Poker Quiz - Tournaments

1)You are playing a Hold 'em super satellite that awards four seats and you are down to five players. Player A, short-stacked, goes all-in. Player B, another short stack, also goes all-in. Player C, a big stack, then pushes his stack in. You are in the big blind with a medium stack. You look down and discover pocket aces. What is your play?


2)You are in a tournament that pays two tables, and there are four tables left. You have averages chips and you are at a tight table. You look down in 2nd position and find J-10 suited and are first to enter the pot. What is your play?

3)There are three eight-handed tables left in a tournament that pays 18 places. You look down on the button and find A-K suited. You have average chips. Two players go all-in and another player caps it before it gets to you. What is your play?


4)You are two spots from the money in a $500 buy-in tournament. You have an above average stack, but you're not the chip leader at your table. Everyone seems to be playing tight, survival-style poker to make the money. Everyone folds to you, and you are next to the button with 7-2 offsuit. The button and both blinds are short stacks and are trying to hang on for their money. They only play strong hands. What is your play?


5)In a tournament that is two tables away from the money, you are dealt pocket aces under the gun. You have seen the big blind getting ready to fold his hand and are unsure what the other players will do. Do you raise or slowplay?


6)Late in a tournament you have two jacks on the button. A player in middle position has raised. What is your play?


7)Everyone has folded to you late in the tournament and you picked up a tell that the big blind is likely to fold. You have Q-9 offsuit, and you know the button is a tight player. What is your play?


8)You have 9-8 suited on the button. Everyone has passed. The big blind is a tight player and you know nothing about the small blind who just sat down. What is your play?


9)You are on the button with Q-J. An action player with a big stack has already raised. The blinds look ready to fold. What is your play?


10)You have a below average stack, one table away from the money. You need to double-up soon because the limits are about to go up. One player has brought it in for a raise, and you have aces on the button. Do you flat call and try to trap after the flop, or re-raise now, get rid of the blinds and expose your hand?


11)You are one spot out of the money with a short stack, and you have A-Q in the big blind. The chip leader who has been running over the table raises on the button for the 5th straight time. You know you have the best starting hand. You notice the player on your left must go all-in in the blind on the next hand. What do you do?


12)You have a big stack in the middle stages of the tournament. An aggressive action player raises from middle position. Everyone passes. You have two queens in the big blind. What is your play?


13)Same situation as Question #12. You decide to flat call and trap after the flop. It comes K-4-2 of mixed suits. What is your preferred play?


14)Same situation as Question #13, only the ace hits. What is your play?


15)You are at a five-handed table, one out of the money. You have a medium stack. You are first to act with pocket sixes, and the blinds are huge. If you don't play the sixes or the next two blinds, you will be extremely short-stacked, but still alive in the tournament. What do you do?


16)You are playing a super satellite with multiple rebuys. You have a pair of twos on the button. It is the first hand of the satellite, and four people push all of their chips in the pot before it gets to you. What is your play?


17)In a super satellite, you have pocket aces under the gun on the opening hand. What is your play?


18)You have pocket jacks in the big blind with a very short stack. If you fold the big blind for a raise and fold in the little blind, you will survive with the button and with one chip left. You are two out of the money with several short stacks. A solid player raises. What do you do?


19)Same situation as #18 except you have an A-K in the big blind. One player goes all-in and another player raises, which puts you all-in. What is your play?


20)You have an average stack, one out of the money, and you have pocket nines in the big blind. The chip leader raises. If you play this hand all the way to the river and win, you are now a big stack. If you lose, you are short-stacked. What is your play?

CHECK ALL ANSWERS

ANSWERS

1)You are playing a Hold 'em super satellite that awards four seats and you are down to five players. Player A, short-stacked, goes all-in. Player B, another short stack, also goes all-in. Player C, a big stack, then pushes his stack in. You are in the big blind with a medium stack. You look down and discover pocket aces. What is your play?

Answer: Throw them in the muck. One or more players should be eliminated in this hand. You are only trying to win a seat, not the satellite itself.

2)You are in a tournament that pays two tables, and there are four tables left. You have averages chips and you are at a tight table. You look down in 2nd position and find J-10 suited and are first to enter the pot. What is your play?

Answer: Fold. It is too early position to risk chips with a drawing hand like J-10 suited.

3)There are three eight-handed tables left in a tournament that pays 18 places. You look down on the button and find A-K suited. You have average chips. Two players go all-in and another player caps it before it gets to you. What is your play?

Answer: Fold. You are getting close to the money, and A-K is only a drawing hand. Wait until you can be the agressor.

4)You are two spots from the money in a $500 buy-in tournament. You have an above average stack, but you're not the chip leader at your table. Everyone seems to be playing tight, survival-style poker to make the money. Everyone folds to you, and you are next to the button with 7-2 offsuit. The button and both blinds are short stacks and are trying to hang on for their money. They only play strong hands. What is your play?

Answer: Raise. It is a perfect time to steal the blinds. On a steal attempt, it doesn't matter what your cards are.

5)In a tournament that is two tables away from the money, you are dealt pocket aces under the gun. You have seen the big blind getting ready to fold his hand and are unsure what the other players will do. Do you raise or slowplay?

Answer: Raise. If nobody calls, you at least win the blinds.

6)Late in a tournament you have two jacks on the button. A player in middle position has raised. What is your play?

Answer: Re-raise. You want to drive out the blinds and get it heads-up with position. Players are usually more conservative in tournaments and will fold more blinds.

7)Everyone has folded to you late in the tournament and you picked up a tell that the big blind is likely to fold. You have Q-9 offsuit, and you know the button is a tight player. What is your play?

Answer: Raise. This is a good chance to win the blinds here and get the button to fold slightly better hands than yours.

8)You have 9-8 suited on the button. Everyone has passed. The big blind is a tight player and you know nothing about the small blind who just sat down. What is your play?

Answer: Raise. Most players are more conservative about defending their blinds in tournaments, even against button raisers.

9)You are on the button with Q-J. An action player with a big stack has already raised. The blinds look ready to fold. What is your play?

Answer: Fold. The action player beat you to the steal. Q-J is too risky to play against him.

10)You have a below average stack, one table away from the money. You need to double-up soon because the limits are about to go up. One player has brought it in for a raise, and you have aces on the button. Do you flat call and try to trap after the flop, or re-raise now, get rid of the blinds and expose your hand?

Answer: Re-raise. Survival is essential late in the tournament with a shorter stack. Better to win a smaller pot than risk losing all your chips to one of the blinds that might have played.

11)You are one spot out of the money with a short stack, and you have A-Q in the big blind. The chip leader who has been running over the table raises on the button for the 5th straight time. You know you have the best starting hand. You notice the player on your left must go all-in in the blind on the next hand. What do you do?

Answer: If you have to go all-in to play, you should fold. If you can play and still have enough chips left to survive the small blind, then play. With a short stack, you want to survive to the money if possible, even with only one chip left.

12)You have a big stack in the middle stages of the tournament. An aggressive action player raises from middle position. Everyone passes. You have two queens in the big blind. What is your play?

Answer: Just call. Re-raising is not bad, but if little cards come you can trap him for extra bets and he might even call you down with ace-high. If an ace or king comes on the flop, you can still get away cheap if you think you're beat.

13)Same situation as Question #12. You decide to flat call and trap after the flop. It comes K-4-2 of mixed suits. What is your preferred play?

Answer: I would lead into him and see what he does. The king is not as dangerous as the ace would have been.

14)Same situation as Question #13, only the ace hits. What is your play?

Answer: I would either lead into him or check-raise. If I led and he raised, I'd fold. If he called my check-raise, I would check on 4th street and fold if he bets.

15)You are at a five-handed table, one out of the money. You have a medium stack. You are first to act with pocket sixes, and the blinds are huge. If you don't play the sixes or the next two blinds, you will be extremely short-stacked, but still alive in the tournament. What do you do?

Answer: Raise. If successful, you have a good chance of getting to the final table with chips. Don't forget that the big pay-offs are at the top three spots.

16)You are playing a super satellite with multiple rebuys. You have a pair of twos on the button. It is the first hand of the satellite, and four people push all of their chips in the pot before it gets to you. What is your play?

Answer: If you don't plan to rebuy, fold. If you do play to rebuy, call and gamble on hitting your set. If you win, you will have a huge chip advantage and probably not ever rebuy. If you lose, you can always rebuy and start over.

17)In a super satellite, you have pocket aces under the gun on the opening hand. What is your play?

Answer: With small blinds either make a small raise (about three times the size of the big blind) or flat call. You are hoping someone else will raise or you can trap somebody after the flop. If someone does draw out on you because of your slow-play, you can always rebuy.

18)You have pocket jacks in the big blind with a very short stack. If you fold the big blind for a raise and fold in the little blind, you will survive with the button and with one chip left. You are two out of the money with several short stacks. A solid player raises. What do you do?

Answer: Go all-in. With two players that have to get broke, not one, it is better to take a stand now and hope to double-up.

19)Same situation as #18 except you have an A-K in the big blind. One player goes all-in and another player raises, which puts you all-in. What is your play?

Answer: Call. You have a chance to triple-up, and even if you folded, the all-in player could still survive and you would still need to out-last two other players for the money.

20)You have an average stack, one out of the money, and you have pocket nines in the big blind. The chip leader raises. If you play this hand all the way to the river and win, you are now a big stack. If you lose, you are short-stacked. What is your play?

Answer: Fold, or call hoping to hit a set and folding if you don't have an over-pair to the flop or a set, or an open-end straight draw. Nines are very vulnerable to over-cards. It's better to be in a spot where you can be the agressor with them.

Poker Quiz - Tournaments

1)You are playing a Hold 'em super satellite that awards four seats and you are down to five players. Player A, short-stacked, goes all-in. Player B, another short stack, also goes all-in. Player C, a big stack, then pushes his stack in. You are in the big blind with a medium stack. You look down and discover pocket aces. What is your play?


2)You are in a tournament that pays two tables, and there are four tables left. You have averages chips and you are at a tight table. You look down in 2nd position and find J-10 suited and are first to enter the pot. What is your play?

3)There are three eight-handed tables left in a tournament that pays 18 places. You look down on the button and find A-K suited. You have average chips. Two players go all-in and another player caps it before it gets to you. What is your play?


4)You are two spots from the money in a $500 buy-in tournament. You have an above average stack, but you're not the chip leader at your table. Everyone seems to be playing tight, survival-style poker to make the money. Everyone folds to you, and you are next to the button with 7-2 offsuit. The button and both blinds are short stacks and are trying to hang on for their money. They only play strong hands. What is your play?


5)In a tournament that is two tables away from the money, you are dealt pocket aces under the gun. You have seen the big blind getting ready to fold his hand and are unsure what the other players will do. Do you raise or slowplay?


6)Late in a tournament you have two jacks on the button. A player in middle position has raised. What is your play?


7)Everyone has folded to you late in the tournament and you picked up a tell that the big blind is likely to fold. You have Q-9 offsuit, and you know the button is a tight player. What is your play?


8)You have 9-8 suited on the button. Everyone has passed. The big blind is a tight player and you know nothing about the small blind who just sat down. What is your play?


9)You are on the button with Q-J. An action player with a big stack has already raised. The blinds look ready to fold. What is your play?


10)You have a below average stack, one table away from the money. You need to double-up soon because the limits are about to go up. One player has brought it in for a raise, and you have aces on the button. Do you flat call and try to trap after the flop, or re-raise now, get rid of the blinds and expose your hand?


11)You are one spot out of the money with a short stack, and you have A-Q in the big blind. The chip leader who has been running over the table raises on the button for the 5th straight time. You know you have the best starting hand. You notice the player on your left must go all-in in the blind on the next hand. What do you do?


12)You have a big stack in the middle stages of the tournament. An aggressive action player raises from middle position. Everyone passes. You have two queens in the big blind. What is your play?


13)Same situation as Question #12. You decide to flat call and trap after the flop. It comes K-4-2 of mixed suits. What is your preferred play?


14)Same situation as Question #13, only the ace hits. What is your play?


15)You are at a five-handed table, one out of the money. You have a medium stack. You are first to act with pocket sixes, and the blinds are huge. If you don't play the sixes or the next two blinds, you will be extremely short-stacked, but still alive in the tournament. What do you do?


16)You are playing a super satellite with multiple rebuys. You have a pair of twos on the button. It is the first hand of the satellite, and four people push all of their chips in the pot before it gets to you. What is your play?


17)In a super satellite, you have pocket aces under the gun on the opening hand. What is your play?


18)You have pocket jacks in the big blind with a very short stack. If you fold the big blind for a raise and fold in the little blind, you will survive with the button and with one chip left. You are two out of the money with several short stacks. A solid player raises. What do you do?


19)Same situation as #18 except you have an A-K in the big blind. One player goes all-in and another player raises, which puts you all-in. What is your play?


20)You have an average stack, one out of the money, and you have pocket nines in the big blind. The chip leader raises. If you play this hand all the way to the river and win, you are now a big stack. If you lose, you are short-stacked. What is your play?

ANSWERS

1)You are playing a Hold 'em super satellite that awards four seats and you are down to five players. Player A, short-stacked, goes all-in. Player B, another short stack, also goes all-in. Player C, a big stack, then pushes his stack in. You are in the big blind with a medium stack. You look down and discover pocket aces. What is your play?

Answer: Throw them in the muck. One or more players should be eliminated in this hand. You are only trying to win a seat, not the satellite itself.

2)You are in a tournament that pays two tables, and there are four tables left. You have averages chips and you are at a tight table. You look down in 2nd position and find J-10 suited and are first to enter the pot. What is your play?

Answer: Fold. It is too early position to risk chips with a drawing hand like J-10 suited.

3)There are three eight-handed tables left in a tournament that pays 18 places. You look down on the button and find A-K suited. You have average chips. Two players go all-in and another player caps it before it gets to you. What is your play?

Answer: Fold. You are getting close to the money, and A-K is only a drawing hand. Wait until you can be the agressor.

4)You are two spots from the money in a $500 buy-in tournament. You have an above average stack, but you're not the chip leader at your table. Everyone seems to be playing tight, survival-style poker to make the money. Everyone folds to you, and you are next to the button with 7-2 offsuit. The button and both blinds are short stacks and are trying to hang on for their money. They only play strong hands. What is your play?

Answer: Raise. It is a perfect time to steal the blinds. On a steal attempt, it doesn't matter what your cards are.

5)In a tournament that is two tables away from the money, you are dealt pocket aces under the gun. You have seen the big blind getting ready to fold his hand and are unsure what the other players will do. Do you raise or slowplay?

Answer: Raise. If nobody calls, you at least win the blinds.

6)Late in a tournament you have two jacks on the button. A player in middle position has raised. What is your play?

Answer: Re-raise. You want to drive out the blinds and get it heads-up with position. Players are usually more conservative in tournaments and will fold more blinds.

7)Everyone has folded to you late in the tournament and you picked up a tell that the big blind is likely to fold. You have Q-9 offsuit, and you know the button is a tight player. What is your play?

Answer: Raise. This is a good chance to win the blinds here and get the button to fold slightly better hands than yours.

8)You have 9-8 suited on the button. Everyone has passed. The big blind is a tight player and you know nothing about the small blind who just sat down. What is your play?

Answer: Raise. Most players are more conservative about defending their blinds in tournaments, even against button raisers.

9)You are on the button with Q-J. An action player with a big stack has already raised. The blinds look ready to fold. What is your play?

Answer: Fold. The action player beat you to the steal. Q-J is too risky to play against him.

10)You have a below average stack, one table away from the money. You need to double-up soon because the limits are about to go up. One player has brought it in for a raise, and you have aces on the button. Do you flat call and try to trap after the flop, or re-raise now, get rid of the blinds and expose your hand?

Answer: Re-raise. Survival is essential late in the tournament with a shorter stack. Better to win a smaller pot than risk losing all your chips to one of the blinds that might have played.

11)You are one spot out of the money with a short stack, and you have A-Q in the big blind. The chip leader who has been running over the table raises on the button for the 5th straight time. You know you have the best starting hand. You notice the player on your left must go all-in in the blind on the next hand. What do you do?

Answer: If you have to go all-in to play, you should fold. If you can play and still have enough chips left to survive the small blind, then play. With a short stack, you want to survive to the money if possible, even with only one chip left.

12)You have a big stack in the middle stages of the tournament. An aggressive action player raises from middle position. Everyone passes. You have two queens in the big blind. What is your play?

Answer: Just call. Re-raising is not bad, but if little cards come you can trap him for extra bets and he might even call you down with ace-high. If an ace or king comes on the flop, you can still get away cheap if you think you're beat.

13)Same situation as Question #12. You decide to flat call and trap after the flop. It comes K-4-2 of mixed suits. What is your preferred play?

Answer: I would lead into him and see what he does. The king is not as dangerous as the ace would have been.

14)Same situation as Question #13, only the ace hits. What is your play?

Answer: I would either lead into him or check-raise. If I led and he raised, I'd fold. If he called my check-raise, I would check on 4th street and fold if he bets.

15)You are at a five-handed table, one out of the money. You have a medium stack. You are first to act with pocket sixes, and the blinds are huge. If you don't play the sixes or the next two blinds, you will be extremely short-stacked, but still alive in the tournament. What do you do?

Answer: Raise. If successful, you have a good chance of getting to the final table with chips. Don't forget that the big pay-offs are at the top three spots.

16)You are playing a super satellite with multiple rebuys. You have a pair of twos on the button. It is the first hand of the satellite, and four people push all of their chips in the pot before it gets to you. What is your play?

Answer: If you don't plan to rebuy, fold. If you do play to rebuy, call and gamble on hitting your set. If you win, you will have a huge chip advantage and probably not ever rebuy. If you lose, you can always rebuy and start over.

17)In a super satellite, you have pocket aces under the gun on the opening hand. What is your play?

Answer: With small blinds either make a small raise (about three times the size of the big blind) or flat call. You are hoping someone else will raise or you can trap somebody after the flop. If someone does draw out on you because of your slow-play, you can always rebuy.

18)You have pocket jacks in the big blind with a very short stack. If you fold the big blind for a raise and fold in the little blind, you will survive with the button and with one chip left. You are two out of the money with several short stacks. A solid player raises. What do you do?

Answer: Go all-in. With two players that have to get broke, not one, it is better to take a stand now and hope to double-up.

19)Same situation as #18 except you have an A-K in the big blind. One player goes all-in and another player raises, which puts you all-in. What is your play?

Answer: Call. You have a chance to triple-up, and even if you folded, the all-in player could still survive and you would still need to out-last two other players for the money.

20)You have an average stack, one out of the money, and you have pocket nines in the big blind. The chip leader raises. If you play this hand all the way to the river and win, you are now a big stack. If you lose, you are short-stacked. What is your play?

Answer: Fold, or call hoping to hit a set and folding if you don't have an over-pair to the flop or a set, or an open-end straight draw. Nines are very vulnerable to over-cards. It's better to be in a spot where you can be the agressor with them.

Targeted poker quiz : Review (advanced)

Review of concepts (level: advanced)

1. A four-card flush is easier to complete in seven-card stud than an open-end straight…
   (a) true;
   (b) false.
   
   
2. Here are important ways that 5-5 is better than 2-2 as a starting hand. Which doesn’t belong on the list?
   (a) 5-5 can beat starting pairs 3-3 and 4-4, but 2-2 can’t;
   (b) if the final board is J-9-J-3-4, 5-5 might win with a larger two pair than an opponents’;
   (c)because of the distribution of cards in the deck, you’re much more likely to flop three-of-a-kind when you begin with 5-5;
   (d) if two pair and no deuces show on the board, 2-2 will always be a worthless hand, unless a deuce completes the only flush. However, 5-5 can sometimes survive as a pair, even if two pair land on the board.
   
   
3. If you begin a hold ’em hand with A-A and the flop is K-Q-J, no flush possible, what percent of the time will you finish with just the aces you started with after seeing the turn and river cards?
   (a) 78 percent;
   (b) 41 percent;
   (c) 60 percent;
   (d) 20 percent.
   
   
4. You should be more eager to buy coffee for the player on your left…
   (a) true;
   (b) false
   
   
5. If you present a solid, tight, stable image, which of the following is an advantage?
   (a) you’ll get a lot more calls with big hands;
   (b) you’ll have less fluctuation in your day-to-day earnings;
   (c) you’ll be competing for bigger pots, on average;
   (d) all above and more are advantages — there are no disadvantages to a solid, tight, stable image.
   
   
6. The odds against something happening twice in a row can be found by multiplying one more than the odds-to-one against it happening once times that same number and then subtracting one from the answer.
   (a) true;
   (b) false.
   
   
7. If an opponent places a blind or ante very exactly in front of him, it’s a good idea to subtly readjust it, because…
   (a) the chip has mystical strength in that position;
   (b) the exact positioning is probably a sign of superstition, and you can make a player feel unlucky by “accidentally” moving the chip – and he won’t play as well;
   (c) it’s a bad policy to let opponents position their own chips;
   (d) you want to show that you’re even more experienced at positioning chips.
   
   
8. Female players make less money by calling than male players, on average…
   (a)true;
   (b) false.
   
   
9. How did the saying, “All you need is a chip and a chair” get started?
   (a) In a 1982 tournament, Jack Straus bet what he thought were all the chips in front of him without declaring all in. It was discovered that he had a chip left, and recovered to win the tournament.
   (b) It originated in a scene from a classic W. C. Fields movie
   (c) It was quoted in the classing poker Herbert O. Yardley poker book, “The Education of a Poker Player.”
   (d) It was a recurring line from the TV series Maverick, but was mysteriously left out of the movie.
   
   
10. Opponents who seek sympathy by complaining about missing many flushes in a row are likely to…
    (a) a. surrender if they miss another one and throw their cards away in a secretive manner ;
    (b) bluff if they miss another one;
    (c)act confident and expect to make a flush the very next time they have the opportunity;
    (d) surrender if they miss another one and show their futile cards to you, proving that they missed again.

Answers and explanations (with questions repeated for convenience)

Review of concepts (level: advanced)

1. A four-card flush is easier to complete in seven-card stud than an open-end straight…
   (a) true;
   (b) false.
   Answer: (a) Yes, in seven-card stud it’s true that it’s easier to make a flush when you have four suited cards than to complete a straight when you’re open ended. This is true of most other forms of poker, too, because – even though a flush is higher-ranking and harder to get dealt to begin with in five cards – there are nine remaining suited cards out of the original 13 to complete a flush and only eight (four at each end) to complete an open-end straight.
   
   
2. Here are important ways that 5-5 is better than 2-2 as a starting hand. Which doesn’t belong on the list?
   (a) 5-5 can beat starting pairs 3-3 and 4-4, but 2-2 can’t;
   (b) if the final board is J-9-J-3-4, 5-5 might win with a larger two pair than an opponents’;
   (c)because of the distribution of cards in the deck, you’re much more likely to flop three-of-a-kind when you begin with 5-5;
   (d) if two pair and no deuces show on the board, 2-2 will always be a worthless hand, unless a deuce completes the only flush. However, 5-5 can sometimes survive as a pair, even if two pair land on the board.
   Answer: (c) In hold ’em the distribution of cards in the deck does not make it much more likely that you’ll flop three-of-a-kind when you begin with 5-5 than when you begin with 2-2. So, that reason to prefer 5-5 over 2-2 didn’t belong on the list.
   
   
3. If you begin a hold ’em hand with A-A and the flop is K-Q-J, no flush possible, what percent of the time will you finish with just the aces you started with after seeing the turn and river cards?
   (a) 78 percent;
   (b) 41 percent;
   (c) 60 percent;
   (d) 20 percent.
   Answer: (b) If you begin a hold ’em hand with A-A and flop is K-Q-J, no flush possible, you’ll finish with just the aces you started with 41.4 percent of the time after seeing the river card.
   
   
4. You should be more eager to buy coffee for the player on your left…
   (a) true;
   (b) false.
   Answer: (a) It’s true that you should be more eager to buy coffee for the player on your left than the one on your right. The player on your left has a positional advantage by acting after you, and anything you can do to reduce his urge to exercise that advantage could work in your favor. Make friends with those on your left; declare poker war with those on your right.
   
   
5. If you present a solid, tight, stable image, which of the following is an advantage?
   (a) you’ll get a lot more calls with big hands;
   (b) you’ll have less fluctuation in your day-to-day earnings;
   (c) you’ll be competing for bigger pots, on average;
   (d) all above and more are advantages — there are no disadvantages to a solid, tight, stable image.
   Answer: (b) One of the advantages of a solid, tight, stable image is that you’ll tend to have fewer day-to-day fluctuations in your bankroll. A lively and loose image may sometimes win more money in the long run, but it also invites much bigger swings of fortune along the way.
   
   
6. The odds against something happening twice in a row can be found by multiplying one more than the odds-to-one against it happening once times that same number and then subtracting one from the answer.
   (a) true;
   (b) false.
   Answer: (a) It’s true that the odds against something happening twice in a row can be found by multiplying one more than the odds-to-one against it happening once times that same number and then subtracting one from the answer. For instance, we know that the odds against being dealt aces before the flop in hold ’em are 220-to-1 against. So, you add 1 to 220, get 221, multiply it by itself (221 x 221), get 48,841, subtract 1 from that and we discover that it’s 48,840-to-1 against being dealt aces before the flop on both of your next two hands. Mathematically speaking, it’s the chances-squared-minus-one to one against.
   
   
7. If an opponent places a blind or ante very exactly in front of him, it’s a good idea to subtly readjust it, because…
   (a) the chip has mystical strength in that position;
   (b) the exact positioning is probably a sign of superstition, and you can make a player feel unlucky by “accidentally” moving the chip – and he won’t play as well;
   (c) it’s a bad policy to let opponents position their own chips;
   (d) you want to show that you’re even more experienced at positioning chips.
   Answer: (b) If an opponent puts a blind or ante very exactly in front of him, you can sometimes get an advantage by subtly readjusting it. That’s because the exact position is probably a clue that the player is superstitious about the placement. If you make the player feel unlucky by “accidentally” moving the chip, he might play poorly out of frustration and negative feelings.
   
   
8. Female players make less money by calling than male players, on average…
   (a)true;
   (b) false.
   Answer: (b) It’s false that female player make less money by calling, on average, than male players. Exactly the opposite is true. While there are, of course, exceptions to the situation and both chemistry and resulting interactions vary, in general men take more shots at women than at other men. Since most of their opponents are men, women instinctively call more often because of this. And since men are trying too often to run over women, these calls – within reason – net a long-range profit. Women should be aware that some men act just the opposite; they go out of their way to “take it easy” on women – sometimes just to be nice, sometimes to avoid humiliation in their minds. But that’s the exception. Mostly, women can profit from calling a little more often than men.
   
   
9. How did the saying, “All you need is a chip and a chair” get started?
   (a) In a 1982 tournament, Jack Straus bet what he thought were all the chips in front of him without declaring all in. It was discovered that he had a chip left, and recovered to win the tournament.
   (b) It originated in a scene from a classic W. C. Fields movie
   (c) It was quoted in the classing poker Herbert O. Yardley poker book, “The Education of a Poker Player.”
   (d) It was a recurring line from the TV series Maverick, but was mysteriously left out of the movie.
   Answer: (a) In a 1982 tournament, Jack Straus bet what he thought were all the chips he had in front of him, without declaring himself all-in. His opponent called the exact amount of the wager. Then, it was discovered that Straus had a single $500 chip remaining, and he used it to rebuild and win the tournament. Thus, the expression, “All you need is a chip and a chair,” was born.
   
   
10. Opponents who seek sympathy by complaining about missing many flushes in a row are likely to…
    (a) a. surrender if they miss another one and throw their cards away in a secretive manner ;
    (b) bluff if they miss another one;
    (c)act confident and expect to make a flush the very next time they have the opportunity;
    (d) surrender if they miss another one and show their futile cards to you, proving that they missed again.
    Answer: (d) Opponents who seek sympathy by complaining about missing many flushes in a row are likely to surrender if they miss again and then show their futile cards to you, proving they were right – they missed again. That’s why you often need much more powerful hands to call when a player who’s been complaining about bad luck and seeking sympathy suddenly bets.
    

    

Targeted poker quiz: Opponents (beginner)

Understanding your opponents (level: beginner)

1. In public poker rooms, what most closely reflects the number of long-term winners to long-term losers?
   (a) fewer than one out of 10 players win;
   (b) the ratio of winners to losers is almost exactly even;
   (c) nobody wins;
   (d) strangely, there are almost twice as many winners as losers.
   
   
2. On average, women poker players are…
   (a) vastly superior to men;
   (b) more likely to play bigger limits than men;
   (c) harder to bluff than men;
   
   
   (d) more likely to quit a poker game to go deer hunting than men.
3. Players with tattoos are…
   (a) usually very tight;
   (b) less likely to play conservatively;
   (c) almost never going to bluff;
   (d) usually planning to quit the game if they start losing.
   
   
4. It is more important to make friends with…
   (a) the dealer;
   (b) players sitting to your left;
   (c) players sitting to your right;
   (d) players who are not at your table, regardless of whether you like them.
   
   
5. Most of your opponents come to the table with…
   (a) the strong belief that they’re going to get rich playing poker tonight;
   (b) the expectation that they’re almost certain to lose;
   (c) too little money to last for the first hour;
   (d) a bias toward calling.
   
   
6. If opponents who are losing heavily try to raise the limits and get rejected by the other players, they will usually…
   (a) quit the game immediately;
   (b) play more loosely in an attempt to get even;
   (c) enter into a physical fight;
   (d) get so boisterous they’ll be barred by management.
   
   
7. Opponents whose spouses are looking over their shoulders tend to…
   (a) bluff;
   (b) play more conservatively;
   (c) get unlucky;
   (d) get lucky.
   
   
8. The player you should least consider bluffing is…
   (a) one who is losing heavily;
   (b) one who wins consistently;
   (c) one who is wearing a green shirt;
   (d) one who is wearing blue slacks.
   
   
9. Players who have been drinking a lot of alcohol usually…
   (a) are too distracted to bluff;
   (b) realize they are going to lose a lot of money quickly;
   (c) are the toughest to beat;
   (d) call more often.
   
   
10. Younger players are typically…
    (a) easy to bluff;
    (b) unprofitable to call;
    (c) playing poker mostly to meet potential dates;
    (d) worse at poker than older players.

Answers and explanations (with questions repeated for convenience)

Understanding your opponents (level: beginner)

1. In public poker rooms, what most closely reflects the number of long-term winners to long-term losers?
   (a) fewer than one out of 10 players win;
   (b) the ratio of winners to losers is almost exactly even;
   (c) nobody wins;
   (d) strangely, there are almost twice as many winners as losers.
   
   
   Answer: (a). In public card rooms, you don’t need to just be better than your opponents. You need to be better by at least enough to overcome the rake or the rent that the casino receives as fair compensation for its facilities and services. Fewer than one out of 10 players are able to do this.
   
   
2. On average, women poker players are…
   (a) vastly superior to men;
   (b) more likely to play bigger limits than men;
   (c) harder to bluff than men;
   (d) more likely to quit a poker game to go deer hunting than men.
   
   
   Answer: (c). Women poker players are harder to bluff, possibly because they’re used to men taking so many shots at them that they realize it’s often profitable to call.
   
   
3. Players with tattoos are…
   (a) usually very tight;
   (b) less likely to play conservatively;
   (c) almost never going to bluff;
   (d) usually planning to quit the game if they start losing.
   
   
   Answer: (b). Players with tattoos are less likely to play conservatively, but the older and more faded the tattoo, the less reliable this indication is.
   
   
4. It is more important to make friends with…
   (a) the dealer;
   (b) players sitting to your left;
   (c) players sitting to your right;
   (d) players who are not at your table, regardless of whether you like them.
   
   
   Answer: (b). It’s important to make friends with players to your left, because they hold a positional advantage by acting after you. You can sometimes tempt them to take less than full advantage of their position, just by being friendly.
   
   
5. Most of your opponents come to the table with…
   (a) the strong belief that they’re going to get rich playing poker tonight;
   (b) the expectation that they’re almost certain to lose;
   (c) too little money to last for the first hour;
   (d) a bias toward calling.
   
   
   Answer: (d). Most players have a bias toward calling. They want to find reasons to play pots and call bets.
   
   
6. If opponents who are losing heavily try to raise the limits and get rejected by the other players, they will usually…
   (a) quit the game immediately;
   (b) play more loosely in an attempt to get even;
   (c) enter into a physical fight;
   (d) get so boisterous they’ll be barred by management.
   
   
   Answer: (b). If opponents find themselves losing heavily, try to raise the limits, but are rejected, they’ll usually play more loosely in a desperate attempt to get even.
   
   
7. Opponents whose spouses are looking over their shoulders tend to…
   (a) bluff;
   (b) play more conservatively;
   (c) get unlucky;
   (d) get lucky.
   
   
   Answer: (b). Most people play poker more conservatively when spouses or friends are watching.
   
   
8. The player you should least consider bluffing is…
   (a) one who is losing heavily;
   (b) one who wins consistently;
   (c) one who is wearing a green shirt;
   (d) one who is wearing blue slacks.
   
   
   Answer: (a). You should seldom try to bluff an opponent who’s losing a lot of money. They’re often not thinking critically and likely to call.
   
   
9. Players who have been drinking a lot of alcohol usually…
   (a) are too distracted to bluff;
   (b) realize they are going to lose a lot of money quickly;
   (c) are the toughest to beat;
   (d) call more often.
   
   
   Answer: (d). Players who have been drinking typically play a less-selective brand of poker and call you more often.
   
   
10. Younger players are typically…
    (a) easy to bluff;
    (b) unprofitable to call;
    (c) playing poker mostly to meet potential dates;
    (d) worse at poker than older players.
    
    
    Answer: (d). While there are excellent young players, as a group they are more likely to be inferior to opponents with more experience.