The entire game of No-Limit Hold'em and all of the actions and considerations in a hand can be described simply and fundamentally by nothing more elaborate that a hand full of words. Think about it. All of the books you have read, all the experience you have accumulated, all the strategy you have debated boils down to as few as one word, fold. Or two, raise-bet.
These few words describe the betting sequence of a hand. The betting sequence is a condensed look at a player's action in a hand. There are rarely as many as six words in a sequence, for example, raise-reraise-check-raise-bet-bet.
Here is the entire vocabulary of winning or losing in a hand of No-Limit Hold'em:
- Push
- Fold
- Call
- Bet
- Check
- Raise
- Reraise
- Re-reraise
That is it. These eight words, by themselves or in varying combinations, describe your entire life at the table. Almost sounds boring, doesn't it? So, how could Hold'em enjoy such universal appeal for millions upon millions of players?
The answer lies in the word combinations. And, in the strategy behind those combinations. The rather sterile six word example given above tells of an exciting, complex, pivotal hand. One that might have won or lost a fortune in chips. One that also likely demonstrated the fickleness of luck. By revealing how luck can switch sides with each street of the hand. To the witnesses, the hand was probably both illuminating and breathtaking.
Sometimes these combinations can be rather seat-of-your-pants. Where excitement, creativity and genius prevail. Or, they can be somewhat routine and formulaic. For example, bet-bet, or raise-bet. These two examples would describe the common scenario of the continuation bet. Usually the c-bet is a combination that ends the hand and wins the pot.
The combinations of each of the players in a hand tell the story of the hand. Thus, when a player is faced with a difficult decision, he will attempt to reconstruct in his memory the betting sequences to better understand that story. He will analyze the interaction of the two combinations, his betting sequence and the betting sequence of his opponent. Then, he will proceed with his betting sequence based upon what he believes to be the truth of the story.
What does all of this mean for you? Well, perhaps three important concepts:
First.
Most betting sequences are somewhat formulaic, with some more successful and some not. For example, check-raise versus check-fold. Therefore, study your tournament hand histories. Identify the sequences that are effective, and the ones that are not. Needless to say, then employ the one, and avoid the other.
Second.
Once you are acquainted with the full repertoire of frequent betting sequences, you will more easily spot them when in use by your opponents. And, you will then be ready with your own appropriate counter measures.
Third.
By becoming adept at thinking in terms of betting sequences, when that tough decision comes, you will be better able to reconstruct the interaction of the sequences, and to learn the truth.
When you look deep, you will find that betting sequences have a rhythm and flow within every hand, from hand to hand, and through out the entire tournament. Betting sequences are pervasive. In fact, a winning tournament playing style is named after the combination of two single-word betting sequences, push or fold.
So, get to know the betting sequences. It is fundamental.
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Copyright 2009 R. Steve McCollum
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