hold up.  Say my pocket aces get cracked.

Typically what i was doing was raising to $12.  This seemed like a good amount, i got about 5 callers.  I want to build the pot.  After the flop just about everyone is pot commited with me going all in.  They almost have to call. 

I was able to double my stack twice in 2 different sessions.

So what do you think of this strategy vs. starting with a bigger stack.

Situation:  First level of blinds in an online tournament.  A Player in early position who has already doubled after sucking out on a very bad play raises, I make a pot-size reraise with AA, everyone folds to him and he calls.  Flop is ten high rainbow, he checks, i bet out, he reraises me all in.  My gut screams that all he has is top pair or a draw, based on what I've seen of him.  He could have tripped though and I'd be gone in the first level, and there'll be a lot more chances to take him, as I feel I generally play pretty well against this type of hyper agressive player.  Anyway I go with my gut and I'm right, he turns over q-10 of diamonds and of course proceeds to hit runner-runner diamond.  Right call, wrong result, bad beat, everybody has them.  My question would be in 2 parts.  Risk my whole tournament at that early stage based on my read?  And since this was online, with smaller starting stacks and shorter blind levels (was not a turbo), would your answer be different if it was a live tournament? 

Also just wanted to say that of all the poker books I've read, i found your Little Green Book to be the most helpful.  Thanks.

Phil, my question deals with Pocket Pairs before the flop when the betting before you is strong.  What is the lowest pair you would continue to bet?  Conversely, what is the highest pair you would be willing to fold?  Or would you wait to see if you miss the flop?   

Jim

P. S.  The short game is supreme in golf.  Good job and keep it up!!!

Hey Phil,

     My question has to do with playing against those pesky "Maniacs". It seems that every single time I sit down at a table I find myself against 4 or 5 Maniacs/Donkeys raising/re-raising every hand. Its impossible for them to have monster hands everytime and I know that. I know that I should also wait to bust their ass when I can by letting them bet for me, but with blind levels increasing quickly in the online tournaments and Sit N Go's I can't wait to get a hand. What can I do to combat this situation? Should I lower my standards of starting hands to call them with? Anything you could offer would be great. I'd also like to thank you for the help you have given my own game already with your first 2 books, and whenever my local book store gets around to receiving your 3rd I'll be diving in head first.

LATE

hey mr gordon.... i sent a video comment onto this blog, it said you needed to approve of html coded comments, i dont know if you denied it or something, but i hope you saw the question... thanks

heres the link to my question in case you didnt get it:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2010530243

the volume is fairly low...

All right here goes nothing.  I am admitting upfront that it's an oddball question; I had to get creative given that there are about twenty five "question raisers" in front of me.  BTW, if I can manage this from Afghanistan there really shouldn't be any excuse for the rest of ya.

Hey, i believe i would be the first to attempt a video question on this thread/blog eh? heh

well hi mr gordon, im jimmy from san francisco... a eager young player always willing and wanting to learn more everyday....

the video i have below is kinda low volume, so i provided a written version of this too below so u can follow along easier:

Hi Mr. Gordon, just gotta note, im a big fan of your books… bought the box set, got the DVD… all great great stuff

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My first question involves a hand that I was slowplaying against an aggressive chip leader who has basically played EVERY hand so far in the middle stage of a tournament.

The situation here is this, the blinds are 100/200 25 ante I am in the small blind with Q9 offsuit… everyone has folded all around, this was a pretty tight table… except the chip leader of course, who has been using his stack to bully us all night… who also happens to be in the big blind… he checks, flop comes QQA rainbow, and in my head im just doing cartwheels, so here is the main problem I faced… my stack was dwindling down to about 14 big blinds left… I was thinking should I slowplay it and let him catch up a bit, or bet right out here… so I checked… figuring hey, he’s in the big blind he wont have a hand that can hurt me too bad even if I give him a free card… but he BETS here…. 800… and im here putting him on nothing, just trying to steal blinds (which he has done a lot)… and of course with the trip queens I call with no hesitation. Turn card is a J and here im a little worried… so I checked again… he bets the rest of my stack… forcing me to think hard… eventually I figure… hey im short stacking, I need to gather chips… why just try to double up here with trip queens… I call, he shows AK!! I was actually beating him! Surely enough the online luck hits for him and he gets a 10 on the river…. And by the way this guy was hitting stuff on the river ALL night… I had a feeling his outs would come….

So yea… im sad from that… the question is did I do the wrong thing by slowplaying it? I figured he would call me with anything even if I had bet out… or was he the one that played it wrong preflop? Or was it indeed correct for him to CHECK big slick in such a late part of the game already???? In fact, what was wrong about this whole thing?

Summary:

SB: (me) Qh9c

BB: (lucky bully): AdKs

Preflop:

Sb calls, BB checked HEADS UP

Flop: QQA rainbow, sb checks, bb bets 800, sb calls

Turn: Js, sb checks, bb puts sb all in, sb calls, sb shows Qh9c, bb shows AdKs

River: 10d

2^nd question…. It’s a simpler one here, what’s a good way of starting a nice sized bankroll, actually what is even considered a good size starting bankroll?

Hi Phil, I need to know what I did wrong on this hand and my boyfriend is no help.  It's 1-2 no limit at the borgata.  I have about 350 in front of me.  I have 8h, 9h in middle position and limp along with about 5 other people.   Flop comes out Jh, Qh, blank.  Early position bets out $15, and I decide to just call.  One other player, who I've identiifed as  a good tight player also calls from late position.  Turn comes 10c, giving me  the low straight.  Early positon checks, and wanting to win the pot right away, I bet out $75.  Good tight player goes all in, and has me covered.  Early position folds, and after thinking for a while, and having a clock called on me (by a player not in the hand), I call with ten seconds left on the clock.  I put him on maybe an 8,9 also, or possibly a set.  he flips over A, K.  No heart on the river and I go broke.  How much did I do wrong.