Advanced Hold’Em Volume 2: More Advanced Concepts in No Limit Hold’Em & Example Hands from Both Volumes

By Ryan Sleeper

Advanced Holdem Volume 2 is the continuation of Advanced Holdem Volume 1. Volume 2 brings you even more of the necessary concepts for being successful in no-limit holdem cash games and tournaments. This book includes example hands and situations, as well as new advanced concepts for no-limit holdem games. Whether you play at home, in the casino, at a charity poker room, or on the internet, these concepts will help you improve your gameguaranteed!

This book gives players a more detailed idea on how the advanced concepts in volume 1 (and the new concepts in volume 2) will help any player be successful in no-limit holdem. Learn when these advanced concepts are most important when increasing your skills to the highest levels by learning how to make the proper adjustments and making the correct plays almost every time.

Advanced Holdem Volume 2 includes the following:

1. Gambling when youre unsure.
2. Blind poker.
3. Is bluffing underrated?
4. Making unusual plays.
6. Now youre a pro.
7. Advanced poker tells.
8. Squeeze plays.
9. Folding big hands preflop.
10. Calling with weak hands preflop.
11. Online poker secrets.
12. Setting traps.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Apr 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9781532046810

Ryan Sleeper

Ryan Sleeper has been a successful No Limit Hold’em player for over 15 years, with positive results at local live cash games, tournaments, and the WSOP.

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Copyright © 2018 Ryan Sleeper.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-5320-4680-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-4681-0 (e)

iUniverse rev. date: 04/26/2018

CONTENTS

SPECIAL THANKS

INTRODUCTION

PART 1: EXAMPLES FROM VOLUME 1

•   AFRAID TO FOLD EXAMPLE 1

•   AFRAID TO FOLD EXAMPLE 2

•   DON’T RAISE JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN EXAMPLE 1

•   DON’T RAISE JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN EXAMPLE 2

•   DON’T ACT ON REVENGE EXAMPLE

•   ATTACK THE WEAK PLAYER EXAMPLE

•   DON’T TAKE LONG SHOTS EXAMPLE 1

•   DON’T TAKE LONG SHOTS EXAMPLE 2

•   PUTTING YOUR OPPONENT ON A HAND EXAMPLE 1

•   PUTTING YOUR OPPONENT ON A HAND EXAMPLE 2

•   BLUFFING IS OVERRATED EXAMPLE 1

•   BLUFFING IS OVERRATED EXAMPLE 2

•   TAKE RISKS EXAMPLE 1

•   TAKE RISKS EXAMPLE 2

•   CALLING WITH NOTHING EXAMPLE

•   RAISE WHEN YOU SENSE WEAKNESS EXAMPLE 1

•   RAISE WHEN YOU SENSE WEAKNESS EXAMPLE 2

•   3-BETTING WITH RAGS EXAMPLE

•   TAKE CONTROL OF THE TABLE EXAMPLE

•   RELY ON LUCK EXAMPLE

•   MAKING NEW MOVES EXAMPLE

•   ACT ON READS EXAMPLE

•   LISTEN TO YOUR INSTINCTS EXAMPLE

•   DO THE OBVIOUS EXAMPLE

•   TAKING YOUR TIME EXAMPLE

•   PLAY RAGS LIKE THE NUTS EXAMPLE

•   KNOWING WHEN YOU’RE BEAT EXAMPLE 1

•   KNOWING WHEN YOU’RE BEAT EXAMPLE 2

•   DO THEY REALLY HAVE IT? EXAMPLE 1

•   DO THEY REALLY HAVE IT? EXAMPLE 2

PART 2: MORE ADVANCED CONCEPTS

•   CONTROLLING THE POT SIZE

•   GAMBLING WHEN YOU’RE UNSURE

•   PUSHING WITH DRAWS

•   SLOW PLAYING

•   SETTING TRAPS

•   MAKING UNUSUAL PLAYS

•   OPPONENTS MAKING UNUSUAL PLAYS

•   FORCING YOUR OPPONENT TO FOLD

•   PATIENCE

•   BEING AGGRESSIVE

•   PLAYING TIGHT

•   PLAYING LOOSE

•   ON THE BUBBLE

•   TOURNAMENT OR CASH GAME SPECIALIST

•   IS BLUFFING UNDERRATED?

•   BLIND POKER

•   ADVANCED POKER TELLS

•   NOW YOU’RE A PRO

•   ONLINE POKER SECRETS

•   KNOW THE NUMBERS

•   STEALING THE BLINDS & SQUEEZE PLAYS

•   ADVERTISING

•   FOLDING BIG HANDS PREFLOP

•   CALLING WITH WEAK HANDS PREFLOP

•   A PLAYER’S RANGE

•   PROFESSIONAL SECRETS

•   FUTURE BETTING

•   OVERVALUING HANDS

•   DIFFICULT DECISIONS

PART 3: EXAMPLES FROM VOLUME 2

•   CONTROLLING THE POT SIZE EXAMPLE

•   GAMBLING WHEN YOU’RE UNSURE EXAMPLE

•   PUSHING WITH DRAWS EXAMPLE

•   SLOW PLAYING EXAMPLE

•   SETTING TRAPS EXAMPLE

•   MAKING UNSUAL PLAYS EXAMPLE

•   OPPONENTS MAKING UNUSUAL PLAYS EXAMPLE

•   FORCING YOUR OPPONENT TO FOLD EXAMPLE

•   PATIENCE EXAMPLE

•   BEING AGGRESSIVE EXAMPLE

•   PLAYING TIGHT EXAMPLE & PLAYING LOOSE EXAMPLE

•   ON THE BUBBLE EXAMPLE

•   TOURNAMENT OR CASH GAME SPECIALIST EXAMPLE

•   IS BLUFFING UNDERRATED? EXAMPLE

•   BLIND POKER EXAMPLE

•   ADVANCED POKER TELLS EXAMPLE

•   NOW YOU’RE A PRO EXAMPLE

•   ONLINE POKER SECRETS EXAMPLE

•   KNOW THE NUMBERS EXAMPLE

•   STEALING THE BLINDS EXAMPLE

•   ADVERTISING EXAMPLE

•   FOLDING BIG HANDS PREFLOP EXAMPLE

•   CALLING WITH WEAK HANDS PREFLOP EXAMPLE

•   A PLAYER’S RANGE EXAMPLE

•   PROFESSIONAL SECRETS EXAMPLE

•   FUTURE BETTING EXAMPLE

•   OVERVALUING HANDS EXAMPLE

•   DIFFICULT DECISIONS EXAMPLE

PART 4: ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES

•   POKER WEBSITE

•   NOW SOME POKER ADVICE

•   READING HANDS QUIZ

•   CONCLUSION

•   GLOSSARY

SPECIAL THANKS ♣

I would like to give special thanks to everyone who has supported me in writing my first, second, third, and soon to be fourth, poker book. I would be remiss in mentioning all the online games and casino games that have helped me improve my game – and research for all my current and upcoming books.

THANK YOU: Mike Sleeper, Suzanne Sleeper (with Lila, Emily and the Ahwal family), James Sleeper, Shannon Sleeper, Shawn Sweat, Wyatt Sleeper, Tyler Sleeper, William Sleeper (and the rest of the Sleeper family), Brenda Moore, Patricia Olson Bono, RJ Bono (with baby RJ), The Kettlewell, Wieschowski and Jaskolski family, Oliver Smith & the rest of the Smith family (Becky, Nolan and Lenna), Shayna Bono (with Caleb and Cayden), Dylan Lelo, Alex Lelo, Ashley Kimberlin (with Cooper), Sara Moss, Blake Lelo, Chaz Robinson, Amber Kurtz (with Jacob and Brianna), Graylon J. & Jamie Prophet (and the rest of the Prophet family), Bobby and Kirstin Wallace (with Kenny), Sean & Meghan Pavliscak, Daysha Springer, Krista Maggard, Kristi Thompson, Jack Geer, Bonnie Brewer, Keven Johnson, Keve Manning, Jeff Berry, Dave Banwart (and the rest of the Puck’s family), The Bradley family, James Quandahl, Jason Cloutier, John Domol, Sam and Anthony Zeer, Eli Ansara, Jordan Russell, Noah Garrett, Garrett Campbell, Ryan Gallagher, Marco DiFazio, Brooke and Angelique Marshall, Andy and Allison Rybarczyk, Autumn Davis, Dan Walton, James Brooks, Matt Connelly, Eric Lichon, Fierra Harris, Gregory Lapham, Jordan Hayes, Lisa and Lindsay Wieczorek, Nick Pulford, Jeff Price, Sylvia Dao, Jaime Mascorro, Kyle Emmenegger, Josh Green, Brittany Peavy, Sherri Nafus, John Kistner, Keith Barje, Mihaela Mincu, Tom Rogala, Charlene Orlando, Jason Wick, Gwen Trice, Eric Folk and the rest of the Market Source family, and many others.

This book is dedicated to everyone who has supported me in my first venture as an author, and those who have purchased all my books (including this one). Thank you for your trust in my poker skills, my writing ability, and most importantly, me. Your support has encouraged me to continue writing poker books.

A SPECIAL DEDICATION TO LOUISE BRADLEY (1968-2013).

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT. YOU ARE MISSED BY ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

♥♠♦♣

AND A VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO ALEXANDRIA BACON AND JOE JACKSON FOR THEIR EDITING AND STYLE TO MAKE THIS BOOK EVEN SMOOTHER TO READ!

INTRODUCTION ♦

This introduction is not really needed, because I’m sure at this point, you know what to expect for every page you turn (new advanced concepts for no limit hold’em success), but let’s just quickly explain what this book is all about.

If you have read Volume 1, then you know the first installment of advanced concepts and the basics behind their meanings. Here in Volume 2, I will explain most of them in greater detail. I will show you many examples of these instances in real life situations, so you can have a professional understanding with how these concepts are used correctly. I will also show you more advanced concepts to greater your skills at any poker table, on any level. I’ve also added some of the hands I played myself and some poker advice of all forms of poker, to complete this volume, as well as a quiz at the end.

Some players may say that these concepts are not advanced; failing to realize that poker is comprised of more average players than anything else. And these concepts are advanced to them. I’ve seen players play for years and not understand them. I’ve also seen players who have played for less than a year that understand them completely. All I have to say is that everyone is different. Everyone learns things at different speeds and levels. If you feel these concepts are not advanced, then you should be a well-known poker player making millions of dollars. If you’re not, then maybe you’re not understanding them correctly or using them at the wrong spot, in the wrong game, against the wrong opponent(s). Who knows? I mean, you’re reading this book, which means you are looking for ways to improve your game. If you were a top-notch professional, I don’t think this book would be in your hands, other than entertainment. Or maybe, you remember these concepts, but forget to use them at the right times – and against the right opponents. You’ve done well for yourself, maybe, but there are still some missing pieces of your game that’s stopping you from playing at the highest levels.

Chances are you WILL learn something from my books; meaning I have done my job correctly. I have provided information that will help you become a better poker player, not just wasting paper with repetitive words. And that’s the idea behind my writing. Not everyone will agree with the concepts, not everyone will learn everything they need to know to be successful, and not everyone will think this book is the greatest poker book in the world, but I can guarantee you this book will be forever thanked by millions of players all across the world, stating that the information found in this book or any of my books has improved their game on some level. Even the smallest improvement makes me proud that I did all this work and was able to share my strategies with you. Thank you!

I have read a lot of poker books by famous players, and some even advanced strategies, and I noticed that it’s not really advanced to me, but most of the players today will see it as such. That’s just like my books. There will be plenty of players who think my information is not advanced to them, but to the average player, it is. I can’t count how many times and how many players fail to use the concepts correctly in live games and Internet games on all different skill levels. I have even seen players on television make mistakes that were covered in my books. True, it’s easier when you see the cards, but these are mistakes that are obvious: tells, position strategy, and chip stack situations where a professional (or semi-professional) will continue to make easy mistakes. Maybe they should read my book.

All I’m saying is that all players, on all levels, should learn something from my books. If you feel these concepts are not advanced, then you’re a better player than the average. Don’t discount the books, just feel good about yourself that you are a good poker player and are considered by most, above average. Enjoy the book and the different situations that occurred in my poker career and see it, if anything, as an enjoyable read on a cold winter night.

PART 1

EXAMPLES FROM VOLUME 1

AFRAID TO FOLD EXAMPLE 1 ♥

We all know that newer players (even some older players) are afraid to fold big hands on any street. It seems like any time they see value, they must make the call, no matter what the price is. Here is an example of a player who is afraid to fold.

During the middle rounds of a tournament, you noticed a tight player sitting to your left. Every time she raises, she always has a big hand, so normally you fold almost any hand when she raises preflop, but this time you make a stand and call her raise with K♣-9♣ because her raise was weak, and you closed the action in the big blind.

Flop comes: K♥-10♦-3♣ and you call her big bet.

Turn comes a 9♦, giving you two pair and you call another big bet by her.

River is a blank and she says, All-in. You call and lose to her set of tens.

If she is a tight player, then why are you calling her early position raise with K-9? From that position there is no way your hand is good. Then when the king hit on the flop, it just got you into more trouble. Then on the turn, comes a 9, making you virtually drawing dead, now you’re in serious trouble. Of course, you fail to see that she is continuing to bet, meaning she has a big hand. She could have pocket Aces or A-K, but you’re better off folding your hand preflop. Seeing the flop only got you into more trouble. Last, but not least, you call an all-in bet on the river, against this obviously tight player, and you end up losing a huge pot, and most of your stack. Shocker!

I don’t care how your night is going in poker: When a tight player is raising and betting all the way down to the river, fold and save your money for a better spot, because you’re obviously beat.

AFRAID TO FOLD EXAMPLE 2 ♠

You are in a one-table tournament (sit-n-go), and a player from middle position raises, he gets one caller before it gets to you. You are sitting on the button with A♦-A♥ and decide to 3-bet. Both players call.

Your preflop play was standard, whereas the original raisers call with mildly loose, but not as loose as the cold caller. Knowing the players, you can tell that the preflop raiser who called your 3-bet has a hand of value and is trying to hit the flop big. He probably puts you on a big ace or a decent pocket pair. He probably has A-Q, or a hand like pocket 10’s or Jacks. The cold caller probably has a medium pair or an ace he can’t get away from. Let’s see how the flop plays out to narrow down their possible holdings.

The flop comes: K♣-Q♦-8♦.

The player in the first position decides to bet out about 2/3 the pot. The player next to act decides to raise. Now it’s your turn to act. Knowing the players, the player betting probably has A-K or A-Q and is trying to keep the pot small. The player raising probably has two pair or better, knowing the 3-bettor (you) is still waiting to act. Most players with Aces will either call or raise to protect their hand or make a move to see where he stands. This situation happened to me, and I chose to fold. The hand played out with bets and calls all the way to the river and the player who made the original raise preflop ended up winning the hand with two pair (K-Q). The player who made the flop raise was trying to narrow the field with a straight and flush draw (J-10 of Diamonds.) He missed the turn, and river, and lost a large pot.

DON’T RAISE JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN EXAMPLE 1 ♣

Situations like this normally happen when you’re having a bad run at the table and you’re trying to get some action your way in attempts to take down some aggressive pots. Say for example, you’re sitting at a $10-$20 no limit hold’em table and you keep catching second best. After your first rebuy you decide to start raising just because you can.

Your first hand in this spot, while sitting on the button is 3♦-3♣. A player in first position decides to raise. Mind you, this player is tight-aggressive, so his range is wide, but most likely a hand of real value. One player calls in middle position and you decide to 3-bet. The first position player decides to 4-bet and the middle position player folds. Now it’s up to you. You flat call. The flop comes all big cards, and you end up check-folding. Even though you were on the button and making an aggressive play like this is not a bad idea in certain spots, in this situation it’s a horrible mistake. The tight-aggressive player has a big hand. And whether you chose to make a squeeze play or not, you ignored his position. Ultimately it cost you more to see a flop then it should have.

If the flop was rags, 10♥-7♦-2♣, then a check-call may be correct if you feel your opponent doesn’t have an over pair. Playing against a tight-aggressive player, you know his range can be A-K or a big pocket pair. A call on the flop may be correct, but if he fires a large bet on the turn, then a fold would be your best play. You may choose to raise on the flop to see where he stands, but your chip stack must be large to make such a play. If he calls, then play the turn and river cautiously. Of course, if he plays back at you, then quickly fold.

DON’T RAISE JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN EXAMPLE 2 ♦

A lot of situations explained in this book are for tournaments, so let’s dip a little more in to cash games. Aggression is the key to being successful in any cash game, so raising and re-raising are key factors in winning. But all situations don’t require raising. Understanding your opponents and how they play different hands in different situations, against different opponents, will determine which hands, of any value, are worth raising…. raising just because you can. Of course, in most situations, you are raising because you sense weakness, or you feel your opponent will fold, but in some spots, you will be raising just because you can. You may have a lot of chips in front of you and want to continue that trend.

Avoiding key spots and raising as your play could cost you more than you previously assumed. Some of these factors may include:

a. Misinterpreting a squeeze play. This is usually done against an opponent who is unaware of this play. You understand its’ style, but you’re up against an opponent who is legitimately calling with a hand of value and will most likely call your 3-bet.

b. Showing a few bluffs earlier in the game, so you feel you can raise to take down for uncontested pots. Better players will catch on and play back at you with marginal hands.

c. You feel you’re playing too tight and your opponents know this, so you start raising without any rhyme or reason.

Here is an example of how you shouldn’t raise just because you can.

You’re sitting in a high stakes cash game and you’ve been playing well. Your big hands are being paid off and none of your bluffs are being called. You’re sitting in late position with A♦-Q♥ and a player from middle position raises 4 times the big blind. You decide to 3-bet and make it large. You feel you’re in control of the pot and the player making the original raise has a large raise and is capable of folding to a large 3-bet. Everyone else folds. When it comes back to the original raiser, he decides to 4-bet a large portion of his stack. You, being a smart player, notices that he is committed and decide to fold. You don’t want to risk over half your stack with A-Q. Your opponent probably has A-K or a large pocket pair. Even though this is a cash game, and you should probably make more calls with less valuable hands than you would in a cash game, you feel you’re beat and make the quick fold. After you fold, your opponent shows 2♣-3♣.

In all actuality, you chose to raise just because you didn’t realize that your opponent knew you were going to make this raise, even though you were in position. He was hoping no one waiting after you would make a play, and that plan worked out. He decided to 4-bet with rags, knowing you couldn’t commit yourself unless you had a monster hand. That’s the kind of player you don’t want to get involved with. He was studying your moves and understood that you like to use position to your advantage. Picking up more information on this opponent will help you make the right decision the next time you’re involved in a hand with him. Maybe then you’ll remember not to raise just because you can. You raised because you felt your opponent may fold, but you didn’t realize that your opponent knew your game plan and was willing to risk it all to not only steal the pot, but to make a statement.

DON’T ACT ON REVENGE EXAMPLE ♥

Acting on revenge is a recipe for disaster. This situation usually happens after a tough lose against an opponent who probably shouldn’t have been involved in the pot in the first place. I remember one time where I was playing, and this occurred. I felt like acting on revenge, but I held my play back and waited for a better spot.

I was playing at a $1/$2 no limit hold’em cash at MGM casino and I was in early position with

K♥-K♠.

The player next to me called as well as the player in the small blind. Everyone else folded. The player next to me was playing solidly, with the ability to mix things up, but in this situation, I felt his range was pretty high. He had position on me, but with me holding the second best possible starting hand, I knew my Kings were a huge favorite. The player in the small blind, on the other hand, was a typical newbie type player (even though he was old) and was capable of playing any hand of value. Hands that would include any ace, two face cards or any hand that would be a favorite against a random hand.

The flop came A♣-8♦-5♥.

The player in the small blind instantly came out firing a bet (2/3 the pot). I thought about it for about a second before mucking my hand. The player next to me called. They both checked the turn and the player in the small blind made a value bet on the river as the other guy mucks his hand face up (9♥-7♥).

The bettor shows A♠-4♦.

I was shocked to see what he flipped over. I angrily spoke under my breath, How can you call an early position raise, out of position, with a weak ace. The player next to me shakes his head in agreement.

Now, my first instinct was to act on revenge against this player, but I knew that wasn’t the best option. With the information given to me, I knew I could out play him in a bettor spot in a future hand and not only get my chips back that I lost to him,