No Limit Holdem 101: Poker is a Situational Game

This is intended to be a series of articles about playing on-line no limit holdem cash games. There will be times where I venture into live poker and times where I venture into SNGs, MTTs, Satellites, and games other than no limit holdem, but for the most part this will target no limt holdem cash games.

For the first installment, I am going to cover a subject that applies to all poker not just no limit holdem and not just cash games.

The first topic is simply situational poker.


I see questions asked all the time along the nature of “How do you play pocket Jacks pre-flop?” and the answer is, “It depends on the situation.”

While there are some general statements that can be made about pre-flop play versus your hand holdings, the single most important aspect of poker is the situation.

The situation is the sum total of the picture at that moment in time. You must take into consideration all possible elements:
• Is this a cash game, a Sit N Go, a Tournament, or a Satellite?
• What is my position at the table?
• What actions have been taken before me in this hand?
• What actions are the players yet to act likely to take based on my action and the actions already taken?
• What are the relative stack sizes?
• What are my opponents’ motivators right now?
• Where am I versus the bubble?
• Where are my opponents versus the bubble?

And there are many, many more that contribute to the current situation.

The point of all of this is that you should spend as much time analyzing the situation as you do the cards in your hands.

Paying attention to the way your opponents act is the key to being able to take advantage of any situation.

Give this a try:
• Depending on your bankroll, go to a cheap SNG or a play chip SNG. Take a sticky note or a piece of tape and piece of paper and put it over your cards.
• Do not look at your cards for the entire SNG.
• Watch your opponents’ play and how it changes over the course of the SNG.
• Try to find situations to make your opponent fold by betting.

This little exercise is something everyone should do from time-to-time just to sharpen their skills in this aspect of the game.

Improve your abilities to read (and take advantage) of the situation and you’ll find yourself benefiting in the long term.

Installment number two will be up to you. I do have an outline with 23 topics, but I’d like to know what topic you would like to see me write on next. Drop me a message, comment on this blog, tweet me, or send up smoke signals. Just let me know what you’d like to see next.

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Change of Direction

I apologize for getting behind on the updates on my play.

I decided to take this blog in a different direction and concentrate on organizing my thoughts on poker into more of an instructions bent.

Starting next week I'll begin post a series I'll be called "No Limit Holdem 101"

Type rest of the post here
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October Full Tilt Goals Update through Sunday, October 4

The first four days of October I’ve been a roll in the $5 SNGs. I’ve played 33 $5 SNGs with the following stats:

$5 SNGs: 33
ITM: 17 (51.5%)
1st: 8 (24.2%)
2nd: 5 (15.2%)
3rd: 4 (12.1%)
ROI: 56.2%

This good start has me on verge of moving up to the $10 SNGs.

• Thursday, October 1 – Up $22.83 and earned 15 FTP.
• Friday, October 2 – Up $11.06 and earned 9 FTP.
• Saturday, October 3 – Up $26.99 and earned 51 FTP.
• Sunday, October 4 – Up $37.60 and earned 51 FTP.



1) Ironman One-A-Day – Earn a minimum of one FTP each day to qualify for the Ironman One-A-Day promotion.
• I have earned a minimum of 1 FTP 4 of 4 days in October.


2) Full Tilt Academy Credits – Get to 13,000 Full Tilt Academy credits.
• I am currently at 11,864 Academy credits



Bankroll Updates:
Since End of Project Freeroll: Up $243.42
The Month of October: Up $98.48

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October Full Tilt Goals

For the month of October I am going to simplify my goals and not concentrate so much on accomplishing targeted items instead concentrating on just playing poker.

I’ll play a limited amount of 5NL in the mornings as I have about 30 minutes to play in the morning. I’ll play enough 5NL to get 1 base FTP and that way I can reach the Ironman One-A-Day. In the evening, I’m going to concentrate on playing SNGs and I want to try to get to where I’m more comfortable (and profitable) playing more than 2 SNGs simultaneously.

1) Ironman One-A-Day – Earn a minimum of one FTP each day to qualify for the Ironman One-A-Day promotion.

2) Full Tilt Academy Credits – Get to 13,000 Full Tilt Academy credits.



Bankroll Updates:
Since End of Project Freeroll: Up $94.94 (will be $154.94 once Take2 bonus is paid)
The Month of October: Just Underway

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September Goals Wrap Up

I apologize for the lack of updates. I had a really nasty sinus infection and really struggled through it. Best advice I can give is to never play when you aren't feeling well. The day-by-day results below illustrate extremely well why that principle should be adhered to.

I’ve decided to go to weekly updates (like I did during Project Freeroll) instead of trying to keep up with daily updates.

I’ll get everything caught up for the end of September in this one and then do weekly and end of Month updates starting with October.

• Thursday, September 10 – Down $5.19 and earned 18 base FTP.
• Friday, September 11 – Down $29.02 and earned 55 base FTP.
• Saturday, September 12 – Up $9.75 and earned 7 base FTP.
• Sunday, September 13 – Down $14.30 and earned 52 base FTP.
• Monday, September 14 – Up $5.63 and earned 11 base FTP.
• Tuesday, September 15 – Down $9.28 and earned 54 base FTP.
• Wednesday, September 16 – Up $33.82 and earned 55 base FTP.
• Thursday, September 17 – Up $29.34 and earned 53 base FTP.
• Friday, September 18 – Up $3.38 and earned 76 base FTP.
• Saturday, September 19 – Down $24.65 and earned 60 base FTP.
• Sunday, September 20 – Down $32.26 and earned 75 base FTP.
• Monday, September 21 – Down $14.53 and earned 50 base FTP.
• Tuesday, September 22 – Down $2.02 and earned 50 base FTP.
• Wednesday, September 23 – Up $4.08 and earned 53 base FTP.
• Thursday, September 24 – Up $4.11 and earned 15 base FTP.
• Friday, September 25 – Up $8.24 and earned 54 base FTP.
• Saturday, September 26 – Up $23.06 and earned 15 base FTP.
• Sunday, September 27 – Up $28.75 and earned 51 base FTP.
• Monday, September 28 – Up $22.47 and earned 15 base FTP.
• Tuesday, September 29 – Down $6.17 and earned 12 base FTP.
• Wednesday, September 30 – Up $29.95 and earned 9 base FTP.

1) Ironman One-A-Day – Earn a minimum of one FTP each day to qualify for the Ironman One-A-Day promotion.
• I earned at least one FTP 30 of 30 days in September and qualified for the Ironman One-A-Day promotion.

2) Take 2 – Earn a minimum one FTP each day for 25 days by double tabling cash games to earn the $50 maximum for the Take 2 promotion.
• I earned at least one FTP double tabling cash games 29 of 30 days in September. I cleared all $50 of the Take 2 promotion.

3) Ironman Bronze – Earn a minimum of 50 FTP a day for 20 days to qualify for Ironman Bronze status.
• I earned at least 50 FTP 20 of 30 days in September and reached Ironman Bronze status.

4) Full Tilt Academy Credits – Get to 10,000 Full Tilt Academy credits.
• Current Full Tilt Academy Credits: 11,284


Bankroll Updates:
Since End of Project Freeroll: Up $94.94 (will be $154.94 once Take2 bonus is paid)
The Month of September: Up $45.49 (will be $95.49 once Take2 bonus is paid)

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September Goals Update Through September 9

Up $0.91 in limited play where I also earned 8 base FTP.

1) Ironman One-A-Day – Earn a minimum of one FTP each day to qualify for the Ironman One-A-Day promotion.
• I earned 8 FTP today and have earned at least one FTP 9 of 9 days in September.

2) Take 2 – Earn of minimum one FTP each day for 25 days by double tabling cash games to earn the $50 maximum for the Take 2 promotion.
• I earned 8 FTP today and have earned at least one FTP double tabling cash games 9 of 9 days in September. $5 cleared so far.

3) Ironman Bronze – Earn a minimum of 50 FTP a day for 20 days to qualify for Ironman Bronze status.
• I earned 8 FTP today and have earned at least 50 FTP 7 of 9 days in September.

4) Full Tilt Academy Credits – Get to 10,000 Full Tilt Academy credits.
• Current Full Tilt Academy Credits: 8,855


Bankroll Updates:
Since End of Project Freeroll: Up $24.26
The Month of September: Down $25.19

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September Goals Update Through September 8

Down $28.18 today. I earned 75 base FTP.

1) Ironman One-A-Day – Earn a minimum of one FTP each day to qualify for the Ironman One-A-Day promotion.
• I earned 75 FTP today and have earned at least one FTP 8 of 8 days in September.

2) Take 2 – Earn of minimum one FTP each day for 25 days by double tabling cash games to earn the $50 maximum for the Take 2 promotion.
• I earned 75 FTP today and have earned at least one FTP double tabling cash games 8 of 8 days in September. $5 cleared so far.

3) Ironman Bronze – Earn a minimum of 50 FTP a day for 20 days to qualify for Ironman Bronze status.
• I earned 75 FTP today and have earned at least 50 FTP 7 of 8 days in September.

4) Full Tilt Academy Credits – Get to 10,000 Full Tilt Academy credits.
• Current Full Tilt Academy Credits: 8,855


Bankroll Updates:
Since End of Project Freeroll: Up $23.35
The Month of September: Down $26.10
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