Taking shots
Marcus Bateman
/
Marcus Bateman /
09 September 2009 /
Leave a Comment
Always remember that poker is not like a house game - the odds in roulette if you move up the stakes stay exactly the same, in poker it gets harder and harder to win the higher you get...
Taking shots at higher stake games has probably bust more aspiring players than any other thing. The variance in poker is often so large, that not having an adequate amount of back up money will lead you to going bust pretty much regardless of how well you play. That being said, well timed and well thought out shot taking is crucial for moving up the stakes, as well as often being very lucrative if the right games are picked.
The best situations to take shots are when a very weak player is sitting in a high stake game. Be it a rich businessman or just a lower stake player on extreme tilt, if the game looks incredibly juicy you should nearly always try and get in it if your bankroll allows you a few buy ins. Some of the biggest wins in poker can come about in these situations, and being prepared to get in the game will often pay extreme dividends.
As an example of this, I was once in the process of spinning up an account from a free roll, using a fifteen buy in rule and grinding the micro stakes. I got to about $600 and noticed a very good looking game at the $1/$2 level. Buying in for $100 I decided to take two shots and quit if I Lost two half buy ins. The game had an incredibly weak player in it, one whom would often shove all in pre flop for one hundred big blinds, and habitually bluffed every flop that came out. Four hours later he left, down over $4,000, of which I had won around $1,200 of.
These sort of situations where a player is obviously so weak are great situations to take shots. Conversely, jumping into a high stakes game full of tough regulars is not a good idea when thinking about taking shots. Always remember that poker is not like a house game - the odds in roulette if you move up the stakes stay exactly the same, in poker it gets harder and harder to win the higher you get, and you have to be able to pick something about a game that makes the odds shift in your favor to warrant taking a shot at it.
Be careful about jumping up the stakes - although it can often produce big wins, it can also produce big losses. You need a decent percentage of back up money in poker when you sit down, and consistently sitting with large proportions of your bankroll on the table is a recipe for disaster in the long run.
Related Entries
The power of shame
Adjusting to very different games
Doing odd things with poker hands
Get Valueback at Betfair Poker
Read More Poker
The Floating Explosion
One of the key changes that has affected all games in the last twelve months or so has been the massive increase in the number of players refusing to believe flop bets. It used to be the case that weak...
Flatting with aces in PLO
This is one of the hardest things to drill into good Hold'em players when they start playing Pot Limit Omaha - learning to flat with aces in many situations. Although there is certainly a time and a place to flat...
How to play a good or bad card on the turn or river
Most players are aware of how 'good' or 'bad' a card can be on the turn or river in Hold'em or Omaha. Good cards can throw up great bluffing opportunities, make your hand much safer to proceed with, or make...
The Three Poker Sites Who May Have Messed It Up For Everyone
For anyone who talked about how softened the internet generation were to gambling compared to the old Texan road players, the events of the last few weeks in poker have certainly hardened everyone who may have not seen the darker...
