Steve Gross, also known as “gboro780,” is an online tournament monster who had an incredible 2009. His live and online tournaments combined have earned him just under $3 million. Gross’ incredible work ethic, grinder attitude, and consistent results caught the eye of Doyle’s Room, which recently named him a member of the Brunson 10. It’s safe to say he’s well versed in strategies concerning online tournaments, which brings us to this week’s concept: stealing strategy.

First of all, for those who don’t know, can you describe what “stealing” is and your opinion on whether or not it is necessary to be successful in a tournament?

As the tournament progresses, the blinds and antes grow larger, and it becomes tougher to accumulate by just playing good cards, so you have to compensate by trying to pick up some money without cards. I do think it’s necessary because not only will your stack deplete without it, but you’ll stop getting action on your big hands if you only play one or two hands an hour.

If you are active and mix in some stealing here and there, it’s tougher for people to know where you’re at. It lets them make more mistakes, and it makes you a tougher opponent.

When looking to steal, what are some considerations you are making and what factors should be in line?

I think about my image, how often I have been stealing, and how much credit I expect to get from my table. I also think about the players who are waiting to act after me and how likely they are to make plays without cards. I think about the big blind and if he is a defender or will usually just let you take it if he has bad holdings. Previous action dictates a lot of what I do and how often I’ll steal. If I think people perceive me as playing solid, I will be more active, and if I think they are waiting for me to get out of line, then I tighten up.

How much does your hand matter?

Your hand matters for sure, but I guess I equate blind stealing to raising with crappy cards [laugh]. Ten-nine suited for example, you may not be willing to go all the way with it, but it’s still a powerhouse hand. But I’d definitely prefer to have the jack-nine offsuit than the queen-deuce offsuit of course — hands that play and flop decently well in the event that you do go to the flop. So, I think it matters, but usually if I’m legit stealing the blinds, I’d prefer the table to just muck preflop and take what’s in the middle.

If all the other factors you mentioned lined up, but you look down at a hand like nine-three offsuit in the cuttoff, do you still go for the steal?

If I think I’ll get away with it, then sure, but there’s a really fine line between aggressive and reckless, and between creative and spewy, so you have to be careful, especially in this day and age where everyone has kicked up the aggression preflop. Years ago, if it was folded to my button and the blinds were significant, I’d raise almost any two cards. Now, I fold there more often than not.

So these days, even with a decent hand like ace-high in the cutoff or button, do you get wary of stealing there because players are so likely to re-steal against late position raisers? If so, how do you adjust?

I’ve been at tables deep in tournaments recently where I’ve been three-bet five opens in a row and wanted to throw my computer out the window. I’ve also been at tables where I’ve gone hours without being played back at and everything just seems to fall into place. I think the best players play by feel and adjust their play from there. Sometimes I’ll have ace-seven offsuit in the cutoff and be willing to snap a shove against one of the blinds’ three-bet because of the way things have been going. Other times, I’ll fold pretty quickly if I get raised. It’s hard to put it into words, but the more hands you play, the more of a feel you have for how certain people are looking to play against you. You just have to treat every hand separately and try to add it all up and make as best a decision as you can.

So with decent hands, you might be willing to stack off or four-bet against an opponent who would try to re-steal lightly?

Right. If someone is out of line preflop, then the old school method would be to tighten up your opening range so you can eventually catch them with their hand in the cookie jar. New school thinking would be more along the lines of still playing the hand but anticipating that person’s aggression, almost expecting the three- bet and subsequently, being willing to put in the fourth bet when it comes back to you.

Where do you see beginners making mistakes with steals? Is one of them folding to re-steals too often and not playing back?

I think when people learn a new move, it’s natural to overuse it, like a kid with a new toy. When they get it, they are super pumped and play with it nonstop the first few days. I think when I was a beginner, my first mistake was not stealing enough. Then, I learned how to steal, and my mistake became stealing too often. You have to find a balance between the two. If you steal every time it’s folded to you in late position, then the play is going to start losing its effectiveness.

I have heard people say, “Under the gun is the new button.” Is it smart to sometimes try and steal under the gun because of the respect it gains from other players? Or is it suicide?

Raising under the gun is good as long as you don’t overdo it. Not to sound like a broken record but being selective and picking good spots is half the battle. Some regs are known for raising under the gun or under the gun plus one every orbit. I know for me, that’s a style I’d have a tougher time making work.

How it Applies

At the FTOPS final table a few months ago, I recall being five or six-handed with maybe second in chips. The two players on my left were the most active aside from myself and not surprisingly they were the other two big stacks. Meanwhile, the two or three remaining players to my right were the shorter stacks and playing reasonably snug, so I had opened under the gun and under the gun plus one once we got short handed a few times with success attacking these smaller, passive stacks in the blinds.

That led to me open ace-rag under the gun. The under the gun plus one player, “bmwcoupe,” three-bet me. It was just a great spot for me to open a ton of hands, and that’s when smart active players usually look to re-steal, so I thought it was a good time to come back over the top. I four-bet with ace rag and he folded.

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Adjusting your game to the position

Taking something that you really shouldn’t have is frowned upon in the real world. Most in a civilized society call this stealing. Using the principles that work in poker, such as deception and guile, landed the Adelphia boys in a place where striped pajamas are high fashion and strip searches are considered recreational activity. Luckily though, using your position at the poker table to steal a pot will not net you such dire consequences.

There are times when your position at the table will allow you take a pot you would not have otherwise won. Statistically speaking, it is the best hand that wins most of the time, regardless of position. So what we actually mean by “taking a pot you would not have otherwise won”, we are referring to the amount of money. Using your positional advantage at the table you can squeeze out some extra bets that may have otherwise stayed far out of your reach, in your opponents wallet.

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The last position is the place you want to be. When your turn comes in the rotation for this spot, take advantage of the opportunity. Most players live in fear of somebody raising behind them. When you are in the last position you are the guy they are looking at and praying you won’t raise. This position gives you the freedom to play more loose and aggressive. The person in last position can dictate the behavior of the table with their play.

Let’s say you have a strong hand and are in the last position. Playing a little possum won’t hurt the pot size. The folks in front of you, who are calculating their pot odds based on your raises, may fold if you look overly aggressive. You can bluff the pot odds by playing it tight and simply calling their bets for a couple rounds, thus artificially inflating the pot. They will feel safe if you pretend to be weak, and stay in the game.

Many poker players are inherently timid, and fold in the face of a challenge. If you have a weak hand, raising from the last place may scare the other folks away, even those who could have beaten you.

The last place is the power position, when you have it, enjoy it. The next round somebody will be doing to you what you hope to be doing to them.

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Poker Tips

This collection of poker tips was put together by Mike Sexton (host of PartyPoker.com and commentator for the World Poker Tour), and Linda Johnson (a noted poker player and personality).

Pay attention

Watch who’s playing in an aggressive or loose way and who’s playing tight, try to play the loose players and avoid the tight players, unless you’ve got a strong hand.

Watch the chips

Always be aware of everyone’s chip count. Know who has more chips than you and play more carefully against them – a mistake could knock you out. It’s usually better to play pots with players who have fewer chips than you do.

No match

If your cards don’t match any of the community cards, throw your hand away when someone else bets.

Ace in the hand

Don’t play every time you have an ace in your hand. However, play an ace if it’s accompanied by a card of the same suit or by a 10 or higher.

Hands to stay with before the flop

Play with pairs (7-7, 9-9), two face cards (K-Q, Q-J), or hands that can make both a straight and a flush (8-9, 6-7 of the same suit). Be patient and fold other hands, unless you’re in the blind.

Good hand? Bet strong

In no-limit Texas Hold’em, players can bet all of their chips at any time, so bet aggressively when you have a good hand.

Watch and wait

Play fewer hands when you’re one of the first players to act, because you’ll be ‘out of position‘ and vulnerable to raises from the remaining players.

Wait your turn

Do not act until it is your turn; play proceeds clockwise at the poker table.

Be a ‘bettor,’ not a ‘caller’

Being aggressive is good.

Call their bluff

If someone raises in a late position (near or on the button), re-raise them a good amount if you are on the blind. Chances are, they don’t have a big hand and they’re just trying to steal your blinds. (This style of play, known as going ‘over the top’, is probably the strongest play one can make in no-limit Texas Hold’em.)

Be patient

The biggest mistake most players make is to act too quickly. When you’re making an important decision pause to think about how the betting has gone and what your opponent might have. Take your time.

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Playing Ace King or Do not overrate Big Slick

Ace King, also called Big Slick or Anna Kournikova, is one of the most overrated hands in the history of no limit holdem. It’s exactly as the pityful sidename Anna Kournikova refers too: She looks good but doesn’t win alot. Playing Ace King is very hard. How in hells name do you play this hand? How in gods name can you make sure you always win Ace King?

AK ?! When you get it in a cash game or tournament of whatever it is you are playing, you get a little bit of goosebumps. Serious research has pointed out that most people go broke or die at a tournament because ofoverplaying Ace King, especially Ace King suited.

Before we go further with the analysis of AK, please hold in mind that not only with Ace King, but with all suited cards, against unsuited cards the increased winning percentage that comes with suited cards is only a percent!

Ok, so if most people loose more than they win with Ace King, and loose at especially crucial times, then what is it that they are doing wrong playing AK? First of all we are going to take a look at the potential of AK, after that we will follow up with how Ace King, in conclusion, actually should be played and how it should not be played.

AK is the best drawing hand. AK can beat EVERY HAND, it is only a big underdog against AA and KK.

The rest of the hands is either just as strong or slighty stronger or a lot worse than AK. Hence you would say, AK is one of the best hands. This is, mathmatically said, true. But it is one of the most complicated and tricky hands too. AK is no

favourite against 22. 33 is. But then again, it is not much more of an underdog against QQ, one of the strongest hand in NL Holdem.

Poker Rules …. Poker Position …. Poker Strategy …. Poker Bonuses

How should one play this complicated hand then?

Ace King should be played with caution, but also with aggression. Being aggressive in poker is a good overall strategy anyhow, but especially when you hold AK. In tournaments you can be ultra aggressive with AK. But only as long as YOU push. NEVER call an all in with AK in tournaments as you are no favourite against all pairs and only a slightly favourite against other drawing hands like QJ and 10J. But if you are the one that is raising or

reraising with AK you could make ppl lay down 9-9, 10-10 even Jacks. This is the real strength of AK: representing KK or AA. Never go in a coinflip situation though with AK. Don’t call off your whole stack with AK in tournaments

In cash you should be cautios. Don’t go to far with AK as most of the times you are flipping a coin, and we are not in the

casino but playing poker. Most ppl overrate AK. When the flop doesn’t hit they don’t only continuation bet with AK, they even bet again at the turn cause they just fall in love with big slick. Please don’t do this. Raising prelflop is fine but please don’t bluf everything with AK. This is the biggest mistake made. Ak is nothing better than 23 if it doesn’t hit. Playing drawpoker is to expensive in no limit holdem. Remember that.

Check out also articles … How to play QQs and JJs and How to play pocket pairs

This is a short article to help you play queens and jacks pocket pairs. I hope you will find it worthy

Pocket Queens / Jacks is a hand every poker player loves to see!!!

However, this starting hand also scares more players than you may realize because they don’t know how to play them properly. The first thing you must know is that pocket queens is a very strong and solid hand. Especially heads up. You can dominate most opponents with pocket queens in a heads up game.

Let’s now go over three key Texas Holdem strategies when dealt pocket queens. Just follow this simple advice and you’ll win huge pots!

Table Position

Like all your hands dealt, your table position is key. If you’re in late position then pocket queens gets even stronger. But even from early position you can be confidently aggressive.

Pre-Flop Raise

When dealt a starting hand of pocket queens its important to know that its unlikely that you’ll get more help on the flop. Hitting trips probably won’t happen. So its vital to lay down an aggressive pre flop raise with your pocket queens. You want to get rid of the suited connectors, low pocket pairs and opponents holding king or ace rag. Or even sometimes you’ll push out someone holding king, jack. Typically raising 3 to 6 times the big blind is sufficient.

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Be Willing to Fold Your Pocket Queens / Jacks

I’ve seen it happen many times. A person goes all in pre flop with pocket queens. His opponent has ace, rag. The flop comes out ace, 3, 7. Next thing you know the player is sent home because he got too aggressive with pocket queens. You want to be aggressive with pocket queens just not overly aggressive. By placing a substantial raise pre flop you push out all the crap. Then the people left you can bet they are sitting on an ace or a king. When and if an ace or king hits on the flop you can be confident that you’re beat. Now depending on your opponents play be willing to fold and live to play another hand.

Its much better then going all in prematurely and being sent home. If you’re first to act when an ace or king hits on the flop. No problem. Simply lay down a bet of one-fourth to one-half of the pot. The opponents that don’t have the ace or king will fold to your pocket queens. If they have it they’ll raise you. If that happens. No problem. Fold it.

If an ace or king doesn’t hit you can feel pretty confident about having the strongest hand. You just need to be aware of possible sets. A lot of people like to play small pocket pairs. Watch their betting patterns and know when they have the set. If you feel that they do. Fold it. If they don’t have it. Be aggressive and take home a huge pot.

The argument about limit vs. no limit has become as heated as the ongoing spat over Ginger or Mary Ann. No Limit poker, much like the sultry Ginger, is the movie star of the gaming world. It has flash, dramatics, and scoring can seem easy. Whenever somebody on television is pulling in a big pot you can be sure that they are playing no limit hold’em. The limit game is understated, subtle, and requires a combination of patience and skill to score.

It All Comes Down to Money

When you play either, the cards are the same, the game is the same, so what is the real difference? It all comes down to money. Money is in an integral part of the strategy of poker. It is in the back of the mind of each player when they look at their cards and wonder what to do. Unless Thurston Howell suddenly steps in and backs you with his enormously deep pockets, how much you are willing to lose is going to be tied to your strategy.

What Is the Real Difference?

Limit poker means there is a maximum on how much a player can bet or raise. There are also limits on the size of the pot. Once the pot reaches its pre-set maximum, then all betting is done. The advantage here is that it provides a safety net to the player. Someone who is new to the game will be better able to survive their mistakes because there is only so much they can lose on any one hand. It also requires a higher degree of poker skill to win big in a limit game. By taking away the ability for somebody with a large bankroll to bully and intimidate the field with his massive stack of chips, you force it to come down to actual game play. If somebody is holding a pair of Jacks, and raises by two thousand dollars, there is a pretty good chance that …..

most of the other people at the table are going to fold. They don’t know he has a measly pair of jacks, and most are not going to waste a couple weeks pay to find out. In a limit game those pair of jacks will have to stand on their own against what the rest of the table is holding. To succeed in a limit game, a player must be more patient and content to pick his opponents apart instead of trying to tear out big chunks.

It All Comes Down to Money AGAIN!

No Limit hold’em is the darling of the poker world. It is exciting and the money can be big. The advantage to the no limit game is that the rewards for a good hand are not limited some pre-defined pot maximum. Why should the payout on a royal flush be the same as somebody who has won with three kings? Also, in No Limit game, the money becomes part of the strategy. The more chips you collect, the more control of the table you have. Playing aggressive poker with a big stack will make people afraid to challenge your three kings if you raise the pot beyond the comfort zone of your competitors.

Many beginners who play No Limit hold’em generally get used to life without a shirt. Conversely, many seasoned veterans are bored by the limited game. Generally beginners learn the game in the safety of limits. Then go on to the wild world of No Limit Hold’em.

See also:

Poker tips and Tricks

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