so many questions...too few answers

One of the phrases that player's often say when they are discussing a poker hand is "it depends." To me this sounds like nails on a chalkboard! Eeeeeeechhhh! I hate that answer because it's no answer! The player's question may be general, but then just give a general answer.

Q: "What should I do with AQ?"
A: "Well...it depends!"

NO IT DOESN'T!

A:  "You Raise"

The person who then says, "well, what if there is a Raise and a 3b from a tight player in front of you?" - Well now, that is a whole different question, isn't it?  A:  "I fold!"
Ask a different question, get a different answer.

With each new parameter in a poker question, just like when a new card comes out on the board, the answer changes and that's okay! You don't need all the information on earth before you make a decision. Is it true that the more information you have, the better decision you will make? Generally speaking of course, the answer is yes. It is better to make an informed decision then an uninformed one. Sometimes you can have too much information. But don't let any lack of information keep you from making a decision. Otherwise you could put off and procrastinate till the cows come home and never make a decision.

Consider whatever information you have, evaluate it and make a decision. General information

produces a general answer, not no answer.

Q:  "How much should you buy-in to a poker game?"
A:  "Look at the table and whatever the average stack size is, buy-in for that amount."

I don't need to know what size game, the type of game, what level of player the person is whose asking me the question,  etc. etc. because the person is not asking me the question with those parameters.

Now, that said, the more detail that is in the question, the more detailed my answer will become.

Q:  "I was playing in a NL tourney and around the middle of the tournament this hand came up. I Called a Raise from an Early Position Solid player from the SB with TT. The flop came down Q86. After calling the 3x Raise I have 25bb left and my opponent has me covered. Am I suppose to lead, check and call, check and raise, or check and fold?"

A:  Great question. In spots like this I generally like to 3b big pre-flop, fight for the lead and define the hand early. I then would lead in on the flop and put my opponent to a tough decision. However, that is not our situation here and doesn't address your question. If for some reason I decided to just flat and play it defensively because of the player profile, then I would continue with that same passive line. I would check-call any reasonable flop bet and then re-evaluate on the turn. A check-raise would put me in a too high-risk, low-reward situation. Check-folding is giving up too much equity when I have my opponent beat if he has a smaller pair or AK.

So, when someone comes to you looking for an answer, acknowledge them and answer it with whatever the parameters given. Remembering of course that communication is for the other person. Meaning that in forming the answer you give, you should take into consideration the person who is asking it and answer accordingly.



Kenna