Blog

Hello there. Welcome to the Cre8ive Coaching Newsletter. Here is your weekly serving of poker related knowledge regarding on or off the table topics.

There are many important traits for success. In life, and in poker, we are constantly failing and learning. How are we able to stay the course until we see our desired result?

Tristan’s Topic Today:

A doctor’s job is a meaningful one. They have to make decisions that could result in life or death for their patients. How are they able to do this with a moment’s notice? What is their secret? Confidence.

A doctor has prepared for this juncture to make a decision. They’ve spent many years studying in school. More years practicing what to do. They have nurses, other doctors, and help all around. Lastly, they have the previous experience of making big decisions and being successful with their results. If you’re looking to gain confidence in your life, think about how the doctors do it.

Here are ways to build your confidence for playing poker:

1) Study
Through studying we become familiar with what to do in certain spots. We gain knowledge of the important variables and what to focus on to make the proper decision. All the time and energy we put into learning can then be used to create certainty when we are at the tables, flinging chips into the pot. Our actions are more believable because we have insight behind them.

2) Practice
By playing poker we put ourselves into the fire, at the tables. We can see certain tendencies with our opponents, pick up on tells, or notice how they play their ranges. This also creates comfortability within ourselves. We get to digest hands that we play, or we see others play. This awareness puts us in an immediate space to learn. When we are thinking about the game, around the game, or playing the game, it not only affects how we play in the future, it impacts our subconscious every time we visit the felt. Continued training allows for careful execution. Study and practice go hand in hand.

3) Support System
Having loved ones around to support you, or a group of poker friends to talk hands with can be very helpful. There will be rough stretches where your confidence can waver. There will be times when hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars are on the line, or slip through your fingers. Family, friends, and loved ones can put things in perspective. They can reinforce your decision making process, fortify your mindset to stay on course for the journey, be a shoulder to cry on, or an ear to listen to your troubles. Either way, this backing should make you stronger. It should allow you to dust off your worries and get back to work. A good support system won’t let you down. It will only lift you up.

4) Success
Let’s face it… Having success in life (and poker) ultimately creates a level of confidence some people don’t usually acquire. Once we are successful, we start to believe our own ideas, thoughts, and placement. We start to accept where we are and realize that we have worked towards this moment. When you are running well, you become more courageous. Running a big bluff is easier. Being bold in the face of a huge coin flip becomes second nature. Regardless of outcome, fearlessness sets in. We are comfortable and confident no matter what happens. If this isn’t meant to be, the next hand is. We know what we are doing, why we are doing it, and how to do it better than anyone else. Only success can provide this level of sanguine.

When it comes to life, and playing poker, confidence is key. We are going to make mistakes. We are going to get unlucky. Bad things will happen at the wrong moment. There will also be occasions where everything goes right. When we are sitting on the top of the world. During all of these times, we must continue to learn and never stop growing. Control what you can control, put the time and energy into the goal. Failure is inevitable, but with it brings a new understanding, and a new path paved to building confidence.

“It is confidence in our bodies, minds, and spirits that allows us to keep looking for new adventures.” – Oprah Winfrey

Hello there. Welcome to the Cre8ive Coaching Newsletter. Here is your weekly serving of poker related knowledge regarding on or off the table topics.

Have you ever had a straight flush draw with one card to come, out of position, and been unsure what to do? Today’s piece should give some insight…

Tristan’s Topic Today:

The scene is the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event is the Big 50, which is a $500 No Limit Holdem tournament, celebrating 50 years of the WSOP. The field size ends up being the largest poker tournament ever, with over 28,000 entries. I played Day 1B and had a table full of poker enthusiasts, including myself. We started with 50,000 in chips (appropriately) and I am down to 40,000 when this hand comes up.

The blinds are 300/600 and the hijack calls the big blind. I have 8c5c on the cutoff and limp as well. The button limps, the small blind calls, and the big blind checks. The five of us see a flop with 3600 in the pot.

The flop falls Kh 6c 7c. Both the blinds check and the hijack bets 3800. I call, the button calls, and both the blinds fold. There is now 15,000 in the pot.

The turn card is the Ah. The hijack checks, I decide to check as well, then the button bets 6800. This prompts a fold from the hijack and gives me a decision to make. There is now 21,800 in the pot. I have 36,000 chips left. I move all in. After a couple minutes of thinking, the button calls my all in.

I turn over my straight flush draw, the button tables 6s7s for bottom two pair, and the river is a blank for me, the 7d, giving my opponent a full house and sending me on my way to rebuy.

Now they say don’t go broke in limped pots, but this should be an exception! I had a STRAIGHT FLUSH DRAW. Let’s analyze the hand a little bit.

The limping range of late position opponents tends to be very wide. We can’t exactly quantify what hands they hold, but we should be able to rule out hands people won’t limp with in late position. Such as TT+, AQs+, and so on. Nobody in the hand, except for the first limper (if they are really tricky) should have a hand like AK, AA, KK, etc.

We have cause for concern when the initial limper bets over the pot on the flop. This is why I didn’t reraise my straight flush draw on the flop. I wanted to see more cards in position, plus there are three people still left to act behind me. I could be dominated by a better flush draw, or getting my money in flipping against a strong king/set. When the button calls, they too could have a better draw than me.

The turn cards changes the hand significantly. The ace is now the highest card on the board, and when the hijack checks, it is less likely they have one of those huge hands I mentioned previously. The button betting and the hijack folding was exactly what I had hoped for. The button is even less likely to have AA/KK/AK and now we are heads up with a very strong draw. If there were more people in the hand I would be a little more afraid. Since the strongest hands the button will have are 66/77/67/AXcc/KXcc (some of which raise the flop), I think this makes it a great spot for me to move all in. I can apply a ton of pressure on the AXcc, KXcc and 67 type hands. Also if my opponent has a better draw (like 9cTc), they aren’t getting a great price to call my shove with one card to come.

In the end, I put two pair in a very tough predicament and the player made a great call for most of his chips. Nevertheless, I had 34% equity to win the hand, although I could’ve won the pot without seeing a river. Unfortunately I missed my draw, but I made an aggressive play to win the pot, while still having a lot of outs. This will usually lead to winning at the game of poker. With the WSOP just starting, I hope to continue to make winning plays, and eventually be a winner myself.

“When you take risks you learn that there will be times when you succeed and there will be times when you fail, and both are equally important.” ― Ellen DeGeneres

Hello there. Welcome to the Cre8ive Coaching Newsletter. Here is your weekly serving of poker related knowledge regarding on or off the table topics.

What is the number one thing a poker player can do to give themselves the best chance of winning? Read below to find out.

Tristan’s Topic Today:

Any fans who follow poker know what is currently happening in Las Vegas. The 50th Annual WORLD SERIES OF POKER! It is now underway, with multiple events running each day. Poker players from all around the globe will come try their luck at winning a bracelet, or any other big tournament at one of the different casinos in the city. It is an exciting time, coupled with a lot of pressure. This is poker at the biggest stage and everyone wants to perform. So… what is the best way to approach this opportunity?

HAVE FUN.

It is that simple. Have fun! Yes, poker is all about analyzing the situation to make a correct decision, but sometimes that happens and we still lose. Especially when playing tournaments, we will lose more often than we win. For this reason we must remember why we are sitting down at the table in the first place. Obviously we want to win all of the money, but it is also because we enjoy the game of poker. We like playing. It is fun! If we are able to approach poker with this mindset, it should make the moment that much more enjoyable.

When you enjoy the process, the journey becomes more gratifying. Don’t apply a stress or burden with unrealistic expectations and being too tough on yourself. Show up, do your best, and have fun. Then learn from the experience, continue to get better, and acknowledge the self-awareness it takes to figure out what work is needed. After that, you get ready to play the next event and hopefully have an even better time. After all, poker is a lot more fun when you are winning!!!

This will be my fourteenth year at the WSOP… FOUR-TEENTH. It is almost unbelievable to me as I write this. In the past I have put a strain on myself to deliver. I wanted the results. Wanted to prove myself. Wanted to win. I would be hard on myself, question every move. It would affect me if I didn’t do as well as I wanted to. I now realize that as long as I shift my focus on the process, getting better, and enjoying the moment… I will eventually succeed. I will also be a whole lot happier doing so. It is important to appreciate the opportunity of being in Las Vegas for nearly two months playing poker, and having a great time doing so. I plan to savor the experience playing poker this summer and maybe that will include a few deep runs and another WSOP bracelet. Good luck to everyone! See you at the tables.

-Tristan Wade, Cre8ive Coaching

“Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.” ― Andy Rooney

Hello there. Welcome to the Cre8ive Coaching Newsletter. Here is your weekly serving of poker related knowledge regarding on or off the table topics.

Have you ever thought you played a hand well, until you reflect on your decision making and realize you might’ve made a mistake?!? Here’s the hand I played…

Tristan’s Topic Today:

The game is 2-5 No Limit Holdem. I have 800 in front of me. Under the gun raises to 20 (who is a tight player with 700), two people call in early position, along with the lojack (who has a 1500 stack), me in the small blind with 6s7s and the big blind. We go six ways to the flop.

The flop lands Th 9h 8c and me and the big blind check. UTG bets 60 into a pot of 120. Two players fold, then the lojack raises to 300. I am in quite the predicament. I have flopped the third nuts, although I think neither player has J7o/J7s in their range, so I technically believe I have the second nuts. There are two players betting a soaking wet board, one raised huge into three players, which is very strong. I could be drawing dead to QJ. I have good equity against sets, two pairs, and combo draws that have straight and flush outs. I have three players left to act behind me; the big blind, UTG who has bet into five opponents, and the lojack who has raised a large amount. I mull it over for two minutes, go through my analysis in my head, and fold. Crazy right?!?

Allow me to first touch on my breakdown on the situation. The under the gun player was solid, but I expect him to bet some overpairs, combo draws, two pairs, and straights on this flop. The lojack player was a little more of a wildcard when defining his range. He was solid, not getting out of line, but played a few hands funky early in the session, then doubled up. He was walking around the casino periodically for the last 30-40 minutes, and just arrived back at the table. This was one of his first hands back to sit down. For these reasons, I felt like it was less likely he would hold a combo draw, or a weaker hand in his range. This is an example of me thinking psychologically instead of theory based.

I assumed the player in the lojack position would have 16 combinations of QJ; 12 unsuited combos and 4 suited combos. I also thought he would raise the flop with the 9 combos of sets. I was uncertain if he would raise two pair here, 89s, T8s, or 9Ts, but he has 7 combos of these hands because he would only play the suited versions. I also was unsure if he would raise his combos draws like A7hh, A8hh, KJhh, AJhh, AQhh, AKhh or the bare nut flush draw (this is most unlikely.) Since he was away from the table and already winning, I thought it was rare he would want to build a huge pot in position with so many players still in the hand. For this reason, I gathered there were 16 combos of QJ, 9 combos of sets, possibly 7 combos of two pair and not many, if any, bluffs in his range. I think this inference is likely incorrect. Someone with such a big hand like A7hh, A8hh, AJhh or JKhh would likely be willing to go for the gusto. I would consider these hands “bluffs” although they have great equity in this spot.

My percentages against the ranges are:
A7hh, A8hh, AJhh, AQhh, AKhh, KQhh, KJhh, QJs, QJo, TT, 99, 88, T9s, T8s, 89s:
I have 38.7% equity against this “complete” range.

Combo draws removed, so QJs, QJo, TT, 99, 88, T9s, T8s, 89s:
I have 35.3% equity. This is even worse.

Removing QJ, and up against only two pairs/sets, so TT, 99, 88, T9s, T8s, 89s:
I have 70.3% equity.

Removing QJ from the complete range while including the combo draws, so A7hh, A8hh, AJhh, AQhh, AKhh, KQhh, KJhh, TT, 99, 88, T9s, T8s, 89s:
I have 65.3% equity against this range.

That is a HUGE difference in equities! If my opponent doesn’t have QJ, I am at worst 65% and at best 70%. As long as the lojack doesn’t have the nuts, then I am almost 2-1 to win this pot, with action pending. There’s one issue though… we still have the BB left to act and an UTG player who has bet into five players!

Well, we assume the BB has a wide range since they were getting a great price to see the flop, so let’s exclude the small percentage of the time the BB beats us (although J7s and J7o are likely in their range, along with QJ) because their range is the widest of them all. Since the UTG player is tight, I think they might open fold QJ offsuit in first position. Maybe only playing it periodically, say 25% of the time depending on how they feel. So with that assumption, they probably only have 4 combos of QJ, which makes us less worried about being beat by this player. For this reason, we are simply focused on the lojack’s range in this specific scenario. We crush the other two ranges.

After all of this is said. I counted the combos, and realized it was 16 combos of QJ that I am drawing dead to and 16 combos of sets/two pairs that I am going to beat ~70% of the time. I removed the combo draws in my analysis, in the moment, playing the hand. This is what led me to folding. Me incorrectly removing a big part of the lojack’s range that would make this a profitable all in. Now… there are some players who will simply always have QJ here, but I don’t think we have enough information on this specific player to assume that.

This was a very close spot, and even dissecting it after the fact, the math shows how close it really is. If I moved all in for 800, assuming the lojack is calling my shove and UTG is folding, the total pot would be 1780 and I would need roughly 44% equity to justify the investment. Against the complete range of the lojack, we would not be getting the “proper” odds since we are ~38%. Does that mean I made a good fold? I don’t necessarily think so. We are making a lot of assumptions about his range, and there might be times I shove and am 65%+ to win, or I shove and win the pot if and when he folds!

This scenario highlights what goes into a deep level thought process to count hand combinations and the equity my hand has against a specific range. Once you determine the range, breaking it down to combos can help you make a profitable decision. I was losing to 16 combos, and beating upwards of 23 combos (with the combo draws included.) It’s close, but since my equity is a big favorite against most of the combos of hands I beat, I think I have to go with it…. someone convince me otherwise!

Hope you enjoyed this long winded breakdown of this difficult decision. Hands like this is what makes no limit holdem great!!

“You have a brain and mind of your own. Use it, and reach your own decisions.” – Napoleon Hill

Hello there. Welcome to the Cre8ive Coaching Newsletter. Here is your weekly serving of poker related knowledge regarding on or off the table topics.

In this week’s content, we touch on the idea of bet sizing and when it is a good time to make a bet that is larger than the size of the pot.

Tristan Wade’s Topic Today:

Betting is the most important tactic in no-limit holdem. Most of our bets are made within the size of the pot, with the purpose of building a pot for value or trying to fold out hands that beat us. There are times when pots get so big, we only have one or two times the size of the pot left to wager. There are also times when we are playing so deep-stacked, that we have the flexibility to make larger bets than the size of the pot. These can be opportune times to either apply the most pressure with a bluff, or go for maximum value with the nuts.

First, betting bigger directly affects the price we are laying our opponent to see our holdings. It creates more fold equity. If we bet 50k into 100k on the river, our opponent would be getting 3-1 and need to win 25% of the time to make their call profitable. If our bet is increased to twice the pot, 200k into 100k, our opponent’s “proper” odds to call would be greatly increased; In this instance, to 40%. [I say “proper”, because not everyone takes into consideration the math in these situations.] This also allows for us to win 4x more on the river if we aren’t bluffing.

Imagine shoving the river for 1.5x the pot with the nut flush blocker in a pot you’ve been the aggressor. Let’s say you hold AhJx on a Th8h7d4c3h board. You raised preflop, bet the flop, bet the turn (bluffing, but with equity, being able to hit a 9, jack, ace, and can represent hearts), and then you over-bet move all in on the river heart. This is a very strong line! A lot of players would have a hard time calling with one pair, possibly two pairs, and some tighter players might even fold a set in this scenario.

The flip side of this large bet comes from the bettors perspective. If we aren’t bluffing, the difference in river bet sizes means a big increase to what we would have won if we bet smaller. In the example above, if you actually had the nuts with AhJh, then you would be getting more value from your hand if you did shove. Now you might be thinking “If I shove 1.5x pot and they fold one pair, possibly two pairs, and maybe sets on that river why would I bet that much with the nuts then? I want them to call.” This is true, but if you went with a 50% pot bet and got called, you would only need to get called one out of three times to win the same amount on the river when you shove all in for 1.5x the pot.

Being able to identify what players are more likely to call and fold in these spots is crucial. If you are playing against a calling station, going for the maximum value is probably the best play. If you are up against someone who is very tight and only comfortable on rivers with the nuts or near it, then forcing them to call more than they are prepared to call can win you pots you normally wouldn’t win. Thinking outside the box by using different bet sizing throughout hands will make any poker player that much harder to play against and allow them to be an even more winning poker player.

“Believe what you like, but don’t believe everything you read without questioning it.” – Pauline Baynes

Hello there. Welcome to the Cre8ive Coaching Newsletter. Here is your weekly serving of poker related knowledge regarding on or off the table topics.

Have you ever bought a car? Relive your experience in this edition, and see how car buying and poker go hand in hand.

Tristan Wade’s Topic Today:

You walk through the automatic doors of a car dealership. Inside are luxury vehicles with different styles, options, and prices. It is a spacious setting that allows for the full visual of what you might purchase. There’s information to collect and opinions to be had. A person walks up to greet you, asking what you’re interested in, hoping that you will buy one of their expensive items. Welcome to the showroom. This scene is very similar to the “showdown” in a poker hand.

At the completion of a hand, we enter the showdown. This is where the contents of everyone’s cards are finally revealed. We have all been acting as a salesperson up until this point. It is time to see who is selling what.

If you hold a hand that is likely to win at showdown, then you want to try your best to actually get to the showdown! You can do this two ways:

1) Controlling the size of the pot.
Checking in spots with weak to medium strength hands.
Value betting marginal holdings on the river when confident they are good and won’t face aggression.

2) Building the size of the pot.
Betting along the way with very strong holdings (top of range) or hands with equity that can improve by the river.
Betting hands that can get value from your opponent often or always.

If you hold a hand that is unlikely to win at showdown, then you probably want to avoid the showdown. You also have two options:

1) Give up.

2) Bluff. This is most successful by telling a convincing story leading up to the showdown. One or two street bluffs don’t apply as much pressure as triple barrel bluffs, but can still be effective with proper strategy and bet sizing.

There happens to be a third option that blends the two spectrums. It is used rarely, but can be the right move for special occasions… turning a hand that has value into a bluff. This play should only be tried if you feel your hand doesn’t have enough value to call, or considering other factors, like a third player involved. The story of what you could possibly hold needs to be convincing. Blockers play a big role in some of these decisions on when to raise a river bet as well.

If you’re a good salesperson with a worthy product, you’ll find yourself at showdown often and happy about it. If you’re a good salesperson with a shitty product, you’ll find yourself winning before the showdown!

If you’re a bad salesperson with a bad product, you won’t win. If you’re a bad salesperson with a good product, you won’t win as much!

The point is… be a good salesperson! Plus, poker is a whole lot easier when you have the quality goods to back the betting.

“Timid salespeople have skinny kids.” – Zig Zigler

Hello there. Welcome to the Cre8ive Coaching Newsletter. Here is your weekly serving of poker related knowledge regarding on or off the table topics.

This week, a cash game hand is discussed, where the turn gives us more outs but the size of the pot and our opponents’ range must be considered and deconstructed.

Tristan’s Topic Today:

Today’s hand comes from a 2-5 No-Limit Holdem game in West Palm Beach, Florida at the Palm Beach Kennel Club. I’m playing 200bbs deep and isolate an early position limper from the lojack position to 25 with Kd-Qd. The hijack calls 25 (600 stack), button calls (300), and the initial limper calls another 20 (700.)

The flop lands Ks Th 6d. The limper checks, I bet 55 into a pot of 100 ($7 rake taken, $2 going towards the bad beat jackpot) with top pair, second best kicker. The hijack and button both call.

The turn is the Ad. Everyone checks.

The river is the 6h.

The final board reads Ks Th 6d Ad 6h. I check, the hijack bets 200. The button folds, I think for a bit and fold as well.

Let’s dissect the most interesting street in this hand: the turn. What makes this spot difficult is the depth of the stacks and the size of the pot. There is now $265 in the middle with one player having 75% of that in front of them and another with roughly 2x the size of the pot.

I have great with my hand, but my flopped top pair is not as valuable since the ace trumps it and a straight gets there. I don’t mind betting and gambling in a spot where I might have the equity advantage against the short stack, but I would likely be a 3-1 dog against most of the hands the big stack moves all in over my bet with. This is why checked the turn. I can react to what the hijack or button do, without planing on folding.

The hijack is a solid player. His flop range includes AK, AQ, AJ, ATs, KQ, KJs, KTs, QJs, JTs, T9s, T8s, 89s, TT, 66. Possibly JJ, Q9s, J9s, 78s but maybe not, since JJ might 3bet and these straights aren’t drawing to the nuts.

The button’s range is a little looser, but they haven’t been caught bluffing their stack at any point in the session. They were careful and content getting to showdowns. It is unlikely they have a strong hand here because they would move all in on the flop or draw heavy turn. No reason to slow play a hand for them at this point.

Had the hijack bet the turn, they would either be betting enough to put the button all in, or priced into calling the all in. That range would be strong, since they are betting into me as well, on a well connected board. They could also check the nuts, or two pair/set in this spot, since the broadway straight has fallen and to slow play their hand.

Considering all these things, my KQ becomes a bluff catcher against the hijack’s $200 bet on the river. The board has also improved for an ace, reading aces and sixes with a king kicker. It is less likely the hijack is bluffing with short stack behind them (albeit with a weakened range) because my range remains strong. I hold hands both my opponents can’t have, such as AA/KK/QJ, T6s, K6s, A6s, along with others they will have. Also, I can put either player all in if they bet. That should be somewhat intimidating.

Making accurate assumptions of our opponents and calculated decisions is what poker is all about. Take time to think through the big spots when playing for stacks. Good luck at the tables.

“To get anywhere, or even to live a long time, a man has to guess, and guess right, over and over again, without enough data for a logical answer.” – Robert Heinlein

Good afternoon. Welcome to the Cre8ive Coaching Newsletter. Here is your weekly serving of poker related knowledge regarding on or off the table topics.

This week, I talk about the 50th Anniversary of the World Series of Poker and what you should do to prepare if you plan on coming. Enjoy!

Tristan’s Topic Today:

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is around the corner, nearly two months away. It is the 50th anniversary of the skill-game extravaganza. This should make for an even more exciting atmosphere than usual. The series will last over forty-five days and include ninety events, which are held directly off of the Las Vegas strip (at the Rio hotel and casino) and also on the WSOP.com legalized and regulated online poker site. That means you have to physically be in Nevada to play. Poker enthusiasts from all over the planet will travel to Vegas to experience this special, long-lasting event. If you are planning to come check out the spectacle, and maybe play an event or two, I have some advice for you.

First things first, get comfortable! If you plan on staying a while, I recommend renting an apartment or house with a friend or few. This removes you from always being in the casino and hopefully creates a positive environment to come home to. Playing poker for 10-14 hours a day can be draining and having someone around to alleviate the pressure can be very helpful. Staying alone is fine, but it helps to have access to friends and company so you don’t get too lonely and get your mind off of the cards every once in a while. If you are visiting for less than a week, living on site or at a nearby hotel is a convenient option. Make sure you look into your rewards for discounts/comps on rooms.

This leads to my next piece of advice, balance. Since we spend so much time and energy battling with our thoughts and opponents at the tables, it is beneficial for us to get away from that atmosphere and do something different. Physical exertion is a great way to reset. That can include working out, playing a sport (UNLV has month memberships), hiking at Red Rock or Mount Charleston, or even doing meditation/stretching at your place. If you prefer a more relaxing detox, going to the movies, a nice dinner, reading a book, taking a yoga class, or just getting some extra rest, are all great ways to reboot and charge up for the next event. Don’t overexert yourself if you aren’t feeling up to it. Poker can burn us out and we must be aware of our body and minds’ needs. Balance is key.

The next, and most important aspect, is safety. Vegas isn’t any more dangerous than the next big city that is filtered with a ton of tourists, but if you aren’t aware and careful it could cause trouble. Keep your valuables and cash safe. Be aware of your surroundings when walking around or leaving the casino. If you are driving home after a session, notice if anyone is following you. The WSOP offers cash boxes on site to use, which is a very helpful thing. Unfortunately, the costs have risen and the availability has decreased, so try to get one early if you can afford it. Always know what is going on around you and who you are surrounded by, wherever you are. This helps recognize and possibly avoid a problem before it develops. Don’t have too much fun to the point where you aren’t capable of protecting yourself.

The last thing to think about is your poker game! Make sure you are sharp and ready to play big events or cash games. The days are very long and the competition is fierce. It will be helpful if you play a lot of hands, tournaments, watch videos, read books/articles, and submerge yourself in the game beforehand. [Or get some coaching from me! 😉 -shameless plug-] Thinking about poker is studying poker. Learn some of the latest strategies, see what the population is adapting to, and get excited to play poker! If you brush up on your game sooner, you will be more confident and happier with your play when that time comes.

Las Vegas embraces the poker community throughout the summer, with the WSOP and all the other poker events going on at the time. Make sure to enjoy yourself and have fun. Most of us will be losers by the end of the summer, few of us will be major winners. As long as we approach the experience with a positive mindset and try to do our best, we should be content with wherever the cards fall. Best of luck to all my fellow players coming to Nevada to try their hand at the biggest poker series in the world! I will see you there.

“We’re so busy watching out for what’s just ahead of us that we don’t take time to enjoy where we are.” ― Bill Watterson

Happy Friday. Welcome to the Cre8ive Coaching Newsletter. Here is your weekly serving of poker related knowledge regarding on or off the table topics.

In this edition, I explore the gamut of poker mindsets and how they should approach the game, along with other challenges in life.

Tristan’s Topic Today:

Why do you play poker? Is it as a hobby, for fun, over drinks with your friends on the weekends? Maybe you want to make supplementary income and test your skills at a complex thinking game? Or do you study tournament nuances because you have a goal to win an event? Whenever you play, remember why you are playing. This should help shape your mindset for the session and overall.

Firstly, poker should be a fun game. Sure, there can be a competitive and financial aspect, but we usually play because we enjoy it. When it comes to the mindset of a poker player, the spectrum ranges from engaged amateur to realistic professional, and a multitude of areas in-between.

The former (amateur) should approach the game with an eagerness to learn, enjoy the social/playing environment, and not take the results too seriously. Even though they might get unlucky, they enter the experience knowing that they are gambling and gaining familiarity with the game. If they can have a good time doing so, then everything else is an added bonus.

The latter (professional) should consider everything listed above, but also remember other elements that uplift their perspective. If playing poker is something they take very seriously (and to make money), realize getting unlucky is part of the game. They should understand and accept this. Handling yourself during the tough times says a lot about a person’s character. Being able to graciously win AND lose is important. This is a non-stop cycle. One session doesn’t make or break a player. This should inspire us to study more, detach from the results and focus on the process, plus get ready for the next session to do it all over again. If we fixate on the bad beats, coolers, losing money, or get too excited when we are crushing… it sets a bad emotional precedent for every session, every hand, every street, and every decision.

A “professional” mindset is able to focus on the process, decision making, getting better, the complete journey, and not the results. Amateurs are there for fun, to learn a little bit, and enjoy the experience. Enclosed in these bookends are the rest of the player pool. The common denominator is that everyone should have fun and enjoy what they are doing.

Whatever reason you play poker, enjoy the experience and continue to learn. Always embrace the journey and don’t try to rush success. This perspective applies to life as well. We set goals, we run into roadblocks, we fail, we push forward, we keep at it until we’re satisfied… then we do it all again. Things don’t always work out the way we expect them to, but if we give it our all and stay diligent, we can enjoy the ride and land close to our objective. Life is a never ending game, until it’s over!

“It’s sort of a mental attitude about critical thinking and curiosity. It’s about mindset of looking at the world in a playful and curious and creative way.” – Adam Savage

Hey there. Welcome to the Cre8ive Coaching Newsletter. Here is your weekly serving of poker related knowledge regarding on or off the table topics.

In this edition, the game being played is 2-5 no limit holdem with a 10 straddle under the gun at a nine handed table. Stack sizes range from 600-2500. An important facet to think about is how to decipher the strength of hand ranges (all the hands someone can have) in multiway pots.

Tristan’s Topic Today:

The action starts with the three folds and a middle position call for 10. The button then raises to 30. The big blind calls another 25. I call 20 in the straddle with Kc9s and the initial limper comes along as well. There are four of us in the pot and there is 120 in the middle.

The flop lands Kh 5s 8s and we all check to the button, who bets 40. Everybody calls to see another card.

The turn card is the Td. We all check.

Floating along the river is the 6c. Final board reads Kh 5s 8s Td 6c. The flush does not get there but a couple straights do.

The big blind bets 35. I call 35. The next player folds and the button moves all in for 500. We’ve committed 105 to this pot so far, now the opponent is taxing the player to my right and I 465 more to see their cards at showdown. The big blind folds, now action is back on me. The two main things I asked myself:

1) What do they think the big blind and I have?
2) What could they have?

From the beginning, we can assume our opponent is going to have a lot of hands that will raise to 30 on the button with a single limper. It also is quite a small raise size for a large cash game. Usually the lead opposition will bet a king high flop, because they have position, a range advantage aka stronger hands overall (like AK, KK, AA), and a fairly dry board. When everyone calls on the flop, action slows down on the turn and the villain checks along with us. If they had a big hand, such as sets, two pair, big draws, we expect to see a bet here often.

Now the river is when this hand gets exciting! A player raises all in for nearly fourteen times the size of the bet, five times more than we’ve invested, and well over the size of the pot.

The good thing for me was that I had a deceptively strong hand in top pair and also the 9s which blocked the nuts. This helps remove 25% of the combinations of 97 the all-in player can have. So what else could they hold? I think hands like 47 suited and pocket sixes make sense. They might over-bet shove on the river with that. Also a two pair hand like T6 suited or 56 suited might go for it all. If the opponent is very wide preflop, then we should include the off suit hands as well.

This is why it is important to properly hand read, range build, and know where you stand. The button knew just that. Me and the big blind usually only have one pair type hands with our actions in this spot. So they decided to pounce, and I paid to see what they were making the move with.

My opponent tabled their 77 and proceeded to rebuy, knowing the bluff attempt was a good one. They had a hand that couldn’t win if it called the bet, and also one that removed 50% of the combinations that made a straight! Luckily for me… I thought through the hand, knew what kind of range I was up against, and was indeed being bluffed rather than value bet and scooped the pot!

“The purpose of critical thinking is rethinking: that is, reviewing, evaluating, and revising thought.” – Jon Stratton