The latest online Poker tip from Doyle Brunson of Doyles Room
Sometimes you can get clues to your opponent’s hands through their use of early action buttons. But, I always remember that if I’m trying to improve my decisions by taking this action into consideration, a few of my most sophisticated opponents might be doing the same thing. They might be trying to gain information by reading my early action choices!
Now, I’m used to players trying to read me in traditional poker games. They’ve been trying to do it since my earliest days. But, I’ve always been careful not to reveal the strength of my hand to them. I deliberately bet the same way most of the times, and I avoid projecting tells. Mostly my goal in these face-to-face poker games is to avoid being read. And I’m proud of my success at it. But, online I might be read, just because I chose and early action and the software announced my decision so quickly when it became my turn that it was apparent I had planned that action no matter what.
To avoid being read as having a weak hand in the big blind, for instance, because my instant let’s-see-the-flop call looks like I clicked the “Check or Fold” button, I’ll sometimes use the “check or call” early action button when I’m in the big blind with a higher quality hand. If nobody raises, this will throw players who are looking for this clue off the trail. Since I’m occasionally going to just call with a big hand, just for deception, why not incorporate an early action button in that decision?
Now, my observant opponents might incorrectly interpret that to mean I called weakly in the big blind and would have folded had there been a raise. Actually, I had clicked a button instructing the software to just check my big hand and see the flop if nobody and to call the bet if somebody did raise. Players, have the tendency, I believe, to assume that a quick, let’s-see-the-flop check is more likely to mean that the player would have folded had there been a raise than to mean that the player would have called. But, in either case, your opponent isn’t likely to think that you have a big hand that you could have raise with – but you do!
You can, of course, wait until the action reaches your seat before you decide how you will act on a hand.
More on the Early Action Buttons
It is sometime valuable to call with a big hand – which you’d do anyway – for the sake of deception. And you’ll be setting the hook even deeper into those few observant opponents who misinterpret the instant call as a tell that you don’t have a strong hand.
There are other uses of the early action buttons that can defeat the plans of opponents to read you. My point is this: You should mix-up the use of the early action buttons, just as you would mix up the use of your call/raise and other choices in traditional physical games.
What about celebrating the Holidays in true poker style at Doyles room?
Here’s a list of the main action:
Sunday 24th December - Night Before Xmas $100k Guaranteed MTT
Monday 25th December - Extra Stuffing MTT
Tuesday 26th December - Boxing Day Bonanza
Wednesday 27th December - Bounty Blow Out
Thursday 28th December - Santa’s Special Hand
Friday 29th December - Parents Pressie MTT
Saturday 30th December - Promotion Party
Sunday 31st December - Pokerface 2007, $18 Rebuy
Hope to see you at a table, (Sorry, no USA based players).
Mike
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