Free Online Poker Trap Play Examples And Tips
In this free online poker strategy example we're looking at the situation and options open to players in head to head play where both believe they have the best hand and both elect to slow play. This could be called Trap vs Trap.
To illustrate the lesson we'll look at the situation by example. For the example we'll use a truly critical hand example, a WSOP final table head to head.
The scene:
BLINDS 100k/200k, ante 30k
PREFLOP:
A has Ks-10s, raises to 400k
B has As-Ad, calls 200k
A's raise is standard for K-10, which isn't as weak in short-handed play as in a complete table.
B might have reraised A, but A might fold. B may be worried provided that the Flop came up paired like J-J-7, but B thinks that a continuation test bet will detect if A has a hand after the Flop.
Reraising preflop and this test bet has the same effect of making A fold if A has not got anything, but calling not only conceals A's hand strength, but also makes it dangerous for B to bet if a King or a Ten comes.
FLOP: Kc-5c-3h
B checks
A bets 525k
B raises to 1.45m
A calls 875k (Pot now 3.76m)
Now A suddenly had top pair which he may think is the best hand!
B checks, again to conceal hand strength.
A bets to build the pot, then B raises.
A may interpret B's raise as being a bluff because he may think B is drawing (note the two Clubs) or that B might have a smaller pair, say, A-5 or A-3.
A just calls because he's now the one looking to trap.
TURN: Kc-5c-3h-6s
B bets 1.5m
The 3-Flush didn't come. B's bet will now be challenging A.
If A folds, B still wins a significant pot. If A calls or reraises, B can push him all-in if action comes back to B.
A's trap seems to be working up to now. Now B might have decided that A is still on a Flush draw with perhaps a small Pair, say Ac-3c.
In addition, because preflop A concealed his hand strength well (just smooth-calling), B can believe that A also has a King, but with a weaker kicker.
Now he is convinced that A is preparing to call anything he hauls in the middle, and he also thinks his trap is working. So what does he do?
A moves All In
B calls 3.6m (Pot now around 14 million)
Both think their traps are working! In poker, the bigger the hands, the higher the chips in front.
Both did well in protecting the balance building the pot and disguising hand strength, but only one hand can win.
A can only win with a river King or Ten.
RIVER: Kc-5c-3h-6s-10c (!)
A wins! But had A carried on trapping through to the river with this river card, it's still the same. Both still have big hands, both are willing to trap, and both are prepared to ravenously hoard each other's chips once the chance arises.
Summary of the Trap vs Trap
Take time to read and thoroughly grasp the principles behind this article. Make an effort to consider the concepts behind what's going on with this example and consider strategies to put these lessons into your own play.
Poker, while not so difficult to learn if very difficult to make a living from, or, indeed, not lose money at most of the time!
But if (and when) you figure out how to play online poker well then you will make some great money. Why?
It's because 80% or more players won't ever make this sort of play level.
So you, if you can get to a good standard will do very well very easily. You don't have to be a TV pro to make good money in poker!
The fact that most players are at such a low quality ensures that when you hunt/play them on free online poker or low stakes sites you'll be able to clean up.
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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com
