TABLE GAMES

SHORT—HANDED POKER

Tips On The Game, Odds & Players

Well, the good news is that we’ve still got some poker games going in Arizona. But if you’re used to fulltable ring games, forget about it. What we’ve got now are cubicle seven-handers. That’s not a problem for some players, but if you are worried about how to adapt and adjust your game, read on.

Have The Odds Changed?

To start with, don’t worry about your odds of picking up starting hands changing. You’ve got the same chance of seeing a pocket pair (about 5.8%) or an off-suit hand (about 70.6%) as you’ve always had. However, since there are fewer players, the hands go faster, and you’ll have more chances each hour to get premium starting hands. Unfortunately, that’s where some players get in trouble.

The idea that you can wait for top-twelve hands (Top Pairs and AK – AQ) and make a profit short-handed is likely an illusion. With fewer players and more hands per hour, the blinds alone will chew into your bankroll and leave you gasping for air. In short-handed play, you’ve got to see more flops.

Where the odds have changed is in the “per round hand value.” In a full-ring game, you’ll see top tier hands quite often, and a pre-flop raise often represents a top pair or Ace-King. Shorthanded games are different. Players don’t wait for top hands. They are more than happy to raise with a more comprehensive range of starting hands. And you are likely to see more raises and re-raises. Sometimes, you have to know where you stand!

You don’t need Ace-Face every hand to play. You’ll find that KT and Ace-X are quality hands short-handed. If you are playing limit, keep in mind that where you could limp in a 9-handed game with Ace-suited and suited connectors and get value, you won’t see that in a six or seven-handed game.

That’s because you won’t have many chances to call on the flop to a flush or a straight draw against three or more players. More flops grind-down to heads up short-handed, and playing heads up on a drawing hand is usually a losing proposition; the odds aren’t there.

Not to immediately contradict myself, but keep in mind that your Ace-X has more value than usual. Just don’t be surprised when your Ace-6 makes two pairs and Aces and eights beat you. Yeah, the other players are thinking like you too!

Still, you can improve the size of your winning pots by always betting for value. You might be reluctant to bet on the end with a single pair, but it’s more likely to be good short-handed than in a full game. It helps if it’s a big pair, but often your kicker is going to be the key.

Know Your Players

It’s always good to know other players’ tendencies in a poker game, but it is critical short-handed because you will be bumping heads with them more often. If someone is running over the game, you better find out quickly if they are really holding hands, or just using their image to bluff (which is also more valuable short-handed).

You’ll also need to know what range of starting hands your opponents are using. You can’t just assume they are playing the best hands. You’ve changed your requirements. So have they!

What have you learned over the course of playing thousands of hands of poker? We’d love to hear your stories and your experiences. Send us an email to Editor@AZGamingGuide.com with the word “Poker” in the subject line. $

Writer Al Moe has worked in the casino industry for many years. He has lived and worked in Las Vegas, Reno, and Lake Tahoe. He also attended the University of Nevada, Reno. He is an avid writer and blogger. His book, “Vegas and the Mob," is available online at Amazon.com. He is also the proud father of four beautiful girls.

BLACKJACK AT DESERT DIAMOND

I Give You My Report On Their Blackjack Offerings

As many of you know, we have a new casino that opened up in Phoenix, Desert Diamond Casino—West Valley Resort (WVR). I went out there to check out the Blackjack and report back to the readers of the Arizona Gaming Guide my findings and thoughts.

WVR is a very nice casino with a great food court and bar. It has Blackjack tables in three different areas and the table minimum bets are mostly $15 and $25. I sat down to play some Blackjack and the rules are pretty much the same as all the casinos in Phoenix, but there are a couple of things that they do different.

The first thing I noticed was the placement of the reshuffle card. They cut off less than one deck, which means that they deal more cards before shuffling. The next thing is that they only burn one card, but the biggest surprise was they offer surrender. Many players don't know what that is, or even how to play it because I don't think that there is another casino in Phoenix that offers it. However, if you know how to play it, you can add to the player advantage. In my one hour playing session at WVR, it added $60 to my winnings total.

Here is how it works: If you are dealt a ten-six, or a nine-seven, for a hand of sixteen, and the dealer shows a ten, you will lose about 54% of all money bet in that situation. You can surrender that hand instead of playing it out for half your bet. For example, if I had a $25 bet out and received a hand of sixteen, I could surrender it for $12.50. Keep in mind when the dealer shows an up card of ten, they will only bust 21% of the time and end with a total of twenty or twenty-one 41% of the time. That's why if you have the option you should surrender your sixteen against a dealer up card of a ten.

Knowing how to play this hand can make a big difference in your bottom line. It should be noted that you don't surrender the hand of eight-eight or Ace-five, even though these hands total sixteen. You will also surrender the hand of sixteen against a dealer nine or Ace (After the dealer has checked for Blackjack and doesn't have it).

Additionally, you would surrender the hand of fifteen made up of ten-five, nine-six, seven-eight against a dealer ten or Ace, but not the player hand of Ace-four.

There is one more player hand that you should surrender if you are playing a six deck game and the dealer hits soft seventeen (Ace-six) which are the rules at WVR. If you receive the hand of eight-nine, ten-seven (seventeen) and the dealer shows an Ace and does not have Blackjack, you should surrender that hand as well. The dealer, when showing an Ace, will only break 11% of the time. If you have seventeen, the only way you win is if the dealer breaks, not very good odds against an Ace.

By adding this to your playing strategy, you will be surprised how much of a difference it will make in your win/loss total. I live quite a distance from WVR but if I am going to play some serious Blackjack it’s my “go to” casino for sure.

Send us an email at Editor@AZGamingGuide.com with the word “Blackjack” in the subject line if you have something to add about Blackjack at your favorite casino. $

Writer TJ Jorgensen has been a professional Blackjack player for over 20 years. He is well known for his tournament play and has beaten some of the top tournament players in the world. He has also won the World Series Of Blackjack. His books are available online at: Amazon.com and FreeWebs.com/TJsBlackjackCorner.