Here are the questions for the first round of Poker Idol (see other thread for information and rules. If you are an approved member then please pm me your entries (in 1 post), if you are not an approved member then email me at
benwickens@yahoo.co.uk. Please also post in the other thread when you send in your entry and that way there will be no issue of problems with my spam guard missing anyone out.
Remember the word restrictions when you answer the questions 75 words for the Hand History and 100 for the other question are the maximums.
Please answer BOTH questions. If you are unsure of anything please post in the other thread. This thread will remain closed.
Theory Question Round 1
Very often I see debates about when if ever Aces (AA) should be thrown away in a tournament but Kings get less treatment. When if at all should KK be folded preflop in an online tournament?
Scenario/ hand history Question for Round 1
The following was a key hand in a game I was playing. Please note that whilst I will be one of the judges in the competition critisism is encouraged and no-one will be penalised for saying i played the hand terribly etc.
Where (if at all) did I go wrong here?
PokerStars Game #6775261574: Tournament #34493422, $10+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2006/10/26 - 09:18:16 (ET)
Table '34493422 1' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: ChopperJaws (2900 in chips)
Seat 2: whateverifan (975 in chips)
Seat 3: Scottishben (5915 in chips)
Seat 4: mleafs (3710 in chips)
ChopperJaws: posts small blind 50
whateverifan: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Scottishben [6h 6c]
Scottishben said, "ty bit scary that one"
Scottishben: raises 300 to 400
mleafs: raises 600 to 1000
ChopperJaws: folds
whateverifan: folds
Scottishben: calls 600
*** FLOP *** [Qc 4s Js]
Scottishben: bets 800
mleafs: calls 800
*** TURN *** [Qc 4s Js] [Th]
Scottishben: bets 4115 and is all-in
mleafs: calls 1910 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [Qc 4s Js Th] [8s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Scottishben: shows [6h 6c] (a pair of Sixes)
mleafs: shows [Ac Kd] (a straight, Ten to Ace)
mleafs collected 7570 from pot
Scottishben said, "oops"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 7570 | Rake 0
Board [Qc 4s Js Th 8s]
Seat 1: ChopperJaws (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: whateverifan (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: Scottishben showed [6h 6c] and lost with a pair of Sixes
Seat 4: mleafs (button) showed [Ac Kd] and won (7570) with a straight, Ten to Ace
Guy is a little passive aggressive and a little loose. I am sure he will not call my bet on the turn without the goods but the call on the flop does not signal strength (he would reraise with Qx for sure). I wanted to stop him drawing to any of a myriad of hands that would beat me and I think I would get him to fold Jx etc
His reraise preflop is not necessarily showing strength he could do this with a wide range of hands thinking I would fold and he would get chips for free.
Most of you guys know my general game but the one factor that is worth emphasising is that I am particularly good when it comes to HU in one of these tourneys and win 80% or so if I have at least 15% of the chips to start with and the blinds are not 1/3rd of an average stack.