ASK KENNY

Yesterday you saw player Murdak call my AK preflop all-in with 34 off-suit for between a quarter and 1/5 of his stack, with 4 players remaining in the 5k weekly. Two questions: 1) Have you ever seen a worse call pre-flop at a final table for that many chips?, and 2) What is the worst hand you'd consider calling an all-in with for that much of your stack? I know the scenario and player determines everything, but still, 34 calling is borderline insanity

Asked by BubbRubb on Feb 17.

Yes, I have seen worse calls. They were worse calls only because of chip counts when the call was made. Well, if he doesn't put you on a pocket pair he figures to have two live cards. AK vs. 34 is 64% vs. 36% which isn't too bad to knock someone out of a tournament and give yourself a better shot at playing for the win.
Good luck at the tables,
SCKenny

Filed under: Poker Tips

Hey Kenny , I've been playing poker 35 years and I'd like to ask you about your feel for rushes , or going on a rush , I've many times over the years sat and folded hands that would have won time after time, many times 6 or 7 hands in a row once the flop comes and the hands are played out. Trying to judge whether I'm on a rush or not has cost me a lot of money , I know its a big part of the personal feel for the game but I'm just curious how you go about judging it?

Asked by ratsnest on Dec 09.

I don't really believe in rushes. I know there are times when I will be hit with the deck and time when I will never make a hand but I don't change the way I play because of it. It's not the feel for the cards, but my feel on the other players, that I try to stay in tune with. I can feel when a player is going to make a move on me, or has had enough of me taking his pots away. I play the player more than the cards, especially after I turn over a few good hands.

Good luck at the tables,
SCKenny

Filed under: Poker Tips

Hey Kenny, what are your thoughts on SPOY rankings? Do you consider the players ranking when evaluating an opponent? Is there a certain ranking that makes you think this player knows what he/she is doing so I better be careful?? Top 100?? Just curious as to if the SPOY ranking should play into our thoughts about our opponent. Thanks, portlandford

Asked by portlandford on Dec 04.

I look more at their number of final tables,  trophies they have as well as money won. I think that gives a better picture of the player they are. Although, you do have to make a final table to earn any SPOY points but SPOY is skewed because some players play more than others.

Good luck at the tables,
SCKenny

Filed under: Poker Tips

If I hold two of a suit and two more of that suit appears on the flop, what is the probability of another player holding two of that suit also. Thank You, Pensacola Beach, Florida.

Asked by PRnightmare on Nov 21.

Here are the probabilities and odds of being dealt various other types of starting hands.

Hand	Probability	Odds
AKs (or any specific suited cards)	0.00302	331 : 1
AA (or any specific pair)	0.00453	220 : 1
AKs, KQs, QJs, or JTs (suited cards)	0.0121	81.9 : 1
AK (or any specific non-pair incl. suited)	0.0121	81.9 : 1
AA, KK, or QQ	0.0136	72.7 : 1
AA, KK, QQ or JJ	0.0181	54.3 : 1
Suited cards, jack or better	0.0181	54.3 : 1
AA, KK, QQ, JJ, or TT	0.0226	43.2 : 1
Suited cards, 10 or better	0.0302	32.2 : 1
Suited connectors	0.0392	24.5 : 1
Connected cards, 10 or better	0.0483	19.7 : 1
Any 2 cards with rank at least queen	0.0498	19.1 : 1
Any 2 cards with rank at least jack	0.0905	10.1 : 1
Any 2 cards with rank at least 10	0.143	5.98 : 1
Connected cards (cards of consecutive rank)	0.157	5.38 : 1
Any 2 cards with rank at least 9	0.208	3.81 : 1
Not connected nor suited, at least one 2-9	0.534	0.873 : 1

Good luck at the tables,
SCKenny

Filed under: Poker Tips

HI, I'm trying to understand position in poker. They say it is always better to go last but if someone goes before you can they not bluff you first? Can you please explain that to me. One more question: Can you please explain "out of position" to me. (In baby talk) thank you for your time, dinosaur55

Asked by dinosaur55 on Nov 17.

Yes, they have the first opportunity to bluff but it's much harder to bluff when there are players still to act. What if the player behind you just calls your bet, what do you do on the turn? fire again? check? if you check the player behind you will mostly likely bet then what? What playing a hand out of position means playing a hand when players behind you are still to act.
Good luck at the tables,
SCKenny

Filed under: Poker Tips

Hello Kenny, In no limit hold'em if you have a med pair say 7's like i had the other day and you are raised with an all in pre flop from the chip leader would you call with pocket 7's? What is a better hand to play in that situation small pairs or high cards AK, KQ Thanks and take care Scott

Asked by bigteff63 on Nov 11.

Like most questions about hands the answer is, it all depends. Next time this comes up (which it will a lot) ask yourself these questions:

1)      Has the player been raising or re-raising a lot?

2)       If so how has he played on the flop betting out no matter what came?

3)      If you fold will you have enough chips to play the next hand properly or are you already pot stuck?

4)      What’s your table image?

Overall I hate calling off my chips I would rather move in and make them call me the me calling them. With a medium pocket pair you are slightly ahead but to any two over cards it is essentially a coin flip. Think of whether you would want to decide to end your tournament just by flipping a coin and calling it wrong.

Good luck at the tables,
SCKenny

Filed under: Poker Tips

Hi Kenny, I would like to know what is the best way to advance in spoy standing. are they talking about points you win in point turneys or "some" points you get for doing good???

Asked by JJ2963 on Nov 10.

The best way is to play a lot and make final tables. You can find all the information here: http://www.spadeclub.com/promotions/spoy
Good luck at the tables,
SCKenny

Filed under: Poker Tips

Hey Kenny, great job on the recent changes. I enjoy playing here. Probably a dumb question, but I'm wondering why there seems to be so many more flushes made than straights. Odds dictate the opposite, but in table play it always seems that flushes complete and open end straights don't. Is it just that folks are more likely to draw to their flush more often than their straight?

Asked by VaBrad on Nov 07.

I'm glad you like the changes I put a lot of thought into them. Yes people do chase flushes more here, the way I would play is I would wait till the turn to put them all in with two cards to go players are a lot more likely go all in with a draw.
Good luck at the tables,
SCKenny

Filed under: Poker Tips

Kenny 1. How are "underdog" odds figured out? Math wise, how are they related to outs, remaining cards, etc? 2. How do they relate to pot odds?

Asked by AsSUITED on Sep 22.

Great question! A lot of player make bad calls and then defend it my saying “I was pot stuck” or “I was getting the right price to call”

Pot odds are the percent chance that you will make your hand versus the amount you have to call and the size of the pot.

Example #1: pot has $100 in it and you have to call $25. The pot is laying you 4:1 and your hand has 6 outs (2 over cards) with the turn and river to go. You have a 24% chance of making your hand or 1 in 4 times you’ll win. Therefore I would call.

Example #2: pot has $200 in it and you need to call $75. The pot is laying you 2.67:1 same hand (2 over cards) but with the river only to go. You now have a 12% chance of making you hand or 1 out of 8 times. So I would fold.

The way I calculate pot odds is I give myself 4% on the flop for each out that I give myself credit and 2% on the turn.

Example #1: I give myself 6 outs so 6 X 4 = 24% or I’ll make my hand 1out 4 times and the pot is laying 4:1. So I call

Example #2: Still 6 outs but with one to go its 6 X 2 = 12% or I’ll make my hand 1 out 8 times and the pot is only laying you less then 3:1. So I fold

Filed under: Poker Tips

Kenny, my name is bigdaddybunk and I've played here for a while now and I find that I'm getting good at reading players cards but I wanted to know, what would you do if you got switched to another table after playing good? Would you sit out for a bit and watch the players or would you play the cards you get if they are good? Thank you, bigdaddybunk.

Asked by bigdaddybunk on Sep 18.

Hi Daddybunk,


I can't just sit out but I do play tight until I get a feel for the players. Just like at the start of a tournament you need to watch and see  who is playing lots of hands, who's raising and who's folding. moving tables is tough because you have to learn 8 new players, but when the players move to your table you only need to learn 1,2 or at most 3 players. I hate getting myself into a spot where I don't know if I should fold, call or raise and getting knocked out because of a bad decision.

Good luck at the tables,
SCKenny

Filed under: Poker Tips