Here is the rest of the pre-flop quiz. Enjoy!

Question #6 - Same situation as question 5 -The UTG player raises (he’s a semi-solid player and would need AJ or better, or a pair of 9s and up to raise) everyone folds to you on the button you have KQs, the BB is a calling station- but you have 2 loose callers as well. what do you do?

A) Fold. The circumstances haven’t changed much, the UTG player still has a better hand than me.
B) Call. With the extra players I am getting better odds to hit a big hand.
C) Raise. A raise should eliminate the BB, and see how strong the UTG player is. If he re-raises it may fold the other 2 players, leaving me heads up with a lot of dead money in the pot. If he just calls I will be receiving great odds to hit a big hand, and I may get a free card, since I was the last player to show aggression pre-flop.

Question #7 - You have JTs in early position with a very loose aggressive player on your left who looks like he really likes his hand (almost a maniac, but his hand has to have some value for him to raise think 89/A6/57s type hands at the least). The game usually has 3-6 players seeing the flop for 1-3 bets, but not too many people will call 2 or more bets cold without a hand. What do you do?

A) Fold. JTs isn’t playable from early position, especially when the pot is likely to be raised.
B) Call. A lot of people are seeing the flop in this game and I have a very good multi-way hand. Even though the maniac may raise the other players know he is a maniac and will probably call with marginal hands giving me good odds to hit a big draw.
C) Raise. Not many people are playing for raises in this game and if the maniac re-raises I will probably be heads up against him.

Question #8 - Same situation only you have 88.

A) Fold. 88 isn’t playable from early position, especially when the pot is likely to be raised.
B) Call. A lot of people are seeing the flop in this game and I have a very good multi-way hand. Even though the maniac may raise the other players know he is a maniac and will probably call with marginal hands giving me proper odds to hit my set.
C) Raise. Not many people are playing for raises in this game and if the maniac re-raises I will probably be heads up against him.

Question #9 - You have KT offsuit in the SB, 4 average or lower skilled players have limped in, what do you do?

A) Fold. KT is not a very good hand and may get you trapped in a pot where you have a worse kicker.
B) Call. You are getting great odds here but your hand is not strong enough to raise with, especially out of position.
C) Raise. KT is a decent hand in an unraised pot, none of your opponents have shown any strength so it is unlikely if you hit a pair you will be outkicked.

Question #10 - Same situation only you have KTs.
A) Fold. KT is not a very good hand and may get you trapped in a pot where you have a worse kicker.
B) Call. You are getting great odds here but your hand is not strong enough to raise with, especially out of position.
C) Raise. KTs is a decent hand in an unraised pot, none of your opponents have shown any strength so it is unlikely if you hit a pair you will be outkicked. And with a big flush or straight possible you can increase the size of the pot so your opponents will not want to fold if they have a marginal hand after the flop.

Test your knowledge of Limit Texas Hold’ Em pre-flop play with these questions. Keep in mind that more than one answer may be correct, BUT there is a best answer to each question. Happy hunting!

Question #1 - The UTG player raises (a loose player but would need AT or better or a pair of 7s to raise), a MP player calls (Loose Passive player, who could hold a variety of hands here, suited connectors, a pair of jacks or lower, AX, and such), and everyone folds to you on the button. You look down at AQ, What do you do?

A) Fold. I am most likely behind at least 1 of the players, and can find a better situation to get my money in the pot.
B) Call. I have a good hand but could be behind, and would like to see the flop before I commit more chips to this pot.
C) Raise. My hand rates to be better than both players, I have position on everyone, a raise should eliminate both blinds, and raising will give me more information about the UTG player’s hand by how he reacts.

Question #2 - The same situation only the MP player is a tight passive player.

A) Fold. I am most likely behind at least 1 of the players, and can find a better situation to get my money in the pot.
B) Call. I have a good hand but could be behind, and would like to see the flop before I commit more chips to this pot.
C) Raise. My hand rates to be better than both players, I have position on everyone, a raise should eliminate both blinds, and raising will give me more information about the UTG player’s hand by how he reacts.

Question #3 - You are in a loose passive game where 5 or 6 players will see the flop for 1 bet. You have JJ in early position and have the reputation of raising with only strong hands, what should you do?

A) Fold, JJ is not a good hand in a multi-way pot.
B) Call, I would like a lot of opponents in the hand in case I hit my set and a raise will probably eliminate all but premium hands due to my reputation.
C) Raise, JJ is a strong hand and in a loose passive game I should still get callers while at the same time increasing my chances of winning unimproved.

Question #4 - The same situation only now the game is tight aggressive, and a loose player has limped in before you.

A) Fold, the pot will most likely be raised and I am out of position.
B) Call, by limping in I will invite more players into this pot, and JJ plays well in multi-way pots.
C) Raise, I can isolate the loose player and limit the field, and at the same time I am not unhappy when more players enter the pot for 2 bets or even raise since I have a very strong hand.

Question #5 - The UTG player raises (he’s a semi-solid player and would need AJ or better, or a pair of 9s and up to raise), everyone folds to you on the button, you have KQs, the BB is a calling station, what do you do?

A) Fold, the UTG definitely has a better hand than you and even with your position and the BB in the game you are not getting very good odds.
B) Call, I know I am behind but I will be getting over 2 to 1 on my call if the BB calls.
C) Raise, To see just how strong the UTG players hand is and to eliminate the BB from the hand. I can then use my position to outplay him after the flop.

Answers to follow in future blog.

Tells by experienced players:

In contrast to the recreational player, an experienced player will have very few tells. They will however have picked up some telegraphs. A telegraph is a repetitive act caused by constantly doing something. Think of a basketball player’s free throw ritual, after enough times they will go through the motions without even realizing it.

Experienced players have telegraphs: such as holding their cards a certain way when they plan on folding. It is not a natural reaction or tell, just a mechanical act (a bad habit if you will) that has been picked up through repetition. Most players don’t feel their telegraphs give anything away since they do the same thing all the time. However, if you carefully watch for these signals you will pick up some valuable information.

For instance, suppose you are playing $10/$20 Hold Em and are dealt 83 on the button and it is folded to you. Most players would simply fold here. But, what if you noticed the Big Blind holding his cards the way he always does when he is going to fold? Now you can raise, win the blinds, and collect $15 you wouldn’t have if you didn’t notice this telegraph.

Some telegraphs to look for are;

•    Does someone play with their chips in different situations?

•    Does someone check with his hand in one situation and say, “check” aloud in another?

•    Does someone hold their cards a certain way?

Watching for, and understanding, tells and telegraphs will give you a leg up on both your inexperienced and experienced competition.