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Round Table Poker Guide
Written by Karilia
Even though you need to win at least 1 out of 3 matches just to break even at
that game, you can still make NP's at it if you play it smart. I've won 230 out
of 548 games (net gain of 710,000 NP) since I started keeping track.
Watch Opponents Faces
There are two times to watch their faces: (1) when the cards are first dealt,
and (2) at the end of the discarding phase after all players have discarded. Do
not pay any attention to the faces they make as they make their individual
discards. (Trick: Last player to discard in the round shows his "individual"
discard face. To see his true (2) face, click on Back to Waiting Room button,
and then re-enter tournament).
Any player showing a "Sly" face at (1) or (2) above has at least two pair. Now
try to expand your knowledge:
* If Sly player is seated as the first bidder in the round, and doesn't open the
bidding, that means he has 3-of-a-kind or better, and will almost always raise
if someone else bids.
* If someone opens the bidding ahead of Sly player, Sly player will generally
call with two-pair, and raise with 3-of-a-kind or better. Sometimes in this case
a Sly player will call, and then lets say you (holding 3-of-kind or better)
raise, and now Sly player re-raises! Sly player still most likely has two-pairs,
but it is probably a strong two-pair with the top pair being Queens or better.
* You'll know for sure what Sly player has when he discards: one discard =
two-pair, two discards = 3-of-a-kind, or zero discards = straight, flush or full
house
If there are no Sly players at (1), you might open the bidding with a good pair
(Jacks or better), or a flush or open-ended straight draw. Otherwise, I'd just
pass, or call if someone else opens. You want the pots to stay small, unless
it's one you have a good chance of winning. If you have two-pair or better, it
often pays off to check, let someone else open, and then raise. There is some
risk though that no one will open, so that's a judgement call you'll have to
make.
In addition to watching Sly players discards, watch the non-Sly players as well.
Generally, non-Sly players discard three cards, indicating a pair or worse.
Sometimes they'll discard only one card though, meaning they're trying for a
flush or straight. If they show a Sly face at (2) after discarding only one
card... watch out! That means they made their flush or straight.
Bidding Tips
A good time to build the pot, is in the first round of bidding. Rarely will
anyone fold before the discard phase. If there's at least one Sly player at (1),
and you have a strong hand (3-of-a-kind or better), try to get in a bidding war.
Let the Sly player open, then raise, and re-raise if you get the chance. The
other non-Sly players will usually keep calling, even if they have nothing.
Likewise, in the second round of bidding, I generally let the Sly player open.
That way I can control whether I want to call or raise, depending upon the
strength of my hand.
If there are no Sly players at (2), I always bid with a pair of Kings or Aces
(and sometimes with Queens).
Also, if multiple opponents are Sly at (1) and start a bidding war, and you have
nothing, just fold! They'll probably bid up to the 4-chip level, so just cut
your losses.
Miscellaneous
Sometimes you have to bet oddly to win the 15,000 pot. For instance, on the last
hand you have a 10 point lead over Player A (no one else is close). Player B
bets, then Player A folds, and you (holding three Aces!) should.... FOLD!!! :)
Why? Because by folding you'll stay 10 points ahead of Player A, whereas if you
call there is a chance you could lose the hand to Player B, and the match to
Player A.
Finally, if you haven't played much, you may not know that you "win" the 15,000
pot even if you and another opponent are tied at the end of the last hand!
Hope this helps. Good Luck!
Karilia
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