THERE
ARE NO ABSOLUTES IN POKER
BY:
THE KOUNT (aka John C. Fusco, Jr.)
If
you want an absolute at the poker table,
order vodka by the same name. Things are
always in flux in a poker game. The play
that worked last night may cost you a
bundle tonight.
WHOA
there Kount! You say always bet on sixth
street is your golden rule, are you backing
off that stance?
NO I'm not backing off and still go by
the always bet on sixth street rule. That's
right, always BET. The rule doesn't say
call, check, raise or re-raise.
After
having played for a year and a half, I
was still trying to figure out how to
play the tight aggressive strategy emphasized
by most poker books. I played conservative
but seemed to miss opportunities to win
more. An experience I had lead me to the
always bet on sixth street rule. I had
started with a medium pair with a big
kicker on a $1-$5 table. It was cheap
to get in and stay in. My board had a
four straight to a Broadway on sixth street
and I checked. I didn't get the straight
on seventh and I bet and got called by
the woman sitting next to me, everyone
else folded. She had two little pairs
and beat my medium pair. As she collected
the pot she says to the person next to
her, "I figured he didn't have the straight
when he checked on sixth." The light bulb
went on in my head! If I had bet on sixth
I probably would have won that pot. This
is what was meant by tight aggressive.
Betting with just a pair would have been
a bluff or some would say a semi-bluff.
My image on the table was that of a conservative
strong player. The only thing missing
was my being aggressive. Now I always
bet on sixth street. I may not call a
bet, nor raise or re-raise but if I am
first to act I always BET.
The
theory is based on the fact that you should
have a pretty decent hand if you are still
in the game on sixth street. Your marginal
hand may get a better hand or a draw out
of the pot and pave your way to a win.
With scare cards on board you'll get a
lot of folds by the people playing weak
draws as in the hand detailed above. In
addition you must always make them pay
for a card. Don't give free cards. I don't
mind if they draw out as long as they
pay for the privilege. In the long run
you'll end up with a lot of that money
paid by the low limit players to see if
they can get that miracle card.
So
always bet on sixth street, but think
about whether you want to call, raise
or re-raise. If your first to act, BET,
you will see your winnings increase.
© The Kount 2001, all
rights reserved
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