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Round Table Poker Guide
Written by pnkslrg2779
This game is NOT a game to play to win neopoints. Unlike many games where playing leads to winning at least a few neopoints, this tournament game generally will yield losses. Why? Well, a tournament win yields only 15000 neopoints (level 6), but costs 5000np to
play (all levels pay only 3 times the entry fee, which is a 2-1 odds payback). This means that you must win
at least once for every three tournaments you play. So, why play? To win a trophy, of course.
Now, as the other players are computer players, they follow a set of programmed rules.
The players will bet before the draw on almost any hand of a pair or better and will also bet on a 4 card straight or flush possibility if they bet during that round. However, they will also sometimes check with good hands so you do get to play some bad hands without having to call a first-round bet. The players will raise (the bet) only with a stronger hand such as a high 2-pair, three of a kind or better. However, they will not always raise or bet as check-and-raise rules are in play. They will sometimes check with a good hand and then raise if another player bets.
The players will call with almost any hand before the draw, although, on occasion, they will fold after a raise, if they have a really bad hand. Bottom line - you need to play very aggressively, calling most hands before the draw with as little as two high cards and betting (not raising) 4 card straight or flush hands on the come.
The players will draw cards based on the cards they hold, not on any bets made or draws by other players. You can gain a good deal of information from the number of cards drawn, so pay attention to this. When a player draws 2 cards, they ALWAYS have 3 of a kind. If they draw 1 card, they usually have 2 pair, but, of course, they could be drawing for a straight or flush. When they draw 0 cards, they have at least a straight, or possibly a flush or full house or four-of-a-kind (which cannot be improved) or straight-flush. If you see one of the players draw to a hand that you cannot beat, FOLD, even if you have a "good" hand.
During the second round of betting, the players will call all single bets (not raises) with a pair or better, so don't bother to bluff; the players simply do not fold against a bluff. On the other hand, the players will call with any pair or better, so bet any good hand you think is a winner. Since check and raise is allowed, you should consider checking in first or second place with a good hand, hoping to get a bet that you can raise to increase the size of the pot. Do be aware that strange things can happen, as the players draw with anything, they sometimes hit big hands, so you will occasionally lose against lucky draws. Such loses can hurt as you try for big wins to gain a trophy. On raises, players will call with a pair, but fold on a re-raise with only a pair, call with two-pair or better and re-raise with two-pair or better of kings or higher.
When all players check, the last better will sometimes (only rarely) bluff with an ace-high hand. If you are the last to call and the bet looks like it could be a bluff (remember the draw cards!) and you have any pair AND no other player has called, you might consider calling (this play is for experienced poker players who can acquire a 'feel' for this - not recommended for the novice). Rarely done, bluffs do occur, but usually only by the last player to bet, with the standard 'poker' face, not one of the happy or surprised faces, drawing 1 or 3 cards, and not betting before the draw.
Also, an opening better in round one, will also occasionally bet after the draw with no improvement (low to middle pair) if no one else bets and they are in the fourth or fifth position for that round.
End-game strategy is mostly about positioning to win or trying for a trophy.
Many times the last hand determines the winner. Your strategy at the end-game thus depends on your position and relative np compared to the other players. When ahead by a small margin, you should be very conservative to preserve that margin and not bet or raise to avoid giving the second place player a last round victory. A single hand can yield as many at 650nps (maximum raises and every player stays), so even though you may be behind by several hundred neopoints at the last hand, it is possible to win the tournament on the last hand with aggressive play. Never give up.
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