POKER STRATEGY

March 2011

Reading stack sizes Reading stack sizes

It’s not the size, it’s what you do with it… Jeff Kimber explains.

Making Poker “Legit” Making Poker “Legit”

This month brings the news that Annie Duke has teamed up with former WSOP supremo Jeffrey Pollack to bring us supposedly the definitive league of poker. If only, so the line of argument goes, we could have one definitive league, and therefore one definitive champion, we could know where we are with this “sport”. Perhaps more importantly, we could market it more effectively and convincingly to the world at large. But can poker join the ranks of legitimate spectator sports?

February 2011

Where am I? Where am I?

Dear Dr Tom,


My friend says that betting to “see where you are” is an out of date concept and a bad way to play, but I always thought it was an important part of poker. Who is right?


Liam, Plymouth

Tournament poker therapy, part 3 Tournament poker therapy, part 3

Thus far in this series of articles, I’ve discussed the concept of psychic pain in tournament poker, and attempted to categorise a few types of them. I’ve mooted a few reasons why they might be stumbling blocks for certain people.

Tilt Monkey Tilt Monkey

We all know that poker is a game of skill that is affected by luck, be it good or bad. The theory is that a good player needs less luck than a less able player in order to be successful. In the long term, this is probably true but, in the short term, the “luck factor” or “variance” can completely dictate one player’s success or failure.

January 2011

Tournament Poker Therapy, part 2: Identifying poker pain Tournament Poker Therapy, part 2: Identifying poker pain

By Alex Rousso.


Last month, I discussed the concept of using psychoanalysis to deal with the psychic pain that tournament poker can bring. I ended by listing what are termed in Cognitive Analytical Therapy as “Core Pain Statements”. These statements are supposed to be a candid appraisal of exactly how you feel at points of heightened psychic pain – the most obvious in tournament poker being on busting out.

Double or nothing Double or nothing

Dear Dr Tom,


I'm thinking of trying out the “double or nothing” STT format on PokerStars. It seems that the correct strategy is to basically fold 99% of your hands and try to make the money, i.e. half the table. Also I assume my bankroll requirements can be loosened as they're quite low variance.


Giles, Brighton

Value Town by Paul Jackson Value Town by Paul Jackson

“Value” is a word which is often used in poker circles to justify a dodgy call. Of course, if there is “true value” in a call, then you do not need to justify your action, and most players fail to consider the concept that “there is no value in losing”.

November 2010

Backwards Roll Backwards Roll

Dear Dr Tom,


What sort of bankroll would you recommend for live cash games and low stakes tournaments? I have a couple of hundred quid kicking about and thought about spinning it up at £30 freezeouts and low stakes cash games. If you were to take £300 to the poker tables with a view to making a lot of money, how would you go about it?


Naheem, Hemel Hempsted

Tournament Poker Therapy Part 1: Pain and Heather Graham Tournament Poker Therapy Part 1: Pain and Heather Graham

If tournament poker were a lottery where the prize was to spend a night with Heather Graham, the prizes would be as follows. Ninety-nine of the nights would end with you being punched in the stomach by Heather, and one would end with you sleeping with her.