The Sunday edition of the Los Angeles Times features a poker column. I read it regularly, hoping to improve my own game. Sometimes I do, but often I find the writers missing the mark.
Anna Kournikova A slang term for the starting hand of in hold'em, named for the former professional tennis player and model (a cynical reference to the hand looking better than it plays). In the language of the poker variation Texas Hold 'em, the hole cards Ace–King (unsuited) are sometimes referred to as an 'Anna Kournikova', a term introduced by the poker commentator Vince van. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a Page. See actions taken by the people who manage and post content. In the language of the poker variation Texas Hold 'em, the hole cards Ace–King (unsuited) are sometimes referred to as an 'Anna Kournikova', a term introduced by the poker commentator Vince van. Play free superball keno games.
A recent column was devoted to playing A-K. I was suspicious from the start when the writer referred to these hole cards as 'Anna Kournikova' (a one-time tennis star); whereas most of us know A-K in the hole by the nickname, Big Slick.
That seems more appropriate to me, considering it's the top premium drawing hand. (Just to be sure, I checked it out in Wiesenberg's Official Dictionary of Poker.)
Some players prefer the A-K (even if it were not suited) over pocket Aces or pocket Kings. If you connect on the flop, you have top pair with top kicker; that's a very strong hand – usually a big favorite to hold up to the end and take a decent pot.
What's more, if you miss on the flop while an opponent connects for a big hand (say, trips), it's a lot easier emotionally to get away from the 'unfulfilled' A-K than it would be from A-A.
At the start of the column, the writer focused on 'knowing your opponent's hand range and betting pattern.' Sure, those are important issues, but there are other 'reads' that are more significant and easier. You can only guess at hand range and betting pattern. Most often you are up against more than one opponent, at least until the flop comes down.
The more opponents in the hand, the more difficult it is to make good guesses. After all, you don't get much time to make decisions. Better yet, I teach my poker students to evaluate their opponents.
Simply classify each as: tight or loose; passive or aggressive; deceptive (likely to check-raise and bluff); a calling-station (hard to bluff out) or a combination of these. You can accurately identify most opponents on this basis within the first 15-20 minutes of play.
With that information safely tucked away into your memory bank (or noted on a small piece of paper), you can refer to it whenever necessary; whereas being half-way accurate in determining their hand ranges and (often-changing) betting patterns is extremely difficult. (Try it.)
The writer might have applied a little logic and basic probability theory to the situation. (And you don't have to be a math expert.) With A-K in the hole, raising preflop seems to be an automatic bet for most players; but that's a big mistake.
Sure your raise will thin the field, but it is more likely to force out the very hands you would like staying in the pot with you – at least for a few rounds. Unchallenged, most players will stay in to see the flop with Ace-anything, even A-rag.
Do you really want to force them out before the flop? Suppose an Ace does flop, then the A-rag most often will pay you off all the way to the river. And if your unlucky opponent has A-Q, he may even bet into you or raise. The same applies to the King.
Remember, your goal is to win chips (money) – not just hands. When you hold the best hand, the more chips in the pot, the better it is for you. Certainly, there is always the possibility your opponent may connect with his kicker while you miss, but the odds are with you from the start.
Note: According to Tom Green (ref. Texas Hold'em Poker Textbook; www.pokertextbook.info), the best hand on the flop will win the pot 73.5% of the time. Those are great odds!
As it turned out, the writer took the pot with his unimproved A-K suited when an opponent with Q-J suited folded to an all-in three-bet (a re-raise) before the flop. (The Q-J flashed his hand as he folded.) He would have caught another Q on the turn.
A little luck always helps!
Comments?
'The Engineer,' a noted author and teacher in Greater Los Angeles, is a member of the Seniors Poker Hall of Fame. Contact George at [email protected].
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Maria Konnikova Is Married
Maria Konnikova Is Married
10) The Leprechaun
A guy was playing 10-20 holdem and was stuck about 300 dollars when he looked down beside the table and saw a little green leprechaun. 'Quit playing poker forever right now and I'll give you a pot of gold worth a million dollars.', said the little fellow. The player replied, 'Let me get even first.'
9) Foldem Holdem
A man came home from a poker game late one night and found his hideous harpy of a wife waiting for him with a rolling pin. 'Where the hell have you been?' she asked.
'You'll have to pack all your things, dear,' he ad-libbed. 'I've just lost you in a card game.' 'How did you manage to do that?' 'It wasn't easy, honest. I had to fold with a royal flush.'
8) AK
Martina Hingis
AK = Anna Kournikova. Always looks great. Never wins.
7) Dirty Rotten Scoundrel
What did the giraffe say to the leopard at the poker table? Answer: I thought you were a cheetah.
6) Fallen Comrade
Six guys were playing poker when Smith loses $500 on a single hand, clutches his chest and drops dead at the table. Showing respect for their fallen comrade, the other five complete their playing time standing up. Roberts looks around and asks, 'Now, who is going to tell the wife?' They draw straws. Rippington, who is always a loser, picks the short one. They tell him to be discreet, be gentle, don't make a bad situation any worse than it is. 'Gentlemen! Discreet? I'm the most discreet man you will ever meet. Discretion is my middle name, leave it to me.' Rippington walks over to the Smith house, knocks on the door, the wife answers, asks what he wants. Rippington says, 'Your husband just lost $500 playing cards.' She hollers, 'TELL HIM TO DROP DEAD!' Rippington says, 'I'll tell him.'
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5) Playing Poker with the Rent Money
'That bastard husband of mine wanted me to sleep with the landlord because he lost the rent money playing poker,' the housewife told a neighbor. 'You didn't do it, did you?' 'I have to admit I did -- though with certain misgivings, I might add. What I haven't done, though, is tell my husband the rent is paid up for six months!'
4) Doctor Doctor!
A doctor answers his phone and hears the familiar voice of a colleague on the other end of the line. 'We need a fourth for poker,' said the friend. 'I'll be right over,' whispered the doctor. As he was putting on his coat, his wife asked, 'Is it serious?' 'Oh yes, quite serious,' said the doctor gravely. 'In fact, there are three doctors there already!'
Anna Kournikova Kids
3) For Heaven's Sake
A rabbi, a minister, and a priest are playing poker when the police raid the game. Addressing the priest, the lead officer asks: 'Father Murphy, were you gambling?' Turning his eyes to heaven, the priest whispers, 'Lord, forgive me for what I am about to do.' To the police officer, he then says, 'No, officer, I was not gambling.' The officer then asks the minister: 'Pastor Johnson, were you gambling?' Again, after an appeal to heaven, the minister replies, 'No, officer, I was not gambling.' Turning to the rabbi, the officer again asks: 'Rabbi Goldstein, were you gambling?' Shrugging his shoulders, the rabbi replies: 'With whom?'
Anna Kournikova 2012
2) Tarot Poker
I was playing poker with tarot cards the other night. I got a full house and four people died.
1) Go to Las Vegas
There's a guy who lives in Ohio. One morning, he hears a voice in his head. The voice says, 'Quit your job, sell your house, take all your money, and go to Las Vegas.' He ignores the voice. Later in the day, he hears the voice again. 'Quit your job, sell your house, take all your money, and go to Las Vegas.' Again, he ignores the voice. Soon he hears the voice every minute of the day. 'Quit your job, sell your house, take all your money, and go to Las Vegas.' He can't take it anymore. He believes the voice. He quits his job, sells his house, takes all his money, and flies to Las Vegas. As soon as he steps off the plane, the voice says, 'Go to the Horseshoe.' He goes to The Horseshoe. The voice says, 'Put all your money into a World Series of Poker (WSOP) entry.' He puts up his $10,000 and buys an entry into the WSOP. He goes to his assigned tournament table. The first hand is dealt and the guy is dealt AsAd. The voice says, 'Go all in.' He pushes his entire $10,000 bankroll into the pot. Three players call. The dealer lays down the flop which is Jh10h9h. The voice says, 'Shit.'
