“It Depends”
Often new players are frustrated when they ask what they think is a simple question and get the answer: “It Depends.” However, there is a lot to be learned from that answer and it is, most often, the best answer a good poker coach can give you. Let me illustrate.
You ask: “How do I play pocket Jacks?’
Your coach or poker buddy should say: “It depends.”
It depends on whether you are first to act or on the button.
It depends on whether or not the pot has been raise ahead of you.
If depends on how many players are left to act behind you and how have they been playing.
It depends on your table image.
It depends on your chip stack.
It depends on your chips stack relative to the other stacks at the table.
It depends on whether this is a tournament or a cash game.
It depends if this cash game is limit or no-limit.
See?
What you should learn quickly is to ask more detailed questions.
“How do I play pocket jacks in late position with two limpers in front of me and the big stack on the button right behind me. It’s a tournament and we are getting close to the money. I have an average stack at this point.”
Now we have something to work with. Learn how to get hand history off the online sites you play and take a small pad of paper with you to the card room. Talking about hands with your coach of poker buddies really will help you move your game to the next level but the more information you get, the better the feedback will be and the less you will hear: “It depends.”
Need a place to talk about hands with other poker players? Come to our new forum, everyone is welcome and anything under the poker sun is welcomed.
-This is Beginner’s Poker Blog Post #36
