IPT Nova Gorica 2010 Blog

Read Massimiliano's November ECPokerTour Malta 2009 Blog

Read Massimiliano's December EPT Prague 2009 Blog

February 2010

In February 2010, Massimiliano played at the IPT Nova Gorica. This Titan Poker Team member reports on his Italian Poker Tour experience at the Perla Casino.

First of all I want to say that I had a specific game play because a couple of days before the event of Nova Gorica, I read a Vanessa Rousso article, saying that we should keep a certain image at the game table, but every once in a while it is also a good strategy to play differently.

Our image at the table game affects the way other players perceive us in terms of game style: tight, aggressive or loose/passive.

Being aware of the way other people understand our gaming style sometimes is not enough unfortunately, and you should learn to understand when the moment comes to play differently. This way your game will be less predictable.

As Vanessa Rousso wrote “Before every tournament, I always choose a “weird” hand that I'll play together with those that I usually play to get into the action”.

“Doing it that way I have the chance to sometimes win big pots, just because there was no way for the opponent to “read” me in that specific situation”.

Blinds were 100/200 (very playble structure with 1 hour blind)

Nova Gorica Main Event: Winter Fun, I am under the gun and I raise 3 big blind with 52clubs and only one player on the cutoff calls.

I recognize a strong hand in his cards, as AQ or KQ or Ax (that was a player that I defined as very loose at the beginning) and he could have call with a very large range of hands.

At the flop it goes down to A37 rainbow, which gets me a inside straight draw, and I am the first one to move so I am out, in the pot there was 1,500, and I go betting 1,500 chips. He calls only, without re-raising, so I understand his hand is Ax.

“Of course my opponent couldn't think I only had an inside straight draw, and we were at the first levels of the tournament”

“Very likely he had an Ace”.

The turn brings a 4 which allows me to close the draw, and now I think that I can make a bet of 4,500 chips, because probably the opponent with Ax could fold, so I go for a check, hoping to get another A, or that in any case his starting hand will be better giving him the opportunity to close a double couple. The opponent checks and now I understand that he has a A and that his hand is not as strong as I thought.

The dealer deals the river, which is a 9 that makes me feel very confident for the result of the pot. So now I try to optimize my hand, going away with an amount higher than the pot and making the opponents think that I'm bluffing: I bet 6,900 chips hoping he will call.

The opponent gets a double couple with the 9 and calls my bet and when we get to the showdown he uncovers A9, seeming very proud of himself and very confident the victory is in his hands. When I show my 52c, he can't keep his surprise.

“This is exactly why sometimes it is worth to playing a “weird” hand”.

“You can win big pots changing the way your opponents see you. Do not just play in a predictable way”.

Read Massimiliano's November ECPokerTour Malta 2009 Blog

Read Massimiliano's December EPT Prague 2009 Blog