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Advanced
Free $50Pot-Limit Omaha Volume III: The Short-Handed Workbook
Copyright 2010 by Jeff Hwang
Published by Dimat Enterprises, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying
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ISBN 978-09846194-12

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Peak Performance Poker, by Travis Steffen, July 2010

Small Stakes No-Limit Holdem, by Ed Miller, Matt Flynn, and Sunny Mehta, September 2010

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Free $50 Table of Contents

Introduction

Diagnostic Test

Part I: Leakfinder

Part II: The Pre-Flop Playing Map

Part III: $0.25-$0.50

Part IV: $0.50-$1

Part V: $1-$2

Part VI: $2-$4

On Good Cause

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Glossary

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Free $50 Introduction

Welcome to Advanced Pot-Limit Omaha Vol. III: The Short-Handed Workbook. Now as you might expect, this workbook assumes that you have already
read my first book, Pot-Limit Omaha Poker: The Big Play Strategy, as well as both Advanced Pot-Limit Omaha Vol. I: Small Ball and Short-Handed
Play and Advanced Pot-Limit Omaha Vol. II: LAG Play, and that you are familiar with the concepts, skills, and strategies presented in those books. That
said, it is not actually necessary that youve read all -- or any -- of those books. In fact, its not even really necessary for you to have even played pot-limit
Omaha (PLO) before.

But if you havent done any of those things, my guess is that youre probably not going to make it past the 50-question diagnostic test at the start of this
book.

Using This Book

This book is designed to help you plug any leaks you might have in your game, while providing enough practice at a fairly wide range of stakes in order to
make sure that you fully understand how to apply the skills and concepts weve discussed thus far.

We begin with a 50-question diagnostic test covering the finer points of the game. Every question relates to at least one specific skill or concept, whether
it be the stack-to-pot ratio (SPR), big-pot vs. small-pot hands, the straight draws, check-raising, value-betting the river, picking off bluffs, floating, or c-
betting. That said, if you miss a question, the answers will point you back to the original discussion, so you know what part of your game you need to work
on.

If you miss anything, my suggestion is that you work on it until you can get them all right.

Once you have successfully completed the diagnostic test, you will be ready for Part I: Leakfinder. In Leakfinder, I will present 38 hands in their raw format
without commentary. It will be your job to identify any playing errors made by any of the players in the hand. Doing so will allow you to expose any leaks not
just in your play, but in your opponents play as well.

In Part II: Pre-Flop Playing Maps, I will give you a set of 30 starting hands in four different situations: opening fire on the blinds, attacking the limper,
playing out of position, and 3-betting vs. Small Ball. Your task here is simply to write down how you play each of those 30 starting hands in each of those
situations.

The remainder of the book consists of 162 full practice hand quizzes from short-handed online play, at stakes ranging from $0.25-$0.50 to $2-$4 with a
$0.75 ante. Part III: $0.25-$0.50 consists of 18 hand quizzes from $0.25-$0.50 blind play, while Part IV: $0.50-$1 includes 54 hands. There are 46 hands
in Part V: $1-$2, and 44 more in Part VI: $2-$4.

In the practice hand quizzes, you will be tested at every step of the hand; your responses will be graded on a standard 10-pt. scale.

I figure this should keep you busy for a while.

And so, without further ado, turn the page and get started.

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Free $50

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Free $50 Diagnostic Test

What follows is a 50-question diagnostic test covering a wide range of topics from game selection and seat selection, to the application of SPR, the
straight draws, floating, c-betting, and value-betting the river. Every concept discussed in Pot-Limit Omaha Poker: The Big Play Strategy or Advanced
Pot-Limit Omaha Vol. I or Vol. II is fair game.

Consider every possibility -- some questions may have multiple correct answers, while others may have answers with differing degrees of correctness.

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Game Selection and Seat Selection

1. Its a $1-$2 game online.

You plan to buy in for the $200 maximum. Assuming all else is equal -- you know nothing about the players at the table -- which seat do you
take?

a. Seat 2
b. Seat 5
c. Neither

2. There are two tables at $1-$2 online (6-max, deep) with open seats.

You plan to buy in for the $400 maximum. The player in Seat 6 on Table #1 is a regular who plays virtually every hand when on the button,
and plays his position well. The other players are non-descript. Which seat do you take?

a. Seat 2, Table #1
b. Seat 5, Table #1 Free $50
 c. Seat
Free $50 3, Table #2
d. None of the above

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Game$50
Free Selection and Seat Selection: Answer Key and Analysis

Questions #1 and #2 deal with game selection and seat selection.

1. a
2. d

In question #1, you have a choice between two open seats. The problem with Seat 5 is that you have two big stacks to your left and two small stacks to
your right. Moreover, all else being equal, we can assume that the players with the two bigger stacks are tougher players, and presume that the player with
the $150 (75BB) stack in Seat 3 is not tough until he proves otherwise. Seat 2 should be the best option.

For question #2, the best answer is (d) none of the above. I dont see the upside in taking Seat 2 on Table #1, as you have a couple of big stacks on your
left, but a small one directly to your right. The problem with Seat 5 on Table #1 is that while you would have position on the big stacks, you are being
blocked by the player in Seat 6 on your left. What would happen is that youd essentially get to play one hand every round -- your button.

You can find better spots than the ones provided by Table #1.

The problem with Seat 3 on Table #2 is that the player directly to your left has a 400BB stack. Not only is he less likely to be an idiot than a player with a
100BB stack, but you really dont want to play having to give up position to this player five out of six hands every round. Seat selection is discussed in
Advanced Pot-Limit Omaha Vol. I in Part VIII: Miscellaneous Topics, while the impact of stack sizes on our play is discussed in Advanced Pot-Limit
Omaha Vol. II in Part II: The LAG Approach.

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Post-Flop Hand Valuation

3. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt J T 9 3 on the button. The UTG player and cutoff limp in front of
you. You limp in. The small blind completes, and the big blind checks. The flop comes T 9 4. It gets checked to the cutoff, who bets $10.
Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

4. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt J J T 4 on the button. Only the UTG player limps in front of you.
You limp in. The small blind completes, and the big blind checks. The flop comes K J 2. The small blind checks. The big blind bets $8,
and the UTG player folds. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

5. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt A K Q 9 on the button, and open with a raise to $7. The small
blind -- a loose-player who likes to 3-bet from the small blind -- re-raises to $23, and the big blind folds. You call. The flop comes Q 7 2.
Your opponent bets $46. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise all-in to $177?

6. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt J T 8 6 on the button. The UTG player and cutoff both limp. You
limp. The small blind completes, and the big blind checks. The flop comes Q 6 6. It gets checked to the cutoff, who bets $7. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

7. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt J T 8 6 on the button. The UTG player and cutoff both limp. You
limp. The small blind completes, and the big blind checks. The flop comes J 6 6. It gets checked to the cutoff, who bets $7. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

8. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt J T 8 6 on the button. The UTG player and cutoff both limp. You
limp. The small blind completes, and the big blind checks. The flop comes 8 8 6. It gets checked to the cutoff, who bets $7. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

9. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt T T 9 4 on the button. The UTG player and cutoff both limp. You
limp. The small blind completes, and the big blind checks. The flop comes K K T. It gets checked to the cutoff, who bets $7. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

10. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $400 stacks. You are dealt A J T 9 on the button. The UTG player, hijack, and cutoff all
limp in. You raise to $13. Both blinds fold, but everybody else calls. The flop comes J 8 7, giving you the nut straight. It gets checked to
the cutoff, who bets $55. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

11. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt Q J T 4 on the button. The UTG player and cutoff limp in. You
limp. The small blind completes and the big blind checks. The flop comes 9 8 7. The small blind bets $10, and it gets folded to you. Do
you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

12. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt Q T 9 8 in the cutoff seat. The UTG player folds. The hijack
opens with a raise to $7. You re-raise to $24, and only the hijack calls. The flop comes 8 7 6, giving you the nut straight. Your opponent
bets $51. Do you:
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 a. Fold?
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b. Call?
c. Raise to $176 all-in?

13. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt J T 9 8 on the button. The cutoff opens with a raise to $7. You
re-raise to $24, and both blinds fold. The cutoff re-raises to $75. You call. The flop comes Q 4 3, giving you a flush. Your opponent bets
$125 all-in. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?

14. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $400 stacks. You are dealt J T 9 8 on the button. The cutoff opens with a raise to $7. You
re-raise to $24, and only the cutoff calls. The flop comes Q 4 3, giving you a flush. Your opponent bets $35. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

15. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $400 stacks. You are dealt A K J 7 on the button. The UTG player opens with a raise to
$7, and it gets folded to you. You call. Both blinds call. The flop comes Q T 4, giving you a 13-card nut wrap with the nut flush draw. The
small blind checks. The big blind bets $28, and the UTG player folds. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

16. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $400 stacks. You are dealt A K Q J on the button. The UTG limps in, and it gets folded to
you. You raise to $9. Both blinds call, and the UTG player calls. The flop comes Q T 4, giving you top pair with a 13-card nut wrap. Both
blinds check. The UTG player bets $36. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

17. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $400 stacks. You are dealt A K J 4 on the button. The UTG raises to $9, and it gets folded
to you. You call. Both blinds call. The flop comes Q T 4, giving you a 13-card nut wrap. The small blind bets $36, and it gets folded to
you. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

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Post-Flop
Free $50 Hand Valuation: Answer Key and Analysis

Questions #3 through #17 deal with post-flop hand valuation and the application of the Stack-to-Pot Ratio (SPR).

3. b
4. b

In question #3, you have bare top two pair in a high-SPR situation (SPR 20); similarly, in question #4, you have middle set in a high-SPR situation (SPR
25). That said, bare top two pair and middle set are small-pot hands too strong to fold for one bet, but not strong enough to want to raise and bloat the pot.
Thus, flat-calling is the best play in both cases.

5. c

In question #5, you have top pair in a low-SPR situation. The play is to shove.

6. b
7. b
8. c
9. b

Questions #6 through #9 deal with trips, the underfull, and overfull in high-SPR situations. In mid- to high-SPR scenarios, undertrips is a bluff catcher at
best, while the underfull is a small-pot hand. That said, the best play in question #6 (undertrips), question #7 (underfull), and question #9 (underfull) is to
smooth call and keep the pot small in all three cases. In question #8, the play should be to raise with the overfull and re-draws -- a big-pot, high-SPR hand
with freeroll potential against another 8-6-x-x hand.

10. b
11. c
12. c

In questions #10 through #12, you flop the nut straight of varying quality. In question #10, you have the bare nut straight (no re-draw) in a mid-SPR situation
(SPR 7); the play here should be to smooth call and bet if the board changes and your opponent checks, or otherwise call him down unless the board
changes and your opponent keeps betting (in which case you will likely fold). In question #11, you flop the nut straight with straight and flush re-draws -- a
big-pot hand and potential freeroll opportunity should you be up against the bare nut straight. In question #12, you have the bare nut straight, but in a low-
SPR situation; in contrast to question #10, the play here should be to raise and shove all-in.

13. b
14. b

In questions #13 and #14, you flop a jack-high flush (or queen-high, technically). The difference between the two questions is SPR, though your action
should be the same: Call. In question #13, you have an ultra-low SPR situation (SPR < 1), and thus cant reasonably fold a flush heads up all-in for one
bet, as your opponents range here is any four cards. In question #14, you have the same flush, but against a possible steal bet in a mid-SPR situation
(SPR 7.4); the play here is to call and play a small pot.

15. c
16. c
17. b

In questions #15 through #17, you flop a 13-card nut wrap. However, your action will vary depending on what else you have to go with it. In question #15,
you have a 13-card nut wrap with the nut flush draw, and thus raising the first bet on the semi-value/semi-bluff should be automatic regardless of SPR. In
question #16, you have top pair with the 13-card nut wrap, which is also a big-pot hand and potential dominating draw; this, too, should be an automatic
raise against the first bet regardless of SPR.

In question #17, however, you have the bare 13-card nut wrap. Meanwhile, the small blind has led out into three opponents, and is unlikely to be bluffing.
That said, with the bare 13-card nut wrap, you are not a favorite against much of anything (you are not even a favorite to make a straight, but rather will
make a straight about 49.9% of the time). The play here is to smooth call.

Big-pot hands vs. small-pot hands are the subject of Chapter One: The Big Play Objectives, in Pot-Limit Omaha Poker: The Big Play Strategy.
Meanwhile, the big-pot vs. small-pot hands and using SPR are discussed in depth in Advanced Pot-Limit Omaha Vol. I in Part II: Advanced Concepts.

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Free $50

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The Straight
Free $50 Draws

18. Its a five-way pot after the flop, and a high-SPR situation. The flop is 9-8-3 rainbow. Generally speaking, ignoring suits, which hand do
you like best in this situation: T-7-6-4, J-T-7-6, or Q-J-T-9?

a. T-7-6-4
b. J-T-7-6
c. Q-J-T-9

19. Which of the following hands has the most nut outs on a 9-8-3 rainbow flop? K-Q-J-T, Q-J-T-7, J-T-7-6, or T-7-6-5?

a. K-Q-J-T
b. Q-J-T-7
c. J-T-7-6
d. T-7-6-5

20. Which of the following flops gives Q-T-9-5 a 13-card wrap?

a. K-J-4
b. J-8-3
c. 8-7-4

21. Which of the following flops gives J-T-9-8 a 13-card nut wrap?

a. T-7-2
b. 9-7-2
c. 8-7-2
d. 7-6-2
e. All of the above

22. Which of the following flops gives J-9-8-7 13 or more nut straight outs?

a. T-8-4
b. 6-5-3
c. T-7-2
d. Q-T-4
e. All of the above

23. Which of the following flops gives J-T-9-7 13 or more nut straight outs?

a. 9-8-3
b. 8-7-2
c. 8-6-3
d. T-8-2
e. All of the above

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Free $50

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The Straight
Free $50 Draws: Answer Key and Analysis

Questions #18 through #23 deal with the straight draws in Omaha.

18. c

In question #18, the T-7-6-4 hand flops a 17-card wrap, but with only seven nut outs. The J-T-7-6 hand flops a 20-card wrap with 14 nut outs. However, the
Q-J-T-9 hand for top pair and the 13-card nut wrap dominates both hands, despite having only a 13-card draw. Heads up, the Q-J-T-9 hand is about a
60%/40% favorite over the J-T-7-6 (20-card wrap) hand and a 77%/23% favorite over the T-7-6-4 hand.

The J-T-7-6 hand (20-card wrap) is the strongest against a bare set (against A-A-9-9 for bare top set, for example), but the Q-J-T-9 hand (top pair and
13-card nut wrap) is the best all-purpose hand, assuming you dont know what you are up against.

19. b

In question #19, the answer is the Q-J-T-7 hand, which yields a 16-card nut wrap. The K-Q-J-T flops a 13-card nut wrap; the J-T-7-6 flops a 20-card wrap
with 14 nut outs; meanwhile, the T-7-6-5 for the 16-card sucker-end wrap only has six nut outs and is garbage in a multi-way pot on this flop.

20. b

In question #20, the answer is (b) J-8-3, and the answer is undisputable.

21. e

In question #21, the answer is (e) all of the above, as all of those flops give J-T-9-8 a 13-card nut wrap.

22. b and c
23. b and c

In question #22, both (b) 6-5-3 and (c) T-7-2 yield a 13-card nut wrap. The T-8-4 flop yields a 17-card wrap with 11 nut outs (four queens, four sevens,
three eights). The Q-T-4 flop is no good for J-9-8-7 in multi-way action, yielding 13 straight outs but only three nut outs (three eights).

In question #23, both (b) 8-7-2 and (c) 8-6-3 yield a 13-card nut wrap for the J-T-9-7 hand. (a) 9-8-3 and (d) T-8-2 give the J-T-9-7 top pair and 17-card
wraps. And the reason I included this hand in addition to the J-9-8-7 hand is that J-9-8-7 cannot physically flop top pair and a 17-card wrap, while the J-T-
9-7 hand can. Just something to think about.

The straight draws are covered in depth in Chapter 3 of Pot-Limit Omaha Poker: The Big Play Strategy.

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Free $50

Free $50
Advanced
Free $50 Post-Flop Skills

24. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt Q 9 4 3 in the big blind. The UTG player and button both limp
in. The small blind completes, and you check. The flop comes J T 2. The small blind bets $8. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

25. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt A T 9 4 on the button. The cutoff opens with a raise to $7, and
only you call. The flop comes 7 6 2, giving you a gutshot straight draw. Your opponent bets $12. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

26. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt A K J 5 on the button. You open with a raise to $7, and only the
big blind calls. The flop comes 8 7 4. Your opponent checks. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

27. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt A K J 8 on the button. You open with a raise to $7, and only the
big blind calls. The flop comes T 9 2. Your opponent checks. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

28. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt J T 9 8 on the button. You open with a raise to $7, and only the
big blind calls. The flop comes K 7 6. Your opponent checks. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

29. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt J T 9 8 on the button. You open with a raise to $7, and only the
big blind calls. The flop comes K 7 2. Your opponent checks. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

30. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt A Q J T on the button. You open with a raise to $7, and only
the big blind calls. The flop comes K 7 2. Your opponent -- a non-descript opponent -- checks. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

31. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt A Q J T on the button. You open with a raise to $7, and only
the big blind calls. The flop comes K 7 2. Your opponent -- an extremely weak player who never check-raises -- checks. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

32. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt A K Q T on the button. You open with a raise to $7, and only
the big blind calls. The flop comes Q 6 3. Your opponent -- a tough opponent who check-raises with some frequency -- checks. What do
you do?

a. Check?
b. Bet?

33. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt Q J T 2 on the button. The UTG player limps in, and it gets
folded to you. You limp in. The small blind completes, and the big blind checks. The flop comes 9 8 3. Everybody checks to you. You
bet $8, and only the big blind calls. The turn is the K. Your opponent checks. You bet $24, and your opponent calls. The river is the 4.
Your opponent checks. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

34. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt K Q J 4 in the big blind. The UTG player and button both limp.
The small blind completes. You check. The flop comes T 9 4. The small blind checks. You bet $8, and only the UTG player calls. The
turn is the 8. You bet $24, and your opponent calls. The river is the 3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet $15-$20?
c. Bet $30-$45? Free $50
 d. Bet $60-$72?
Free $50
35. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $400 stacks. You are dealt A T 9 3 on the button. The UTG player opens with a raise to $7,
and only you call. The flop comes J 6 2. Your opponent bets $17, and you call. The turn is the 7. Youropponent bets $51, and you call.
The river is the 8. Your opponent checks. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet $25-$50?
c. Bet $75-$100?
d. Bet $125-$153?

36. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $400 stacks. You are dealt A J T 7 in the small blind. The cutoff opens with a raise to $7,
and only you call. On which of the following flops might you attempt a check-raise?

a. 9 8 2
b. T 9 3
c. 8 8 3
d. J 5 4

37. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $400 stacks. You are dealt K K 9 4 in the big blind. The cutoff opens with a raise to $7,
and only you call. The flop comes 5 5 2. Do you:

a. Check-fold?
b. Check-call?
c. Check-raise?
d. Bet?

38. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt J J T 8 on the button. The UTG player opens with a raise to $7.
The hijack re-raises to $24, and the cutoff folds. You call. Both blinds fold. The UTG playercalls. The flop comes 8 7 4. Both opponents
check. You bet $72, and only the UTG player calls. The turn is the 7. Your opponent bets $104 all-in. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?

39. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed with $400 stacks. You are dealt A T 8 3 on the button. The UTG player and cutoff limp in. You
limp. The small blind completes, and the big blind checks. The flop comes A A 4. It gets checked to the cutoff, who bets $8. Only you
call. The turn is the 9. Your opponent checks. You bet $20, and your opponent calls. The river is the 2. Your opponent bets $20. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
Advanced
Free $50 Post-Flop Skills: Answer Key and Analysis

Questions #24 through #39 cover advanced post-flop skills, including floating, c-betting, check-raising, checking-and-calling, value-betting the river, and
the bluff raise.

24. a
25. b

Floating/drawing is the main subject of questions #24 and #25. In question #24, you have a bare half-nut open-ended straight draw in a four-way pot. You
are in the big blind, and the small blind has led into you. In this case, you dont have a strong enough draw to merit a call on its own merits; and in a four-
way pot with two players left to act behind you, this is an awful spot to attempt a float.

In question #25, you are heads up with position on the pre-flop raiser, and have flopped the nut gutshot with a backdoor nut flush draw. In contrast to the
previous question, this is an excellent floating spot against a possible weak-stab c-bet, and the first bet in a heads-up pot.

Floating is the subject of Part I of Advanced Pot-Limit Omaha Vol. I.

26. a
27. b
28. b
29. a
30. a
31. b
32. a

Questions #26 through #32 deal with c-betting. The answers to these questions are somewhat variable -- if the answer key says checking should be the
play, it doesnt mean betting is necessarily wrong, and vice versa.

In question #26, you should generally check behind with the bare nut flush draw. Again, betting isnt necessarily wrong, but the standard play should be to
check behind.

In question #27, you have a nut gutshot with the nut flush draw. This should be bet 100%, as you have enough draw that you cannot get check-raised off of
it.

Similarly, in question #28, the 13-card nut wrap with a flush draw should bet. However, in question #29, the bare flush draw with some backdoor wrap
possibilities should generally be checked back, though -- again -- betting isnt necessarily wrong.

In question #30, you hit a pivot card with the backdoor nut flush draw. Checking is the preferred play, though betting is not incorrect. That said, with the
same hand against a known weak player in question #31, you should go ahead and bet.

The pivot card is discussed in Part II of Advanced Pot-Limit Omaha Vol. I.

In question #32, you have top pair with improvers in what is essentially a high-SPR situation (SPR 12.9). Again, betting isnt necessarily wrong, but
checking behind is generally the correct play. That said, in a low SPR situation (SPR 4), the play would be to bet and commit if check-raised.

C-betting frequency is covered in Part I of Advanced Pot-Limit Omaha Vol. II.

33. b

Question #33 deals with following through, or The Betting Machine as discussed in Part II of Advanced Pot-Limit Omaha Vol. I. The Power of the Big
Draw and the ability to bet it like you have it until somebody else says that they have it is discussed in Chapter Two of Pot-Limit Omaha Poker: The
Big Play Strategy. Playing on the draw is covered in Chapter Five of the same book.

34. b or c
35. d

Questions #34 and #35 concern value-betting the river, as discussed in Part III of Advanced Pot-Limit Omaha Vol. I.

In question #34, your opponent should be keenly aware of the possibility that you have a straight. Checking is clearly incorrect, because your opponent is
simply going to check behind if he has anything to show down; meanwhile, there arent any draws for him to have missed, so the likelihood is that he has
something to show down. Meanwhile, a big bet of $60-$72 is also incorrect, as it should be blatantly obvious to your opponent by now that you have the
straight.

What you need to do is create some doubt in your opponents mind. A token bet of $15-$20 may look like a blocking bet, and may be small enough to
draw a curiosity call. Meanwhile, a half-pot bet of $30-$45 or so may look like a follow-through bet, and may be more likely to draw a call from some of
your more sophisticated opponents -- particularly those that know you well, and have seen you make token value bets before.

In question #35, you called the c-bet on the semi-bluff float with the nut flush draw on the flop, turned a gutshot, and hit it on the river. Your hand is well-
disguised, and calls for a bigger bet in the $125-$153 range.

36. a, b, or c

Question #36 deals with check-raising, as discussed in Part III of Advanced Pot-Limit Omaha Vol. I. Generally speaking, all of the flops except (d) J 5
4 are good check-raising candidates. The 9 8 2 flop yields a top-end 17-card wrap with the nut flush draw, with which you would be comfortable
Free $50
playing a big pot with. The T 9 3 flop -- putting out a possible flush -- is a good candidate for a check-raise bluff, as is the 8 8 3 paired-board flop.
Free $50
On the other hand, the J 5 4 flop gives you top pair with improvers. That said, rather than check-raise and bloat the pot, the more prudent play may be
to either lead out or check-and-call.

37. b

Question #37 deals with checking-and-calling, which is also covered in Part III of Advanced Pot-Limit Omaha Vol. I.

38. b

Question #38 deals with picking off bluffs -- also covered in Part III of Advanced Pot-Limit Omaha Vol. I. This hand is actually a copy of a hand I played
during the $2,500 PLO event at the 2010 World Series of Poker.

The key here is hand reading. My opponent here is representing any hand that beats whatever I have. In this case, I have jacks up. The problem is that if
my opponent actually had any of the hands that beat me, he would have shoved on the flop given the stack sizes.

If he had 8-8-x-x, 8-7-x-x, 7-4-x-x, or 4-4-x-x, he more likely would have shoved on the flop. Moreover, this is an awfully strange way to play A-A-x-x, K-K-x-x,
or Q-Q-x-x, unless he has a flush draw to go with it; but in that case, he also would more likely have shoved on the flop.

Basically, if he had any of the hands that beat me, he would have shoved all-in on the flop.

The most likely case is that my opponent has the bare nut flush draw, and maybe something like A-K-Q-J with the nut flush draw, given his pre-flop raise.
That said, this is still not an easy call to make, where even if I am right, I am still not much better than a coin flip against A-K-Q-x with nut clubs, because
any overcard also beats me.

But in the end, I made the call, because I felt pretty strongly that I had the best hand, and I wouldnt have respected myself if I didnt make the call. My
opponent showed A-K-Q-5 with the nut club draw. The 9 hit the river, and I won with the straight.

39. c

Question #39 concerns the bluff raise, which is also covered in Part III of APLO Vol. I. The hand in question is also a copy of a hand I played in the $2,500
PLO event at the 2010 WSOP, though I actually had A-J-T-3 in the real hand.

By the river, it should be apparent that my opponent does not have A-9-x-x for the nut overfull, but more likely either has bare trips or maybe A-4-x-x, A-2-x-
x, or 4-4-x-x, or maybe trip aces with a flush, and is looking for a cheap showdown. I know he doesnt have A-9-x-x, but he doesnt know that I dont have it.
The play here is to put in a bluff raise, which I did in the actual hand.

My opponent folded as planned.

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
Pre-Flop
Free $50Play

40. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt K K Q 4 in the small blind. The cutoff opens with a raise to $7,
and the button re-raises to $24. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

41. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $400 stacks. You are dealt A? A? T? 5? in the small blind. The UTG player opens with a raise,
and it gets folded to you. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

42. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed. You ($200) are dealt A A T 5 in the big blind. The UTG player ($65) opens with a raise to $7, and
it gets folded to you. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

43. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt Q Q J T on the button. The UTG player opens with a raise to $7,
and it gets folded to you. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

44. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt J T 9 6 on the button. The UTG player opens with a raise to $7,
and the hijack calls. The cutoff folds. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

45. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt K 6 3 2 in the small blind. The button opens with a raise to
$7. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

46. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt K 6 3 2 in the big blind. It gets folded to the small blind,
who raises to $6. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

47. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt Q J 8 8 in the small blind. The button opens with a raise to
$7. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

48. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt Q J 8 8 in the big blind. It gets folded to the small blind,
who raises to $6. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

49. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed, with $200 stacks. You are dealt J T 9 8 in the big blind. It gets folded to the small blind,
who raises to $6. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

50. Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed. You are dealt A K Q J UTG. The table looks like this:
Free $50
Free $50

Do you:

a. Fold and play on?

b. Call?
c. Raise?
d. Fold and leave the game?

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
 Pre-Flop
Free $50 Play: Answer Key and Analysis

The remaining 11 questions deal with pre-flop situations, most of which are fairly unambiguous.

40. a
41. b
42. c

Questions #40 through #42 deal with blind defense. In question #40, you have K-K-x-x in the small blind, facing a raise and 3-bet. Ill put it this way:
The small blind is not worth defending in general, and definitely not with K-K-x-x against a 3-bet. There is no upside in 4-betting, either, where you are
either a decent dog against A-A-x-x or a marginal favorite against everything else.

In question #41, you have A-A-x-x with a suit and some straight possibilities. However, A-A-T-5 with a suited ace is not a strong hand out of position
with deep stacks. This should be a call.

In question #42, however, your opponent is relatively shallow. If you re-raise, you can make it $22 to go. If (when) your opponent calls, there will be
$45 in the pot, with $43 left to play. As a general rule, if you can make it a one-bet affair, then 3-betting A-A-x-x out of position is the correct play.

43. b
44. b

Questions #43 and #44 concern 3-betting vs. Small Ball. In question #43, Q-Q-J-T with a suit is a premium-class hand that you would raise with
behind any number of limpers. However, you dont want to 3-bet with hands with single pairs in them (other than A-A-x-x), as you are most likely to
flop a dry overpair (or underpair), which can be difficult to play accurately after the flop.

In question #44, you have J-T-9-6 with a suit, a speculative-class drawing hand. You might consider 3-betting behind a lone raiser; however, behind a
raise and a call, you have little chance of isolating the raiser with a 3-bet. Thus, flat-calling and seeing the flop should be the preferred play.

45. a
46. a or b

Questions #45 and #46 deal with value of position. You should not be defending or 3-betting from the small blind with K-6-3-2ds, though I see people
do it all the time. You can, however, defend the big blind against an open raise from the small blind in a BB vs. SB matchup, though you can also fold,
too.

47. a
48. b

Questions #47 and #48 are similar to question #45 and #46, except that Q J 8 8 is a better hand than K-6-3-2ds. That said, the answers are
about the same -- you should not defend the small blind with Q-J-8-8 with a suit, which is not as strong a hand as it might appear to some. Meanwhile,
3-betting with this hand in the BB vs. SB matchup in question #46 is also incorrect, given the pair in the hand.

49. c

In question #49, you have a premium-class hand worthy of a 3-bet in a BB vs. SB matchup.

50. b or d

In question #50, you have a premium-class drawing hand, but the situation is FUBAR. You are 250BBs deep, and out of position against all of the
guys who have you covered, but only have position against the two blinds, who are only 50BBs deep. Your hand is relatively strong, but without the
positional advantage and the ability to control pot size, there is a lot of downside to this situation, and not a lot of upside.

Again, your hand is pretty strong, but you would not be giving up much by simply folding and leaving the game. Either way, whether you choose to
play the hand or not, you should pick up and leave the game before posting another blind.

Free $50
 Diagnostic
Free $50 Test: Final Grade

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
Free $50 Part I: Leakfinder

In Leakfinder, I will present a hand in its raw format. It is your job to think through all aspects of the hand, and identify any playing errors. Some of the
mistakes might be yours, some will be your opponents. Some hands contain multiple leaks. Some of the leaks are more subtle, while others might be
more blatant.

Some of the hands are from my own play, while some are from instructional videos you can find online. Some of those hands were played by the
instructors themselves, while one or two were part of hand history reviews.

The goal of this exercise is not only to identify possible leaks in your own play, but also to identify exploitable errors in your opponents play at the
table. Doing so will allow you to more accurately gauge the opposition.

Keep your eyes peeled. Good hunting!

Free $50
 Hand
Free #1
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. You ($553.40) raise to $14. The button and small blind fold. The big blind ($196.10) calls.

Flop ($30): Your opponent bets $16. You raise to $76.50. Your opponent calls.

Turn ($183): Your opponent checks. You check.

River ($183): Your opponent bets $52. You fold.

The Leak

K-7-6-5 with a suit is an OK open from the cutoff. The problem with this hand is the raise on the flop with bottom two pair in this mid-SPR situation
(SPR 6). Bare bottom two pair is a small-favorite/big-dog type of hand, with which you are a big dog against a lot of otherwise small-favorite/big-dog
type hands like a bigger two pair.

Its tempting to raise this weak-stab donk bet and make your opponent pay to draw. However, if you get any action whatsoever -- even from as little
as top pair -- you are not going to like it. You are a 55%/45% favorite over A K Q T for top pair and draws to bigger two pair and trips, for
example, but only a 51%/49% favorite against A Q J T for top pair and backdoor hearts (and without a king for you to block), and a 41%/59%
dog against A K Q T for top pair and a flush draw.

From there, it gets worse. You are a 27%/73% dog against T 6 2 2 for bare top two pair, and an 18%/82% against A J T 6 for top two
pair with a flush draw.

And then you are a 6%/94% dog against T T 2 2 for bare top set.

Against the drawing hands, you are a 54%/46% favorite against 9 8 7 2 for the bare 13-card nut wrap, but a 45%/55% dog against T 9 8
7 for top pair and the 13-card nut wrap, and a 39%/61% dog against 9 8 7 2 for the 13-card nut wrap with a flush draw.

Really, you are not a favorite against much of anything that will give you action if you raise, and you are not a big favorite against anything, period.

Rather than raise and turn your hand into a bluff, the play here should be to either flat call the donk bet and see what your opponent does on the turn,
or otherwise fold.
Free $50
 Hand
Free #2
$50
The game: $3-$6 online (6-max), six-handed

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($467) limps in. The hijack folds. The cutoff ($568.20) raises to $27. The button ($1,269.14) calls. Both blinds fold. The
UTG player calls.

Flop ($87): The UTG player bets $87. The next player -- the pre-flop raiser -- raises to $174. The button folds. The UTG player calls.

Turn ($435): The UTG player bets $266 all-in. The other player calls.

River ($967): The UTG player shows T 7 5 3 for two pair. The cutoff shows Q Q J 5 for a set of queens.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #3
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Small Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: Everybody folds to you. You ($149.15) limp in, and the big blind ($100) checks.

Flop ($2): You bet $2. Your opponent raises to $5. You call.

Turn ($12): You check. Your opponent bets $6. You call.

River ($24): You check. Your opponent checks, showing K J 4 3 for two pair, fours and threes. You win.

The Leaks

Hand #2 presents a similar problem to the previous hand, except that this time the player in question -- the UTG player -- is playing out of position
with a true garbage hand. T-7-5-3 should have been folded UTG pre-flop regardless of suits, and should have been folded on the flop to the raise as
well. I suppose the bluff attempt on the turn is justifiable.

In Hand #3, the big blind flopped bottom two pair on a board with a possible straight on it. As in Hand #1, his error is raising on the flop, probably in
an attempt to define his hand. Thats just not the right play. His play should have been to call on the flop, and maybe call a turn bet at his discretion.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #4
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: All three players in front of you ($28.50, $29.65, and $90.15, respectively) limp in. You ($50.90) call. The small blind ($30.05) calls, and the
big blind ($79.05) checks.

Flop ($2.85): Everybody checks to you. You check.

Turn ($2.85): Both blinds check. The UTG player bets $1.50, and it gets folded to you. You fold. Both blinds fold, and the UTG player wins the pot.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #5
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You ($119) limp in. The cutoff ($59.45) limps in. The button folds. The small blind ($22.90) calls, and the big blind ($74.10) checks.

Flop ($1.90): Both blinds check. You check. The cutoff checks.

Turn ($1.90): The small blind checks. The big blind bets $1.90. You fold. The cutoff and small blind both call.

River ($7.35): Both blinds check. The cutoff bets $3. The small blind folds. The big blind calls. The cutoff shows K K Q 4 for a set of kings. The
big blind shows K Q 2 2 for a set of deuces.

The Leak

In Hand #4, the limp on the button is standard. That said, the player in question should have bet the flop with the overpair once everybody checked to
him on the button. Generally speaking, you should bet top pair or better from the button in these limped pots; and if you get called, it is usually
pot/pot/half-pot or pot/pot/showdown (a.k.a. The Betting Machine from Part II of APLO Vol. I, or bet it like you have it).

In Hand #5, 8-7-6-3 with a suit is a speculative-class wrap hand with 16-card nut wrap potential. Limping UTG is OK. But once you get to the flop, you
flop top pair and a gutshot, and the blinds have checked to you in a steal position, this hand should be bet.

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
 Basic
Free $50Pre-Flop Play

Hands #6 through #9 go together.

Hand #6

The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), four-handed

Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You ($93.75) fold UTG. The button ($48.30) raises to $1.75. Both blinds fold.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #7
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), three-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You fold. The small blind ($88.90) raises to $6. The big blind folds.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #8
$50
The game: $3-$6 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: Everybody folds to the small blind ($694.80), who opens with a raise to $18. You fold.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #9
$50
The game: $3-$6 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Small Blind
Your hand:

This is the very next hand.

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The cutoff ($855.56) limps in. The button ($700.80) raises to $27. You ($1,242.30) call. The big blind ($97.31) and
cutoff call.

Flop ($106): You check. It gets checked to the button, who bets $80. You fold, and the other two players both fold.

The Leaks

Hands #6 through #9 are from instructional videos. I dont normally give people shit about playing tight, but I just dont see how you can fold A-K-T-2
with a suited ace UTG playing four-handed, or A-7-5-2 with a suited ace on the button playing three-handed, or A-8-7-3 with a suited ace in the big
blind in a BB vs. SB matchup.

Really, I dont see tight players folding these hands in these situations at any stakes.

And then the same player defends the small blind to a raise holding Q-J-8-8, which is a worse hand than it looks playing from out of position.

I suppose an argument could be made for folding bottom set on this board.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #10
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($343.15) calls. It gets folded around to the small blind ($213.64), who calls. You check ($100.97).

Flop ($5.70): The small blind bets $5.70. You raise to $22.80. The UTG player folds. The small blind re-raises to $74.10. You re-raise all-in for
$98.97 total. The small blind calls.

Turn ($203.64):

River ($203.64): The small blind shows J T 6 5, and you split the pot.

The Leak

Yeah, the big blind got freerolled holding the bare nut straight. This hand is straight out of Chapter One from my first book (figuratively speaking). In a
high-SPR situation (SPR 17), the play with the bare nut straight is to flat call the bet and represent a draw. In doing so, your opponent may keep
betting weaker hands when behind (when he doesnt have a straight), while potentially giving you the opportunity to steal the pot later in the hand
when he does have the same straight but the board changes (i.e. the board pairs or flushes).

Free $50
 Hand
Free #11
$50
The game: $3-$6 online (6-max), six-handed

You are merely a spectator in this hand.

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The hijack ($223) limps in. The cutoff and button both fold. The small blind ($1,492.14) calls. The big blind ($727.10)
raises to $24. Both the hijack and small blind call.

Flop ($69): Both blinds check. The hijack bets $69. The small blind calls, but the big blind folds.

Turn ($207): The small blind checks. The hijack bets $130 all-in. The small blind calls.

River ($467): The small blind shows K 8 7 5. The hijack shows A K J 9 and wins with the straight.

The Leak

The hijack probably could have afforded to put in a raise pre-flop with A K J 9, a premium-class drawing hand. That said, the real culprit in this
hand is the small blind, who check-called the flop with the bare second-nut flush draw. This is a no-no.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #12
$50
The game: $3-$6 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The hijack ($750.50) raises to $18. The cutoff ($415.59) calls. You ($497.80) call. Both blinds fold.

Flop ($60): The first player bets $54. The cutoff folds. You call.

Turn ($168): Your opponent bets $120. You raise to $240. Your opponent calls.

River ($648): Your opponent sets you all-in for $168.80. You call. Your opponent shows Q J J 5 for Jacks full.

The Leaks

The flat call pre-flop is acceptable. That said, the flop call with the overpair and gutshot is pretty thin in this three-way pot, with the first player leading
into two opponents on a board with two Broadway cards on it.

Id tend to give him some credit for a hand.

Now that said, the worst play the player made was on the turn: When the board pairs giving you aces up and your opponent bets, the play is to flat
call. If you raise, you are not getting a worse hand than aces up to play with you for stacks.

By the river, you have to know you are beat once you raised your opponent on the turn and got called. However, pot odds are a consideration here,
since this is a relatively small all-in bet and you do have the nut straight.

On the other hand, if you just flat call the turn, you probably save the rest of your stack once your opponent puts you all-in on the river for $288.80 in a
$408 pot rather than for $168.80 in a $648 pot. I think once you flat call the turn, your opponent should give you credit for a hand, and if he still shoves
the river, it probably means he can beat your straight.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #13
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($345.30) limps in. The hijack ($209.30) raises to $9. The cutoff ($113.05) calls. The button folds. The small blind ($52.25)
calls. You ($264.60) call. The UTG player folds.

Flop ($36.10): The small blind checks. You check. The hijack bets $27. The cutoff and small blind both fold. You raise to $117.10. Your opponent re-
raises all-in for $200.30 total. You call.

Turn ($436.70):

River ($436.70): Your opponent shows T 9 7 6 having flopped the nut straight.

The Leaks

Starting with the flop, there is something suspect about the UTG player limping in and then folding to the raise. I think if you are going to fold to a
raise, you probably shouldnt limp in UTG to begin with.

But the worst play of the hand belongs to the big blind, check-raising the flop with the second-nut straight plus two pair for a re-draw in this mid-SPR
(SPR 5.5) situation.

Remember, the bare nut straight is a small-pot, low-SPR hand. This is not the bare nut straight. If you check-raise and get action, you are either
going to be a small favorite over a set (though you do have two pair for blockers), or maybe a combo draw like two pair with a flush draw; or you are
going to be a big dog against the nut straight.

Moreover, the bettor is not likely to be bluffing on this board in a four-way pot, which makes it more likely you are up against the nuts.

That said, you are probably better off calling the bet on the flop, and then perhaps leading out or otherwise check-raise shoving the turn. At least once
you get to the turn, you are much more likely to be able to play for the rest of your stack with hands you can beat, such as two pair -- a hand that might
have otherwise folded to a check-raise on the flop, but might commit on the turn if you just flat call.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #14
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Small Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The cutoff posts a big blind and a dead small blind. The UTG player folds. The cutoff ($202.60) opens with a raise to $7. The button folds.
You ($48.83) call. The big blind ($363.05) calls.

Flop ($20.90): You check. The big blind checks. The button bets $20.90. You call. The big blind folds.

Turn ($61.80): You bet $20.93 all-in. Your opponent calls with Q J 9 9.

River ($103.66): You lose.

The Leaks

For starters, this is an awful call from the small blind. Secondly, the player in question flopped a bare open-ended straight draw on a two-flush board,
and the SPR is 2 -- shove-or-fold territory. This means that check-calling is generally not an option.

That said, the downside to check-raising is that with an SPR of 2, your opponent is less likely to fold then he might be if you lead out. Because if he
bets $20.90, there is not much he is going to fold for $20.93 more, even just on principle. And considering that you dont really have anything, you
dont want to pot-commit your opponent.

The better play in this spot is to lead out. At least this way you give your opponent a chance to fold a weak flush draw or whatever.

Or, if you dont like either option, you should be check-folding rather than check-calling.

Unless -- and I am going to throw this option out there -- check-calling might be acceptable if you are planning to bet the turn no matter what -- a
stop-and-go reverse float. This way, you might win the pot if spades hit as well, unless your opponent has spades himself (as he did in this hand).

Free $50
 Hand
Free #15
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($194.44) limps in. You ($207.50) raise to $8. The button and the small blind fold. The big blind ($368.39) and limper call.

Flop ($23.75): Both opponents check to you. You check.

Turn ($23.75): The big blind bets $20, and the UTG player folds. You fold.

The Leaks

You should either bet the flop or block the turn bet with a combo float. The player clearly missed that he picked up a second nut gutshot straight draw
on the turn as well. I think he gave up this hand too easily.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #16
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), four-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($289.80) limps in. You ($261.30) raise to $9. The small blind ($230.85) calls. The big blind folds and the UTG player calls.

Flop ($27.55): The small blind checks. The UTG player bets $2. You raise to $24. The small blind folds. The UTG player calls.

Turn ($75): The UTG player checks. You check.

River($75): The UTG player bets $10. You call. The UTG player shows A Q T 4.

The Leaks

Four-handed, A-Q-T-4 with a suit should probably be raised from UTG, though limping is acceptable.

The UTG player made an interesting play with the min-bet and call on the flop. In isolation, this play looks terrible -- and probably is terrible -- though in
aggregate it actually is not as bad a play as it looks: Once the player gets raised here, he can probably figure that the button has either the dry ace,
the nut clubs, or air, as the other player is more likely to flat call with a non-nut flush than raise with it.

And by calling here and representing a flush, the UTG player may successfully slow the other player from betting the turn if he has air, which opens the
door for the UTG player to bet the river and steal the pot.

Now all that said, the UTG player screwed up the play -- assuming he had one -- by betting $10 into a $75 pot on the river. That bet needed to be
more in the $40-$60 range.

The buttons play is OK, I suppose. The isolation raise before the flop is on the loose side, and Im not sure I raise that flop, either. But OK.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #17
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), six-handed
Small Blinds Hand:

Big Blinds Hand:

Pre-flop: The cutoff ($256.60) opens with a raise to $7. The button folds. The small blind ($477) re-raises to $23. The big blind ($329.80) calls. The
cutoff re-raises to $92. The small blind folds. The big blind calls.

Flop ($204): The big blind sets the other player all-in for $164.60. The cutoff calls.

Turn ($533.20):

River ($533.20): The cutoff shows A A 9 8.

The Leaks

The post-flop play here is not the issue. The issue is that I dont see 3-betting out of the small blind with 8-6-6-5 being correct; or if that is correct, then
I dont see folding to the 4-bet from the cutoff being correct. The play from the small blind should have been to either flat call the initial raise or fold.

That said, the big blind did make a loose call pre-flop knowing that the player behind him was likely to come along and possibly even 4-bet. The big
blind can probably afford to wait for a more premium-class rundown in this spot, as opposed to a marginal-class hand like K-J-T-6 with a top gap and
dangler.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #18
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), six-handed

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The hijack ($201.25), cutoff ($120.25), and button ($227) all call. The small blind ($200) calls. The big blind ($638)
calls.

Flop ($9.50): The small blind bets $9, and only the big blind calls.

Turn ($26.65): The small blind bets $24, and the big blind calls.

River ($73): Both players check. The big blind shows A 9 6 4 for the nut flush, and the small blind shows A 7 6 3 for two pair.

The Leak

With bare bottom pair, this is a bad bet from the small blind into three players, and particularly on a flop like this one with all kinds of straight and flush
draw possibilities on it. The follow-through bet on the turn is OK, and shutting down on the river is acceptable once called on the turn.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #19
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The hijack ($199) opens with a raise to $7. You ($467.05) re-raise to $24. The button folds. The small blind
($309.50) calls. The big blind ($414.60) folds. The hijack calls.

Flop ($71): Both opponents check to you. You check behind.

Turn ($71): The small blind bets $71. The hijack folds. You call.

River ($213): Your opponent bets $58. You fold.

The Leak

The player in question screwed this one up on the flop. He has a set of queens in a low SPR situation (SPR 4 against the small blind, and SPR 2.5
against the hijack). The play should have been to bet the flop and commit.

Instead, he made a mess of the hand by checking and giving the free card.

Meanwhile, sitting only 100BBs deep with the original pre-flop raiser, the 3-bet pre-flop is also somewhat suspect. Generally speaking, you should
prefer to have deeper stacks to 3-bet with the double-paired -- but non-A-A-x-x -- hand. With 100BB stacks, this is essentially a pump-and-shove 3-
bet situation in which the result would be a low-SPR situation on the flop if only the hijack (the original pre-flop raiser) calls, or a worse situation in
which you get 4-bet by A-A-x-x.

I cant say I havent 3-bet with this hand in this spot with 100BB stacks myself; Im just saying you should generally avoid doing so.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #20
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The hijack ($203.65) calls. The cutoff folds. You ($617) call. The small blind folds. The big blind ($232.90) checks.

Flop ($6.65): Both opponents check to you. You bet $6, and only the big blind calls.

Turn ($18.10): Your opponent checks. You check behind.

River ($18.10): Your opponent bets $8. You fold.

The Leak

The rule is this: Once you start betting at the pot, you play virtually every hand as if you flopped the nuts until your opponent plays back at you.

Once you bet the flop, you should also be betting the turn. Meanwhile, after checking the turn with a possible flush draw on the board, calling the $8
river bet should be almost mandatory, unless you have a very good read on your opponent.

I plucked this one off of an instructional video as well.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #21: The Worst Hand Ever Played
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), six-handed

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($50) raises to $1.75. Everybody folds to the small blind ($51.70), who calls. The big blind ($174.95) calls.

Flop ($5): The small blind checks. The big blind bets $4.50. The UTG player raises to $18.75. The small blind calls. The big blind re-raises and sets
the table all-in. The UTG player and small blind both call.

The UTG player has Q J 8 4; the small blind has Q J 9 8, and the big blind has K J T 7.

The Leaks

This is one of the all-around worst-played hands of Omaha I have ever seen.

This hand was part of a hand history review from an instructional video, in which the instructor discussed hands played by one of his students. As a
consequence, you expect by default that one of the players played the hand poorly -- only the player in question wasnt the only one.

This is a three-way pot on the flop with an SPR of about 10 -- mid-high SPR territory.

The UTG player opens with a raise with Q-J-8-4ds -- not a good hand, particularly from UTG (though I cant say I havent done worse). But then he
raises on the flop with the bare nut straight, no re-draw, which is not the correct play with the bare nut straight in a deep-stack situation.

Im not sure what the big blind is thinking with top two pair and the second-nut flush draw. His blind defense is OK, and his bet on the flop is fine as
well. It turns out that he is a 60%/40% equity favorite heads up against the Q-J-8-4 hand, and in fact even has 62% equity in a three-way pot with Q-J-
8-4 and another bare straight like Q-J-9-8 (for example).

But if you give the small blind -- who just called the raise -- credit for A 8 6 5 for the nut flush draw, then the big blinds equity in a three-way pot
drops to 33%. Give the small blind K-K-2-2 for top set instead, and the big blinds equity is 36%. However, assuming both hands are unknown, give
one player A Q 6 5 for the nut flush draw and a gutshot, and the other player K-K-2-2 rainbow for top set, and the big blinds equity drops to
19%. Give one player A Q 6 5 and the other K K Q J for top set and the straight, and the big blinds equity drops to 6%.

Basically, what I am getting at is that there is no way for the big blind to determine that he has 62% equity (huge favorite) in a three-way pot rather
than 6%-36% (small-favorite/big-dog).

The threat of the nut flush draw or top set alone should make the big blinds perceived equity in the 6%-36% range.

I think the big blind overplayed his hand in this situation.

The small blind, too, flops the bare nut straight, but then makes the mistake of calling the raise. This should be a fold with the bare nut straight sitting
this deep. But then, now that the small blind has decided not to fold, his play should be to re-raise all-in rather than flat call, as he has less than one
bet remaining and can try to shut out the other player.

The actual equities were 62% for the big blind with K J T 7 for top two and a flush draw, and a gutshot to a split; 20% for the Q-J-9-8 hand, and
18% for the Q-J-8-4. That said, the problem with the way all three players played the hand is that they all made decisions that depended on their
opponents making a worse play than they did.

What I mean is, it is quite difficult for any of the players in the hand to play for stacks in an SPR 10 situation and get way the best of it. Raising with the
bare nut straight in a high mid-SPR situation can only be correct if the opposition is going to shove with a bare set, bare two pair, a sucker straight
draw drawing dead, or maybe bare gutshot or bare flush draw. Calling the bet and raise cold with the bare nut straight from the small blind can only
be correct if both the big blind and UTG player are messing around with worse hands than yours -- in which case, shoving all-in would be better than
calling. And re-raising from the big blind with top two pair and the second-nut flush draw can only be correct if the small blind is cold-calling the bet
and raise with the bare nut straight (which he shouldnt be doing), and not top set or the nut flush draw (which might make more sense).
Free $50
 I think the player in the big blind got exceptionally lucky that both opponents just happened to have the straight, and with no re-draw.
Free $50
PLO Tip: You should tend to avoid playing in such a way that depends on your opponents playing worse than you are.

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
 3-Betting/4-Betting/5-Betting
Free $50

Hands #22 through #30 deal with 3-betting, 4-betting, and 5-betting. Your job is to figure out what the error is, and which player is making the error.

Hand #22

The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed

Your position: Hijack
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. You ($436.90) open with a raise to $14. The cutoff ($474.50) re-raises to $48. Everybody folds back to you. You re-
raise to $82. Your opponent re-raises to $252. You fold.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #23
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The hijack ($440.40) opens with a raise to $12. The cutoff folds. You ($400) re-raise to $42. The small blind folds. The big blind ($792) re-
raises to $140. The hijack folds. You fold.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #24
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Small Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: Everybody folds to you in the small blind. You ($491.20) raise to $12. The big blind ($273.40) re-raises to $32. You re-raise to $96. Your
opponent folds.

The Leaks

Rule #1: Dont 3-bet with a hand you dont want to get 4-bet with, and dont 4-bet with a hand you dont want to get 5-bet with.

Rule #2: Dont 3-bet and then fold to a 4-bet when you are going to be heads up with the positional advantage.

All three of these hands came from instructional videos. In Hand #22, the player opened with a raise with a fairly premium hand, got 3-bet by the
player behind him, and responded by 4-betting for whatever reason. But then he got 5-bet, decided he was dominated by A-A-x-x, and opted to fold.

I just dont see 4-betting being the correct play here, particularly if you are planning to fold to a 5-bet.

In Hand #23, the player 3-bet with A-Q-T-4 with a suited ace, but then got 4-bet from the blinds and folded when he was going to be heads up with
position, again fearing domination. My take is if you are going to fold to a 4-bet, you should just flat call the first raise; and then if you are going to be
heads up with position, just dont fold.

In Hand #24, the big blind 3-bet in a BB vs. SB matchup, but then folded to a 4-bet for whatever reason, thus violating both rules.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #25
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Small Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($493.70) raises to $12. The hijack and cutoff fold. The button ($545) calls. You ($1,054.10) re-raise to $52. The big blind
folds. The UTG player and button both call.

Flop ($158): You check. The UTG player bets $128. The button raises all-in for $493 total. You fold. The UTG player calls.

Turn ($1,041.40):

River ($1,041.40):

UTG player: A J T 5
Button: A J 5 3

The Leak

A-K-8-7ds is not a premium hand in any Omaha game, and 3-betting out of position is not a good idea in general, much less with a sub-premium
hand.

I also dont see checking top pair, probable live draws to top two pair, and a flush draw to be the right play in this low-SPR situation on the flop. The
play should be to bet and commit, particularly since you already represented A-A-x-x when you 3-bet before the flop. Even if you bet and get action, it
would be hard for a single opponent to have both a better hand and a better draw than you. That said, once you 3-bet pre-flop and put yourself in this
low-SPR situation, you are pretty much committed to betting the flop and going with it.

The UTG player did what the small blind should have done. The player in the small blind just got lucky that it went bet and then shove, against which
you can legitimately argue that a fold is correct against two opponents, as now it is harder for the small blind to have either the best hand or the best
draw. As it turned out, the player shoving on the button flopped both a wheel and a bigger flush draw than the small blind had.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #26
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You ($400) open with a raise to $14. The button and small blind fold. The big blind ($420.50) re-raises to $44. You re-raise to $134 to
make a point and discourage the big blind from 3-betting you out-of-position. Your opponent re-raises and sets you all-in for $400 total. You call.

Flop ($800):

Turn ($800):

River ($800):

The big blind shows A A 5 2 for a pair of Aces.

The Leak

Why 4-bet? I dont understand why people think this is a strong play. In doing so, the player merely negated his positional advantage.

I plucked this one off of an instructional video. Looking back, I cant remember which player was which, but I hope the player in the cutoff seat was not
the instructor (which it probably was).

Free $50
 Hand
Free #27
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
My position: Cutoff
My hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($121.90) opens with a raise to $3. The next player folds. I ($137.35) re-raise to $10.50. The button ($86.40) re-raises to
$36. The small blind folds. The big blind ($96.90) re-raises all-in to $96.90. The UTG player folds. I fold. The button calls all-in for $86.40 total. The big
blind shows K K Q 5. The button shows A A 8 3.

Flop ($186.80):

Turn ($186.80):

River ($186.80):

Free $50
 Hand
Free #28
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), six-handed
My position: UTG
My hand:

Pre-flop: I ($105.50) limp in UTG. The next player folds. The cutoff ($52.05) raises to $2.25, and the button ($66.40) calls. The small blind folds. The
big blind ($91.95) re-raises to $9.75. I call. The cutoff now re-raises to $41.50, and the button folds. The big blind now re-raises to $91.95 all-in. I fold.
The cutoff calls all-in to $52.05 total.

The cutoff shows K K J 7. The big blind shows A A Q 2.

Flop/Turn/River ($116.35):

The Leaks

In Hand #27, 5-betting with K-K-x-x is not the right play. K-K-x-x is not a huge favorite over much of anything, and basically you are just praying nobody
has A-A-x-x. K K Q 5 is:

58%/42% against A Q J T or 9 8 7 6
55%/45% against A 8 7 6
52%/48% against A 8 7 6, where K-K-x-x hand has one live suit
35%/65% against A A 5 4, for aces, but the K-K-x-x hand has two live suits
31%/69% against A A 7 6 (hearts dominated)
27%/73% against A A 7 7 (both suits dominated)
And 37%/63% against the actual hand, A A 8 3.

Shoving is no better the gambling. The correct play with K-K-x-x facing a two, 3-, and 4-bet is to fold.

In Hand #28, the button makes a couple of errors with a worse K-K-x-x hand. If he doesnt raise with the sub-premium K-K-x-x hand, he does not face
a 3-bet from the big blind. And if he does not face a 3-bet from the big blind, he does not have to think about 4-betting with K-K-x-x against a hand
against which he has no idea whether he is the favorite or the dog, and cannot be better than a 3:2 favorite either way.

They say that PLO is a high-variance game. And surely it is, but there is a lot of excess variance being created by the players themselves making
plays like these.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #29
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
My position: Button
My hand:

Pre-flop: It gets folded to me, and I ($570.40) open with a raise to $14. The small blind ($276) re-raises to $46. The big blind ($400) now re-raises
to $152.

Action: I fold. The small blind calls.

Flop ($318): The small blind bets $124 all-in, and the big blind calls. The small blind shows Q T 7 4 for bottom pair. The big blind shows Q J
T 8 for a pair of eights with a heart draw.

Turn ($566):

River ($566): The big blind wins with the flush.

The Leaks

I really dont understand what these guys are thinking.

Lets start with the small blind. He 3-bets with Q-T-7-4 (single-suited nonetheless) out of position, and to what end? Hes not deep enough to scare
anyone, as if raising is supposed to scare someone who has position on you. And if the big blind folds, I call, and the flop comes as it did, what would
have happened is that the small blind would have bet because he has the initiative and thinks I should fear him, when the reality is that I am just going
to shove with my top pair.

The big blinds play doesnt make much sense, either. Sure, Q-J-T-8ds is a premium hand, but all PLO hands are basically drawing hands, except
for A-A-x-x all-in pre-flop; and if youve gotta see a flop, A-A-x-x is also basically a drawing hand.

Sure, if the big blind knewthe other guy had precisely Q-T-7-4 single-suited -- against which he is a 63%/37% favorite -- his isolation play is a good
value play. Otherwise, what he is doing is not better than gambling, given the stack sizes. Because he has to know that his 4-bet is getting called or
re-raised about 99% of the time -- either by me or the small blind -- after which point there will be less than one bet left on the flop regardless of who
does what, and everybody will be virtually committed to the pot if they catch any piece of the board or any draw whatsoever.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #30
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), five-handed
My position: Button
My hand:

Pre-flop: The first two players fold. I ($584.80) open with a raise to $14, and the small blind folds. The big blind ($362.60) re-raises to $44. I re-raise
to $134, and my opponent calls.

Flop ($270): My opponent bets $228.60 all-in. I call. My opponent shows T T 7 5.

Turn ($727.20):

River ($727.20):

The Leak

This is another really bad hand to 3-bet with from the big blind, and out of position to boot. It is hard to be better than a 2:1 favorite pre-flop in this
game, but I am a 69%/31% favorite against the T-T-7-5 hand. I am also a 72%/28% favorite after the flop.

The pair in his hand is a rather significant handicap. With a hand like J-T-7-5 rainbow for a pair of sevens, for example, my opponent improves to a
39%/61% dog.

You should tend to avoid 3-betting with single pair hands other than A-A-x-x, and you should tend to avoid doing much 3-betting out of position
period.

Free $50
Free $50
A-A-x-x

Hands #31 through #33 deal with A-A-x-x hands.

Hand #31

The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed

Your position: Small Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The cutoff ($209.80) opens with a raise to $8. The button ($274.35) calls. You ($493.90) re-raise to $36. The big blind folds. The cutoff
folds. The button calls.

Flop ($81): You bet $68. Your opponent raises all-in for $238.35. You call.

Turn ($557.50):

River ($557.50): Your opponent shows K T 9 7.

The Leak

The small blind is simply too deep to make this 3-bet out of position without truly premium aces. Because if you dont flop a set or a flush draw with
this hand, then you wind up making plays like this one.

As it turns out, the player got lucky and was a 57%/43% favorite on the flop against the K-T-9-7 hand. But against K-T-9-6 for top two pair, the A-A-x-x
hand becomes a 29%/71% dog. Against K-K-T-9 for top set, the A-A-x-x hand drops to about a 15%/85% or 16%/84% dog, depending on suits.

Against 7 6 5 4 for a pair and a 13-card nut wrap, the A-A-x-x hand is a 44%/56% dog.

Basically, it is hard for the A-A-x-x hand to be more than a marginal favorite on this flop, but pretty easy for it to be a small to big dog. I think in
aggregate, the small blind will prove to have overplayed his A-A-x-x hand in this spot.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #32
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($36.45) limps in. The Hijack folds. You ($60.75) raise to $2. The button ($72.45) calls. The small blind ($71.55) calls. The
big blind folds.

Flop ($8.10): Everyone checks.

Turn ($8.10): Everyone checks.

River ($8.10): Everyone checks.

The small blind shows T 9 8 6 for nothing, and the UTG player shows Q 9 4 2 for queens up. The button mucks. You win.

The Leak

The problem with this A-A-x-x hand wasnt the way the hand was played after the flop, but rather the way it was played before it. A-A-9-2 rainbow is
an awfully weak hand to try to attack a limper with, as it is a one-dimensional hand that pretty much needs to flop a set in order to be played strongly
after the flop.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #33
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The first three players ($461, $385.90), and $440, respectively) all limp in. You ($389.60) raise to $26. The small blind folds. The big blind
($521.70) and UTG player ($461) both call. The hijack ($385.90) re-raises to $136. The cutoff folds. You re-raise all-in for $389.60 total. The big blind
folds. The UTG player calls, and the hijack calls all-in.

Flop ($1,167.10):

Turn ($1,167.10):

River ($1,167.10):

UTG Player: 9 7 5 2
Hijack: A A 9 6

The Leak

The player on the button made a similar error to the player in the previous hand, only worse -- this player raised behind three limpers with A-A-5-3
rainbow, another hand that will have some difficulty flopping hard. Of course he got lucky and made a full house with his side cards to outdraw 9-7-5-
2ds and another crap A-A-x-x hand.

The hijack with the A-A-9-6 rainbow hand played it OK.

The UTG player with the 9-7-5-2ds did not play the hand OK, and got what he deserved.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #34
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Small Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: Everybody folds to you in the small blind. You ($481) raise to $12. The big blind ($240.40) -- a loose 3-bettor who has 3-bet you and then
folded to a 4-bet in a previous hand -- re-raises to $36. You call.

Flop ($69): You check. Your opponent bets $69. You fold.

The Leak

The open raise from the small blind with this suited ace hand is somewhat defensible. However, folding top pair with probable live draws to top two
pair in this low-SPR situation (SPR < 3) is awfully weak. The play here should have been to check-raise the other player all-in.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #35
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), four-handed
My position: Big Blind
My hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($464.70) opens with a raise to $3.50, and it gets folded to me. I ($100) call.

Flop ($7.50): I bet $7.50, and my opponent calls.

Turn ($22.50): I bet $22.50, and my opponent calls.

River ($67.50): I bet $66.50 all-in. My opponent calls, showing A A 9 9 for aces up. I win with the underfull.

The Leak

The UTG player flopped an overpair and the nut flush draw in a heads up pot, in what is basically a high-SPR situation (SPR ~ 13) -- judgment
territory. That said, heads up in this SPR ~13 situation, there should have been a raise at some point in the hand, whether on the flop or the turn.

Im not saying the outcome would or would not have been different in this particular hand, but generally speaking, there is no question the UTG player
underplayed his hand.

A raise with the overpair and nut flush draw is all purpose. He might have earned a fold with a raise on the turn -- if not the flop -- in this particular
hand. And certainly if I had less of a hand -- like bare top pair -- then he would have earned a fold. Alternatively, if I had a drawing hand or combo
hand like a pair of kings with a smaller diamond draw, the UTG player would have been raising for value. Ditto if I have a wrap, with or without
diamonds.

As it turned out, the UTG player was a 57%/43% favorite over my two pair and gutshot on the flop. He would have been a 75%/25% favorite over K
Q J 4 for a pair of kings and smaller diamonds, and a 67%/33% favorite over 7 6 5 4 for a pair with a 13-card nut wrap and diamonds -- an
otherwise pretty strong hand.

And pretty much worse case, he would only have been a 36%/64% dog against K-K-Q-J for top set, which I am not that likely to have heads up.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #36
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The button ($52.60) opens with a raise to $1.75, and the small blind folds. I ($65.85) call.

Flop ($3.75): I bet $2.50. My opponent raises to $6.50, and I call.

Turn ($16.75): I check. My opponent checks.

River ($16.75): I check. My opponent checks, showing Q T 8 8 for a queen-high flush.

The Leak

The button overplayed his queen-high flush by raising on the flop. He atoned for his error by checking back the turn, and then got lucky the board
paired.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #37
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max, deep) with $0.75 antes, six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The first two players fold. You fold. The button ($2,429.60) opens with a raise to $18.50, and the small blind folds. The big blind ($862) re-
raises to $62, and the button calls.

Flop ($130.50): The big blind bets $112. The button raises to $416. The big blind now re-raises to $799.25 all-in, and the button calls, showing K
J T 9 for top pair and the nut open-ended straight draw. The big blind shows A A Q T for a pair of aces.

Turn ($1,729):

River ($1,729): The big blind wins with the pair of aces.

The Leak

The big blind overplayed his bare A-A-x-x hand on the flop in this mid-SPR situation (SPR 6). He was a 46%/54% dog against the actual hand, but a
38%/62% dog against T 9 8 2 for bare top two pair, and a 24%/76% dog against J T 9 8 for top two pair with an open-ended straight
draw. He is also a 12%/88% dog against K J T T for top set.

He is a 59%/41% favorite against K 8 4 2 for middle pair, but a 66%/34% favorite against K T 4 2 for top pair with a king kicker, probably
because making trip tens does not beat the A-A-x-x hand in this case, as it gives the A-A-x-x hand trip tens with an ace kicker.

I think this is a small-favorite/big-dog scenario for the A-A-x-x hand, and thus 3-betting on the flop is not the correct play.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #38
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
My position: Cutoff
My hand:

Pre-flop: The first two players fold. I ($560) limp in. The button folds. The small blind ($1,433.80) limps in, and the big blind ($413) checks.

Flop ($12): Both opponents check. I bet $8. The small blind raises to $36, and the big blind folds. I call.

Turn ($84): My opponent bets $84. I call.

River ($252): My opponent bets $252. I raise to $436 all-in, and my opponent calls, showing T 7 5 4 for trip sevens.

The Leak

Well, I think its pretty clear my opponent overplayed his trips here. Lets say I give him credit for a nice play on the flop. Its conceivable -- however
unlikely -- that I call him with something like A-A-x-x or Q-Q-x-x on the turn trying to pick off the follow-through bluff, as I clearly called the check-raise
on the flop with something similar (K-K-x-x).

So there is an off chance that my opponents T-7-5-4 hand is still good.

But on the river, once I raise my opponent, theres about a 99% chance I can beat trip sevens with a ten kicker. And so even if I give him credit for the
rest of the hand, he should not have paid off the raise on the river.

Now that said, I think most opponents who can call the turn bet will likely show you trip sevens or better, and I am not sure my opponent should even
have bet the river at all with the undertrips, except maybe as a bluff, or maybe a small blocking bet.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #39
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
My position: Small Blind
My hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The hijack ($462.65) limps in, and the next two players both fold. I ($117.35) call, and the big blind ($123.35) checks.

Flop ($3): I check, and it gets checked around.

Turn ($3): I bet $2. The big blind raises to $7, and the hijack folds. I call.

River ($17): I check. My opponent checks, showing K Q Q 8 for two pair, aces and queens. I win.

The Leak

The big blinds raise on the turn is incorrect. His raise is not getting called by less than an ace, and so there is no value in the raise; meanwhile, he
sacrificed pot control in the name of protecting his hand. The play should have been to smooth call and try to show the hand down on the river, or
otherwise likely fold to a second bet.

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
Free $50 Part II: The Pre-Flop Playing
Map

In Part II: The Pre-Flop Playing Map, we are going to map out your pre-flop playing approach. There are four basic situations covered here:

1. Opening Fire on the Blinds

2. Attacking the Limper
3. Playing Out of Position
4. 3-Betting vs. Small Ball

For each of the four situations, you are given a set of 30 hands, which are identical for each situation. Your task is to fill in each box with the action
you would take in each situation for each particular hand.

This is not an exercise in right and wrong, but rather an exercise in how you think about starting hands and pre-flop play. My personal responses
are given on the page following each situation. It is not necessary for your answers to match up with mine; whats more important is the way that you
think about your own responses.

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
 Opening
Free $50 Fire on the Blinds

The situation: It is a $1-$2 game online (6-max) with 100BB stacks. You are on the button, and everybody has folded to you. Do you fold, call, or raise
with the following hands?

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
 Opening
Free $50 Fire on the Blinds: My Answers

The situation: It is a $1-$2 game online (6-max) with 100BB stacks. You are on the button, and everybody has folded to you. Do you fold, call, or raise
with the following hands?

Heres how I answer:

For the most part, I will raise with most hands I will play, with the main exception being dry pairs (Q Q T 5, A A 9 5, and T T 8 3, as
well as J J 6 5 and K K Q 2) and small, speculative-class drawing hands (7 6 4 2) and marginal Small Ball hands (J 6 4 3). I will
also tend to play most hands other than trash, which includes hands such as K T 8 4, 7-7-4-2 unsuited, and Q-J-T-9 unsuited (virtually all
unsuited hands are trash in my book, as they lack real big-pot potential without the ability to make a straight with the flush re-draw; dry big pairs such
as A-A-x-x or K-K-x-x are speculative at best).

Note the variable responses for some of the hands. For instance, I may open-limp with J 6 4 3 or T 9 8 2 against most opponents, but may
raise if the blinds are extremely tight. I will tend to raise with T 7 6 5, but there is nothing wrong with open-limping with that hand, either.

With hands like K K Q 2 or J J 6 5, my default play is to limp and play a small pot, though I may venture a raise if the blinds are complete
pushovers.

I cant say Ive never played K T 8 4 on the button. I would say calling or raising are not much better or worse than folding for some players, but
that most players are probably better off simply folding the hand.

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
 Attacking
Free $50 the Limper

New scenario: Its a $1-$2 game online (6-max) with 100BB stacks. You are on the button, and only the UTG player has limped in front of you. Do you
fold, call, or raise with the following hands? How do your answers change if the UTG player is a strong player or weak player, or if the blinds are loose
or tight?

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
 Attacking
Free $50 the Limper: My Answers

Its a $1-$2 game online (6-max) with 100BB stacks. You are on the button, and only the UTG player has limped in front of you. Do you fold, call, or
raise with the following hands?

My answers:

For the most part, when playing behind a limper, I tend to revert back to full-ring strategy, which is to raise with the premium-class hands and limp in
with the speculative and marginal hands. However, if I think the limper is a particularly weak player and/or if the blinds are particularly tight, I may put
in a raise with hands such as J-T-8-6 double-suited, K-Q-T-2 with a suit, Q-J-T-7 with a suit, T-8-7-6 double-suited, or J-9-8-6 double-suited -- hands
that are not premium-class hands in multi-way pots, but which perform well enough in short-handed pots with the positional advantage.

And though I did otherwise with the hand presented in this chapter, I generally limp in with a hand like K K Q 2 -- the double-suitedness doesnt
do that much for me as having another connector would, as in K-K-Q-J or K-K-Q-T with a suit.

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
 Playing
Free $50 Out of Position

Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed (6-max) with 100BB stacks. You are UTG. Do you fold, call, or raise with the following hands?

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
 Playing
Free $50 Out of Position: My Answers

Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed (6-max) with 100BB stacks. You are UTG. Do you fold, call, or raise with the following hands?

My answers:

The answers when playing UTG in a six-handed game depend a lot on the players behind you. In extremely passive games where nobody is raising
pre-flop, Ive limped in with most of these hands and taken a flop. But in aggressive games where I can expect a raise behind me, I would fold
everything but the premium-class hands, and perhaps a top speculative-class drawing hand such as A K T 2 with a suited ace (a speculative-
class hand in multi-way pots), or Q-J-T-7 with a suit, with which I may limp in and try to see the flop multi-way.

I will still raise with most of the premium hands in an aggressive game, though I prefer to call with a premium-class hand with a pair such as Q Q J
T, as the pairs are tough to play out of position when they miss the flop.

Usually, the solution in a tough, aggressive game is either to tighten up out of position or -- better yet -- leave the game and find a better one.

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
 3-Betting
Free $50 in Position vs. Small Ball

Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed (6-max) with 100BB to 200BB stacks. You are on the button, and the cutoff has opened with a raise to $7 in
front of you. Do you fold, call, or re-raise with the following hands? For which hands might stack size affect your decision?

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
 3-Betting
Free $50 in Position vs. Small Ball: My Answers

Its a $1-$2 game online, six-handed (6-max) with 100BB to 200BB stacks. You are on the button, and the cutoff has opened with a raise to $7 in
front of you. Do you fold, call, or re-raise with the following hands? For which hands might stack size affect your decision?

My answers:

Generally, I will 3-bet the premium hands not containing single pairs (such as Q-Q-J-T with a suit), but flat call with marginal hands or single-paired
hands, assuming the hands are at least single-suited. The speculative or worse rundown hands (such as T-8-7-6, Q-J-T-7, or J-9-8-6) are also
generally good enough to 3-bet, particularly when double-suited in 100BB stack play.

I will go either way with hands marked with a 3-Bet/Call or Call/3-Bet, listed in order of preference. The hands marked with (stack size) are
dependent on actual stack sizes. The shorter the stacks, the more likely I am to 3-bet with the weaker A-A-x-x hands, while the deeper the stacks, the
more likely I am to flat call. However, in the case of Q Q J T, I will generally flat call, but may consider a 3-bet if my opponent is weak and the
stacks are deeper -- such as in the 200BB range or deeper -- as my 3-bet now functions as a pot builder. On the other hand, if my opponent is the
type to 4-bet light out of position, I will more likely flat call with Q Q J T than 3-bet, as I do not want to bloat the pot with an aggressive opponent
when I am likely to flop a dry pair.

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
Free $50 Part III: $0.25-$0.50 PLO

The 18 hands in Part III are from $0.25-$0.50 blind 6-max PLO games online. Overall, the competition is pretty weak at these stakes, and you can
generally afford to play pretty straight-forwardly.

Responses are graded on a standard 10-pt. scale. A score of 8-10 points on any given question reflects a correct response, with a 10-pt. score
generally reflecting the best response. In other words, for any given question, there may be two (or more) correct answers -- an 8-pt. response and a
10-pt. response -- though one may get the slight edge. Ascore in the 4-pt. to 7-pt. range means the play is acceptable, though there are clear,
superior options. Anything less than 4 pts. generally reflects an incorrect response.

At the end of each chapter, tally up your scores, and see how your responses grade out overall.

Note that the way the hand was played is not necessarily correct at every decision point. As such, you will do better to determine what you believe the
best response to be rather than look ahead and try to cherry pick the responses.

Also note that on a few of the 162 practice hand quizzes in this book, the pre-flop decision is ambiguous enough so as not to be graded. For
example, rather than agonize over whether it is correct to open raise with Q-8-6-5 with a suit from the hijack or cutoff seat, well just say that you did it
and evaluate how you play out the rest of the hand.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #1: 13-Card Nut Wrap
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), heads up
Your position: Small Blind/Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You are first to act.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You ($78.60) raise $1.50, and your opponent ($29) calls.

Flop ($3): Your opponent bets $2.

2. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You raise to $9, and your opponent calls.

Turn ($21): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You set your opponent all-in for $18.50, and he calls, showing K 6 4 2 for two pair.

River ($58): You win.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #1: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(5), c(10). Calling is better than folding, but heads up, you should generally be raising with this otherwise marginal rundown hand with a
dangler.

2. a(0), b(5), c(10). Again, calling is better than folding. But against the first bet in a heads up pot -- a possible steal bet -- you should put in a raise on
the semi-bluff with your 13-card nut wrap.

3. a(10), b(5). You are clearly behind. You do have the initiative, and thus can only check if you know you are going to get called if you bet. The
problem here is that your opponent only has $18.50 left -- less than one bet -- and thus is unlikely to fold if he has anything to call you with. If instead
your opponent had, say, $50 or $60 remaining, betting and calling a raise or otherwise betting through the river would be the correct play. Because in
the latter case, your bet has the benefit of leverage.

But in this case, the play should have been to check. My bad.

On the bright side, at least now you know I dont always make the correct play in this book!

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #2: AKJ5, 3-Betting Before the Flop
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The hijack ($107.15) opens with a raise to $1.75, and the cutoff folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You ($87.35) re-raise to $6. Both blinds fold, and the hijack calls.

Flop ($12.75): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You check.

Turn ($12.75): Your opponent bets $8.

3. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You call.

River ($28.75): Your opponent checks.

Free $50
 4. Do you:
Free $50
a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You check. Your opponent shows J 9 9 8 for a set of nines.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #2: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(5). With a speculative-class Broadway wrap hand, a call is generally in order. A 3-bet would be enterprising against the right
opponent.

2. a(10), b(2). With a pair and the nut gutshot and the initiative, you should generally check behind.

3. a(0), b(10), c(2). With two pair, the nut gutshot, and now a diamond draw, you cannot fold for one bet. Raising is unnecessary unless you think you
are bluffing your opponent off a better hand, which I think is unlikely to happen given the way the hand has played thus far. What I mean is, if your two
pair is beat by a bigger two pair or a set, your opponent is unlikely to give you credit for checking the nuts on the flop, and thus will be unlikely to fold
to a raise.

4. a(10), b(0). You have enough to showdown. There is no value in betting, and betting as a bluff would be futile given the way the hand has been
played.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #3: Overpair and Nut Flush Draw
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You ($58.75) raise to $1.75. The button ($88.15) calls. The small blind folds. The big blind ($41.55) calls.

Flop ($5.50): The big blind checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You bet $5.50. The button raises to $22, and the big blind folds.

3. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Re-raise

Action: You re-raise to $57 all-in. The button calls, showing K J T T for top set.

Turn ($119.50):

River ($119.50): You lose.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #3: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(8). With a suited ace -- and a second suit for backup
-- you can make a case for raising with this J-J-x-x hand. That said, I think most players are better off limping in and trying to see a cheap flop.

2. a(2), b(10). With an overpair and the nut flush draw, this hand should be bet. Checking with the intention of raising is a thought, but I prefer not to
risk giving a free card with the jacks overpair -- check-raising with A-A-x-x is more palatable, as there are no overcards to the aces. Id give credit to
checking with the bare nut flush draw.

3. a(0), b(4), c(10). With an SPR of 10.4, this is judgment territory.

You need 43.1% equity to justify shoving here, assuming you are going to get called 100% of the time (You must put in $51.50 to shove, in what will
be a $119.50 pot if called).

You are a 55%/45% favorite over T? 9? 8? 7? for top pair, a 13-card nut wrap and a flush draw, as well as a backdoor flush draw; a 57%/43%
favorite over 9 8 7 5 for a 16-card nut wrap and a flush draw with a backdoor flush draw; a 46%/54% dog against T 9 8 6 for top two pair, a
gutshot, and a flush draw with a backdoor flush draw; a 48%/52% dog against T 8 7 6 for top two pair with a double-nut gutshot.

You are also a 74%/26% favorite against K Q J T for top pair and the second-nut flush draw.

You are well above 43.1% against all of these possible hands.

On the other hand, you are a 29%/71% dog against K J T T for top set or K Q T T for top set and smaller diamonds.

Lets say your opponent has a non-set hand half the time and a set half the time, and that the five hands given represent his range; in that case, you
will have 56.0% equity half the time. If you have 29% equity against a set, and are up against a set half the time, then you only have 42.5% equity on
average. But if your opponent only has a set 40% of the time, then you will have 45.2% average equity.

Or, if there is some chance your opponent might fold to a re-raise, a re-raise would also be profitable.

Alternatively, if your opponent is a complete nit and will only raise with a set, then you are toast.

My view is that re-raising is a close play. But at the same time, I think you have too much hand to fold; and if you are going to call, then given these
stack sizes, you should probably go ahead and shove and give your opponent a chance to fold.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #4: 17-Card Wrap
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($237.75) limps in.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You ($38.90) limp in. The button ($41.80) limps in. The small blind folds. The big blind ($73.50) checks.

Flop ($2.25): The first two players check.

2. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You bet $2.25. The button folds. Both the big blind and UTG player call.

Turn ($9): Both opponents check.

3. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You bet $4. The big blind folds. The UTG player calls.

River ($17): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet Free $50
Free $50
Action: You check. Your opponent shows A J 2 2 for aces up, and you win with the straight.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #4: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(5), b(10), c(0). T-8-7-4ds is a Small Ball hand that generally dictates a limp in late position behind a limper. Folding from the cutoff would be
tight, but not the worst play.

2. a(2), b(10). From a steal position, the top-end 17-card wrap should be bet, two hearts or no hearts on the board.

3. a(5), b(10). You got two callers on the flop, and picked up diamonds on the turn. Checking is OK. However, nobody else has shown strength, and I
like following through, particularly since straight and flush draws might give up now that the board has paired.

4. a(10), b(4). Having hit the straight on this board, you should probably check and show down.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #5: Wrap OOP
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Small Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($50) opens with a raise to $1.75. It gets folded to the button ($253.75), who calls.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Re-raise

Action: You ($95.50) call. The big blind ($108.35) calls.

Flop ($7):

2. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You check, and it gets checked around.

Turn ($7):

3. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You bet $7. It gets folded to the button, who calls.

River ($21):

4. Do you:

a. Check
Free $50
 b. Bet
Free $50
Action: You check, and your opponent checks, showing A J 7 6 for two pair. You win with the flush.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #5: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(8), b(10), c(0). You have a speculative-class wrap hand with 16-card nut wrap potential. Really, you would do OK just folding your small blind to a
raise pretty much every time. That notwithstanding, with the button having called, you expect to play a multi-way pot if you call, which is really what you
want with this type of hand when playing out of position.

Re-raising would be a mistake.

2. a(10), b(2). You have a 13-card wrap, but only a 7-card nut draw. You dont want to bet out here into three players and get raised. 3. a(2), b(10).
Having turned the nut straight with a flush re-draw, the play is to bet and hope to draw action -- preferably a raise. What you definitely dont want is to
check and have the turn get checked through.

4. a(10), b(2). Now you have a weak flush and have a real decision to make. Well, not really, because betting is only the right play if you think your
opponent might have the same straight and might be willing to try to pick off a bluff at the river. Otherwise, the play should be to check and call, and try
to induce a bluff, or otherwise limit the damage if behind.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #6: One Barrel, Or
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: It gets folded to you.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You ($55.40) raise to $1.75, and only the small blind ($63.10) calls.

Flop ($4): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You bet $4, and your opponent calls.

Turn ($12): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:
a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You bet $8.75 and your opponent folds.

Hand #6: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(5), c(10). Calling is acceptable, but raising and opening fire on the blinds should be the preferred play.

2. a(2), b(10). With no hand and no draw, a c-bet is in order.

3. a(4), b(10). Checking would be giving up. You can only check if you give your opponent credit for a flush. But generally speaking, you should follow
through and take at least one more shot at this pot.

Score: ________
Free $50
 Hand
Free #7: Opening Fire on the Blinds
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Hijack
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The first player folds. You ($91.95) open with a raise to $1.75, and only the big blind ($83.15) calls.

Flop ($3.75): Your opponent checks.

1. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You bet $3.75, and your opponent calls.

Turn ($11.25): Your opponent bets $11.

2. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You call.

River ($33.25): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You check. Your opponent shows A A 9 7 for a pair of aces, having turned the nut spade draw. You win with two pair.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #7: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(8), b(10). You can go either way here with the middle pair and nut gutshot, though at $0.25-$0.50 I would be more inclined to bet.

2. a(10), b(8), c(0). You turned the middle two pair, which is enough to pick off a bluff (reverse float). That said, there is another round of betting to be
played, and if you are not comfortable calling two bets down if need be, then folding may be the better option.

3. a(10), b(5). If you are betting, it is clearly as a bluff. That said, you have enough to show down.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #8: Heads Up OOP
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), heads up
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The SB/Button ($36.45) opens with a raise to $1.50.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Re-raise

Action: You ($105.20) call.

Flop ($3):

2. Do you:

a. Check-fold
b. Check-call
c. Check-raise
d. Bet

Action: You check. Your opponent bets $3, and you call.

Turn ($9):

3. Do you:

a. Check-fold
b. Check-call
c. Check-raise
d. Bet

Action: You check, and your opponent bets $6. You raise to $27, and your opponent re-raises to $31.95 all-in. You call. Your opponent shows A A
9 2 for a bare pair of aces.

4. Who is the favorite in this matchup?

a. You
b. The other guy

Free $50
Free $50

River ($72.90): You lose.

Hand #8: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(5). I suppose this is an OK hand to 3-bet with 73BBs deep.

2. a(0), b(10), c(6), d(8). I think check-calling is the best option, as it allows you to draw value from your pair. Checking with the intention of raising
would be enterprising in this mid-high SPR situation (SPR 11.7), though perhaps unnecessarily dangerous -- you do have top pair. Leading out is
OK. Check-folding, however, is probably too weak in this situation.

3. a(0), b(2), c(10), d(8). Having picked up the flush draw with less than two bets left to play, check-raising now becomes a strong option. Leading
and calling a raise is also a viable option.

4. a(0), b(10). You are actually a 45%/55% dog in this matchup.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #9: 9-8-7-6 from the SB
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), four-handed
Your position: Small Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($40) posts a $0.50 blind to enter the game, and checks his option. The button folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You ($68.75) raise to $2. The big blind ($50) re-raises to $6.50, and the UTG player folds.

2. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Re-raise

Action: You call.

Flop ($13.50):

3. Do you:

a. Check-Fold
b. Check-Call
c. Check-Raise
d. Bet

Action: You check. Your opponent bets $8.50. You raise to $39. Your opponent re-raises all-in to $43.50, and you call. Your opponent shows A A
K J.

4. Are you the favorite?

a. Yes
b. No

5. Do you play your opponents hand the same way?

a. Yes
b. No

Free $50
Free $50

Turn ($100.50):

River ($100.50): Your opponent wins with a bigger flush.

Hand #9: Grades and Analysis

1. a(2), b(10), c(5). It is never really wrong to fold the smallblind. But hey, youve got a premium-class rundown. Calling from this position is the
preferred play. If you choose to raise, youd better know what you are doing after the flop.

2. a(2), b(10), c(5). I dont generally fold after getting 3-bet. Re-raising (4-betting) is a viable option at 100BBs deep because if you re-raise the full
pot to $20 and your opponent calls, then there will only be one bet left. That said, I prefer calling.

3. a(8), b(0), c(10), d(10). You flopped middle pair and an inside wrap in a low-SPR situation. However, some of your straight outs are tainted, as an
eight would give a J-T-x-x hand a bigger straight. You could check-fold; alternatively, you could either lead out and commit, or go for a check-raise
and give your opponent a chance to bet-fold.

4. a(0), b(10). No, you are actually a 42%/58% dog.

5. a(10), b(4). Yes and no. I would have bet the full pot rather than $8.50 on the flop, but yes I would have committed with the overpair and gutshot in
the low-SPR situation.

Note that if your opponent had A A K 3 without the gutshot, you would only be a 47%/53% dog, and your play on the flop would have been
profitable even if your opponent did not fold to the raise.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #10: KKQJ
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The first two players fold. The cutoff ($58.80) opens with a raise to $1.75.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Re-raise

Action: You ($82.75) call. The small blind ($51) calls. The big blind folds.

Flop ($5.75): The small blind checks. The cutoff bets $5.75.

2. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You raise to $23. The small blind folds. The cutoff re-raises all-in to $57.05. You call. Your opponent shows A Q T 8 for middle pair, the
nut gutshot and the nut flush draw.

3. Whos the favorite?

a. You
b. The other guy

4. Do you play your opponents hand the same way?

a. Yes
b. No

Turn ($119.85):

Free $50
 River ($119.85): You lose.
Free $50

Free $50
 Hand
Free #10: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(2). With a single, non-A-A-x-x pair, 3-betting is generally not the right play.

2. a(0), b(2), c(10). With top set and the nut open-ended straight draw in a mid-high SPR situation (SPR 10 with the cutoff), you want to build the pot
now with your big-pot hand.

3. a(10), b(0). You are a 62%/38% favorite.

4. a(10), b(0). Yeah, he played the hand pretty much the only way he could in this mid-SPR (SPR 10) situation.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #11: KQQJ
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

This hand took place later in the same session.

Pre-flop: It gets folded to you on the button.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You ($50) open with a raise to $1.75. The small blind folds. The big blind ($59.25) re-raises to $5.50.

2. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Re-raise

Action: You call.

Flop ($11.25): Your opponent bets $11.25.

3. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You raise all-in to $44.50, and your opponent calls, showing A K J 7.

4. Do you play your opponents hand differently?

a. Yes
b. No

Turn ($100.25):

Free $50
Free $50

River ($100.25): You win.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #11: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(2), c(10). This should be an open-raise with a premium-class hand.

2. a(0), b(10), c(0). I dont see 4-betting being the correct play with queens. To 4-bet, you would basically be praying that your opponent doesnt have
A-A-x-x or K-K-x-x; and then even if he doesnt, you arent really a big favorite against anything else yourself.

3. a(0), b(2), c(10). As before, with top set and the nut open-ended straight draw, you want the money in on the flop.

4. a(10), b(5). Well, personally, I probably dont 3-bet pre-flop from the big blind. But having made that mess, I probably do what he did and bet/shove
the flop, though he turned out to be a 24%/76% dog on the flop.

This hand is a makeup hand for the previous one. I didnt want you reading through this book with a bad taste in your mouth.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #12: Undertrips
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: It gets folded to you.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You ($50) raise to $1.75. The small blind ($56.70) calls. The big blind ($92.50) re-raises to $7.

2. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Re-raise

Action: You call. The small blind folds.

Flop ($15.75): Your opponent bets $15.75.

3. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You call.

Turn ($47.25): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Hypothetical Action: You check.

Free $50
Free $50

Hypothetical River ($47.25): Your opponent sets you allin for your last $27.25.

5. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call

Hand #12: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(5), c(10). I like opening fire on the blinds; despite the top gap, you do have some nut wrap potential.

2. a(0), b(10), c(0). Re-raising is out of the question with this hand; so is folding in position.

3. a(0), b(10), c(4). Folding for one bet would be too weak. Raising is OK in this low SPR situation (SPR < 3), but not the best play -- your opponent
will simply fold to the raise when he has nothing, whereas he may bet the turn again with air if you just call.

4. a(10), b(0). Heres the situation, you have less than one pot-sized bet remaining. Having turned the underfull, you do not fear giving a free card, as
you are not easily outdrawn. Meanwhile, your opponent is not likely to have any of the hands that could easily outdraw you, as he would likely have set
you all-in on the turn himself had he had an overpair or trips.

And at the same time, your opponent is more likely to have bet all of those same hands that he could check-call a turn bet from you.

Basically, betting is pretty much the wrong play. The play should be to check and try to induce a bluff on the river.

5. a(0), b(10). Given the way the hand has been played, you cannot fold here for one more bet.

In the actual hand, I bet the turn for whatever reason, and my opponent folded.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #13: 3-Betting Before the Flop
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The hijack ($50) opens with a raise to $1.75, and the cutoff folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Re-raise

Action: You ($52) re-raise to $6. It gets folded back to the hijack, who calls.

Flop ($12.75): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You check.

Turn ($12.75): Your opponent bets $10.50.

3. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You raise to $44.25. Your opponent calls all-in for $44 total, showing 8 7 5 5, having both flopped and turned the nut straight with a
diamond re-draw.

River ($100.75): You lose.

4. Did you misplay this hand?

Free $50
Free $50
a. Yes
b. No

Free $50
 Hand
Free #13: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(9). You could go either way here. I give calling the extra point because of the extra spade in your hand, but neither play is necessarily
wrong.

2. a(10), b(5). Betting is rarely wrong. That said, with a nut gutshot, a fistful of overcards and having hit a pivot card on the flop, checking is a superior
option.

3. a(0), b(2), c(10). An all-in raise is unequivocally the best play in my book. You have a pair plus 13-card nut wrap (minus the diamonds) against a
possible steal bet.

4. a(0), b(10). If anything, your opponent made a mistake by checking the flop and letting you get this close to outdrawing him. This time he just
happened to flop the stones with stone re-draws, and you still turned a great chance of beating him.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #14: BB vs. SB, Attacking the Limper
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: Everybody folds to the small blind ($56.25), who calls.

1. Do you:

a. Check
b. Raise

Action: You ($56.90) raise to $1.50, and your opponent calls.

Flop ($3): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You check.

Turn ($3): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You check.

River ($3): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet Free $50
Free $50
Action: You check. Your opponent shows A T 9 2 for a pair of nines, and you win with the straight.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #14: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(8), b(10). This is a decent enough hand to attack the limper with.

2. a(10), b(4). You have bottom two pair and double-sucker straight draws. Rather than bet and risk getting blown off a hand/draw that may have
value, the better play is to check.

3. a(10), b(2). Well, now you have a straight on a flush board, and still have the full house draw. I think a pot-control check is still in order.

4. a(10), b(2). There is little value in betting, and you have enough to show down.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #15: Middle Set
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), four-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You ($58) limp in. The small blind folds. The big blind ($50) checks.

Flop ($1.25): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You bet $1.25, and your opponent calls.

Turn ($3.75): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You bet $3.75, and your opponent calls.

River ($11.25): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:

a. Check
Free $50
 b. Bet
Free $50
Action: You check. Your opponent shows J T T 4 for a straight, having flopped the open-ended straight draw, turned a smaller set with a smaller
flush draw, and rivered the straight.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #15: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(2). The play with the dry queens is to limp in and see a cheap flop.

2. a(0), b(10). Of course you are betting middle set.

3. a(4), b(10). Checking is only correct if you can somehow give your opponent credit for a straight. The thing is, having picked up the flush draw and
a gutshot to go with your set, you cannot be check-raised off your hand. This hand should be bet.

4. a(10), b(0). There is little-to-no value in betting. The play is to check and show down.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #16: Opening Fire on the Blinds
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You are first to act.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($52.05) raise to $1.75, and only the small blind ($138.65) calls.

Flop ($4): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($4): Your opponent bets $2.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

River ($8): Your opponent bets $4.

4. Do you:
Free $50
 a. Fold?
Free $50
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call. Your opponent shows A A 9 6 for a pair of aces, and you win with top two pair.

Hand #16: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(8), c(10). A-Q-T-9 with a suited ace is a premium-class hand. Raise it up.

2. a(10), b(5). You hit a pivot card of sorts with the 8, you have a handful of overcards, and a backdoor nut flush draw. This is a good spot to take the
free card.

3. a(0), b(10), c(4). You picked up top pair and a nut gutshot, and are facing a weak-stab steal bet. You must block this with a combo float.

4. a(2), b(10), c(0). With top two pair, you have too much hand to fold against a possible follow-through bet. But at the same time, there is little value
in raising, either.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #17: Flush
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You are first to act.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($59.10) open with a raise to $1.75, and only the small blind ($33.40) calls.

Flop ($4): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($4): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

River ($4): Your opponent bets $4.

4. Do you:

a. Fold? Free $50

 b. Call?
Free $50
c. Raise?

Action: You call. Your opponent shows Q J T 4 for a bigger flush. You lose.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #17: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(8), c(10). I dont mind opening with 9-8-7-6ds UTG.

2. a(10), b(5). Betting isnt wrong. That said, a small flush is basically a one-bet hand -- maybe two at most against the right opponent. Id be more
inclined to check back the flop and play a small pot.

3. a(10), b(8). You can either check this and call any bet on the river -- or otherwise bet the river yourself -- or you can bet, after which you will likely
look to check and showdown the river if called. I prefer checking and making this pot a one-bet affair.

4. a(2), b(10), c(0). You cant reasonably fold the flush for one bet heads up. Folding, however, is better than raising -- you have enough to showdown,
but probably not enough to raise for value.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #18: 3-Betting Before the Flop
$50
The game: $0.25-$0.50 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The cutoff ($142.85) raises to $1.75.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($51.10) re-raise to $6. Both blinds fold, and the cutoff calls.

Flop ($12.75): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $12.75. Your opponent raises to $51, putting you allin for $33.35 more, or $46.10 total.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?

Action: You call. Your opponent shows A A 7 4 for bottom two pair.

4. Who is the favorite?

a. You?
b. Your opponent?

Turn ($104.95):

Free $50
 River ($104.95): You win.
Free $50

Free $50
 Hand
Free #18: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(8). 9-8-6-5 with a suit is a near-premium class hand, which should be good enough for a 3-bet.

2. a(0), b(10). You have top pair and a 17-card wrap. In this low-SPR situation (SPR < 4), this should be a bet and commit, despite the presence of
the two clubs on the board.

3. a(0), b(10). You are essentially pot-committed.

4. a(10), b(0). You are a 63%/37% favorite on this flop.

Score: ________

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
Free $50 Part IV: $0.50-$1 PLO

Part IVconsists of 54 hands from $0.50-$1 games online, the last five of which are from deep-stack ante games. The competition at $0.50-$1 is
pretty comparable to what you might find in a typical small-stakes game live at $1-$2, $1-$3, $2-$3, or $1-$2 with a $5 bring-in. That is, you will start
to find some pretty competent players at these stakes, but the games are still soft overall.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #1: Pair Plus Flush Draw and 17-Card Wrap
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

1. The first two players fold. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You ($419.85) open with a raise to $3.50, and only the big blind ($100) calls.

Flop ($7.50): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You bet $7.50. Your opponent calls.

Turn ($22.50): Your opponent bets $22.50.

3. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You raise and set your opponent all-in for $89 total. Your opponent calls with J J 8 7.

4. Should you be concerned?

a. Yes
b. No

5. Did you misplay the hand?

a. Yes
b. No

6. Did you get outplayed?

Free $50
Free $50
a. Yes
b. No

River ($200.50): You split the pot with the same straight.

Hand #1: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(5), c(10). You have a premium-class rundown with a suit in the cutoff seat, and it has been folded to you. This is an excellent opportunity to
open fire on the blinds.

2. a(0), b(10). You have a pair, a top-end 17-card wrap and a flush draw. This should be bet 100%.

3. a(0), b(2), c(10). You now have the nut straight with a flush re-draw, straight out of Chapter 1, Book 1. This is what we play for -- freeroll
opportunities. That said, you cannot capitalize on a freeroll opportunity unless you raise. Too many beginning players just call here.

4. a(10), b(2). Yeah, you should be concerned -- you are getting freerolled yourself, as your opponent has the same straight with a bigger flush draw.
If you answered No, you get two points for having no fear.

5. a(0), b(10). As far as I am concerned, you played this hand the only way it could be played.

6. a(0), b(10). Saying that you got outplayed would be giving your opponent too much credit. He just happened to have the same straight draw with a
bigger flush draw, and he just happened to hit the same straight with a bigger flush re-draw.

There are a lot of other hands he could have had to call on the flop, and he could conceivably have had K-9-x-x or bare 8-7-x-x to lead out on the turn.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #2: Attacking the Limper
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($135.50) calls. The next player folds. The cutoff ($18.85) calls.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You ($101.80) raise to $4.50, and only the two limpers call.

Flop ($15): The UTG player checks. The next player bets $13.35 all-in.

2. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You call. The UTG player calls.

Turn ($55.05): The UTG player checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You check.

River: The UTG player checks.

4. Do you:
Free $50
 a. Check
Free $50
b. Bet

Action:You check. The CO shows A J 7 4, and the UTG player shows 9 8 8 7, and your A-A-x-x is good.

5. Rate the UTG players play in this hand:

a. Good
b. Not good
c. Atrocious

Hand #2: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(5), c(10). Double-suited aces warrants a raise in position behind any number of opponents.

2. a(0), b(10), c(0). You cant fold aces up for one bet. Meanwhile, raising is incorrect, as you run the risk of getting sandbagged by the hands that
beat you (trip sixes, Q-Q-x-x, Q-6-x-x) while potentially shutting out the hands that you can beat but might call if you flat call (K-K-x-x, A-Q-x-x).

3. a(10), b(4). You have to be at least somewhat concerned about the UTG players overcall on the flop. His hand is most likely a six, K-K-x-x, Q-Q-x-
x, or maybe A-Q-x-x, with an off chance of it being something worse if he is awful. The play should be to check behind and make this hand a one-bet
affair.

4. a(10), b(0). With the third diamond appearing, there is little value in betting, if there was ever any value in betting this river. Showing this hand down
is the clear best play.

5. a(0), b(8), c(10). The all-in players play is understandable with the nut flush draw; the UTG players overcall with that hand was atrocious, as there
was about a 0.5% chance his eights were good on the flop, and roughly about the same probability that his flush draw was live against two
opponents.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #3: Q-Q-x-x
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Small Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The hijack ($313.85) limps in. The cutoff and button both fold.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You ($98.90) call. The big blind ($175.80) checks.

Flop ($3):

2. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You bet $3. The big blind folds. The other player calls.

Turn ($9):

3. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You bet $9 and your opponent calls.

River ($27):

4. Do you:

a. Check Free $50

 b. Bet
Free $50
Action:You check. Your opponent checks, showing A T 8 7 for a busted wrap.

5. Rate the hijack players play in this hand:

a. Good
b. OK
c. Not Good
d. Bad

Hand #3: Grades and Analysis

1. a(2), b(10), c(0). Raising from here with this hand would be an awful choice. Folding is better than raising, but probably a bit weak. In fact, if the big
blind is such a maniac that you are truly concerned about the big blind raising, then you should pick up and find another game.

2. a(5), b(10). I like leading with the overpair and the nut gutshot. This hand can have potentially deceptive value, while you dont really want to give a
free card.

3. a(5), b(10). Checking isnt wrong; if your opponent is the type to bet if you check, a check-raise may be in order. Otherwise, betting is the superior
play -- you dont give a free card, and your hand is fairly well disguised. You may be able to draw extra action by leading out, where check-raising
would give your hand away and perhaps limit your upside.

4. a(10), b(5). Betting isnt necessarily wrong -- but if you give your opponent credit for being on the draw, then he is not likely to call a bet, but he
might bet if you check.

5. a(8), b(10), c(2), d(0). The hijacks play wasnt bad. I probably would have raised pre-flop with the A T 8 7, but a raise is not necessarily
automatic from the hijack. Flat-calling the flop with a bare 13-card nut wrap is also the standard play; it is more difficult for him to raise against my bet
when I am leading from the small blind, as I am probably not bluffing from the small blind.

Checking back the river was also the correct non-play, because if I (in the small blind) have a draw like T-8-7-x myself, then I am betting the river. In
other words, I may or may not have bet the river again with a made hand, but I am almost certainly betting a missed draw. And so if I am checking, it
is because I have something.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #4: Middle Set
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Hijack
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($214.80) limps in.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You ($100) limp in. The cutoff ($97.20), button ($322), and small blind ($35.50) all limp in. The big blind ($223.80) checks.

Flop ($6): The small blind bets $6, and the big blind calls. The UTG player folds.

2. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You call, and the cutoff calls. The button folds.

Turn ($30): The small blind bets $15. The big blind folds.

3. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You call. The button folds.

River ($60): The small blind bets $13.50 all-in.

4. Do you:
Free $50
Free $50
a. Fold
b. Call

Action: You call. The small blind shows Q 9 9 6, for queens full of sixes.

Hand #4: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(2). J-J-8-7 double-suited is not a premium hand in Omaha.

2. a(2), b(10), c(0). Middle set is a small-pot hand in this high-SPR situation (SPR 16 with the big blind).

3. a(0), b(10), c(0). You cant fold for one bet here, and there is still the button in the pot. Meanwhile, the small blind only has another $13.50 left. The
play here is to smooth call and try to draw an overcall from the button, and then play for the small blinds stack on the river if the button folds, or most
likely one more bet at most if the button calls.

4. a(0), b(10). The Q is not a great card, but it is not necessarily all that likely to beat you, either. Your opponent might have Q-J-x-x or Q-Q-x-x, but
he could also just as easily have A-K-T-x with diamonds, in which case the Q appearing on the river looks like a good scare card for one last shot.
And getting better than 5:1 to call, this is a tough fold here.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #5: 13-Card Nut Wrap OOP
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The hijack ($147.90) opens with a raise to $3. The cutoff ($100) calls. The button and small blind fold.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You ($100) call.

Flop ($9.50):

2. Do you:

a. Check-Fold
b. Check-Call
c. Check-Raise
d. Bet

Action: You check. The hijack bets $5, and the cutoff folds.

3. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You raise to $24.50. Your opponent re-raises to $83.

4. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Re-raise

Action: You call.

Turn ($175.50):
Free $50
Free $50
5. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You bet $14 all-in, and your opponent calls, showing A K K Q.

River ($203.50):

Hand #5: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(5). This hand is too strong to fold. Sitting 100BBs deep, you can probably get away with 3-betting.

2. a(0), b(5), c(10), d(8). You flopped fairly strong with the 13-card nut wrap. Betting out is OK; however, theres a good chance that the pre-flop raiser
will put in a c-bet on this relatively clean flop, in which case you can put in a check-raise. Meanwhile, you can afford to give a free card if it comes
down to it, because you are on the draw yourself.

3. a(0), b(5), c(10). I am inclined to raise against the c-bet.

4. a(0), b(8), c(10). Well, you cant fold, and calling will leave you pot-committed with less than 1/10thof a pot-sized bet left to play. Theres no real
difference between calling and re-raising, so long as you plan on committing on the turn.

5. a(0), b(10). Your move here is all-in no matter what. Having made the straight, you cannot give the free card, as there is little-to-no upside in
checking with less than 1/10thof a pot-sized bet left to play.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #6: Top Two Pair
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The hijack ($141.50) opens with a raise to $3.50, and the cutoff folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You ($118.20) call. The small blind ($63.40) and big blind ($112.10) call.

Flop ($14): Both blinds check. The next player -- the pre-flop raiser -- bets $11.

2. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You call. The small blind calls, and the big blind folds.

Turn ($47): The small blind bets $47. The next player raises to $127 all-in.

3. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call

Action: You call all-in for $103.70 total. The small blind calls $1.90 all-in for $48.90 total. The small blind shows 6 6 4 2 for a pair of sixes with a
sucker-end open-ended straight draw, and the other player shows A Q T 7 for top two pair with re-draws to bigger two pair.

River (Main Pot $160.70, Side Pot $109.60): You scoop the pot with the nut flush.

Free $50
 Hand #6: Grades and Analysis
Free $50
1. a(0), b(10), c(2). This is not a great 3-betting hand. On the other hand, you should not be folding a suited ace with connectors (plus a Broadway
card) on the button.

2. a(0), b(10), c(4). Top two pair is a small-pot hand, against a possible weak-stab c-bet or not.

3. a(0), b(10). Having picked up the nut flush draw to go with the top two pair, it is harder to fold here. Even if you gave the small blind credit for the
wheel, you are getting 3:1 on your money for the main pot. That said, you would pretty much have to give the other player credit for A-A-x-x in order to
fold.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #7: Playing Out of Position
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), four-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You ($233.70) are first to act.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You open with a raise to $3.50. The button ($139) calls. The small blind folds. The big blind ($236.95) calls.

Flop ($11): The big blind checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You bet $11. The button folds. The big blind calls.

Turn ($33): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You bet $33, and your opponent folds.

Hand #7: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(8), c(10). Four-handed UTG, you have enough to open fire on the blinds, though limping with this sub-premium hand is OK.

2. a(4), b(10). You have top pair and a gutshot wheel draw, but no draw to top two pair, and there is a player left to act behind you. I favor betting here
and representing the A-A-x-x or A-K-x-x or whatever and trying to take the pot down here.

3. a(2), b(10). You should follow through with another bet and show down the river unimproved.

Score: ________
Free $50
 Hand
Free #8: Playing Out of Position
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player and hijack fold.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You ($462.10) open with a raise to $3.50, and only the button ($39.70) calls.

Flop ($8.50):

2. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You bet $6, and your opponent calls.

Turn ($20.50):

3. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You bet $13, and your opponent folds.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #8: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(5), c(10). The play should be to open fire on the blinds.

2. a(2), b(10). Your hand is too weak to give a free card. You pretty much have to bet this.

3. a(5), b(10). You have a decision to make, depending on how light you think your opponent would call on the flop. Your opponent could have an
overpair -- which he might be willing to fold to a second bet, if it is something like Q-Q-x-x or smaller -- or he might be floating. It is either check-fold
(maybe even check-raise), or bet again.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #9: Top Two Pair
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. You ($134.65) open with a raise to $3.50. The button folds. The small blind ($101.40) re-raises to $11.50, and the
big blind folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You call.

Flop ($24): Your opponent bets $16.

2. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You raise to $72. Your opponent re-raises all-in to $89.90.

3. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call

Action: You call. Your opponent shows A Q Q T for a pair of queens, and a gutshot.

4. How do you like your opponents play in this hand?

a. Great! I would have played it the same way.

b. OK! But I might not have played it the same way.
c. Not good. I probably would played it differently.
d. Bad. Bad.

Turn ($203.80):

Free $50
Free $50

River ($203.80): You win.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #9: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(0). You cant fold heads up with position, and 4-betting is no better than gambling.

2. a(0), b(2), c(10). It is a lowish-SPR situation (SPR 5) -- judgment territory, but close enough to a low SPR that you might treat this as a low SPR
situation -- and you have top two pair with the second-nut diamond draw. The play is to raise.

3. a(0), b(10). Well, youre not folding.

4. a(0), b(4), c(10), d(5). The main problem I have with the small blinds play is 3-betting with Q-Q-x-x out of position, because all he can do is pray
you dont have A-A-x-x and 4-bet. 3-betting with Q-Q-x-x is a small-favorite/big-dog decision where you cannot be a big dog in position at 100BBs
deep.

Other than that, I bet the flop with his hand, too -- only I bet the pot and commit in this low-SPR situation (SPR < 4) rather than bet two-thirds of the pot
and commit.

So 3-betting before the flop is no good in my book. Betting and committing with the overpair and nut gutshot is OK in this low-SPR situation, but I
would have bet the pot myself.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #10: Flush
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: It gets folded to you.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You ($275.35) open with a raise to $3.50. The small blind folds, but the big blind ($100) calls.

Flop ($7.50):Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You check.

Turn ($7.50): Your opponent bets $5.

3. Do you:
a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You call.

River ($17.50): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:

a. Check Free $50

 b. Bet
Free $50
Action: You check. Your opponent shows K J T 2 for a bigger flush.

Hand #10: Grades and Analysis

1. a(5), b(8), c(10). You could go either way with K-8-7-4ds. Folding isnt necessarily wrong, either.

2. a(10), b(5). Betting isnt wrong, but your flush draw may have some value.

3. a(5), b(10), c(0). You made a small flush on this paired board. Raising can only be correct if you could see your opponents hole cards and were
certain he had a bigger flush with which he might fold to a raise. Otherwise, you cant fold the flush for one bet. I mean you can, but you shouldnt.

4. a(10), b(0). There is little or no value in betting the flush. You should check and show this down.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #11: Top Pair
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), four-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You are UTG.

1. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call
c. Raise

Action: You ($174.35) raise to $3.50. The button folds. The small blind ($35.35) calls. The big blind folds.

Flop ($8): The small blind checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check
b. Bet

Action: You bet $8. The small blind raises to $31.85 all-in.

3. Do you:

a. Fold
b. Call

Action: You call.

Turn ($71.70):

River ($71.70): The small blind shows Q 9 6 4, and you win with a full house.

Hand #11: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(5), c(10). Raising is really the only option. Free $50
Free $50
2. a(0), b(10). You have top pair in a low-SPR situation (SPR 4). This situation demands a bet.

3. a(0), b(10). Top pair in a low-SPR situation means that you are committing.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #12: Big Blind vs. Small Blind
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), four-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: It gets folded to the small blind ($253.95), who opens with a raise to $3.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($213.05) call.

Flop ($6): Your opponent bets $5.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($16): Your opponent bets $12.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

River ($40): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:
Free $50
 a. Check?
Free $50
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $30.50, and your opponent folds.

Hand #12: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(5). You cant fold heads up in position with a hand that has 13-card nut wrap potential. That said, this hand is rather marginal, and
thus flat-calling and playing Small Ball should be preferred over 3-betting.

2. a(8), b(10), c(0). You have a pair and a gutshot, heads up in position against a c-bet. You should challenge your opponent with the float. Raising is
overplaying your hand and the situation. Folding is OK.

3. a(0), b(10), c(0). You turned the sucker straight, which you are not folding for one bet against a weak-stab follow-through.

4. a(0), b(10). Well, you have a straight flush.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #13: Flush
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The first two players fold.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($91.60) open with a raise to $3.50, and only the big blind ($48.15) calls.

Flop ($7.50):Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($7.50): Your opponent bets $5.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

River ($17.50): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:
Free $50
 a. Check?
Free $50
b. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent shows 4 3 3 2 for a straight.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #13: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(5), c(10). With a double-pair and a suit, the play is to open fire on the blinds.

2. a(10), b(4). Generally speaking, with the non-nut flush, the play should be to check back the flop for pot-control purposes. That said, particularly
against an opponent who would check-call with an ace here, you might consider betting.

3. a(0), b(10), c(0). You cant fold for one bet, and you knew you were going to call this bet when you checked back the flop.

4. a(10), b(0). You have enough to show down. There is little value in betting, and you dont need to bluff.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #14: Underfull
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The hijack ($38.50) and cutoff ($32.20) both limp in. The button folds. The small blind ($56.85) limps in.

1. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Raise?

Action: You ($385.95) check.

Flop ($4): The small blind checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check, and both opponents check behind you.

Turn ($4): The small blind checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $2. Both players behind you fold. The small blind raises to $6.

4. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Free $50
Free $50

River ($16): The small blind bets $9.

5. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call. Your opponent shows Q J T 8, having rivered a flush. You win.

Hand #14: Grades and Analysis

1. a(10), b(0). Raising from here with this is not a good idea.

2. a(10), b(5). Betting the underfull is OK, but it is a small-pot hand. Checking may induce a bet from a hand that might not otherwise call.

3. a(5), b(10). Having checked the flop, you should put in a bet of some sort. Clearly the K is not a good card from you, but it is also not likely to have
beaten you, either.

4. a(4), b(10), c(0). If you call this raise, you do so knowing that you are likely going to have to face another bet on the river; as such, this is a two-bet
decision. Your opponent likely either has K-K-x-x, Q-Q-x-x, or absolutely nothing.

Re-raising is out of the question.

5. a(0), b(10), c(0). If you called the raise on the turn, you are calling this bet on the river.

Meanwhile, raising with the underfull here is incorrect, as your opponent will fold when behind and either call or re-raise when ahead (which would
usually mean Q-Q-x-x or K-K-x-x for the overfull in this case).

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #15: Attacking the Limper
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($30.50) limps in, and the next player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($412.10) raise to $4.50, and only the limper calls.

Flop ($10.50): The UTG player checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($10.50): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $10.50, and your opponent folds.

Hand #15: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), b(8). Without a suited ace, A-K-Q-9 is not quite a premium-class hand. That said, it may be worthwhile to raise and try to isolate the
limper.

2. a(10), b(2). With the nut gutshot and a bunch of overcards, the play is to check and take the free card.

3. a(0), b(10). Picking up top pair and facing two checks, this is a bet.
Free $50
 Score: ________
Free $50

Free $50
 Hand
Free #16: Top Two Pair
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($203.75) raises to $3.50.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($147.35) call. Everybody else folds.

Flop ($8.50): Your opponent bets $7.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($22.50): UTG checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $22.50, and you opponent folds.

Hand #16: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(8). This is a good 3-bet opportunity. Calling and playing Small Ball, however, gets the slight edge with this speculative-class wrap
hand.

2. a(0), b(10), c(0). You cant fold top two pair for one bet heads up in position. Raising would be overplaying the hand in this high-SPR situation
(SPR 17). The play is to call for pot control.
Free $50
 3. a(5), b(10). You picked up a gutshot. You can check back and maybe call any bet on the river; or you can simply bet the hand after calling on the
Free $50
flop, which is the play that I prefer.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #17: Big Blind vs. Small Blind
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: It gets folded around to the small blind ($75.95), who opens with a raise to $3.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($232.50) call.

Flop ($6): Your opponent bets $6.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($18): Your opponent bets $18.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

River ($54): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:
Free $50
Free $50
a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent shows K T 4 2. You win.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #17: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(4). You cant fold, while this is not strong enough a hand such as to dictate a 3-bet.

2. a(0), b(10), c(7). With top pair and the nut flush draw in a high mid-SPR situation (SPR 12), you are in deep judgment territory. In a low SPR
situation (SPR < 4), a shove would be automatic; in a high SPR situation (SPR > 13), a call is the best play.

Id lean towards calling.

3. a(2), b(10), c(4). Apossible straight is out. Meanwhile, you picked up a gutshot to go with your flush draw. If you dont believe your opponent has the
straight, then you might raise and put him all-in. Otherwise, if you have some doubt but are not convinced one way or another, you might call another
bet on the draw.

4. a(10), b(5). You can bet if you think your opponent has the straight. Otherwise, the better play is to check and show down.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #18: A-A-x-x
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The cutoff ($679.10) opens with a raise to $3.50, and it gets folded around to you.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($192.90) call.

Flop ($7.50):

2. Do you:

a. Check-fold?
b. Check-call?
c. Check-raise?
d. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent bets $7.50.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You raise to $30. Your opponent calls.

Turn ($67.50):

4. Do you:

a. Check-fold?
b. Check-call?
c. Check-raise?
d. Bet?
Free $50
 Action: You check. Your opponent checks.
Free $50

River ($67.50):

5. Do you:

a. Check-fold?
b. Check-call?
c. Check-raise?
d. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent checks, showing A J 7 6 for air.

Hand #18: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(4). With a non-premium A-A-x-x hand, you are better off flat-calling than bloating the pot out of position.

2. a(0), b(4), c(10), d(10). With an overpair and the nut flush draw, the play should be either to lead out or go for a check-raise.

3. a(0), b(4), c(10). As before, if you check, you should raise.

4. a(0), b(10), c(0), d(2). Now with aces up, the play is to check and call any bet.

5. a(0), b(10), c(0), b(4). Betting is OK, but a check may induce a bluff from a hand that might not otherwise call.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #19: Top Set
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($50) opens with a raise to $3.50, and it gets folded around to you.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($110.40) call.

Flop ($7.50):

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent checks.

Turn ($7.50):

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $7.50, and your opponent calls.

River ($22.50):

3. Do you:

a. Check? Free $50

 b. Bet?
Free $50
Action: You bet $14, and your opponent calls, showing K K Q 6 for two pair, queens and sixes.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #19: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(4). Queens generally dictate a call, rather than a 3-bet.

2. a(10), b(7). With top set and a gutshot, you can venture a bet without too much penalty. Checking and calling is also OK.

3. a(5), b(10). With the flop getting checked around, you can safely bet your top set.

4. a(5), b(10). The river changes nothing -- if your opponent did not have the straight before, he does not have it now. Another value bet is in order.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #20: 9-9-x-x
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The cutoff ($202.60) opens with a raise to $3.50.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Flop ($8.50): Your opponent bets $8.50.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($25.50): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $16, and your opponent folds.

Hand #20: Grades and Analysis

1. a(10), b(7), c(0). With fairly bare nines, you can probably fold. 3-betting is a no-no.

2. a(2), b(10), c(0). You cant fold this for one bet heads up in position.

3. a(4), b(10). The ace hit and your opponent checked. You should bet, and hope to hit a nine on the river if called.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #21: Small Ball
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max, deep), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The hijack ($264.85) opens with a raise to $3, and the cutoff folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($256.25) call. Both blinds fold.

Flop ($7.50): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $7.50, and your opponent calls.

Turn ($22.50): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $14, and your opponent calls.

River ($50.50): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:

a. Check?
Free $50
 b. Bet?
Free $50
Action: You check. Your opponent shows A A 6 3 for a set of aces, and you lose.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #21: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(2). Asuited ace with connectors is a Small Ball hand.

2. a(0), b(10). You have top pair and an open-ended straight draw, and your opponent has checked. Bet.

3. a(0), b(10). At this point, your thought should be that your opponent either has a flush or he doesnt. If he does, you have no outs. You should follow
through with one more bet and shut down if called.

4. a(10), b(4). You are clearly beat, and now you must gauge the probability that another shot will win the hand. That said, right now it appears that
your opponent has a flush, which he is unlikely to fold for one more bet having come this far.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #22: Opening Fire on the Blinds
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max, deep), four-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You are first to act. You ($219.25) open with a raise to $3.50, and only the big blind ($71.25) calls.

Flop ($7.50): Your opponent checks.

1. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($7.50): Your opponent bets $7.50.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

River ($22.50): Your opponent bets $7.50.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call. Your opponent shows 7 7 6 5 for sevens up, and you win with the straight.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #22: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(10), b(5). Betting is OK. That said, with a gutshot and some potential overcard outs, the play should be to check and mimic A-A-x-x.

2. a(2), b(10), c(0). Folding is better than raising, but having hit the straight, you cannot fold for one bet.

3. a(0), b(10), c(0). You shouldnt fold the straight here, either, given the way the hand has been played -- and particularly not to this blocking-sized
bet.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #23: KKJJ
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max, deep), five-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($71) limps in. The cutoff ($58) raises to $4.50.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($240) re-raise to $16. Both blinds and the UTG player fold. The cutoff calls.

Flop ($34.50): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $22, and your opponent folds.

Hand #23: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(7). 3-betting would be more palatable if the stacks were deeper.

2. a(0), b(10). This should be bet 100%. There is a little more than one bet left to play, and so the penalty for being wrong and getting check-raised by
a better hand (like trip threes, for example) is not steep. Meanwhile, you dont want to give a free card to a bare ace.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #24: Big Blind vs. Small Blind
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max, deep), four-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: It gets folded around to the small blind ($220.70), who raises to $3.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($200) call.

Flop ($6): Your opponent bets $6.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($18): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $18, and your opponent folds.

Hand #24: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(5). 8-7-4-3 is a speculative wrap hand with 20-card wrap potential. Clearly, you are not folding heads up in position. 3-betting is
probably pushing it.

2. a(2), b(10), c(0). You flopped two pair and a gutshot. You cannot fold this heads up for one bet. Meanwhile, raising would be overplaying the
situation. The play is to call on the combo float.

3. a(4), b(10). You should bet as intended, and plan to show down the river unimproved if called. Free $50
Free $50 Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #25: World Wrap
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You act first.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($452.60) open with a raise to $3.50. The cutoff folds. The button ($38.50) and small blind ($95) call. The big blind folds.

Flop ($11.50): The small blind checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $11.50. The button raises to $35 all-in, and the small blind folds.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?

Action: You call. The button shows A J 9 2, having flopped the straight.

4. Rate the buttons play:

a. Good
b. Not good

Turn ($81.50):

Free $50
 River ($81.50): You win.
Free $50
Hand #25: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(5), c(10). Broadway wrap with a suited ace is a raise from UTG five-handed.

2. a(0), b(10). You should bet the 13-card nut wrap with the nut flush draw. Im calling it the World Wrap. What do you think?

3. a(0), b(10). Duh.

4. a(10), b(0). I play it the same way. I call the raise from the button with a suited ace and gapped connectors, and the nut straight is a shove in a low-
SPR situation (SPR 3).

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #26: A-A-x-x
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), four-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($119.15) opens with a raise to $3.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($492.60) re-raise to $10.50, and both blinds fold. The UTG player calls.

Flop ($22.50): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($22.50): Your opponent bets $14.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

River ($50.50): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:
Free $50
 a. Check?
Free $50
b. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent shows J T 8 2 for sevens and deuces. You win with your aces up.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #26: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(5), c(10). With a suited ace and connectors and position, this should be a 3-bet.

2. a(10), b(2). You have an overpair, a gutshot, and position. This is a good spot for a pot-control check-back.

3. a(2), b(10), c(0). You turned an open-ended straight draw, and face a possible steal bet. You should call at least the one bet.

4. a(10), b(4). You have enough to show down with your aces up. This would be a thin value-bet, and probably too thin against most opponents.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #27: Small Ball
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($100) opens with a raise to $3.50.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($525) call, and everybody else folds.

Flop ($8.50): Your opponent bets $6.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($20.50): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $20.50, and your opponent calls.

River ($61.50): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:
Free $50
 a. Check?
Free $50
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $40, and your opponent folds.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #27: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(4), b(10), c(0). With a suited ace and gapped connectors, you can play this one in position on the UTG raiser.

2. (5), b(10), c(8). This board is unlikely to have hit your opponent, and there are a number of ways you can play against this c-bet. You can raise on
the bluff, or you can call on the combo float, given that you do have a pair that may have some value. Or you can fold like a wuss.

3. a(2), b(10). You should bet as planned.

4. a(4), b(10). You can give up like a wuss, or fire another shot.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #28: 3-Betting Before the Flop
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The cutoff ($117.50) opens with a raise to $3.50.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($543.35) re-raise to $12, and both blinds fold. The cutoff calls.

Flop ($25.50): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $17, and your opponent folds.

Hand #28: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(8), c(10). Flat-calling in position is never really wrong. That said, you have a near-premium drawing hand in a classic 3-bet situation.

2. a(0), b(10). You have no hand, no draw, and little prospect for improvement. You should bet.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #29: Two Pair, Straight Draw
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The first two players fold. The cutoff ($104.15) opens with a raise to $3.50.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($128.70) re-raise to $12, and both blinds fold. The cutoff now re-raises to $37.50.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Flop ($76.50): Your opponent bets $66.65 all-in.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?

Action: You call. Your opponent shows A A J 5 for a pair of aces.

Turn ($209.80):

River ($209.80): You win.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #29: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(8), b(10), c(4). 9-7-6-2 is not a real good 3-betting hand. It is double-suited though, which helps in a pump-and-shove application.

2. a(0), b(10), c(0). You cant reasonably fold heads up in position. Re-raising is incorrect.

3. a(2), b(10). You have two pair in an ultra-low SPR situation. This should be an auto-call.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #30: Top Two Pair
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You ($211.85) open with a raise to $3.50. It gets folded around to the big blind ($100), who re-raises to $11.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Flop ($22.50): Your opponent bets $14.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You raise to $64.50. Your opponent re-raises to $89 all-in.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?

Action: You call. Your opponent shows A A K 6.

Turn ($200.50):

River ($200.50):

Free $50
 Hand
Free #30: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(2). Ok, so you put in a loose raise UTG. Now, facing a 3-bet, you have an easy call to see the flop heads up with the positional
advantage.

2. a(0), b(4), c(10). You have top two pair on a board with a possible (but not necessarily likely) straight on it, and in a low-SPR situation (SPR 4). The
low-SPR part dictates a pot-sized raise. Contrast this hand to Hand #16, where you had top two pair in a high-SPR situation.

3. a(0), b(10). If nothing else, you are pot-committed with top two pair getting better than 7:1.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #31: Q-Q-x-x
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), four-handed, no small blind
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The cutoff posts a $1 blind. The UTG player ($203.70) opens with a raise to $4. The cutoff folds. The button ($100) calls.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($310.35) call.

Flop ($13):

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. The UTG player bets $9, and the button calls.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You fold.

Turn ($31): Both players check.

River ($31): Both players check. The UTG player shows A 7 5 4 for trip fours. The other player shows K K J 2 for trip jacks.

4. Would you have played both of your opponents hands the same way?
Free $50
 a. Yes
Free $50
b. No

Free $50
 Hand
Free #31: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(2), b(10), c(0). You cant fold queens to a min-raise. Folding gets two points because it is better than re-raising.

2. a(10), b(5). Betting isnt wrong, but the better play with queens up is to check and see what your opponents do.

3. a(10), b(4), c(0). Its not impossible that your queens are good, but its not easy either against a bet and call. The prudent play is to fold rather than
overcall. Raising would be a creative bluff.

4. a(5), b(10). Theres little question in my mind that the player on the button missed at least one bet when he hit trip jacks. At the very least, he should
have bet the river.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #32: Top Pair, Nut Flush Draw, Double-Gutter, Straight Board
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Hijack
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($307.35) open with a raise to $3.50. The cutoff folds. The button ($278.10) calls. The small blind folds. The big blind ($104.85) calls.

Flop ($11): The big blind checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $11, and the button folds. The big blind calls.

Turn ($33): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $33, and your opponent calls.

River ($99): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:

a. Check? Free $50

 b. Bet?
Free $50
Action: You check. Your opponent shows Q T 8 5, having flopped two pair. You win with the straight.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #32: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(5), c(10). A Broadway wrap hand with a suited ace means opening fire on the blinds from the hijack seat.

2. a(2), b(10). You have top pair, the nut gutshot, and the nut flush draw. You cannot be raised off of this hand/draw, and thus do not fear the possible
straight. This should be bet.

3. a(0), b(10). The nut straight with the nut flush re-draw is right out of Chapter 1, Book 1. This should be bet 100%.

4. a(10), b(0). With the board pairing, the play is to check and show down. I dont see much value in betting, and you obviously are not bluffing out
anything that beats you.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #33: Q-J-T-8 from the Blinds
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The hijack ($185) and cutoff ($36.10) limp in. The button folds. The small blind ($66.90) limps in.

1. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Raise?

Action: You ($283.85) raise to $5. The hijack calls, but the cutoff folds. The small blind calls.

Flop ($16): The small blind checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check-fold?
b. Check-call?
c. Check-raise?
d. Bet?

Action: You bet $16. The hijack raises to $64, and the small blind folds.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($144):

4. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $144. Your opponent calls all-in for $116, showing K Q 9 7.

5. How well did your opponent play this hand?

Free $50
Free $50
a. Good?
b. Bad?

River ($376): You win.

Hand #33: Grades and Analysis

1. a(10), b(8). Q-J-T-8 with a suit is a premium-class hand. I dont like bloating the pot out of position, but this is a reasonable-enough hand to do so.

2. a(0), b(2), c(8), d(10). You have a 16-card nut wrap. Going for a check-raise is OK, but leading out gets the slight nod in that your hand has
deception value, while betting ensures that the flop gets bet.

3. a(0), b(10), c(8). You are pretty much going all the way in this high mid-SPR situation (SPR 11.25). You can re-raise; alternatively, you can call and
see if the board pairs on the turn before committing.

4. a(0), b(10). Well, it really doesnt matter, since you are not folding. The benefit of betting yourself is at least there is some chance -- even if it is
0.01% -- that your opponent might fold.

5. a(4), b(10). With top two pair in a high mid-SPR situation (SPR 11.6), his play on the flop should have been to flat call rather than raise, and then
probably shove the turn when the blank hits and I bet again. The problem with raising is that the range of hands I will play for the rest of my stack with
facing his raise on the flop is much stronger than if he just flat called and let me bet the turn again.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #34: QJJT Nut Wrap
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($89.90) opens with a raise to $3.50, and the hijack folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($232.20) call. The button folds. The small blind ($100.85) calls, and the big blind folds.

Flop ($11.50):

Hypothetical Action: The small blind checks. The UTG player bets $11.50.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: Both opponents check.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Actual Action: You bet $11.50, and both opponents fold.

Hand #34: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(2). Q-J-J-T is a premium pair-plus rundown, which you really want to play for two bets but not three. If it were folded to you or there
were limpers, you would raise yourself; but with a raise in front of you, the play is to call.

2. a(0), b(5), c(10). An overpair and the 12-card nut wrap is a potential dominating draw that dictates a raise on its own merits.

3. a(0), b(10). This should be bet 100%.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #35: Pair Plus Broadway Wrap OOP
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player posts $1 big blind. The UTG ($70) player checks the option, and it gets folded around to you.

1. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Raise?

Action: You ($233.60) raise to $3.50, and the UTG player calls.

Flop ($7.50):

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $7.50, and your opponent calls.

Turn ($22.50):

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $22.50, and your opponent folds.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #35: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(5), b(10). You have a premium-classish hand -- though a suited ace would be preferred -- and the only other player in the hand is a player who
has posted a blind to come in the game and then checked. Im pretty comfortable raising here.

2. a(5), b(10). You have a pair and a 13-card nut Broadway wrap, though the diamonds taint your hand somewhat. That said, you want to be able to
bet the flop after raising out of position, and you cant wait for absolutely perfect flops. This is strong enough to bet.

3. a(2), b(10). You should bet. Your straight has some deception value, and you really dont want to give a free card to a flush draw.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #36: Top Two Pair
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($243.90) open with a raise to $3.50, and the button ($59.85) and small blind ($251.55) both call. The big blind folds.

Flop ($11.50): The small blind checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $11.50. The button raises to $46, and the small blind folds.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise and set your opponent all-in for $56.36 total?

Action: You re-raise and set your opponent all-in for $56.35 total. He calls, showing Q T 5 5 for bottom set.

4. How would rate your opponents play on the flop?

a. Good?
b. Bad?

Turn ($124.20):

Free $50
Free $50

River ($124.20):

Free $50
 Hand
Free #36: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(5), c(10). T-9-7-6 is a near-premium-class hand that warrants a raise.

2. a(0), b(10). Top two pair with a gutshot should be bet. 3. a(2), b(0), c(10). Given your opponents stack size in this low mid-SPR situation (SPR
4.9), this is a re-raise or fold situation. Generally, you are committed with top two pair in a low-SPR situation. The extra gutshot should push you
towards a call.

4. a(10), b(2). He did it right with bottom set in a low mid-SPR situation, which is judgment territory.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #37: A-A-x-xds
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Hijack
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($119) limps in.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($179.55) raise to $4.50. The cutoff ($106) and button ($54.40) call. Both blinds fold, and the UTG player folds.

Flop ($16):

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. The cutoff checks. The button bets $15.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You fold, and the cutoff folds.

Hand #37: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(5), c(10). You have double-suited aces behind a limper. Raise.

2. a(10), b(2). Theres really not much you can do here. This is not a good flop even with the non-nut gutshot, and you have two opponents behind you.
The play is to check-and-fold.

3. a(10), b(2), c(0). Calling and trying to pick off a bluff is a bad idea. You are easily outdrawn even if ahead, and there are two more betting rounds
left.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #38: 13-Card Wrap on Flush Board
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The cutoff ($208.55) opens with a raise to $3.50, and it gets folded to you.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($176.45) call.

Flop ($7.50):

2. Do you:

a. Check-fold?
b. Check-call?
c. Check-call reverse float?
d. Check-raise?
e. Bet?

Action: You bet $4. Your opponent raises to $13.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

Hypothetical Turn ($33.50):

4. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Free $50
Free $50

Actual Turn ($33.50):

5. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent checks.

River ($33.50):

6. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent bets $20.

7. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call. Your opponent shows A Q Q 2 for a pair of queens, and you win.

8. Rate your opponents play:

a. Good
b. Bad

Free $50
 Hand
Free #38: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(2). 9-8-7-6 with a suit is probably too much hand to fold. That said, 3-betting out of position while 176BBs deep is not a good idea,
either.

2. a(5), b(0), c(4), d(10), e(8). This is an interesting spot. You have a 13-card nut wrap, except that the flush is already out. These flush boards are
generally either-or type situations -- either your opponent has a flush or he doesnt. This situation is ripe for a check-raise bluff. Areverse float --
check-call then bet the turn -- would be creative, but may not be preferable to simply raising. Betting out is another good alternative to check-raising,
the drawback being that your bet could be easily met with a bluff raise.

3. a(10), b(2), c(5). This is more interesting than it looks. Given some thought, you can figure your opponent most likely has the nut flush, the dry A,
or air; your opponent is unlikely to raise you with a non-nut flush. Moreover, your opponent would seem to be more likely not to have the nut flush than
to have it.

That said, the safe play is to give up the hand, because if you re-raise, you are going to get 4-bet with either the nut flush or the dry A, and it wont
matter which because the hand will be over.

4. a(5), b(10). I think if you called the raise on the flop, you should be planning to bet this turn. Checking has some value in that if your opponent
checks back, you can be fairly positive that he does not have the flush, at which point you can safely bet the river if you miss the straight, or check if
you hit it and try to induce a bluff.

5. a(10), b(0). Now you can beat a bluff, but not a flush. Betting is the wrong play. If you dont give your opponent credit for the flush -- which you clearly
dont yet if you called the raise on the flop -- checking-and-calling is the play.

6. a(10), b(0). Checking-and-calling is still the play. Your opponent will not likely call with less than a flush, since that is what you have represented
thus far.

7. a(2), b(10), c(0). Raising is better than folding, but also clearly not the right play as there is no value in raising, and you no longer have a need to
bluff. That said, your opponent is unlikely to have a flush given the way the hand has played out: He most likely either had the nut flush, dry A, or
nothing when he raised the flop, because he more likely would have flat called with a smaller flush; and if he had the nut flush, he would have bet the
turn.

That said, calling is the clear best play.

8. a(0), b(10). With the dry ace, my opponent should have bet the turn 100%.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #39: Opening Fire on the Blinds
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The first two players fold.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($144.10) open with a raise to $3.50, and the button folds. The small blind ($107) calls, but the big blind folds.

Flop ($8): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($8): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $8, and your opponent folds.

Hand #39: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(5), c(10). 8-7-6-5 with a suit is a premium-class rundown. Open fire on the blinds.

2. a(10), b(0). You should check behind with the flush draw and sucker straight outs.

3. a(0), b(10). You turned a straight. Meanwhile, your opponent has checked twice, so he is unlikely to have a straight. You should bet this at least
once.
Free $50
Free $50 Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #40: 3-Betting Before the Flop
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Hijack
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($100) opens with a raise to $3.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($178.90) re-raise to $10.50, and only the UTG player calls.

Flop ($22.50): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($22.50): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

River ($22.50): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:

a. Check? Free $50

 b. Bet?
Free $50
Action: You check. Your opponent shows A Q 3 2 for ace high.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #40: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(8), c(10). This is a good pump-and-shove 3-bet spot.

2. a(10), b(5). Betting is OK, but with the open-ended straight draw, flush draw, and overcards, this is a textbook checking situation in which you can
check and represent A-A-x-x, while giving yourself a shot to hit your draws.

3. a(8), b(10). Having checked back the flop, you should bet your tens up. Checking is OK in that you have a lot of potential outs to bigger hands.

4. a(10), b(0). Having checked the whole way, you should definitely check and show down. There is no hand that has you beat that will fold -- if your
opponent has an overpair, he will likely call any bet. Meanwhile, trying to draw value from less than jacks and tens is asking for a lot.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #41: Double-Nut Gutshot OOP
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The first two players fold. You ($194.40) open with a raise to $3.50, and only the button ($86.50) calls.

Flop ($8.50):

1. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent bets $5.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($18.50):

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $18.50, and your opponent folds.

Hand #41: Grades and Analysis

1. a(10), b(8). With a double-nut gutshot, you have a few options. For starters, you can check-fold because there are two clubs on the board, tainting
your draw. On the other hand, you can lead out, or you can check and see what your opponent does.

2. a(2), b(10), c(0). Raising is incorrect because of the two clubs on the board. What you dont want to happen is that you raise and then get 3-bet, at
which point your best play is to fold and give up the draw. Meanwhile, you cant fold against this weak stab -- the play is to call the weak stab and bet
the turn no matter what comes.
Free $50
 3. a(0), b(10). The A gives you a triple-gutter, and probably some fold equity. That said, the play is to bet as planned.
Free $50
Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #42: Pair Plus Flush Draw and Gutshot
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Hijack
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($107.70) opens with a raise to $3.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($203.50) re-raise to $10.50. The cutoff ($78) calls. The button folds. The small blind ($102.35) calls. The big blind folds, and the UTG
player calls.

Flop ($43): The small blind and UTG player both check.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. The cutoff checks.

Turn ($43): The small blind and UTG player both check.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $27.50, and the cutoff and small blind both fold. The UTG player now raises to $97.20 all-in.

4. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?

Action: You call. Your opponent shows A Q J 9 for top pair, the nut flush draw, and the nut gutshot.

5. Did the UTG player misplay the hand?

Free $50
 a. Yes
Free $50
b. No

River ($237.40): You win.

Hand #42: Grades and Analysis

1. a(2), b(10), c(5). 8-7-5-3 is a speculative wrap hand. It is a playable Small Ball hand, and a half-way decent pump-and-shove 3-bet hand. 3-betting
would get more credit if the hand were double-suited.

2. a(0), b(10). You have a pair, a gutshot, and a flush draw in a low, low-SPR situation (SPR 1.6, SPR 2.1, SPR 2.3). This should be a bet and
commit.

3. a(0), b(10). With trip eights, there is no checking this.

4. a(0), b(10). This would be a tough laydown.

5. a(5), b(10). You might say the UTG player should have led out with the top pair, nut gutshot, and nut flush draw. He might have bet the turn, but its
hard to really fault him for anything. The cards just came the way they did.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #43: Top Two Pair OOP
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Hijack
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. You ($356.35) open with a raise to $3.50. The cutoff ($54.25) calls. The button folds. The small blind ($81.10) calls.
The big blind folds.

Flop ($11.50): The small blind checks.

1. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $11.50. The cutoff folds, but the small blind calls.

Turn ($34.50): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Hypothetical Action: You bet $21, and your opponent raises all-in to $69.60.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?

Actual Action: You bet $21, and your opponent folds.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #43: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10). Top two pair (plus the gutshot wheel draw) is vulnerable and should be bet.

2. a(0), b(10). Your two pair hand has been counterfeited -- any overpair now beats you -- but you should follow through with another bet. You can shut
down if called.

3. a(10), b(2). Theres not much you can do here other than fold. You can beat air, but that is a tough call to make.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #44: Small Ball
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($158.45) limps in. The cutoff folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($423.75) limp in. The small blind ($72.20) raises to $5, and both the big blind and UTG player fold.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Flop ($12): Your opponent bets $12.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($36): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $36, and your opponent folds.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #44: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(5), b(10), c(2). Q-J-8-6 with a suit is a quite marginal hand. I think you are better off folding than trying to attack the limper with a raise. However,
a limp on the button is quite reasonable.

2. a(0), b(10), c(0). You are going to be heads up with the positional advantage if you call, which you must. Re-raising doesnt make much sense at
this point.

3. a(0), b(10), c(8). You cant fold top pair for one bet. That said, you have a choice between flat calling (combo float) and raising (combo semi-bluff
or whatever) in this low mid-SPR situation (SPR 5.6). If it were a low SPR situation (SPR 4), raising would be automatic.

4. a(0), b(10). With top two pair and your opponent checking to you, this should be an automatic bet.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #45: A-A-x-x
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The cutoff ($82.20) limps in, and it gets folded to you.

1. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Raise?

Action: You ($416.35) check.

Flop ($2.50):

2. Do you:

a. Check-fold?
b. Check-call?
c. Check-raise?
d. Bet?

Action: You bet $2.50, and your opponent calls.

Turn ($7.50):

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $7.50, and your opponent calls.

River ($22.50):

4. Do you:
Free $50
 a. Check?
Free $50
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Hypothetical Action: Your opponent bets $15.

5. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Actual Action: Your opponent checks, showing Q J 8 8 for top two pair. You lose.

Hand #45: Grades and Analysis

1. a(10), b(4). Without a suited ace, this A-A-x-x hand is not a premium-class A-A-x-x hand, which makes this hand harder to flop to, and thus more
difficult to play out of position. The play is to check and keep the pot small.

2. a(0), b(2), c(8), d(10). You have an overpair and a nut open-ended straight draw. Going for a check-raise is OK, but I prefer to bet out than risk
giving the free card.

3. a(0), b(10). You picked up a flush draw. Plus you were going to bet anyway.

4. a(10), b(2). You have something to show down, and it is hard to find a reason to bet. You should check and try to show down.

5. a(10), b(2), c(0). It is hard to think of something you can beat with A-A-x-x given the way this hand has been played.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #46: Opening Fire on the Blinds
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($489.85) open with a raise to $3.50, and the button folds. The small blind ($91.60) and big blind ($136.45) both call.

Flop ($10.50): Both blinds check.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($10.50): Both blinds check.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $10.50, and both opponents fold.

Hand #46: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(5), c(10). A-T-9-8 with a suited ace is a real premium hand; dont let the extra diamond detract you from opening fire on the blinds.

2. a(10), b(2). With a nut gutshot and two opponents, you should take the free card.

3. a(0), b(10). The nut straight is an automatic bet.

Score: ________
Free $50
 Hand
Free #47: 9-9-9-x
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: It gets folded to the button ($92.75), who limps in. The small blind ($126.75) limps in.

1. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Raise?

Action: You ($100) check.

Flop ($3): The small blind checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check-fold?
b. Check-call?
c. Check-raise?
d. Bet?

Action: You bet $2, and only the button calls.

Turn ($7):

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $4, and your opponent calls.

River ($15):

4. Do you:
Free $50
 a. Check?
Free $50
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $10.50. Your opponent raises to $21.

5. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You re-raise to $78. Your opponent re-raises all-in to $85.75. You call. Your opponent shows A 4 2 2 for quad deuces.

Hand #47: Grades and Analysis

1. a(10), b(0). If you picked (b) raise, good luck.

2. a(0), b(10), c(10), d(10). Theres no wrong play other than folding. I like betting myself with the overfull just to make sure this street gets bet. You
really want to play for stacks here, and checking is a good way to play a small pot.

3. a(8), b(10). You should generally keep betting, though checking has its merits; it may induce a bluff from a float, while a deuce will probably bet
rather than check, at which point you can raise.

4. a(4), b(10). You should bet the river yourself.

5. a(0), b(10), c(8). Heres the thing. Lets say we give your opponent credit for something other than air. His likely hands here are A-2-x-x, 2-2-x-x,
and A-A-x-x, all of which make sense, two of which beat you, and the other (A-2-x-x) which you can beat. Meanwhile, if your opponent has air, he will
fold.

Following the raise, you basically have one bet left to re-raise, after which point your opponent will commit if he has one of those three hands, but fold
if he has nothing. Meanwhile, it is easier for your opponent to have A-2-x-x than one of the other two hands. Ignoring the probability that your opponent
is more likely to raise with A-A-x-x from the button than limp, there are six combinations of A-2-x-x vs. three combinations of A-A-x-x and one
combination of 2-2-x-x.

This means that more often than not, strictly from a probability standpoint, your opponent is going to have A-2-x-x (six combinations) more than A-A-x-
x or 2-2-x-x (four combinations total). And then if you figure that your opponent is more likely to raise with A-A-x-x than limp in, then it becomes even
more likely that your opponent has A-2-x-x.

But then you have to decide whether or not your opponent would actually raise with A-2-x-x at the river, and Im not so sure we can say for certain that
thats the case unless weve seen our opponent do it. Im not sure I would do it myself.

Overall, I think its pretty hard to say one way or another. But I do know that the max penalty is one more bet plus a few bucks, so there is limited
downside in re-raising, which makes re-raising an easier choice to make.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #48: 3-Betting vs. Small Ball
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The hijack ($120.55) opens with a raise to $2, and the cutoff folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($342.70) re-raise to $7.50. Both blinds fold. The hijack calls.

Flop ($16.50): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($16.50): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

River ($16.50): Your opponent bets $16.50.

4. Do you:

a. Fold?
Free $50
 b. Call?
Free $50
c. Raise?

Action: You call. Your opponent shows A T 8 8 for eights-full.

Hand #48: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(8), c(10). Normally, I dont like 3-betting with kings. However, this is a special case, where (1) you have a real premium K-K-x-x hand with A-
K-K-Q double-suited, (2) the hijacks min-raise is really more like a big limp rather than a real raise, and (3), as a function of the min-raise and
120BB effective stacks, you can 3-bet the full pot and still wind up in a near-deep-stack scenario with a SPR of about 7, assuming only the hijack
calls.

2. a(10), b(8). Having taken the initiative pre-flop, I like checking back the overpair and second-nut flush draw. If you had the nut flush draw, this would
be a bet 100%. Betting isnt wrong, so long as you are prepared to shove if you get check-raised.

3. a(8), b(10). With your opponent having checked twice, it is probably safe to venture a bet. That said, another pot-control check is also reasonable.

4. a(2), b(10), c(0). With a full pot-sized bet, your opponent is likely either very strong or has nothing. On the one hand, you kind of have to have a
sneaking suspicion that you are beat when your opponent bets the full pot; but on the other hand, this is hard to fold for one bet, particularly given the
way that the hand has been played.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #49: 3-Betting Before the Flop
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The hijack ($235.45) opens with a raise to $3.50.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($318.70) re-raise to $12. It gets folded back around to the hijack, who calls.

Flop ($25.50): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Hypothetical Turn ($25.50): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Actual Turn ($25.50): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?
Free $50
 Action: You check.
Free $50

River ($25.50): Your opponent checks.

5. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet $5?
c. Bet $10-$15?
d. Bet $20-$25.50?

Action: You check. Your opponent shows A T 9 7 for ace-high, and you win.

Hand #49: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(8), c(10). This is a classic deep-stack 3-betting situation, where you have a premium-class double-suited rundown in position on the pre-
flop raiser, and are well over 200BBs deep.

2. a(10), b(4). With a bare flush draw on this paired board, the play should be to check, and for several reasons: (1) If you bet, you can easily be
check-raised off a draw that may have some value; (2) If you check, not only might you have some flush draw value, but you are mimicking the way
you might play A-A-x-x on this board, and can faithfully represent A-A-x-x with a bet on the turn if a blank appears and your opponent checks.

3. a(5), b(10). Having checkedback the flop, you can still take the free card and try to hit your flush; however, the overriding consideration here should
be that you can faithfully represent A-A-x-x with a bet. I think in this case, you have enough fold equity that the value in betting and taking down the pot
should outweigh your prospects of hitting the flush.

4. a(10), b(0). This scenario is different: Now youve made a flush. That said, there is little value in betting, and you dont want to risk getting check-
raised. The play should be to check back the turn and see what your opponent does on the river.

5. a(10), b(2), c(0.5), d(0). I dont see much value in betting whatsoever. There is a slight chance your opponent might be able to call with an overpair.
Also, if you bet, you do run the risk of getting check-raised, though getting check-raised on the river is not nearly as bad as getting check-raised on
the flop or turn, as you know you can call a raise on the river without having to face another bet on a later street.

I favor checking here, though you may bet at your own risk.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #50: Top Pair, Nut Flush Draw, Nut Gutshot
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max, deep) with $0.20 antes, four-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You act first.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($211.50) open with a raise to $4.30, and only the small blind ($119) calls.

Flop ($10.40): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $10.40, and your opponent raises to $41.60.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You re-raise to $135.20, and your opponent calls all-in for $72.90, or $114.50 total. Your opponent shows J 9 4 3, for top two pair.

4. Whos the favorite?

a. You?
b. Your opponent?

Turn ($239.40):

Free $50
Free $50

River ($239.40):

Free $50
 Hand
Free #50: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(5), c(10). Raising with this true premium-class hand should be automatic, anytime, anywhere.

2. a(0), b(10). You have top pair, a nut gutshot, and the nut flush draw. Pot.

3. a(0). b(4), c(10). The SPR is 11 -- high mid-SPR territory, or judgment territory. Youre not folding. That said, I think there are a lot of hands you
dominate with top pair and the nut flush draw, plus a nut gutshot to boot.

4. a(10), b(0). You are a 62%/38% favorite.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #51: Big Blind vs. Small Blind
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max, deep) with $0.20 antes, six-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: It gets folded around to the small blind ($316.60), who opens with a raise to $4.20.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($201.35) re-raise to $13.80, and your opponent calls.

Flop ($28.80): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $28.80. Your opponent raises to $115.20.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You re-raise all-in to $187.35, and your opponent calls, showing Q Q J 6 for a pair of queens with a gutshot.

4. Who is the favorite?

a. You?
b. Your opponent?

5. Rate your opponents play.

a. Good
b. Bad
c. OK

Free $50
 Turn ($403.50):
Free $50

River ($403.50):

Hand #51: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(5), c(10). This is an excellent spot for a 3-bet in this BB vs. SB scenario. You have a Broadway wrap hand with a suited ace, plus top-end
17-card wrap potential.

2. a(0), b(10). You flopped the top-end 17-card wrap, and cannot get check-raised off this draw. Bet 100% of the time.

3. a(0), b(4), c(10). You are not folding, and there is about one-third of another pot-sized bet left if you call. You might as well go ahead and shove.

4. a(8), b(10). Its close. You are a 49%/51% dog.

5. a(8), b(5), c(10). His play is reasonably aggressive. Its hard to tell someone not to raise in the small blind when only the big blind is left. But when
you do it and wind up getting 3-bet, you end up in a tough spot on the flop. Your opponent made an aggressive play with an overpair and a nut gutshot
on the flop in a mid-SPR situation (SPR 6.5). His play is not automatic, but he made a judgment decision to check-raise and try to win the pot
outright, and then committed once he got re-raised.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #52: Something Else
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max, deep) with $0.20 antes, six-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The cutoff posts a $1 blind. The first two players fold. The cutoff ($150) checks. The button folds. The small blind ($100) limps in.

1. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Raise?

Action: You ($465.55) check.

Flop ($4.20): The small blind checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $4.20. The cutoff folds, but the small blind calls.

Turn ($12.60): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $7.50. Your opponent raises to $27.50.

4. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You re-raise to $95.10, and your opponent folds.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #52: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(10), b(0). You have a fairly marginal hand. Take the cheap flop.

2. a(8), b(10). This is an excellent steal opportunity. Its a three-way pot, a fairly dry flop, and the first player has already checked.

3. a(0), b(10). You must follow through.

4. a(10), b(0), c(8). Your opponents play only makes legitimate sense if he has T-4-x-x or 4-4-x-x. I dont necessarily see him raising with dry trips if
he had it, though it is possible. Folding is the sensible play. But my view is that it is more likely your opponent has read your bet as a follow through,
and is simply taking a shot at the pot.

I know that might be giving opponents at these stakes an awful lot of credit for making a play, but some of these guys are relatively sophisticated. Re-
raising is worth a shot sometimes.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #53: Attacking the Limper
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online with $0.20 ante online (6-max, deep), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The cutoff ($254.40) limps in.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($200) raise to $5.50. The small blind folds. The big blind ($116.75) and limper both call.

Flop ($18): Both opponents check to you.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($18): The big blind bets $18, and the other player folds.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

River ($54): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:
Free $50
 a. Check?
Free $50
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $26, and your opponent calls. Your opponent shows 9 8 4 2 for a nine-high flush, and you win.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #53: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(8). K-J-T-7 with a suit is not a premium hand by any means, but is probably enough to attack a limper. The dead money from the
antes provides extra incentive to put in a raise.

2. a(10), b(8). You can go either way. The drawback to betting is that you might not be strong enough to stand a check-raise, while your hand may
have considerable value in a small pot.

3. a(0), b(10), c(0). You cant reasonably fold the second-nut flush for one bet here. Meanwhile, there is little-to-no value -- and a lot of potential
downside -- to raising. The play is to call.

4. a(2), b(10). The second-nut flush should be bet here. If your opponent had the nut flush, he more likely -- perhaps not always, however -- would have
bet the river himself.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #54: Overtrips
$50
The game: $0.50-$1 online (6-max, deep) with $0.20 antes, five-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop:The UTG player ($881) opens with a raise to $4.50, and the cutoff folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($760.25) re-raise to $16. Both blinds fold. The UTG player calls.

Flop ($34.50): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $21.50. Your opponent raises to $67.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($168.50): Your opponent bets $107.50.

4. Do you:

a. Call?
b. Raise?

Action: You raise to $215, and your opponent folds.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #54: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), (8). K-J-9-8 is not a real premium hand with the two gaps, but it is a reasonable 3-bet. Plus it is double-suited.

2. a(0), b(10). Overtrips should be bet, particularly with a full slate of overcard outs.

3. a(0), b(10), c(2). You cant fold, and you are either behind or getting what you wanted. Re-raising would only knock out the hands you can beat (air),
while leaving you up against hands which either beat you (9-7-x-x or A-9-x-x) or against which you are basically gambling against (virtually any 9-x-x-
x). By calling, you give your opponent a chance to fire another shot when bluffing.

4. a(10), b(2). Well, you have quads, which is not easy to play. Obviously, your opponent has jack shit. You should probably call and hope to get
another bet on the river. But if you really want to play for stacks, you might try putting in a small raise; against the right opponent, your play might look
suspicious and draw further action, like a bluff 3-bet.

The problem with raising is that few opponents are capable of making such a play.

Whoops.

Score: ________

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
Free $50 Part V: $1-$2 PLO

In contrast to $0.50-$1, the players at $1-$2 start to get pretty good. Generally speaking, I think the competition at $1-$2 and $2-$4 online is pretty
comparable to what you might find at $2-$5 and $5-$10 live, in that the best players at these stakes can be pretty tough.

Now Im not saying that a winning $1-$2 or $2-$4 online 6-max player would automatically be able to sit down in a $2-$5 or $5-$10 live PLO game
and win -- or vice versa -- because I know thats not necessarily true. Ive seen a lot of online players sit down in live games and struggle with the
slower pace of live play, but also with hand valuations in particular: You can get away with hand valuation errors somewhat in short-handed online
play, but in live play where the stacks are deeper and the pots are consistently contested five- and six-way after the flop, those hand valuation
mistakes start to become glaring.

And at the same time, I know some really good live players at these stakes who have struggled adapting to the 6-max games online -- short-handed
play online is undoubtedly tougher than short-handed play live.

That said, once you get to $1-$2 online, the games start to get a little bit tighter, but a lot more aggressive than the smaller stakes games.

There are 46 hands in this chapter. The last 16 are from deep-stack ante games.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #1: Opening Fire on the Blinds, Overtrips
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), four-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You act first.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($336.45) open with a raise to $7, and only the small blind ($148.60) calls.

Flop ($16): Your opponent bets $8.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($32): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $12, and your opponent calls.

River ($56): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:
Free $50
 a. Check?
Free $50
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $38, and your opponent calls, showing 9 9 6 6, having flopped the underfull.

5. Rate your opponents play in this hand:

a. Good
b. OK
c. Bad

Hand #1: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(4), c(10). With a Broadway wrap and a suited ace, opening fire on the blinds from UTG four-handed should be automatic.

2. a(0), b(10), c(2). You have overtrips with two overcard kickers. This is a small-pot hand at this juncture. If you raise, you are unlikely to draw value
from a worse hand, and you can only guess about how good your queen kicker is.

3. a(2), b(10). Checking is the wrong play with the nut overfull. You need to bet to draw value from either a worse ace or a flush.

4. a(0), b(10). No explanation.

5. a(7), b(10), c(8). Im not sure theres a wrong answer here. I think if theres one fault, it is that the small blind can probably figure his hand is beat
when you bet the river after calling the flop and betting the turn. If I were in his shoes, I would think you would be more likely to check and show down
bare trip aces, but value-bet the overfull.

But at the same time, if I am the small blind, I might also think there is the possibility that you might bet the river with bare trips in an attempt to bluff
me out if I (I meaning the small blind) have bare trips or a flush.

That said, I think there is enough doubt that calling the bet on the river isnt necessarily wrong.

Now that said, I think that, rather than lead out on the flop with the underfull, the better play would have been to check-and-call, and give you a chance
to bluff at the pot.

I dont necessarily think the small blind played the hand poorly, but there was at least one spot -- maybe two -- where the small blind could have
picked a better play.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #2: 13-Card Nut Wrap with Flush Draw
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($206.25) calls. The next player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($209.25) call. The button folds. The small blind ($384.75) calls. The big blind ($218.05) checks.

Flop ($8): The small blind checks. The big blind bets $6. The UTG player calls.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You raise to $32, and only the UTG player calls.

Turn ($78): The UTG player checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $78 and your opponent folds.

Hand #2: Grades and Analysis

1. a(5), b(10), c(5). You can fold if the button is a maniac; but in that case, you should pick up and find another game. Meanwhile, raising and
attacking the limper is asking a lot of this marginal hand.

2. a(0), b(4), c(10). With a 13-card nut wrap and flush draw, you should be looking to jack up this pot.

3. a(0), b(10). Now is not the time to take your foot off the pedal. You have the initiative.
Free $50
Free $50 Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #3: K-K-x-x
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($224.90) opens with a raise to $7. The hijack ($229.15) calls. The cutoff folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($192) call. The small blind ($263.75) calls. The big blind folds.

Flop ($30): The first two players check. The hijack bets $30.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call, and the other two players fold.

Turn ($90): Your opponent bets $90.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You raise to $155 all-in. Your opponent calls, showing Q J 9 8.

4. Do you like your opponents play?

a. Yes
b. No

River ($400): You win.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #3: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(0). You have K-K-9-7 with a suit on the button. This demands a call. A 3-bet would not be correct.

2. a(5), b(10), c(5). You could make a case for any play. With an SPR of 6, this is judgment territory for K-K-x-x with second-nut clubs. A raise would
be automatic for A-A-x-x with nut clubs, but you dont have that luxury. Folding is acceptable in this four-way pot, but I like calling on the combo float
against this bet from a steal position.

3. a(5), b(0), c(10). Now your play is either shove-or-fold. That said, you have probably at least five outs (two kings, and three eights for a gutshot),
and then maybe the rest of the flush outs.

Notice the difference between your decision on the flop and the turn. Raising is less correct on the flop, because you are less likely to have your
opponent 3-bet shove with a hand you can beat. But on the turn, your opponents bet/commit range is much wider than on the flop, because he will
double barrel with a wider range of hands than he will bet/3-bet-shove the flop with.

In this case, he fired two shots with top pair, picked up a gutshot on the turn and committed, whereas he might have folded to a raise on flop with this
particular hand.

4. a(10), b(0). I would have played his hand the same way, though I might have 3-bet pre-flop as well.
Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #4: Big Blind vs. Small Blind
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep), five-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: It gets folded around to the small blind ($321.70), who opens with a raise to $4.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($427.75) re-raise to $12, and your opponent calls.

Flop ($24): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $14. Your opponent raises to $40.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You fold.

Hand #4: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(8), c(10). Theres nothing wrong with calling, except that 3-betting seems much more appetizing with this premium-class hand in this BB vs.
SB matchup.

2. a(4), b(10). You have no hand, no draw, and little prospect for improvement. You should generally bet.

3. a(10), b(2), c(2). Theres not a whole lot you can do here without knowing more about this particular opponent. Otherwise, calling and re-raising are
potential re-steal options.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #5: Opening Fire on the Blinds
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep), six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: Everybody folds to you.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($383.30) raise to $6. The button folds. The small blind ($225.50) calls. The big blind folds.

Flop ($14): The small blind checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $14, and your opponent calls.

Turn ($42): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $42, and your opponent calls.

River ($126): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:
Free $50
 a. Check?
Free $50
b. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent shows K K T T for a pair of kings, and you win.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #5: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(2), c(10). With double-suited aces in late position, opening fire on the blinds is automatic.

2. a(0), b(10). This is the kind of flop you were looking for, giving you an overpair and the nut flush draw. You cannot get check-raised off this hand.

3. a(0), b(10). Your opponent has yet to give you a reason to slow down.

4. a(10), b(0). You have enough to show down, and nothing more.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #6: Small Ball
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($362.50) opens with a raise to $6, and the cutoff folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($223) call. The small blind folds. The big blind ($201.60) calls.

Flop ($19): Both opponents check.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $19. The blind folds. The UTG player calls.

Turn ($57): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $57, and your opponent folds.

Hand #6: Grades and Analysis

1. a(2), b(10), c(2). You have a marginal hand, but have a chance to play a short-handed -- if not heads-up pot with the positional advantage on the
pre-flop raiser. This is a classic Small Ball situation.

2. a(0), b(10). I cant think of a good reason to check top two pair here.

3. a(0), b(10). The A doesnt look like a good card for you, but it might not be a good card for your opponent either. Moreover, your hand is
vulnerable, if not already beaten. The play here should be to bet and show down the river unimproved.
Free $50
Free $50 Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #7: Nut Straight
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: Everybody folds to you.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($452.15) raise to $7. The small blind folds. The big blind ($307.20) calls.

Flop ($15): The big blind checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $15, and your opponent calls.

Turn ($45): Your opponent bets $45.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

River ($135): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:
Free $50
 a. Check?
Free $50
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $72, and your opponent folds.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #7: Grades and Analysis
$50

1. a(0), b(2), c(10). You have a premium-class hand.

2. a(0), b(10). You have a 13-card nut wrap, though the presence of the spades may devalue your draw somewhat. That said, you should still tend to
c-bet this draw.

3. a(0), b(10), c(4). You have the nut straight with a straight re-draw, but you dont want to raise here to get re-raised and find you are up against a
spade re-draw. Meanwhile, you have both the positional advantage and the dry A. The play here should be to call and bet if the board pairs or a
flush card appears.

4. a(2), b(10). Checking is for wussies.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #8: Small Ball
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop:The UTG player folds. The cutoff ($207) opens with a raise to $7.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($249.90) call. Both blinds fold.

Flop ($17): Your opponent bets $17.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($51): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $34, and your opponent folds.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #8: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(5), b(10), c(0). 3-betting with the pair is incorrect. Folding is weak on the button in position.

2. a(2), b(10), c(2). There really should be one play, and that is the combo semi-bluff float with the pair of nines and the nut open-ended straight draw.
Raising is unnecessary, and folding and giving up this pot without a fight should be against the law.

3. a(0), b(10). Under no circumstance should you check this. If you have the best hand, you are easily outdrawn; and if you are behind, you would be
missing the bluffing opportunity set up by your call on the flop. The play is to bet; you can re-evaluate your options if called or raised.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #9: Top-and-Bottom Two Pair
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($202.80) calls. The hijack folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call. The button ($289.10) calls. The small blind ($888.90) calls. The big blind ($38) checks.

Flop ($10): Both blinds check, and the UTG player bets $10.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You fold, and everyone else folds.

Hand #9: Grades and Analysis

1. a(5), b(10), c(0). Unless the button is a maniac-type, you should be able to safely limp in here. Raising behind a limper with this extremely marginal
hand is pushing it.

2. a(10), b(5), c(0). You have top-and-bottom two pair with a nut gutshot straight draw. In a heads up pot, a call would be automatic. The problem is
that this pot is five-way, and you still have a player left to act behind you, not to mention two possible sand baggers in the blinds. The prudent play is
to give this one up.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #10: 13-Card Wrap OOP
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), four-handed, one blind
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You act first.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($276) open with a raise to $6, and only the cutoff ($80) calls.

Flop ($14):

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $14, and your opponent calls.

Turn ($42):

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $27, and your opponent folds.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #10: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(5), c(10). Opening fire on the blind is the preferred action, but with only one blind and two players to act behind you, limping in is OK.

2. a(5), b(10). Checking the 13-card nut wrap (minus the spades) would be giving up a good c-bet opportunity on this ace-high board. You want to c-
bet as much as you can get away with, particularly from out of position.

3. a(0), b(10). Having bet the flop, you should now follow through with a bet on the turn.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #11: A-A-T-T
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($95) limps in. The cutoff ($446) raises to $9.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($310.85) re-raise to $32, and both blinds fold. The UTG player calls, and the cutoff calls.

Flop ($99): Both opponents check.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet $25?
c. Bet $50?
d. Bet $75-$99?

Action: You bet $74. The UTG player folds. The cutoff raises to $321. You call all-in for $278.85 total. Your opponent shows Q 7 6 4.

Turn ($656.70):

River ($656.70): You lose.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #11: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(2), b(10). 3-betting should be automatic with A-A-x-x, a second pair and a suit.

2. a(0), b(2), c(7), d(10). Clearly you are not checking top set. You need to bet now if you want to play for stacks. You dont have to bet the pot, but you
need to bet enough such that a check-raise will put you and your $278.85 remaining stack all-in. This means that $25 is out of the question. Betting
$50 will only get you to $249 (your opponent can raise to 4x your bet plus the difference between your bet size and the size of the original pot, which
comes to (4 x $50) + ($99 - $50), or $249).

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #12: 3-Betting Before the Flop
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The cutoff ($745.45) -- the same opponent from the previous hand -- opens with a raise to $7.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($209) re-raise to $24, and both blinds fold. The cutoff calls.

Flop ($51): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet $25?
c. Bet $51?

Action: You bet $51. Your opponent raises to $204, setting you all-in.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?

Action: You call for $185 total. Your opponent shows Q 9 8 7 for the nut straight.

Turn ($421):

River ($421): You lose.

Hand #12: Grades and Analysis Free $50

Free $50
1. a(0), b(8), c(10). Calling with a playable hand and a chance to be heads up in position is never really wrong, but 3-betting should be the preferred
option with a premium-class rundown such as this one, despite the three diamonds.

2. a(0), b(7), c(10). You are in a low-SPR situation (SPR 3.6). Checking top pair with the nut gutshot and a host of improvers is probably not the right
play. You can bet $25 only if you are planning to fold to a raise. Otherwise, you should bet the pot and virtually commit yourself against your
opponents range.

3. a(5), b(10). You need 32% equity to justify a call (it is $134 to call for what would be a $421 total pot). You have only about 22%-23% equity against
a straight, but 45% equity against a bare top two pair hand like A K T 7, 42% equity against a top pair hand like A K Q T, and 36% equity
against J T 8 7 for top two pair and a different gutshot.

It looks like a close decision regardless, in which case you should tend to call for metagame purposes, assuming your opponent is not a nit who only
check-raises here with the straight. The looser you appear to call, the less likely your opponents are to make moves on you in these situations.

Against the actual hand -- Q 9 8 7 -- you are a 23%/77% dog on the flop.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #13: Top Set
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Youve seen the big blind check-raise against your c-bets a couple of times over the course of the session.

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($164.25) limps in, and it gets folded to you.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($219) raise to $9, and the small blind folds. The big blind ($441.75) and UTG player both call.

Flop ($28): Both opponents check.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $16. The big blind raises to $46, and the UTG player folds.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($120): Your opponent bets $120.

4. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise all-in to $164?

Action: You raise all-in to $164, and your opponent calls, showing A J J 8 for top pair, blockers, and the same gutshot. Free $50
Free $50

River ($448): You win with aces full.

Hand #13: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(2), c(10). This is a premium-class A-A-x-x hand with a suit and connectors. You should raise behind any number of opponents.

2. a(0), b(10). With top set and the nut gutshot for backup, this should be bet.

3. a(0), b(10), c(0). Folding is too weak, particularly against a player who has already check-raised your c-bets a couple of times already. Plus you
are getting 3:1 due to his small raise, and so you are almost odds on even if he has the straight. Re-raising is incorrect -- if your opponent is bluffing,
you do not want to rob him of the opportunity to fire another shot.

4. a(0), b(8), c(10). With top set and a nut gutshot, you really have too much hand to fold if you have any doubts whatsoever about your opponents
hand. You have 10 outs to a full house, plus the equivalent of about 1.5 outs to the straight assuming your opponent has the straight himself (if he
doesnt have the straight, then you dont need any outs). As such, you are nearly odds on even if he has straight.

You are basically a small dog if you are wrong, but a big favorite if you are right and he doesnt have it.

That said, you have two choices here: Call the turn and call any bet on the river, or otherwise bet yourself; or you can just raise the token amount it
takes to put you all-in. In the actual hand, I chose the latter.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #14: Playing Out of Position
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You are first to act.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($438) open with a raise to $7. The hijack folds, but the cutoff ($233.85) and button ($130.25) both call. The small blind ($137) calls, but
the big blind folds.

Flop ($30): The small blind checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. The next player checks. The button bets $30, and the small blind raises to $75.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You fold, and everybody else folds.

Hand #14: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(8), c(10). From UTG six-handed, you have two choices with this Broadway wrap hand with a suited ace: Limp in and try to keep the pot
multi-way, or raise and risk playing the pot heads up out of position. There is another overriding consideration here, and it is stack size -- you are
over 200BBs deep, and the big blind (whom you have position on) has you covered, but nobody behind you has more than 117BBs.

2. a(10), b(0). You cant contest every pot, and you shouldnt contest this one. You have absolutely nothing on a draw-heavy flop, in a four-way pot with
two players left to act.

3. a(10), b(0), c(0). Fold.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #15: Top Two Pair
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You post a $2 blind in the cutoff seat. The UTG player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($200) raise to $7, and the button ($211.30) calls. The small blind ($234.80) re-raises to $30, and the big blind folds.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call, and the button calls.

Flop ($92): The small blind checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $92, and the button folds. The small blind raises to $204.80 all-in.

4. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call all-in?

Action: You call all-in for $170 total. Your opponent shows A A T 9 for aces and a gutshot.

5. Do you like your opponents play here?

a. Yes
b. No

Free $50
Free $50

Turn ($432):

River ($432): You win.

Hand #15: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(5), c(10). The play should be to open fire on the blinds, though limping in and playing Small Ball is OK.

2. a(1), b(10), c(0). Re-raising is clearly wrong. I suppose you could find a way to justify a fold, hence the one point. But I aint doin it.

3. a(0), b(10). Betting top two pair in a low SPR situation is the standard and only play.

4. a(0), b(10). Standard protocol.

5. a(10), b(8). Its close. I guess the question is which play? The 3-bet pre-flop is OK with a good A-A-x-x hand, producing a low, low-SPR situation.
And once he got to the flop, there is no question that he is committing his stack with the overpair and nut gutshot -- he is only a 42%/58% dog against
my top two pair, which is above par equity for an SPR < 2 situation (par equity for an SPR 2 situation is 40%, the SPR here is 1.8).

I think if theres anything I might have done differently with his hand in his position, it is lead out on the flop and give his opponents a chance to fold
one pair hands (like a bare king, for example), because he is not ahead of much, either.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #16: Nut Wrap and Flush Draw OOP
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($366.10) open with a raise to $7, and only the button ($147.45) calls.

Flop ($17):

2. Do you:

a. Check-fold?
b. Check-call?
c. Check-raise?
d. Bet?

Action: You bet $17, and your opponent calls.

Turn ($51):

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $51, and your opponent raises to $123.45 all-in. You call. Your opponent shows T 8 7 6 for the same straight with a spade re-
draw.

4. Did your opponent misplay his hand?

a. Yes
b. No

Free $50
Free $50

River ($297.90): You win.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #16: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(5), c(10). Open fire on the blinds.

2. a(0), b(2), c(8), d(10). You have a 13-card nut wrap with a flush draw. The play is either to lead out and shove if raised, or go for a check-raise. I
generally prefer leading out because it is more deceptive than check-raising, and thus gives my opponent a better chance of making a big mistake.

3. a(0), b(10). You should continue to bet, having hit the straight with the flush re-draw. You definitely do not want to risk giving a free card here.

4. a(2), b(10). For the most part, I would have played his hand the same way, though I might have 3-bet with his hand in his position pre-flop, hence
the two points. Otherwise, I probably call the flop on the combo float, and shove on the turn, spade re-draw or no spade re-draw.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #17: AQQ8
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The first two players fold.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($622.15) open with a raise to $7, and only the big blind ($161) calls.

Flop ($15): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $15, and your opponent calls.

Turn ($45): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $45, and your opponent calls.

River ($135): Your opponent bets $94 all-in.

4. Do you:

a. Fold?
Free $50
 b. Call?
Free $50
Action: You call. Your opponent shows A K 9 6 for kings full. You lose.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #17: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(5), c(10). Q-Q-x-x with a suited ace is probably good enough to open fire on the blinds from the cutoff; the second suit is a bonus.

2. a(2), b(10). The problem with checking is that it is basically akin to giving up the pot, as it will be difficult for you to improve meaningfully enough on
the turn to continue with what you have in your hand. Thus, a c-bet is in order.

3. a(0), b(10). Checking is not the right play, particularly given the stack sizes. You will be committed if you get check-raised, and thus do not fear a
check-raise.

4. a(5), b(10). I have a tough time laying this down the way this hand has been played. Youd think if he had anything, he would already have been all-
in by the turn.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #18: Middle Set
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: It gets folded to the button ($326.35), who limps in. The small blind ($371.85) limps in.

1. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Raise?

Action: You ($606.65) check.

Flop ($6): The small blind bets $5.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call, and the button folds.

Turn ($16): Your opponent bets $12.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

River ($40): Your opponent bets $32.

4. Do you:
Free $50
 a. Fold?
Free $50
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You fold.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #18: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(10), b(2). This pair-plus rundown hand is basically a speculativeclass hand when this small. 2. a(0), b(10), c(4). Middle set is a small-pot hand.
The added gutshot makes a raise more palatable.That said, the SPR between you and the bettor is about 62, making this an ultra-high SPR
situation. That in itself should dictate pot control.

3. a(0), b(10), c(2). The situation is basically the same, except that a possible straight is now out, which may also beat you. Raising now makes little
sense, as you have no need to bluff, and are not likely to get much action from a hand worse than yours.

4. a(10), b(3), c(0). If you werent beat before, you are likely beat now. If you call, your opponent is likely either going to show you air or a straight; he
is more likely to check or make a blocking bet with anything you can beat. And unless your opponent leads the flop into two opponents with air, then
he is going to show you the straight. I think.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #19: Clearout
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You act first.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($580.65) limp in UTG. The cutoff ($116.55) limps in. The button folds. The small blind ($322.35) limps in. The big blind ($393.85) raises
to $10.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You re-raise to $34, and both the cutoff and small blind fold. The big blind re-raises to $106.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Flop ($216): Your opponent bets $216.

4. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You raise all-in to $474.65; your opponent calls all-in for $287.85 total. Your opponent shows A A 7 5 for top set.

5. Did your opponent overplay his hand?

a. Yes
b. No

Free $50
Free $50

Turn ($791.70):

River ($791.70): You lose.

Hand #19: Grades and Analysis

1. a(2), b(10), c(7). The key here is stack size. You have two players in front of you with big stacks, but one behind. You also have a speculative-class
wrap hand. What you want to avoid is a situation where you raise before the flop, but only the button calls (or 3-bets), and as a result you wind up
playing heads up out of position 200BBs deep.

If the button had more like a $200 or 100BB stack, then raising and opening fire on the blinds would more likely be the best option.

2. a(0), b(10), c(8). An isolating, clearout 3-bet would be enterprising.

3. a(0), b(10), c(0). It is too late to fold. 5-betting would just be wrong.

4. a(0), b(1.5), c(10). You have the bare nut straight in a low, low-SPR situation (SPR 1.3). The play is to shove.

5. a(2), b(10). Well, he had double-suited and connected aces, and so you cant put too much fault into his pre-flop play. His post-flop action is
standard. You get two points for answering Yes only because I lost the hand.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #20: A-A-3-3
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The hijack ($397.15) raises to $7, and the cutoff folds. The button ($780.70) calls. The small blind folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($316.30) re-raise to $29, and both opponents call.

Flop ($88):

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. The next player checks. The button bets $65.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You fold, and the other player folds.

Hand #20: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(8). You do have a second pair, but no suits. As such, you pretty much need to flop a set in order for your hand to have value after the
flop.

2. a(10), b(2). This is really a bad flop for you to bet into.

3. a(10), b(2), c(0). The problem with calling is that there arent a lot of clean turn cards, and that is assuming that you arent already behind. Raising
would be absurd.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #21: 13-Card Nut Wrap
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep), six-handed
Your position: Hijack
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($511.10) open with a raise to $7.

Hypothetical Action: Only the big blind ($587.70) calls.

Hypothetical Flop ($15): Your opponent bets $15.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Actual Action: The cutoff ($279.15) calls. The button folds. Both the small blind ($243.20) and big blind ($587.70) call.

Flop ($28): The small blind bets $28, and the big blind folds.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call, and the last player folds.

Turn ($84): Your opponent bets $84. Free $50

Free $50
4. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

River ($252): Your opponent checks.

5. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action:You check. Your opponent shows A K 7 5 for kings up, ace kicker. You lose.

Hand #21: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(5), c(10). J-T-9-7 with a suit is a premium-class drawing hand that warrants a raise.

2. a(0), b(5), c(10). In a heads up pot, the first bet is always suspect. The play with the 13-card nut wrap is to raise on the semi-bluff.

3. a(0), b(10), c(5). In a multi-way pot, a bet from up front signals strength. Its important to recognize that with a bare 13-card nut wrap, you are not a
favorite over much of anything, as you only make the straight about 50% of the time by the river. As a result, raising is dependent on having some fold
equity, which you are much less likely to have in a multi-way pot than in a short-handed or heads-up pot.

4. a(2), b(10), c(0). The 3 appearing taints the quality of your draw, as it puts a possible flush draw out. On the other hand, it might create possible
float outs (bluff outs). Meanwhile, your straight draw likely has some implied value as well should you hit it.

Raising is incorrect, as there is pretty much no hand your opponent will fold for $124.20 more -- his remaining stack -- and it is really, really hard for
you to be a favorite over anything he might have.

5. a(10), b(2). This is an obvious trap check. If your opponent bets the river, he could have either a made hand or missed draw; but for him to check
here, he is not likely to have missed a draw, as any half-competent player would shove on the river with a missed draw. Whats more likely is that your
opponent puts you on a draw, which obviously missed, and he is giving you a chance to try to bluff at it.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #22: Overtrips
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep), heads up
Your position: Small Blind/Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You have the button heads up.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($520.80) open with a raise to $6. Your opponent ($531.25) re-raises to $18.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Flop ($36): Your opponent bets $21.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($78): Your opponent bets $44.

4. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You raise to $210, and your opponent folds.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #22: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(4), c(10). Three Broadway cards with a suit should be an automatic raise heads up from the SB/button.

2. a(0), b(10), c(4). You are probably sitting deep enough that there is some merit to 4-betting. That said, there are probably better hands to do it
with.

3. a(0), b(10), c(4). The problem with raising is that your opponent will likely fold if he has air and only play along if he has trips or better, against
which you are basically gambling with. On the other hand, if you just call, your opponent may continue to bet if he has air.

4. a(0), b(4), c(10). Having turned the overfull, you have to balance the probability that your opponent has nothing with the potential to play for stacks.
That said, with another $437.80 left to play beyond the $44 bet, you cannot play for stacks if you dont put in a raise at some point, and the time to do
that is now.

In retrospect, I probably should have raised an amount more in line with my opponents bet -- probably to like $150 or so, though it likely made little
difference in the actual hand if my opponent had nothing to begin with.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #23: A-A-x-x
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep), heads up
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The small blind/button ($448.25) opens with a raise to $6.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($603.30) call.

Flop ($12):

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $12. Your opponent raises to $42.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($96):

4. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent bets $72.

5. Do you:

a. Fold?
Free $50
 b. Call?
Free $50
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

River ($240):

6. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent checks, showing 9 8 2 2 for a smaller full house, having flopped an open-ended straight draw.

Hand #23: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(0). This is a crap A-A-x-x with no suits. 3-betting out of position is a no-no.

2. a(5), b(10). I like leading out here with the overpair, nut gutshot, and dry A.

3. a(10), b(7), c(0). Its hard to see re-raising being the right play. The advantage in calling is that you do have some value, as well as some potential
bluff value should a club hit.

4. a(10), b(0). Betting is incorrect, where your opponent will simply fold air, or otherwise raise and make you guess whether your hand is good. The
J might have beaten you, but it also might have helped you. Checking-and-calling is the best option.

5. a(2), b(10), c(0). Theres no point in raising.

6. a(10), b(0). If your opponent has nothing, checking and giving him a chance to bluff at it is better than betting. And if your opponent has the case
jack, the checking-and-calling is better than betting out and getting raised.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #24: Q-Q-x-x
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep), four-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You act first.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($625.15) call. The button and small blind both fold. The big blind ($200) checks.

Flop ($5): Your opponent bets $4.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($13): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

River ($13): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:
Free $50
 a. Check?
Free $50
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $6, and your opponent calls, showing 9 6 6 3, having flopped the underfull.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #24: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(2). Q-Q-J-3 with a suit is a marginal hand that warrants a limp.

2. a(0), b(10), c(0). You cant fold for one bet.

3. a(10), b(4). Betting isnt necessarily wrong, but I prefer checking for pot-control purposes.

4. a(0), b(10). With your opponent checking twice, it is unlikely that he has either the case king or A-A-x-x. A value bet is in order.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #25: Top Pair, Nut Flush Draw
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You act first.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($200) open with a raise to $7. It gets folded back to the big blind ($666.80), who re-raises to $22.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Flop ($45): Your opponent bets $45.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise to $178 all-in?

Action: You raise to $178 all-in. Your opponent calls, showing A A K 3, for an overpair and a heart flush draw.

4. Who is the favorite?

a. You?
b. Your opponent?

5. Rate your opponents play:

a. Good
b. Not Good
c. Bad

Free $50
Free $50

Turn ($401):

River ($401): You win.

Hand #25: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(8), c(10). Six-handed UTG, you can either limp and try to play this hand multi-way, or you can put in a raise if the players behind you are
tight.

2. a(0), b(10), c(0). You cant fold heads up in position, while 4-betting is little better than gambling at best. Worrying about domination is way
overrated.

3. a(0), b(2), c(10). You have top pair and the nut flush draw in a low SPR situation (SPR 4). The play is to shove.

4. a(10), (8). You are about a 51%/49% favorite, give-or-take.

5. a(5), b(10), c(5). A-A-K-3 is not a strong hand without a suited ace. Consequently, 3-betting out of position is a poor play. That said, his play on the
flop with the overpair and king-high flush draw is standard in a low-SPR situation.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #26: 3-Betting Before the Flop
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Hijack
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($465.40) opens with a raise to $7.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($406.60) re-raise to $24, and it gets folded back to the UTG player, who calls.

Flop ($51): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Hypothetical Action: You bet $51, and your opponent raises to $204.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise all-in to $382.60?

Actual Action: You bet $51, and your opponent folds.

Hand #26: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(8). This is a good spot for a 3-bet to isolate the other big stack. You are not terribly concerned about the players behind you, as they
are not terribly deep. It should be noted that K-J-T-9 with a suit is not a premium-class hand with the top gap, and that the hand prefers to be heads
up in position than in a multi-way pot.

2. a(0), b(10). Top two pair with a nut gutshot should be bet.

3. a(8), b(0), c(10). With an SPR of 7.5, this is judgment territory. It is also a shove-or-fold decision, as you should not be calling the raise and then
folding the turn. That said, with the nut gutshot, I would lean towards shoving here.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #27: 3-Betting Before the Flop
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The hijack ($164) opens with a raise to $7.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You re-raise to $24. It gets folded back to the hijack, who calls.

Flop ($51):

Hypothetical Action: Your opponent bets $51.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call and fold to turn shove unimproved?
c. Call and commit on the turn no matter what?
d. Raise and set your opponent all-in for $140?

Actual Action: Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $51 and your opponent folds.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #27: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(8), c(10). K-Q-J-T with a suit is a real premium-class hand. 3-betting gets the edge.

2. a(7), b(0), c(5), d(10). With an SPR < 3, this is a raise-or-fold situation. Meanwhile, you have middle pair and a 9-card inside nut wrap. I think in this
spot, theres a decent chance your opponent has air and is just taking a shot at the pot. Theres also a chance he has an ace, but not A-K-x-x, in
which case you may have a live draw to trips as well.

Meanwhile, if your opponent flopped strong, he might be more likely to go for a check-raise rather than lead out.

The advantage of option (c) calling and committing on the turn is that if your opponent has air, you give him a chance to bet again with air, whereas
he will simply fold if you raise. The downside is that you also give him a chance to back into something that might beat you, like a flush or a smaller
straight that doesnt give you a straight (e.g. if the board came 7-6 and your opponent has T-9-x-x, 9-5-x-x, or 5-4-x-x), or if he has a bare eight and
would fold to a raise, but you call and he makes two pair or trip eights to beat you.

That said, given the already large pot size, I would lean towards shoving here.

3. a(0), b(10). If you bet and get raised, you are pot-committed with the inside wrap in this low-SPR situation. The play is to bet the pot.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #28: Bottom Set
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep), three-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You are first to act.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($460.80) limp in on the button. The small blind ($155) calls, and the big blind ($590.25) checks.

Flop ($6): The small blind checks. The big blind bets $5.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call, and the small blind folds.

Turn ($16): Your opponent bets $12.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

River ($40): Your opponent bets $39.

4. Do you: Free $50

Free $50
a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call. Your opponent shows A Q 7 5 for top three pair.

5. Did you underplay the hand?

a. Yes
b. No

Hand #28: Grades and Analysis

1. a(10), b(5), c(0). Well, you have a pair of deuces and a suited J-5, which has bottom set plus flush draw possibility. This hand should probably be
folded, but hey -- you are on the button.

2. a(0), b(10), c(2). Bottom set is a small-pot hand.

3. a(0), b(10), c0). You picked up a gutshot, but now a possible straight is out. Raising is overplaying both the hand and the situation. You cant fold,
though, as you have little reason to suspect that your opponent actually has a straight.

4. a(0), b(10), c(2). I dont think its apparent that you are beat, and thus you should not give serious consideration to folding. You might give some
thought to a small value-raise, but I prefer to simply call and show down.

5. a(0), b(10). I dont think so. Bottom set is a small-pot hand; plus a possible straight hit the turn.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #29 Clearout
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($498.40) limps in. The next player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($391.90) limp in. The button ($200) limps in. The small blind folds. The big blind ($197) raises to $6.50, and the UTG player folds.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You re-raise to $24.50, and both the button and big blind call.

Flop ($76.50): The big blind checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $49 and both opponents fold.

Hand #29: Grades and Analysis

1. a(2), b(10), c(2). 8-6-5-4 with a suit is not a premium-class hand with the top gap. This should be a limp behind this limper.

2. a(0), b(10), c(7). The standard play is to call. That said, the big blind has opened up a pump-and-shove clearout opportunity. You may be able to
knock out the button with a re-raise and isolate the big blind. And if you get 4-bet, then so what?

3. a(10), b(8). With two opponents and two aces on the flop, you can check and give this one upor you can bet and take a stab at it.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #30: Nut Straight
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. You ($200.70) open with a raise to $7, and only the small blind ($291.90) calls.

Flop ($16): Your opponent checks.

1. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $16. Your opponent raises to $40.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You re-raise to $136. Your opponent re-raises to $284.90, setting you all-in for $57.70 more, or $193.70 total.

3. Do you:
a. Fold?
b. Call?

Action: You call. Your opponent shows A K J 5 for top pair, a gutshot, and the second-nut flush draw.

4. Rate your opponents play:

a. Good
b. OK
c. Bad

Turn ($403.40):

Free $50
 River ($403.40):
Free $50

Free $50
 Hand
Free #30: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10). You have the nut straight, albeit a vulnerable one. This should be bet.

2. a(2), b(10), c(7). Heads up, this is a judgment decision in what is basically a high-SPR situation (SPR 12.9). Your play really depends on how
strong you think your opponent is, because you could have the best hand and still be behind.

For example, if your opponent has A K Q 2 for a 13-card nut wrap and the nut flush, he is actually a 70%/30% favorite over your straight. A 2
J J for top set and the nut club draw is a 61%/39% favorite. Meanwhile, A K J 2 for top pair, the nut gutshot and the nut flush draw is a
51%/49% favorite over your hand, for a virtual coin flip.

And those are just the hands that you can beat with your bare nut straight. A 9 8 2 for the same straight with the flush re-draw is also a
70%/30% favorite over you.

The problem I have with folding, however, is that Im not sure your opponent is also that strong with his small check-raise. Id be inclined to at least call
and see the turn.

Re-raising is only correct if you feel strongly that your opponent is not that strong.

3. a(0), b(10). Well, its too late to fold.

4. a(7), b(10), c(2). The small blinds play is not bad. Obviously it would have been a clearer check-raise if he had the nut flush draw rather than the
second-nut flush draw. Moreover, his play would have been more convincing had he check-raised the full pot rather than a fraction of it.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #31: Top Pair, Nut Flush Draw
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep) with $0.30 antes, five-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($738.65) open with a raise to $8.50. The button ($315.20) and small blind ($328.65) call. The big blind folds.

Flop ($29): The small blind checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $29, and the button folds. The small blind raises to $116.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You re-raise and set your opponent all-in. Your opponent calls $203.85, or $319.85 total. Your opponent shows 9 9 8 7 for a pair of
nines, a sucker wrap, and a sucker flush draw.

Turn ($668.70):

River ($668.70): You win.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #31: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(10), b(5), c(8). This is a weak suited ace hand. Folding is OK. Calling isnt necessarily wrong, either. But with the antes, I favor raising over
calling.

2. a(0), b(10). With top pair and the nut flush draw, you should bet this flop.

3. a(7), b(2), c(10). This is a tricky decision point, because you could be drawing -EV against a set or two pair. But on the other hand, you can beat
any draw with the nut flush draw. That said, this is really a re-raise or fold situation given the stack sizes (SPR 11) in this mid-high SPR situation --
judgment territory. Because if you call the raise, there will only be one bet left to play, and so you will not be folding the turn regardless of what comes.

Lets take a look at the equities:

- 31%/69% dog against K Q J T for top two pair, nut openended straight draw and flush draw

- 30%/70% dog against Q Q J T for top set

- 36%/64% against A K Q T for top two pair, nut gutshot

- 59%/41% favorite against K Q J 9 for top pair, 17-card wrap, and flush draw

- 65%/35% favorite against 9 9 8 7 for a twelve-card wrap and flush draw

Lets assume you are either shoving or folding. Assuming your opponent will call 100% of the time if you shove, you need about 43.5% equity to
justify a shove. Just eye-balling the equities, you figure to be in the 45%+ range if you figure your opponents range is half draw, half two pair-or-
better. And if your opponent ever folds to a 3-bet, then shoving looks to be the better play.

And if it is a close play, I give shoving extra credit for metagame purposes.

As it turns out, you are a 65%/35% favorite against the actual hand.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #32: Opening Fire on the Blinds
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep) with $0.30 antes, six-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You act first.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($986.30) open with a raise to $8.80, and only the small blind ($233.05) calls.

Flop ($21.40): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($21.40): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $21.40, and your opponent calls.

River ($64.20): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:
Free $50
 a. Check?
Free $50
b. Bet?

Action:You check. Your opponent shows K Q J 7, and you win with your A-J-x-x.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #32: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(8). This is a borderline decision. On the one hand, you have the antes, which means you should be leaning towards raising. On the
other hand, you have a bunch of big stacks behind you. But if you can get away with it, raising is the play.

2. a(10), b(2). This is a classic check-back situation: You have a gutshot and hit a pivot card.

3. a(0), b(10). After checking back the flop and picking up top pair, the standard play is to bet. You also picked up an extra gutshot.

4. a(10), b(5). Following through is OK when in doubt, but you have enough to show down.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #33: Inside Wrap
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep) with $0.30 antes, five-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You act first.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($1,054.60) limp in. It gets folded around to the big blind ($723.95), who checks.

Flop ($6.50): Your opponent bets $6.50.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($19.50): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $13, and your opponent folds.

Hand #33: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(8), c(10). You can go either way. The antes might push this decision towards a raise, while the big stacks behind you might push the
decision towards a call.

2. a(0), b(10), c(2). You have the inside wrap in position against a possible steal bet. Raising is unnecessary. Calling (floating) is the best play.

3. a(0), b(10). You didnt call on the flop to try to make your hand. The play is to complete the float with a bet. Free $50
Free $50 Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #34: Opening Fire on the Blinds
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep) with $0.30 antes, five-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($919.60) open with a raise to $8.50. The button folds. The small blind ($271.90) calls. The big blind ($400.20) re-raises to $35.50.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call, and the small blind calls.

Flop ($108): The small blind checks. The big blind bets $78.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You fold, and the small blind folds.

Hand #34: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(4), c(10). Opening fire on the blinds with this Broadway wrap hand is the best play, despite not having a suited ace.

2. a(0), b(10), c(0). Re-raising serves no purpose, while folding in position is too weak.

3. a(10), b(0), c(2). A raise would be creative, but probably not the right play. Floating would be a mistake in this low-SPR situation, where your
opponent is betting the turn no matter what. In addition, you have a player in the small blind who could be sand bagging. The play is to fold.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #35: 7-6-4-2
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep) with $0.30 antes, six-handed
Your position: Small Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($437.40) opens with a raise to $8.80. The hijack folds, but the cutoff ($1,704.70) and button ($459.65) both call.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($435.65) call, and the big blind ($152.80) calls.

Flop ($45.80):

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. The big blind checks. The UTG player bets $12. The cutoff now raises to $40, and the button folds.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You fold. The UTG player calls.

Turn ($125.80): Both opponents check.

River ($125.80): Both opponents check. The cutoff shows A Q T 8. The UTG player shows J T 9 7.

4. How would you rate the way the UTG player played the hand?
Free $50
 a. Good
Free $50
b. Bad

Free $50
 Hand
Free #35: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(10), b(5), c(0). Generally speaking, it cannot be much of a mistake to simply fold every hand from the small blind. That said, calling is OK with
this small, speculative wrap hand.

2. a(10), b(2). You have a 13-card non-nut wrap. However, you are easily dominated and have three players left to act behind you, and if you lead out,
this hand is not really strong enough to stand a raise.

3. a(10), b(5), c(0). Re-raising would be making a mess out of this hand. You only have three nut outs -- three fours. Anything else could potentially
make a bigger straight for somebody else holding J-T-9-x or 9-7-6-x.

4. a(0), b(10). If I am the UTG player holding J-T-9-7, I bet the pot on the flop. Then, having bet $12 and gotten wimp-raised, I 3-bet with the 13-card
nut wrap. Having failed to do that, I bet the river after the turn got checked around, assuming I dont bet the turn myself.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #36: Post Blind vs. BB, Small Ball
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep) with $0.30 antes, five-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You post a $2 blind in the cutoff. The UTG player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Raise?

Action: You ($400) check. The button folds. The small blind ($999.05) raises to $9.50. The big blind folds.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Flop ($22.50): Your opponent bets $22.50.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($67.50): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $31, and your opponent calls.

Free $50
Free $50

River ($129.50): Your opponent checks.

5. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $57, and your opponent calls with T T 9 5 for a flush.

Hand #36: Grades and Analysis

1. a(10), b(2). This is a very marginal hand. You dont need to act strong. Just check and hope to see a cheap flop.

2. a(2), b(10), c(0). Theres not a whole lot you should be folding when you are guaranteed to be heads up with the positional advantage.

3-betting would be unnecessarily bloating the pot with a hand that is very difficult to flop hard with and very difficult to improve to.

3. a(0), b(10), c(0). With bare top pair, the play is to call (combo float). Folding is too weak heads up in position against a c-bet.

4. a(4), b(10). You should take the opportunity to bet your trips, and mimic the float.

5. a(10), b(2). You have enough to show down, and it would be very difficult for your opponent to call you with a hand worse than trip kings with a five
kicker. You should only bet if you think your opponent has spades or the straight.

To be perfectly honest, during the actual hand I overthought the hand, and I am embarrassed that I bet that river, though it did turn out that my
opponent actually had spades, and so it was a reasonable bluff attempt -- or at least it would have been if I didnt think I was value-betting at the time.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #37: Opening Fire on the Blinds
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep) with $0.30 antes, six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

You get to play this one from my opponents perspective.

Pre-flop: It gets folded to you.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($684.15) open with a raise to $8.80, and both the small blind ($598.50) and big blind ($440.10) call.

Flop ($28.20): Both opponents check.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($28.20): The small blind bets $28.20. The big blind folds.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You raise to $112.80. Your opponent re-raises to $366.60.

4. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise all-in?

Action:You re-raise to $675.05 all-in. Your opponent calls all-in, for $589.40 total. Your opponent shows A J J T. Free $50
Free $50

River ($1,207.00): Your opponent wins with the flush.

5. Did the small blind misplay this hand?

a. Yes
b. No

Hand #37: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(4), c(10). The play is to open fire on the blinds.

2. a(10), b(0). This should be a clear check-back with the nut gutshot and backdoor nut diamonds.

3. a(0), b(10), c(2). You have the nut straight with a straight re-draw, but there are also two hearts on the board, which devalues your re-draw.
Meanwhile, the small blind says he has the same nut straight. If the raise is all-in, then you should raise; but with an SPR of 20, there are three more
bets to play.

4. a(0), b(8), c(10). Having put in the raise and gotten re-raised, there is now only one more bet left to play. Shoving is more palatable now.
Alternatively, you can call and represent a set or flush draw, and try to bluff the river if the board changes and your opponent checks.

5. a(10), b(5). Yes, the small blind (me) misplayed the hand. On the one hand, you can justify my play by saying that I was just making a play with the
blockers, the nut flush draw and nut gutshot, which is true. The flip side is that I should have known my opponent (you, in this case) had the straight
when he raised me the first time.

Whoops.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #38: Blind Defense
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep) with $0.30 antes, four-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The button ($795.15) opens with a raise to $8.20. The small blind folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($498.30) call.

Flop ($18.60):

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $18.60, and your opponent calls.

Turn ($55.80):

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $55.80, and your opponent calls.

River ($167.40):

4. Do you:

a. Check? Free $50

 b. Bet $25?
Free $50
c. Bet $75?
d. Bet $125-$167.40?

Action: You bet $74, and your opponent calls, showing A J T 7 for top two pair.

Hand #38: Grades and Analysis

1. a(4), b(10), c(0). Re-raising would be a huge mistake. That said, you have enough hand to call and defend your big blind.

2. a(5), b(10). Checking is OK, but rather than check-calling or check-folding, you have enough hand/draw to lead out, which is a totally underrated
option in this situation.

3. a(0), b(10). Having bet the flop, you need to bet the hand through -- the Betting Machine.

4. a(2), b(4), c(10), d(7). Checking is only correct if you feel strongly that your opponent was on the flush draw. Otherwise, the play is to bet. Now the
question becomes how much? That said, you have to think about what your bet would look like.

Youve lead the betting the whole way, and now the obvious straight hit. Thus a big bet of $125 to $167.40 would be too obvious. Your choice, then,
should be an amount that looks like a follow through bet. A token bet $25 would likely draw a call, but you can probably do better than that.

Pot/Pot/Half-pot.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #39: 3-Betting Before the Flop
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep) with $0.30 antes, five-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The cutoff ($1,009.90) opens with a raise to $8.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($400) re-raise to $28.50, and both blinds fold. The cutoff calls.

Flop ($61.50): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $42, and your opponent calls.

Turn ($145.50): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $103, and your opponent folds.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #39: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(8). Youre not folding this on the button with a chance to be heads up with the positional advantage. 3-betting is a viable option. The
reason calling gets the extra two points is because K-J-T-7 with a suit is not a premium-class hand.

2. a(0), b(10). You have no hand and no draw on an ace-high flop. This should be bet 100%.

3. a(4), b(10). I think this situation merits one more shot, where your opponent could just as easily -- if not more likely -- have an ace rather than the
flush.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #40: Small Blind vs. Big Blind
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep) with $0.30 antes, six-handed
Your position: Small Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: Everybody folds around to you.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($449) limp in. The big blind ($266.35) checks.

Flop ($5.80):

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $5.80, and your opponent calls.

Turn ($17.40):

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $17.40, and your opponent calls.

River ($52.20):

4. Do you:

a. Check? Free $50

 b. Bet $10?
Free $50
c. Bet $25?
d. Bet $40-$52.20?

Action: You check. Your opponent bets $10.

5. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call. Your opponent shows A 8 6 4 for the nut flush, having turned the nut straight.

6. Do you like your opponents play in this hand?

a. Yes
b. No

Hand #40: Grades and Analysis

1. a(8), b(10), c(5). This is a sub-premium hand. Giving up the small blind is not a crime. But if the big blind is not a tough player, and/or is unlikely to
raise, then limping in and trying to see a cheap flop is reasonable. Raising and trying to pick up the blind is not a good play unless you give zero
credit to your opponent.

2. a(0), b(10). You have top pair, a flush draw, and the nut gutshot. Its not strong enough to check-raise, and you dont need to trap check-call. The
play is to bet your own hand.

3. a(5), b(10). The 7 is not the scariest card in the world. For starters, it gives you two pair, so even if you bet out and get raised, you have enough
hand to call that raise and try to fill up or flush up on the river. Meanwhile, it does not fill the obvious straight.

4. a(10), b(4), c(2), d(0). You rivered the third-nut flush. You dont want to bet out and get raised, whether by a bigger flush or otherwise. At the same
time, a check may induce a bluff from a hand that may not have called a bet.

A token blocking bet of $10 may have some value, but checking and calling any bet should be the preferred play.

5. a(2), b(10), c(0). Raising is almost absolutely the wrong play. Folding for $10 is also likely incorrect, as you are getting great odds when you were
going to call a legitimate bet anyway.

6. a(0), b(10). Your opponent played his hand horribly from start to finish. He can be excused for not raising you pre-flop, as there is no rule that says
he has to raise you. But with the nut gutshot and the nut flush draw (plus a pair), he should have raised you on the semi-bluff on the flop. And then on
the turn, once he made the straight with the nut flush re-draw, he should have raised to try to play for stacks. And then on the river, he made a token
value bet with the nuts, where a bigger bet of virtually any amount would have been vastly superior.

Your opponent did a great job of minimizing the value of his hand.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #41: Playing Out of Position
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep) with $0.30 antes, six-handed
Your position: Hijack
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($492.75) open with a raise to $8.80, and only the cutoff ($521.60) calls.

Flop ($22.40):

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $22.40, and your opponent folds.

Hand #41: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(5), c(10). You have a middle premium-class rundown.

2. a(0), b(10). You have little hand (bottom pair), no draw, and slim chance of improving. You are also out of position. You should take at least one
shot at this.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #42: Opening Fire on the Blinds
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep) with $0.30 antes, six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: Everybody folds to you on the button.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($408.75) open with a raise to $8.80, and only the big blind ($400) calls.

Flop ($20.40): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($20.40): Your opponent bets $16.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

River ($52.40): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:
Free $50
 a. Check?
Free $50
b. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent shows K K 8 3 for kings up, and you win with your aces up.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #42: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(4), c(10). Well, you are not folding a suited ace with connectors. And with the antes, opening fire on the blinds should be your preferred
play, if it is not otherwise.

2. a(10), b(2). I like checking back this flop. You have a half-nut open-ended straight draw, plus some backdoor nut flush draw potential. 3. a(5), b(10),
c(0). I dont see raising here being the right play. Folding is maybe OK with the possible straight out, but I have a hard time doing it for one bet when
my opponents range is any four cards. I think a combo float is in order.

4. a(10), b(2). You can only bet (bluff) if you give your opponent credit for a straight or maybe a better ace, which I find hard to do. Otherwise, you
have something to show down.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #43: Small Ball
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep) with $0.30 antes, four-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($515.05) opens with a raise to $8.20.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call, and both blinds fold.

Flop ($20.60): Your opponent bets $20.60.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($61.80): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

River ($61.80): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:
Free $50
 a. Check?
Free $50
b. Bet $10-$15?
c. Bet $30-$40?
d. Bet $50-$61.80?

Action: You bet $41 and your opponent folds.

Hand #43: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(0). 3-betting with kings is not the right play; folding on the button would be weak.

2. a(0), b(10), c(2). Calling on the combo float is the best play. You cant fold this for one bet, particularly since you may have the best hand, and if not
the best hand, then possibly the best draw, with the second-nut flush draw and a gutshot. Raising would be overplaying a hand that may have
considerable value -- you have a hand/draw that has a lot of small-pot potential, but probably is not strong enough to stand a re-raise.

3. a(10), b(5). Betting the second-nut flush isnt necessarily wrong, but a pot-control check is the safer -- and often the better -- play.

4. a(0), b(5), c(10), d(8). Given the lack of action, you have every reason to believe that your king-high flush is the best hand. Thus, checking is
incorrect. A token bet of $10-$15 may draw some value from a weak hand, but you can probably do better, as a smaller flush will likely call virtually
any bet you make.

Either (c) or (d) is appropriate. I picked (c) a bet in the $30-$40 range because I figured it would look the most like a bluff.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #44: Dry King
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep) with $0.30 antes, four-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($470.40) limp in on the button. The small blind ($1,053.10) limps in, and the big blind ($400) checks.

Flop ($7.20): The small blind checks. The big blind bets $5.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call, and the small blind folds.

Turn ($17.20): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $12. Your opponent raises to $48.

4. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You re-raise to $100, and your opponent folds.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #44: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(2). Even with the antes, I prefer limping in with this marginal J-J-x-x hand and playing a small pot.

2. a(2), b(10), c(0). Against a possible steal bet in this three-way pot, you should call on the combo float. Raising would be bloating the pot
unnecessarily, and folding would be weak.

3. a(0), b(10). You have the dry K. Use it.

4. a(0), b(4), c(10). You have the dry K. Use it. Calling actually isnt so bad a play, so long as you plan on raising when your opponent bets the river,
which he likely will given that he probably doesnt have much, considering that you have the K yourself.

Your opponent more likely would have called rather than raised with a smaller flush.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #45: Middle Set
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep) with $0.30 antes, six-handed
Your position: Hijack
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($934.65) limp in. It gets folded to the small blind ($198.25), who limps in. The big blind ($903.85) checks.

Flop ($7.80): Both opponents check.

2. Do you:

a. Bet?

Action: You bet $7.80, and only the big blind calls.

Turn ($23.40): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $23.40, and your opponent calls.

River ($70.20): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet $15-$20? Free $50
 c. Bet $30-$40?
Free $50
d. Bet $50-$70.20?

Action: You bet $16, and your opponent calls, showing A J 9 3 for two pair.

5. Is there any part of your opponents hand you would have played the same way?

a. Yes
b. No

Hand #45: Grades and Analysis

1. a(4), b(10), c(0). Folding is better than raising with the dry queens. Limping is OK.

2. a(10). I dont see checking being an option.

3. a(8), b(10). The turn made a possible straight, but you also turned a heart draw and cannot get check-raised off this hand even when behind. I like
betting here.

4. a(5), b(10), c(5), d(0). With your opponent checking, it seems unlikely that he has the straight. That said, a value-bet would be enterprising. Abig
bet of $50-$70.20, however, would be incorrect as your opponent is not likely to call a big bet with a hand you can beat because he is just going to
give you credit for the straight having bet the whole way. A token bet of $15-$20 is the right amount.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #46: Wrap
$50
The game: $1-$2 online (6-max, deep) with $0.30 antes, six-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($317.45) opens with a raise to $6, and it gets folded back to you.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($400) call.

Flop ($14.80):

2. Do you:

a. Check-fold?
b. Check-call?
c. Check-raise?
d. Bet?

Action: You bet $14.80, and your opponent calls.

Turn ($44.40):

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $44.40, and your opponent calls.

River ($133.20):

4. Do you:
Free $50
Free $50
a. Check-raise?
b. Bet $25-$50?
c. Bet $75-$100?
d. Bet $125-$133.20?

Action: You bet $86. Your opponent raises all-in to $251.95, and you call. Your opponent shows A Q J 4 for a pair of queens, having flopped
top pair and the nut spade draw.

Hand #46: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(2). You have a premium-class hand, but you are deep enough at over 150BBs deep that you dont want to 3-bet from out of position
against the UTG player.

2. a(0), b(5), c(2), d(10). You flopped a 13-card nut wrap, minus the spades. Check-raising is not the best play, because you really dont want to get
3-bet when you have the bare 13-card wrap with two spades out. The advantage of betting out is you have a shot to take the pot down cheaply, and
some deception value. Meanwhile, betting out and getting raised is more easily acceptable than check-raising and getting 3-bet.

3. a(0), b(10). Once you set the betting machine in motion you should keep firing away.

4. a(2), b(5), c(10, d(8). You should bet the nut straight. The problem with checking is that if your opponent has a made hand of any sort, he is more
likely to check down than bet; meanwhile, the only draw he could have that missed is a flush draw, and even then he is more likely to have something
to show down than he is to bet it.

In addition, there are a lot of non-nut straights out for your opponent to call a bet with.

I strongly favor betting here. That said, you should bet an amount that doesnt make it too obvious that you have the nut straight, meaning you may not
want to bet the maximum, but rather something in the half-pot to two-thirds-pot range or so -- something that can be interpreted as a follow through
bet, or a half-blocking bet.

Score: ________

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
Free $50 Part VI: $2-$4 PLO

The last 44 hands are from $2-$4 blind games online, including four from deep-stack ante games. The best players at $2-$4 are pretty tough, and
are some of the best short-handed PLO players youll find anywhere. That said, exercising some good game and seat selection, you can still find
some soft spots at these stakes.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #1: A-A-x-x
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You are first to act.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($675.80) limp in. The cutoff folds. The button ($441.55) limps in. The small blind folds. The big blind ($328.60) checks.

Flop ($14): The big blind checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $14. The button folds. The big blind calls.

Turn ($42): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

River ($42): Your opponent bets $20.

4. Do you:

a. Fold? Free $50

 b. Call?
Free $50
c. Raise?

Action: You call. Your opponent shows Q J 9 7, and you win.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #1: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(5). You have a weak AA hand with a suit, but no nut straight potential. This is a speculative-class hand from UTG.

2. a(2), b(10). From the button or second-to-last to act, you should clearly bet your overpair.

3. a(10), b(4). Betting is OK, but your preference should be for a pot-control check with the board pairing the top card.

4. a(2), b(10), c(0). Raising has little to no value, while folding is too weak given the way the hand has been played.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #2: A-A-x-x, SB vs. BB
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Small Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: Everybody folds to you.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($1,548.80) limp in. The big blind ($406) raises to $12.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Flop ($24):

3. Do you:

a. Check-fold?
b. Check-call?
c. Check-raise?
d. Bet?

Action: You bet $24. Your opponent calls.

Turn ($72):

4. Do you:

a. Check-raise?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $72. Your opponent calls.

Free $50
Free $50

River ($216):

5. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet $50-$60?
c. Bet $100-$125?
d. Bet $175-$216?

Action: You bet $58. Your opponent raises to $298 all-in.

6. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?

Action: You call. Your opponent shows 8 8 7 6 for eights full.

Hand #2: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(4). You cant open-fold aces from the small blind. That said, you dont have a nut suit, and as such your aces arent premium-class.
Consequently, raising is not the best option if there is a reasonable chance that you will be called or 3-bet, as your hand is difficult to flop to, and will
likely be difficult to play out of position. The better option is limping in and trying to see a cheap flop.

2. a(0), b(10), c(2). You cant reasonably fold. And if you 3-bet, you can only make it $46 to go, which would make it a $92 pot on the flop with $360 to
play, making it a high low-SPR situation (SPR 4). Your hand is not that strong.

3. a(2), b(4), c(0), d(10). You have an overpair, and a double-half-nut gutter. Check-folding is probably too weak heads up. Check-raising is also
incorrect -- your hand is too marginal to want to bloat the pot. Meanwhile, you dont really want to give a free card. Leading out has deception value,
and gives you a shot at taking down the pot.

4. a(5), b(10). Going for a check-raise with the nut straight is a decent option given that there are just a little over two bets left to play. That said, you
have the lead, and your hand is well disguised. Leading out gives your opponent a chance to raise.

5. a(8), b(10), c(8), d(0). The 2 is unlikely to have beaten you given the way the hand has been played. Your opponent is most likely to have 7-6-x-x
or a marginal made hand. That said, you have a number of decent options. I like a token bet of $50-$60, because it allows your opponent to call light
if he has a made hand, or bluff/shove with 7-6-x-x. A half-pot bet is OK in that your opponent could call with something like A-A-x-x or K-K-x-x, or
shove with 7-6-x-x; however, it will be more difficult for your opponent to call with something less, and the bet size may scare your opponent off from
shoving air. Abig bet is incorrect, as your opponent is not likely to have anything to call you with, and gives your opponent little room to shove.

Checking, meanwhile, is also a decent option if you intend to call any bet. That said, I like the smallish $50-$60 bet better because your opponent is
not likely to have much in this spot, and the bet size gives your opponent a chance to shove, and gives you a chance to play for his stack, while
making sure you get some value if your opponent shows up with A-A-x-x or K-K-x-x.

6. a(4), b(10). Given the way the hand has been played, you have little reason to believe that you are beat here -- if your opponent had 8-8-x-x for the
overfull, for example, he more likely would have put in a raise at some point earlier in the hand.

Moreover, a big part of the idea behind the token bet was to give your opponent a chance to bluff-shove. I think this is a clear call.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #3: Small Ball
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The cutoff ($192.70) limps in. The button folds. The small blind ($400) raises to $16.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($868.40) call. The limper calls.

Flop ($48): The small blind bets $42.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call. The other player folds.

Turn ($132): The small blind bets $132.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You raise and set your opponent all-in for $342 total. Your opponent calls, showing Q Q T 8 for top set, the queen-high club draw and a
sucker gutter.

River ($816): You win with the nut straight.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #3: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(4). This is a decent isolation 3-bet opportunity. However, you do not have a premium class hand, and there is some risk that the
shorter-stacked player in the cutoff could shove if you 3-bet.

2. a(2), b(10), c(4). Folding is too weak with the nut flush draw and having hit a pivot card. Raising would be creative, but also unnecessary. Calling
may draw value from the cutoff.

3. a(0), b(8), c(10). You turned the 13-card nut wrap to go with the flush draw, and as such you are not folding. Your choice now is between calling and
raising. Raising is preferred, where it gives your opponent a chance to fold whatever he has.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #4: Top Two Pair
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Small Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($599.15) limps in. It gets folded around to you.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call. The big blind ($411.60) checks.

Flop ($12):

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $12. The big blind folds. The UTG player calls.

Turn ($36):

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $26. Your opponent raises to $64.

4. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Free $50
Free $50

River ($164):

5. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet $25-$30?
c. Bet $75-$100?
d. Bet $125-$164?

Action: You check. Your opponent bets $164. You raise and set your opponent all-in. He folds.

Hand #4: Grades and Analysis

1. a(10), b(5), c(0). Unsuited hands should generally be folded, as they lack that flush re-draw potential that we are looking for in a straight hand.
Raising is out of the question. Limping is a loose play.

2. a(5), b(10). Top two pair should generally be bet.

3. a(8), b(10). You turned the overfull for the nuts, plus a re-draw. You should generally bet again, which will lend credence to those times when you
are betting the draw, and follow through when the board pairs. Because if you always check when the board pairs and you make the full house, but
bet when the board pairs and you dont, your opponent will eventually pick up on it.

4. a(0), b(10), c(10). At this point, your opponent either has Q-J-x-x for the same overfull, or he has air and is on the bluff raise. If he had anything else
-- bare trip queens, J-J-x-x for the underfull, A-A-x-x for aces up, or anything whatsoever -- his play more likely would be to smooth call. That said, if
you think your opponent has Q-J-x-x, you should re-raise because you have a re-draw to a bigger full house, and could be on a freeroll.

Now with that said, I think it is more likely that your opponent has air than Q-J-x-x, and for a couple of reasons. The first is that -- just thinking in terms
of probabilities -- your opponent is far more likely to have some kind of draw on the flop than it is for him to have precisely Q-J-x-x. The second is that
Im not sure he doesnt make a bigger raise if he actually had Q-J-x-x.

But thats not the end of the story, either, because you have to balance those factors against the possibility that this opponent may not be capable of
bluff raising in this spot.

5. a(10), b(8), c(4), d(0). Having just called the raise on the turn, your play is to give your opponent a chance to bluff. The play should be either to
check, or otherwise make a token bet and give him a chance to bluff raise. The problem with a bigger bet is that anything bigger than a small
blocking bet is going to appear too strong after you called the turn raise.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #5: KKQJ
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The first two players fold.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($1,233.10) open with a raise to $14. The small blind ($274.10) calls. The big blind ($216.90) re-raises to $56.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call. The small blind folds.

Flop ($126): Your opponent bets $63.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($252): Your opponent bets $97.90 all-in.

4. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call. Your opponent shows A A 7 2 for two pair and the dry ace of spades.
Free $50
 Hand
Free #5: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a (0), b(4), c(10). K-K-Q-J with a suit is a premium-class hand worthy of a raise from the button on its own merits.

2. a(0), b(10), c(0). Folding is too much, and 4-betting with kings is not in the book.

3. a(0), b(10), c(2). Heres the situation: You have a set of kings in a low, low-SPR situation (SPR 1.3), heads up. You are clearly not folding for one
bet, or one bet-plus in this case, because you arent even far behind even if your opponent actually has the flush. So basically, you are pot-committed.

That said, the problem with raising is that your opponent will simply fold if he has nothing, whereas if you merely call his bet, you may get him to shove
with air on a later street.

Calling is clearly the best play, so long as you understand that you are committed to going all the way with this hand no matter what comes.

4. a(0), b(10). You were planning to call the turn no matter what, and so calling is in line with the plan. Plus you are getting better than 3:1, and so you
are getting direct odds to call anyway, though that is related to SPR and so you already knew that when you called on the flop.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #6: Small Ball
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($202) limps in. The cutoff ($967.80) raises to $18.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($400) call. Both blinds fold. The UTG player calls.

Flop ($60): The UTG player checks. The cutoff bets $40.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You raise to $180, and the UTG player folds. The cutoff re-raises, setting you all-in for $202 more, or $382 total.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?

Action: You call all-in. Your opponent shows Q J T 9 for top two pair and the nut open-ended straight draw, against which you are a 32%/58%
dog.

4. Did you misplay the hand?

a. Yes
b. No

Turn ($824): Your opponent makes a full house, and you are drawing dead.

Free $50
Free $50

River ($824):

Free $50
 Hand
Free #6: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(2), b(10), c(8). K-Q-T-6ds is not real premium hand. That said, this actually is a decent 3-betting opportunity, as you have a chance to knock out
the limper, and you are double-suited. This is probably good enough for a pump-and-shove 3-bet; but I generally prefer a call with this Small Ball
hand.

2. a(0), b(8), c(10). You are clearly not folding the 13-card nut wrap. The question is whether you should call or raise against a possible weak-stab c-
bet in this mid-SPR (SPR 6) situation. It is a close play either way, but against a possible steal bet, the play should be to raise on the semi-bluff.

3. a(0), b(10). You are pot-committed with the 13-card nut wrap.

4. a(0), b(10). No. You made a judgment decision to raise on the flop. If there is any chance your opponent will fold to a raise on the flop, then raising
is the best play.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #7: Undertrips
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
My position: Hijack
My hand:

Pre-flop: It is folded to you.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($400) open with a raise to $14, and only the button ($579.20) and small blind ($930.70) call.

Flop ($46): The small blind checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. The button bets $21, and the small blind folds.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($88):

4. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent checks.

Free $50
Free $50

River ($88):

5. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $36 and your opponent folds.

Hand #7: Grades and Analysis

1. a(10), b(8), c(8). There isnt really a wrong play. You have suited aces with connectors which should be playable, but is not a premium-class hand.
If the players behind you are tight, then raising is probably the best play. If there are loose but not aggressive pre-flop, then limping is probably the
best play. Otherwise, you can just fold.

2. a(10), b(2). Undertrips is a small-pot hand. Checking deflects any check-raise attempt and will help keep this hand to a one or two-street affair.

3. a(0), b(10), c(0). You cant fold, and raising is overplaying the hand.

4. a(10), b(0). I dont see betting being the correct play. If your opponent was bluffing on the flop, you dont want to lose him by betting. And if he has a
made hand, you dont want to bloat the pot. Checking is the best play.

5. a(4), b(10). Having rivered the underfull, you should venture a bet. You could check and give your opponent a chance to bluff again if he has
nothing, but I think you are generally better off betting the hand yourself here, particularly given that he already checked the turn.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #8: K-K-x-x
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($118.60) opens with a raise to $14. The cutoff folds. The button ($359.40) calls. The small blind folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($1,096.90) call.

Flop ($44):

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Hypothetical Action: The UTG player checks, and the button bets $25.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Actual Action: The UTG player bets $22. The button calls.

4. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You fold.

Turn ($88): The UTG player checks. The button bets $40. The UTG player raises all-in to $82.60, and the button calls. The UTG player shows A A
Free $50
 8 4 for aces up; the button shows K Q 5 3 for trips. They elect to run it twice.
Free $50
5. Do you like the UTG players play in this hand?

a. Yes
b. No

River 1($126.60):

River 2 ($126.60): Split pot.

Hand #8: Grades and Analysis

1. a(2), b(10), c(0). Re-raising with kings is inviting disaster. Folding is too weak.

2. a(10), b(0). Betting is not the right play with kings up, particularly with two queens on the board. Checking and seeing what your opponents do is
the better play.

3. a(5), b(10), c(0). Kings up is a small-pot hand. You have enough hand to pick off a bluff. Raising is overplaying your hand.

4. a(10), b(2), c(0). Raising would take some imagination. Overcalling on this paired board would also require some imagination to think that you are
not beat. You should give this one up.

5. a(5), b(10). I cant disagree 100%, if only because of his stack size -- he had an SPR of about 2.5 on the flop, and cannot fold for one bet, with the
second bet being a judgment decision. On the other hand, there were three bets to play because of the bet sizes. That said, the UTG players play is
OK if he can give the button credit for a float.

And that said, I probably check the flop myself.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #9: Big Blinds vs. Small Blind
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), four-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: It gets folded to the small blind ($328.55), who limps in.

1. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Raise?

Action: You ($400) check.

Flop ($8): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($8): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

River ($8): Your opponent bets $8.

4. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
Free $50
 c. Raise?
Free $50
Action: You call. Your opponent shows J T 8 4, for a bigger flush.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #9: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(10), b(2). You have garbage, heads up in position. Rather than bloat the pot, check and play a small pot.

2. a(8), b(10). You have a gutshot and a flush draw, and your opponent has checked. This should generally be bet. Taking the free card with your
handful of non-nut outs is OK.

3. a(10), b(5). Having turned the five-high flush, you should check and call any bet on the river, or bet the river if checked to. Betting isnt necessarily
wrong, but could be complicating things if you get action.

4. a(0), b(10), c(0). Theres one play in my mind, and that is to call. I dont think you can reasonably fold given the way that the hand has played out,
and you dont need to bluff, so there is little reason to raise.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #10: Top Pair, Straight Draw
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You act first.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($473) limp in. It gets folded around to the small blind ($447), who limps in. The big blind ($128) checks.

Flop ($12): The small blind bets $12, and the big blind folds.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($36): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $20, and your opponent folds.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #10: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(8), b(10), c(4). Raising with this hand UTG is pushing it. You should either limp in and try to keep the pot cheap and multi-way, or otherwise fold.

2. a(5), b(10), c(0). Theres little point in raising, as you dont have enough hand/draw to raise for value, while you have enough hand/draw that you
dont need to bluff. You could fold. That said, there is a chance the small blind is simply betting that the ace missed everybody; meanwhile, you have
an open-ended straight draw and backdoor clubs for backup.

Combo float.

3. a(0), b(10). You didnt call on the flop to check the turn. The play is to bet the turn and showdown the river unimproved if called.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #11: Big Blind vs. Small Blind
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), four-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: It gets folded to the small blind ($652.20), who raises to $12.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($400) re-raise to $36, and your opponent calls.

Flop ($72): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($72): Your opponent bets $62.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You fold.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #11: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(8), c(10). This is a classic pump-and-shove 3-bet situation, with a premium-class rundown. Calling is acceptable if you dont like low-SPR
pump-and-shove.

2. a(0), b(10). You have little hand, no draw, and little prospect for improvement. This should be bet.

3. a(10), b(2), c(0). There arent any appealing options. Raising would be doing little more than guessing. Calling is a tough sell, as even if your
opponent is bluffing, his play will be to bet the river virtually no matter what comes. And you will have a tough time finding something to call him with.

The best play is to fold.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #12: 3-Betting Before the Flop
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The first two players fold. The cutoff ($1,221.25) opens with a raise to $14.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($1,054) re-raise to $48, and both blinds fold. The cutoff calls.

Flop ($102): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($102): Your opponent bets $102.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You raise to $408. Your opponent calls.

River ($918): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:
Free $50
 a. Check?
Free $50
b. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent shows K Q T 9 for top two pair. You lose.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #12: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(8), c(10). This is a classic deep-stack 3-bet situation with a premium-class drawing hand on the button, facing an open raise from the
cutoff.

2. a(10), b(7). Betting is acceptable. But checking top pair with loads of backdoor opportunities should be the preferred play.

3. a(0), b(5), c(10). You have top pair, a 13-card nut wrap and the nut flush draw against one bet. A raise is all-purpose.

4. a(10), b(2). You have enough to show down, and you will have a tough time getting your opponent to fold a hand better than yours. Checking is the
best play.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #13: Attacking Two Limpers
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($308) limps in, and the next player folds. The cutoff ($681.20) limps in.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($545.20) raise to $22, and the small blind folds. The big blind ($356.70), the UTG player, and the cutoff all call.

Flop ($90): The big blind checks. The UTG player bets $90, and the cutoff folds.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You raise to $360, and the big blind folds. The UTG player calls all-in for $286 total, showing K K 5 3 for top set.

3. Was raising incorrect?

a. Yes
b. No

Turn ($662):

River ($662): You lose.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #13: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(5). A-K-J-6 with a nut suit is not a premium-class hand. Behind one limper, it is an OK isolation raise, but this should be a limp
behind two limpers.

2. a(2), b(0), c(10). With top pair and the nut flush draw in a low-SPR situation (SPR 3 with the bettor, and SPR < 4 with the remaining big blind), this
is a raise-or-fold situation. That said, I dont see folding be a realistic option for one bet, even in a multi-way pot.

You are 73%/27% favorite against K Q J T for top pair and an inside wrap, or 70%/30% if you give him K Q J T for a flush draw to go with
it. On the other hand, you are a 37%/63% dog against K Q T 9 for top two pair with a gutshot and flush draw, and 40%/60% against K Q T
9, taking away the flush draw. You are also 26%/74% against K K 5 3 for top set.

Meanwhile, you only need 43% equity to justify a shove heads up, assuming you are getting called 100% of the time.

So long as the bettor doesnt have to have a set to bet, shoving looks correct.

3. a(0), b(10). Well, if you answered (c) raise for question #2, you cant renege on your answer. Raising was only incorrect if you knew the other guy
had a set.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #14: A-A-x-x
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The cutoff ($416.50) limps in. The button ($1,090.20) and small blind ($726.90) both limp in.

1. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Raise?

Action: You ($400) raise to $20, and everybody calls.

2. Which of the following flops do you bet, assuming the small blind checks?

a. J T 3
b. T T 9
c. Q J 9
d. J 7 2

Flop ($80): The small blind checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. The cutoff checks. The button checks.

Turn ($80): The small blind bets $52.

4. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You fold, and the other players both fold.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #14: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(10), b(8). You have double-suited aces, albeit without good connectors, and out of position. Raising is OK, assuming you dont make a mess of
the hand if you miss the flop.

2. a(10), b(0), c(0), d(10). On the J T 3, an overpair and a double-gutter is enough to bet in a lowish SPR situation (SPR 4.75). The big paired
board flop (T-T-9) and big straight flops (Q-J-9) are no-nos. Meanwhile, the J 7 2 flop gives you an overpair with the nut flush draw, which is a
clear bet (or maybe check-raise) situation.

3. a(10), b(0). You cant reasonably bet this in a four-way pot, with two players left to act behind you.

4. a(10), b(2), c(0). Raising on the bluff would require more than an imagination. Calling is throwing your money away. Folding is the best play.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #15: A-A-6-6, Middle Set
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You act first.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($400) open with a raise to $14, and only the small blind ($979.20) calls.

Flop ($32): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $32, and your opponent calls.

Turn ($96): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Hypothetical Action: You bet $64, and your opponent raises to $150.

4. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise all-in to $354?

Action: You bet $64, and your opponent calls.

Free $50
Free $50

River ($224): Your opponent checks.

5. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent shows Q 9 8 8 for a flush.

Hand #15: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(4), c(10). Aces with a second pair and a suit are worth a raise from anywhere on the table.

2. a(0), b(10). Middle set should be bet.

3. a(0), b(10). You have the dry ace of diamonds to go with your set, and thus you dont fear a raise -- in fact, you would quite welcome a raise, as you
could safely re-pop your opponent with a 10-out full house draw as backup.

4. a(0), b(0), c(10). In my mind, there is only one play, and that is to re-raise all-in with the dry ace plus set backup. Folding is too weak, and calling is
wasting an opportunity.

5. a(10), b(4). You have enough to showdown. You must balance that fact with the possibility that your opponent has a flush, as well as the probability
that he would actually fold a flush to another bet.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #16: Opening Fire on the Blinds
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), three-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You act first on the button.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($510.60) open with a raise to $14. The small blind ($168.10) re-raises to $46, and the big blind folds.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Flop ($96):

Action: Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $96, and your opponent folds.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #16: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(8), b(10), c(8). You could fold this hand from the button if you really wanted to, but I like playing this one. It is quite marginal, and limping in might
be the preferred play. Opening fire on the blinds is reasonable.

2. a(0), b(10), c(0). Ive never folded in this spot, guaranteed to be heads up with the positional advantage. 4-betting is incorrect.

3. a(2), b(10). Your opponents check looks kind of suspicious -- he should be betting almost 100% of the time given his stack size. That said, given
his check, you should almost certainly bet. You have a nut gutshot and a flush draw in a low, low-SPR situation (SPR 1.27). The worst that can happen
is that you bet the pot and get raised a miniscule amount.

If the stacks were much deeper, I might be a little suspicious and take the free card, but there is little penalty for being wrong here.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #17: Top Two Pair
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($400) limp in. The button ($238) limps in. The small blind folds. The big blind ($537.50) raises to $18.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call, and the button calls.

Flop ($56): The big blind bets $20.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call, and the button folds.

Turn ($96): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Free $50
Free $50

River ($96): Your opponent bets $96.

5. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call. Your opponent shows 7 5 5 2 for a pair of fives. You win.

Hand #17: Grades and Analysis

1. a(10), b(5), c(0). You have a pair of eights, and no nut suits. You want to either limp in and try to play a small pot, or otherwise fold. Again, this
assumes that the player on your left is not a LAGgy player who will generally raise if you limp, in which case you should definitely fold, and perhaps
find another game.

2. a(5), b(10), c(0). I know this seems horribly inconsistent: I mean, how can folding be the preferred play before the limp, but now calling is? Well, the
grade assumes that if you are comfortable enough limping in, that you are also comfortable enough to play for one more bet.

Re-raising, meanwhile, doesnt make much sense.

3. a(4), b(10), c(0). You have top two pair against a possible weak-stab c-bet. Raising is not the correct play, as you are unlikely to bluff anything out
that has you beat, and you have no need to bluff anything else out.

A pot-control call is the best play.

4. a(10), b(8). Betting as a bluff is reasonable. But so is a pot-control check.

5. a(5), b(10), c(0). You have an either/or decision -- you either have the best hand, or you dont, and your opponent either has the nut straight or
nothing. That said, your opponents bet is likely a reaction to you checking back the turn. Meanwhile, if he has a made hand like A-A-x-x or A-K-x-x,
there is no reason for him to bet the full pot -- or at least not unless he knows that you think that way, and that is giving him too much credit for giving
you that much credit and playing accordingly(or whatever).

Maybe in 2015, but not in 2010 -- and probably not in 2011, either.

Raising serves no purpose. Given some thought, it should be quite clear that calling is the best play.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #18: 13-Card Nut Wrap OOP
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: It gets folded to the button ($297.50), who opens with a raise to $14. The small blind folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($551) call.

Flop ($30):

2. Do you:

a. Check-fold?
b. Check-call?
c. Check-raise?
d. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent checks.

Turn ($30):

3. Do you:

a. Check-fold?
b. Check-call?
c. Check-raise?
d. Bet?

Action: You bet $20, and your opponent folds.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #18: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(7). You cant fold this premium-class rundown with a suit. 3-betting is a reasonable play roughly 75BBs deep.

Just dont make a habit of it.

2. a(0), b(4), c(10), d(8). You have the 13-card nut wrap, on a relatively clean-looking board. This is an excellent check-raising opportunity. Leading
out is also OK.

3. a(0), b(2), c(7), d(10). At this point, you might as well just bet the hand yourself and try to take down the pot. Checking and raising any bet or
otherwise accepting the free card if you get it is OK, but if the pot is there for you to take, then you are probably better off taking it.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #19: A-A-x-x
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The first two players fold.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($563.50) open with a raise to $14. The button ($234.20) and small blind ($422) call. The big blind folds.

Flop ($46): The small blind checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. The button checks.

Turn ($46): The small blind checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $24, and both the button and small blind call.

River ($118): The small blind checks.

4. Do you:

a. Check?
Free $50
 b. Bet $20?
Free $50
c. Bet $75?
d. Bet $100-$118?

Action: You check, and the button checks. The small blind shows Q 9 8 7 for quad queens. The button has A K J 3.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #19: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(5), c(10). From the cutoff, aces with a nut suit of pretty much any kind should be a raise.

2. a(10), b(2). A pot-control check is the best play. Aces up is about a one-bet hand, especially when the pair on the board is a Broadway card.

3. a(5), c(10). The small blind has checked twice, and the button has already checked the flop. Meanwhile, you have picked up the nut flush draw. You
should go ahead and bet the turn, and try to show down the river if called.

4. a(10), b(3), c(0), d(0). Against a call and overcall, it would seem quite likely that the case queen is out, and you can pretty much point to the small
blind. A token value bet of about $20 might be worth a shot, as it could draw a call from a smaller full house at limited risk; this is, of course, assuming
that you are prepared to fold to a raise. However, it just seems too likely that the case queen is out for making a bigger bet to be worth the risk.

The preferred play should be to check.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #20: 3-Betting vs. Small Ball
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The hijack ($415.20) opens with a raise to $12, and the cutoff folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($444.80) re-raise to $42, and both blinds fold. The hijack calls.

Flop ($90): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $60, and your opponent folds.

Hand #20: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(7). Calling is generally the preferred play, but with three Broadway cards double-suited, you have enough for a pump-and-shove 3-
bet as well.

2. a(0), b(10). No hand, no draw, ace-high flop. C-bet.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #21: Top Pair, Flush Draw
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The first two players fold.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($736.60) open with a raise to $14, and only the small blind ($473.30) calls.

Flop ($32): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($32): Your opponent bets $28.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

River ($88): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:

Free $50
 a. Check?
Free $50
b. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent shows A A Q 3 for aces up, and you win with the flush.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #21: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(4), c(10). You have a Broadway wrap hand double-suited. This is a classic open fire on the blind hand.

2. a(10), b(8). There are a lot of factors to balance here. One, you have top pair; two, you have a weak flush draw. Those factors separately suggest a
check; those factors together suggest a bet in terms of overall value, the caveat being that you cannot stand a check-raise with this hand. And that
caveat suggests that checking may be the better play.

So basically, you cannot stand a check-raise, and should tend to check, though betting would be the best play against a weak opponent who doesnt
check-raise.

3. a(2), b(10), c(0). You turned the weak flush on a paired board. But you cannot fold for one bet against a possible steal.
4. a(10), b(0). You have a hand to show down. It is hard to see a bet getting called by less than a ten-high flush.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #22: Playing Out of Position
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Hijack
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($796.60) open with a raise to $14, and only the button ($239.30) calls.

Flop ($34):

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent checks.

Turn ($34):

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $34, and your opponent calls.

River ($102):

4. Do you:

a. Check?
Free $50
 b. Bet $25?
Free $50
c. Bet $50?
d. Bet $75-$102?

Action: You bet $44, and your opponent folds.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #22: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(10), b(10), c(10). Theres no grade for this hand from this position. Its not a premium-class hand without 13-card nut wrap potential, and so
raising is not automatic. You have two players left to act behind you; raising is incorrect if they are loose. If they are aggressive, limping may not be
appropriate.

You can do what you want.

2. a(10), b(8). You have two plays: Lead out, or check-call.

3. a(0), b(10). Having checked the flop and picked up two pair, this should be bet.

4. a(5), b(8), c(10), d(0). Ablocking bet is in order. The river brought a possible straight, filling one wrap -- the J-9-8-x or 9-8-6-x wrap -- but missing
another wrap, the K-Q-J-x wrap. Rather than check and face a bet and have to guess which wrap your opponent may or may not have been on, you
should put in a blocking bet. Betting big (d) is incorrect.

Betting around $50 is OK as a blocking bet that doesnt look too much like a blocking bet, though ideally youd prefer to get away with a smaller bet.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #23: Top Pair
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Hijack
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($264) opens with a raise to $14.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($1,426.90) call. The cutoff folds. The button ($278) calls. Both blinds fold.

Flop ($48): The UTG player checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $48, and only the button calls.

Turn ($144):

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $144, and your opponent folds.

Hand #23: Grades and Analysis

1. a(5), b(10), c(0). You have enough hand to call and play Small Ball, but not enough to want to 3-bet. Folding isnt horrible, either.

2. a(0), b(10). You have top pair without much in the way of improvers, and the pre-flop raiser has checked. You should bet this.

3. a(0), b(10). You turned two pair. You might be up against top two pair, but your opponent only has $216 left and there is $144 in the pot, so the
penalty for being wrong isnt steep. Meanwhile, you dont want to give the free card. This should be bet.
Free $50
 Score: ________
Free $50

Free $50
 Hand
Free #24: Opening Fire on the Blinds
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action:You ($400) open with a raise to $14, and only the small blind ($467) calls.

Flop ($32): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($32): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $32, and your opponent calls.

River ($96): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:

a. Check?
Free $50
 b. Bet?
Free $50
Action: You check. Your opponent shows A J 9 7 for a pair of jacks, ace-kicker, and you lose.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #24: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(4), c(10). K-Q-J-9 with a suit is a premium-class hand that dictates a raise from the cutoff, three hearts in hand or two.

2. a(10), b(4). You can bet, but you hit the pivot card, and should tend to check this.

3. a(0), b(10). You picked up top pair and a 17-card wrap. This should be bet.

4. a(10), b(2). You can follow through with a bet, but you have enough to show down.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #25: 3-Betting Before the Flop
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($906.95) opens with a raise to $14.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($413.50) re-raise to $48, and only the UTG player calls.

Flop ($102): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $102, and your opponent folds.

Hand #25: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(8). This is decent 3-bet pump-and-shove situation, though you should really be double-suited for the operation. 3-betting would get
extra credit with deeper stacks.

2. a(0), b(10). No hand, no draw, no prospect for significant improvement on the turn. Bet.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #26: Attacking the Limper
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Hijack
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($318.70) limps in.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($625.30) raise to $18, and only the UTG player calls.

Flop ($42): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($42): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $22, and your opponent folds.

Hand #26: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(8). You have a suited ace with 17-card top-end wrap potential. This is not quite a premium hand, but it is enough to attack the limper.

2. a(10), b(5). Betting isnt necessarily wrong, but you do have a flush draw with a handful of overcards. Checking should be the preferred play.

3. a(5), b(10). You can take the free card. That said, your opponent has checked twice, and you can mimic A-A-x-x with a bet.

Score: ________
Free $50
 Hand
Free #27: 3-Betting Before the Flop
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. The hijack ($506) opens with a raise to $14, and the cutoff folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($400) re-raise to $48, and the small blind folds. The big blind ($614.30) calls. The hijack now re-raises to $194.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call, and the big blind calls.

Flop ($584): The big blind checks. The hijack bets $312 all-in.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call all-in for $206?

Action: You fold. The big blind calls, showing A K Q 7 for trip sevens; the hijack shows A A 9 8 for aces up.

4. Did the hijack overplay his hand?

a. Yes
b. No

Turn ($1,208):

Free $50
Free $50

River ($1,208):

Free $50
 Hand
Free #27: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(8), c(10). Calling is OK. That said, this is a classic 3-bet pump-and-shove situation with a double-suited, single-gapped rundown 100BBs
deep.

2. a(0), b(10), c(0). You cant fold, and re-raising would be silly.

3. a(10), b(2). Theres not a whole lot you can do here other than fold.

4. a(0), b(10). No. He was pot-committed with his aces up for less than one bet on the flop.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #28: Big Blind vs. Small Blind
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: It gets folded around to the small blind ($1,025.60), who opens with a raise to $12.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($400) re-raise to $36. Your opponent re-raises to $108.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Flop ($216): Your opponent bets $216.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise all-in to $292?

Action:You raise all-in to $292. Your opponent calls, showing J T 9 7 for top two pair.

4. Who is the favorite?

a. You?
b. Your opponent?

Turn ($800):

Free $50
Free $50

River ($800): You win with the nut straight.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #28: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(10). A-Q-9-8ds isnt really a premium-class hand, but it is more than enough to 3-bet heads up in this BB vs. SB battle.

2. a(0), b(10), c(4). You cant fold. I suppose you can justify a 5-bet if your opponent doesnt have to have A-A-x-x, but that is still little better than
gambling. The play should be to call and shove the flop if you catch any piece of it.

3. a(0), b(0), c(10). There is one play with the 17-card wrap plus flush draw, and that is to shove.

4. a(10), b(0). You are a 56%/44% favorite.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #29: A-A-x-x
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), four-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You act first.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($1,365.80) open with a raise to $14. The button ($511.25) re-raises to $48, and the small blind folds. The big blind ($563) calls.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You re-raise to $194. The button calls, but the big blind folds.

Flop ($438):

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $438 and set your opponent all-in, and your opponent folds.

Hand #29: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(8). You have aces with a suit, and some wheel wrap possibility. This is good enough to open fire on the blinds from UTG four-
handed, but is not a real premium-class A-A-x-x hand.

2. a(0), b(2), c(10). If you re-raise and get called, the result will be an ultra-low, one-bet situation on the flop. This calls for a 4-bet.

3. a(10), b(5). Betting is OK, but not the optimal play. With one bet left to play, you should check and give your opponent a chance to bluff at it.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #30: Getting 3-Bet
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The first two players fold.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($879.50) open with a raise to $14. The button ($338) re-raises to $44, and both blinds fold.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Flop ($94):

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent checks.

Turn ($94):

4. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $94, and your opponent calls.

Free $50
Free $50

River ($282):

5. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $282, and your opponent calls all-in for $200, showing K T 5 5 for a pair of kings. You lose.

6. Would you have played your opponents hand the same way if you were in his seat on his computer?

a. Yes
b. No

Hand #30: Grades and Analysis

1. a(5), b(5), c(10). You have enough to open fire on the blinds from the cutoff.

2. a(2), b(10), c(4). I hate folding, and am not big on 4-betting.

3. a(10), b(2). Check-folding is better than bet-folding. I think you check and take a shot at getting the free card.

4. a(0), b(10). You should bet the 17-card wrap, even with the possible spades out. Betting gives you a shot at taking this pot down.

5. a(0), b(10). You have no choice but to follow through with a second shot. Besides, if your opponent had anything to call you with, he more likely
would have shoved the turn.

6. a(0), b(10). No way. There is no way you should be 3-betting with K-T-5-5. And with his stack size, he should have bet the flop with the intention of
calling any raise in this low SPR situation. And having gotten to the turn the way he did, he should have shoved all-in with top pair and the spade
draw.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #31: Opening Fire on the Blinds
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: It gets folded to you.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($795) open with a raise to $14, and only the big blind ($1,299.30) calls.

Flop ($30): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($30): Your opponent bets $22.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

River ($74): Your opponent bets $48.

4. Do you:
Free $50
 a. Fold?
Free $50
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call. Your opponent shows T 8 7 5 for tens up. You win.

Hand #31: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(4), c(10). The play is to open fire on the blinds.

2. a(8), c(10). You have top pair and some improvers. You could go either way, but with two spades on the board, I might lean towards betting.

3. a(0), b(10), c(4). This should be an automatic call againsta possible steal bet. Plus you picked up a gutshot.

4. a(2), b(10), c(0). Folding is better than raising, but Id have a hard time folding to a possible follow-through bet given the way this hand has been
played.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #32: 3-Betting Before the Flop
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The first two players fold. The cutoff ($587.60) opens with a raise to $14.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($682) re-raise to $48, and only the cutoff calls.

Flop ($102): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $60, and your opponent calls.

Turn ($222): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

River ($222): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:

a. Check? Free $50

 b. Bet?
Free $50
Action: You check. Your opponent shows A K T 9 for top two pair.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #32: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(8). K-Q-T-8 is a speculative-class drawing hand, but is good enough for a deep-stack isolation 3-bet.

2. a(2), b(10). You dont have much. This should be a c-bet on this flush board.

3. a(8), b(10). This is a judgment decision. Your opponent either has a flush, or at least an ace. You are clearly not winning, and must gauge the
potential success rate of firing another shot.

4. a(8), b(10). This is the same decision, and only you can answer the question.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #33: Getting 3-Bet OOP
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The first two players fold.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($1,047) open with a raise to $14. The button ($382) re-raises to $44, and the small blind ($817.10) calls. The big blind folds.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Flop ($136): The small blind checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $136, and the button folds. The small blind calls.

Turn ($408): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Free $50
Free $50

River ($408): Your opponent bets $146.

5. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You fold.

Hand #33: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(4), c(10). The play is to open fire on the blinds.

2. a(0), b(10), c(2). I hate folding, and dont like 4-betting OOP.

3. a(0), b(10). You should bet your own hand.

4. a(10), b(0). The flush card hit, and you have to be concerned. Your opponent likely either had a flush draw or something like top set or top two pair
to call you on the flop. The safe play is to check behind.

5. a(10), b(3), c(0). This is a semi-tough decision. I think if your opponent had top set or a two pair, he would be more likely to check the river and
hope to showdown. And if he wasnt on top set or two pair, then he was on the flush draw, and chances are you are beat.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #34: Getting 3-Bet from the Blinds
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), four-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($425.10) raise to $14. The small blind folds. The big blind ($1,096.40) re-raises to $44.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Flop ($90): Your opponent bets $56.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You raise to $258, and your opponent folds.

Hand #34: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(10). With a suited ace, you are not open-folding on the button, though this is not a terribly strong suited ace hand, either.

2. a(0), b(10), c(2). Youre not folding heads up in position.

3. a(0), b(2), c(10). With an SPR of 4.2, this is essentially a low-SPR situation. You have top pair and a gutshot wheel draw. Your best play is to raise
the full pot and commit if need be.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #35: Getting 3-Bet from the Blinds
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Hijack
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player folds. You ($450.30) open with a raise to $14, and the cutoff folds. The button ($345.60) and small blind ($1,331.40) call.
The big blind ($160) re-raises to $70.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call. The other two players both fold.

Flop ($168): Your opponent bets $90 all-in.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?

Action: You call. Your opponent shows A Q T 9.

3. How much equity do you have in the pot?

a. > 40%
b. <40%

Turn ($348):

River ($348): You lose.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #35: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(2), b(10), c(0). Well, you know I hate folding. 4-betting is definitely not the correct play.

2. a(0), b(10). With a pair and an open-ended straight draw in an ultra-low SPR situation (SPR < 1), you are pot-committed.

3. a(10), b(8). You have 41% equity in the pot.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #36: Blind Defense
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The cutoff ($130.55) opens with a raise to $12, and it gets folded to you.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Flop ($26):

2. Do you:

a. Check-fold?
b. Check-call?
c. Check-raise?
d. Bet?

Action: You check. Your opponent bets $14.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You raise to $68. Your opponent calls.

Turn ($162):

4. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet $50.55 and set your opponent all-in?

Action: You bet and set your opponent all-in for his last $50.55. Your opponent folds.
Free $50
 Hand
Free #36: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(5), b(10), c(4). Against a short stack, you can 3-bet and make it $38 to go; if your opponent called, there would be $78 in the pot, and your
opponent would have just $92.55 to play, or just a little over one bet to play. That said, 3-betting wouldnt be terrible in this particular situation.

Folding your big blind to the raise isnt the worst thing, either; however, you probably have enough hand to call.

2. a(0), b(2), c(10), d(8). You have top pair and a gutshot in what is essentially a low SPR situation (SPR 4.5). You can lead out; on the other hand,
this may also be a good check-raising opportunity.

3. a(2), b(0), c(10). This should be a raise-or-fold scenario with an SPR of 4.5. This should be a raise, particularly given the weak-stab c-bet.

4. a(0), b(10). You have one play, and that is to shove. Either that or check-fold.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #37: A-A-T-T
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), four-handed
Your position: Button
Your hand:

You get to play this one from my opponents perspective.

Pre-flop: I ($416.5) open with a raise to $14.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($435.80) re-raise to $48. Both blinds fold. I call.

Flop ($102): I check.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Turn ($102): I check.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

River ($102): I check.

4. Do you: Free $50

Free $50
a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check. I show J 7 6 5 for two pair. You win.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #37: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(4), c(10). A-A-T-T with a suited ace is a real premium A-A-x-x- hand which merits as many raises as you can put in.

2. a(0), b(10). You have top set. This should be bet 100%. Checking is a good way to win a small pot with a big-pot hand.

3. a(0), b(10). Sure, a straight card hit -- but you also turned the nut flush draw, a gutshot to split even when behind, and you have blockers to boot.
You cannot be check-raised off this hand. This should be bet 100%.

4. a(0), b(10). Sure, another possible straight hit the river. But wouldnt I have put in a bet of some kind if I had it? You should put in a value bet of
some kind -- virtually any amount will do. Just whatever you do, dont check!

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #38: Top Set
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), six-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You act first.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($433.40) limp in UTG. The hijack ($173.40) limps in. The cutoff and button both fold. The small blind ($196) limps in, and the big blind
($729.95) checks.

Flop ($16): Both blinds check.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $16, and only the small blind calls.

Turn ($48): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

River ($48): Your opponent bets $40.

4. Do you:
Free $50
 a. Fold?
Free $50
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You fold.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #38: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(2), b(10), c(0). Kings with a suit and some connectors is worth a call. However, raising is a bad idea UTG. Shit, folding is better than raising.

2. a(0), b(10). You gotta bet your own hands from a steal position.

3. a(10), b(0). The 5 is likely to have beaten your hand. Meanwhile, theres no value in betting. The play is to check and hope to improve, or
otherwise hope to be able to check back and show down the river unimproved.

4. a(10), b(4), c(0). You either have the best hand or you dont. Your opponent either had a flush draw or a straight draw, with an outside chance that
he check-called with the case king. That said, he is probably more likely to have the flush than a missed straight, and Im not sure your opponent
doesnt check a king if he had it, or the other two possible backdoor straights if he had one of those, either.

I think you are better off folding this one.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #39: Big Blind vs. Small Blind
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), four-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: It gets folded to the small blind ($158.90), who opens with a raise to $12.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Flop ($24): Your opponent bets $21.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

Turn ($66): Your opponent checks.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $36, and your opponent folds.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #39: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(10), c(5). Ordinarily this would be a decent 3-bet spot with this hand. However, stack size is a consideration -- your opponent is only 40BBs
deep. That said, rather than 3-bet and make this a low, low-SPR situation, you might prefer to flat call and maintain the value of the positional
advantage.

2. a(4), b(10), c(0). Top pair calls for a float in this heads up pot. Raising is not a good idea without much in the way of improvers.

3. a(4), b(10). The flush card hit. You should bet and represent having called the flop on the flush draw. You can shut down if you meet resistance.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #40: AAJTds
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max), five-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: It gets folded to the button ($395.40), who opens with a raise to $14. The small blind ($1,305.90) calls.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You ($916.90) re-raise to $56. The button folds. The small blind calls.

Flop ($126): Your opponent checks.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $126. Your opponent raises to $504.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise to $860.90 all-in?

Action: You re-raise to $860.90 all-in, and your opponent calls, showing Q T 9 8.

4. Are you better than a 2:1 favorite?

a. Yes
b. No

5. Did your opponent overplay his hand?

a. Yes
b. No

Turn ($1,847.80): Free $50

Free $50

River ($1,847.80): You win.

Hand #40: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(5), c(10). A-A-J-Tds is the best possible starting hand in PLO. You can re-raise out of position with this one.

2. a(0), b(10). With an overpair, a nut gutshot and the nut flush draw (plus backdoor nut clubs, too!), this should be bet 100%.

3. a(0), b(4), c(10). In this mid-SPR situation (SPR 6.8), the play should be to shove if check-raised. In a high-SPR situation (SPR 13), you could
consider flat calling. But here, you should go ahead and shove.

4. a(10), b(0). Yes, you are a 71%/29% favorite.

5. a(2), b(10). I dont think so. With top pair, a flush draw, and the nut open-ended straight draw, his hand would be a clear check-raise shove in a
low-SPR situation, but not necessarily so clear in a high-SPR (SPR 13) situation. That said, the mid-SPR range (SPR 6.8 in this case) is judgment
territory. I think his check-raise with this hand should do alright against my c-betting range -- I just happened to have the hand/draw that crushes him.

And even then, he still had 29% equity on the flop.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #41: Overtrips
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max, deep) with $0.75 antes, five-handed
Your position: Big Blind
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($265.70) limps in. The cutoff folds. The button ($948.15) limps in. The small blind ($754.95) limps in.

1. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Raise?

Action: You ($800) check.

Flop ($19.75): The small blind bets $19.75.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call, and the other two players both fold.

Turn ($59.25): Your opponent bets $59.25.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You call.

River ($177.75): Your opponent bets $144.

4. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You fold.

Hand #41: Grades and Analysis

1. a(10), b(0). You should not raise from this position with this hand with this many opponents.

2. a(0), b(10), c(0). The SPR is about 40. You have bare trips and a full set of draws to a full house, which you cant fold for one bet. Raising is
probably too much. The play is to call.

3. a(0), b(10), c(0). I dont know about you, but I have a tough time folding for the second bet as well. Raising could be an unnecessary error, should
you get re-raised by 9-3-x-x, for example.
Free $50
 4. a(10), b(4), c(0). This is a judgment decision. That said, I think your opponent is more likely to check bare trips or the underfull, or otherwise put in a
Free $50
blocking bet. This large bet looks an awful like T-9-x-x.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #42: Overpair
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max, deep) with $0.75 antes, six-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You act first.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($808.25) limp in. The hijack ($790.25) raises to $8, and the cutoff folds. The button ($3,883.50) calls. The small blind ($580.75) and big
blind ($800) both call.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Flop ($44.50): Both blinds check.

3. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $24, and only the big blind calls.

Turn ($92.50): Your opponent checks.

4. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You check.

Free $50
Free $50

River ($92.50): Your opponent bets $46.25.

5. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You fold.

Hand #42: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(10), c(8). You are going to play Q-J-J-T with a suit. The question is whether or not you want to open with a raise and risk getting stuck
playing the hand out of position. I prefer limping from up front.

2. a(0), b(10), c(0). Re-raising would be absurd -- doing so could create all kinds of problems either before the flop (leaving you open to getting 4-
bet) or after the flop (potentially leaving you with a dry overpair out of position on the flop).

3. a(10), b(8). Your overpair is vulnerable even when best. Checking is risking giving a free card. Meanwhile, there is a good chance your hand is no
good in this five-way pot. You can bet and take a shot at this pot, but there are no really good options here.

4. a(10), b(4). You can take another shot at the pot, so long as you recognize that you are bluffing. You are almost certainly beat after getting called on
the flop.

5. a(10), b(2), c(0). It is hard for your hand to be good here. A bluff-raise would not seem to stand a good chance of success, either.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #43: A-A-x-x
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max, deep) with $0.75 antes, six-handed
Your position: Cutoff
Your hand:

Pre-flop: The UTG player ($420.50) limps in. The next player folds.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You raise to $22.50. It gets folded around to the big blind ($3,893.95), who calls. The UTG player calls.

Flop ($74): Both opponents check.

2. Do you:

a. Check?
b. Bet?

Action: You bet $74, and the big blind calls. The UTG player now raises to $370.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You re-raise to $802.65 all-in, and the big blind folds. The UTG player calls $27.25 more, for $397.25 total. The UTG player shows K T 9
6.

4. Who is the favorite?

a. You?
b. The UTG player?

Turn ($942.50):

Free $50
Free $50

River ($942.50): You lose.

Free $50
 Hand
Free #43: Grades and Analysis
$50
1. a(0), b(5), c(10). With a suited ace and both a Broadway and wheel card, you have enough to attack the limper in position.

2. a(0), b(10). An overpair and the nut flush draw should be bet 100%.

3. a(0), b(5), c(10). Well, for starters, you are not folding to the raise. That said, there are two other parts to the equation. The first is that the UTG
player only has another $27.25 left, and the second is that the big blind -- who has you covered -- just flat called your bet, and does not have to be
strong.

And even if the big blind has a hand, you cannot be far behind with the overpair and the nut flush draw.

The play here should be to re-raise and either try to knock out the big blind -- while putting his dead money in the pot -- or otherwise getting him to
pay up if he is on the draw, which you have smashed no matter what kind of draw he has.

4. a(8), b(10). The UTG player is actually a slight 52%/48% favorite with top two pair and second-nut diamonds.

Score: ________

Free $50
 Hand
Free #44: 13-Card Nut Wrap
$50
The game: $2-$4 online (6-max, deep) with $0.75 antes, six-handed
Your position: UTG
Your hand:

Pre-flop: You act first.

1. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You ($800) open with a raise to $18.50. It gets folded around to the big blind ($832.50), who re-raises to $62.

2. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Re-raise?

Action: You call.

Flop ($130.50): Your opponent bets $92.

3. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?
c. Raise?

Action: You raise to $406.50. Your opponent re-raises and sets you all-in for $330.75 more, or $737.25 total.

4. Do you:

a. Fold?
b. Call?

Action: You call. Your opponent shows A Q J T.

5. Whos the favorite here:

a. You?
b. Your opponent?

6. Rate your opponents play:

a. Good Free $50

 b. OK
Free $50
c. Bad

Turn ($1,605):

River ($1,605): You win.

Hand #44: Grades and Analysis

1. a(0), b(5), c(10). Six-handed, I like raising UTG with the Broadway wrap plus wheel card and suited ace. The second suit is a bonus. In a full-ring
game, I would be more inclined to limp.

2. a(0), b(10), c(2). Re-raising is incorrect. That said, you cant fold this hand in position in good conscience.

3. a(0), b(8), c(10). You have the 13-card nut wrap. If your opponent has to have a hand here, then calling is the play. However, if your opponent will
bet hands here that he will fold to a raise, then raising on the semi-bluff should be the play.

4. a(0), b(10). You cant fold now.

5. a(0), b(10). Well, you arent even 50% to make a straight (you are just under with the 13-card nut wrap), and so you cant be a favorite over even a
pair. You are actually a 40%/60% dog.

6. a(8), b(10), c(0). He played it OK. I mean, I dont credit 3-betting out of position, but it is hard to find too much fault in 3-betting out of position with
A-Q-J-Tds.

Score: ________

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
Free $50 On Good Cause

No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all
directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.

-- Amelia Earhart

This is a critical time for the future of poker. Now Im not talking about internet gambling legislation, the growth in the popularity of PLO, or anything
trite like that. Rather, I am talking about the people who represent the game, and the people who will represent pokers place in American culture in
the 21st century and beyond.

It might be hard to believe, but as I write this, the poker boom is now seven years old. Though the weakened state of the economy has taken its toll on
poker games across the country, the overall poker-playing population continues to grow, as more and more people become exposed to the game,
whether it be through TV, through online sites, or as a function of the expansion of new gaming jurisdictions.

But at the same time, the poker playing population continues to get younger and younger. Playing poker has become standard practice on college
campuses around the country (if not the globe), serving as a catalyst for new waves of college kids flooding the poker scene year after year.

Theres another aspect of all of this that is worthy of mention: The young faces of poker are starting to grow up.

Thus far, we have had the luxury of having an older generation of poker players promote the good side of poker in good faith. Big-name pros like
Barry Greenstein, Howard Lederer, Annie Duke, Jennifer Harman, and Phil Gordon have been active in using their brand power in either support of
or in the creation of good cause.

Barry Greenstein -- the Robin Hood of Poker -- has lead the way, having donated well over $2 million in tournament winnings to various charities,
nearly $1.5 million of it to Children, Incorporated.

Howard and Suzie Lederer have hosted charity tournaments to raise money for the Las Vegas Springs Preserve and the Boys and Girls Club of Las
Vegas. Annie Duke co-founded Ante Up for Africa with Don Cheadle and Norman Epstein in 2006, and along with Cheadle is co-host of the annual
Ante Up for Africa charity event at the Rio during the WSOP. Likewise, Jennifer Harman has been active in organizing and hosting charity events in
order to help raise money for such organizations as the National Kidney Foundation and Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(NSPCA), and has founded Creating Organ Donation Awareness (CODA), a non-profit organization to raise money for the cause.

Meanwhile, Phil Gordon and fellow pro Rafe Furst started the Bad Beat on Cancer initiative, which encourages players at the WSOP to pledge to
donate 1% of any winnings.

That said, the kids of 2003 are not kids anymore. Those of us who were 18-25 years old in 2003 -- the year Chris Moneymaker won the WSOP Main
Event, helping ignite the poker boom -- are now 25-32 years old.

It is now our turn to step up to the plate and set a good example for the younger generations of the poker-playing populace to follow.

With that in mind, Dimat Enterprises and I are donating $1 per book to Merlin USA, a truly global medical charity. We invite you to join the cause.

-- Jeff Hwang, August 2010

Free $50
Free $50

Merlin is an international medical non-profit organization working to save lives in countries devastated by disaster, disease and conflict. Merlin
delivers emergency medical aid and lasting health care wherever its needed most. With over 15 years of program experience in 40 countries, Merlin
works in some of the worlds most difficult humanitarian and health environments. From the tsunami disaster in Indonesia, to the ongoing conflict in
Democratic Republic of Congo, to the recent earthquake in Haiti, Merlin responds rapidly with an experienced emergency medical and logistical
team then remains in crisis-affected countries to provide long-term sustainable health support to ensure that these countries transition from
emergencies to recovery.

Merlin was established in 1993 by three humanitarian aid workers. Today, our team, made up of local and international health workers, is nearly
3,000 strong, helping to improve the lives and health of up to 6 million people each year.

For more information on our programs and to find ways to help, please visit our website at www.merlin-usa.org

By supporting Merlin, you are helping to ensure that we can be there for those in desperate need in times of crisis. Your support will also ensure we
are able to act quickly and effectively whenever and wherever people need us.

Thank you!

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
Free $50 Acknowledgements

Id like to start by thanking Jason El Gonso Hughes, whose spectacular cover artwork inspired me to want to do the right thing, set a good example,
and contribute to good cause.

Meanwhile, my publisher Matthew Hilger deserves a tremendous amount of credit, as he has been donating a portion of the proceeds from the sales
of Dimat titles to charity ever since the release of his first book back in 2003. And when I told Matthew that I wanted to donate a portion of the
proceeds from APLO Vol. III to charity, he embraced the idea and -- with no hesitation whatsoever -- agreed to match my contribution.

In addition, the sheer velocity with which this project came together is also a tribute to how easy Matthew is to work with as a publisher. Matthew is a
busy, busy man these days, juggling new releases (Travis Steffens Peak Performance Poker) with signing top talent (Ed Miller, Sunny Mehta, and
Matt Flynn, co-authors of Small Stakes No-Limit Holdem), all while reviewing the material that went into this book.

Alex Cottin and Merlin USA

My good friend Alex Cottin is responsible for first exposing me to Merlin USA, for inspiring me to want to contribute to the cause, and then for making
it possible to donate proceeds of this book to the organization.

That last bit is a bigger deal than it sounds, because it is not as easy to donate to charity as you might think it would be. For one thing, some charities
dont accept proceeds from any book whatsoever, much less from poker books. And even then, there is at least one large charity that demands a
donation of at least 10% of the retail price -- a very large number -- for anything that they do agree to let you sell with their name on it. Meanwhile, the
language that some of these charities use when discussing such contributions is also a turn off: I am weary of any charity who puts the focus on how
cause marketing can help a business achieve its goals, rather than how a business can support the cause.

Merlin is different. Merlin is not a small organization by any means --in terms of annual revenue, Merlin as a whole is a bit smaller than the bigger
charities I looked at, but also a bit bigger than the smaller ones as well. But when I approached Alex about donating to Merlin USA -- the
organizations North American arm -- and supporting the cause, he made the necessary calls and made it happen.

Alex and I go back to about eighth grade, when we played junior high baseball. Now Alex is not really the gambling type, though we used to play
nickel-a-point Spades together back in high school. We had probably only seen each other a handful of times since college, and to be honest, I
hadnt given much thought when Alex joined Merlin USA probably about a year ago -- in part because we hadnt kept close touch, and in part
because I had never heard of Merlin until I started getting Facebook messages about it from Alex.

But then in January 2010, disaster fell on Haiti in the form of an earthquake, and Merlin USAwas called into action. Afew days later, Alex posted
dozens of pictures from Haiti on Facebook, from which I first truly got a sense of the kind of work Merlin is doing, and how much help is needed
elsewhere.

I was blown away.

It is truly an honor to have this opportunity to contribute to Merlin and help spread awareness for the cause, and I am proud to have Alex Cottin as a
friend.

Justin Marchand, Steve Radulovich, and Card Player Magazine

As usual, a big thanks is due to Justin Marchand, Steve Radulovich, and Card Player magazine. Justin is Associate Publisher at Card Player Media,
and is the guy who first contacted me about contributing to the magazine. Steve is Editor in Chief, and the guy who e-mails me every month to remind
me that my column is past due.

Without either of these guys, its safe to say that I would not have a monthly column in Card Player magazine; and without that column, I may not
otherwise have been in the position to write either this book or the two that came before it.

Joy Miller, Jon Bickford, Randall Ward, Eric Morris, and Bluff Media

Id like to thank Joy Miller and Bluff Media for giving me the opportunity to get more involved with the World Series of Poker, while also giving me the
time to both play every day during the WSOP and write APLO Vol. III in my downtime.

On the day the WSOP began, I met Joy through a mutual friend who said that Joy was looking for some help doing video production work for Bluff
during the WSOP. At the time, I didnt really have any plans for the WSOP other than to play every day and finish APLO Vol. III, and I jumped at the
opportunity to get involved, meet new people, play with expensive equipment, shoot videos, take pictures -- including on the red carpet for Ante Up
for Africa -- and do things that I may never get another chance to do again.

Meanwhile, if there was a tournament I wanted to play, Joy gave me the day off to play it (I went 0 for 8 for tournaments for the summer, including 0 for
4 at the WSOP -- I probably wont be writing about tournament poker anytime soon!). I also got off early enough to play the cash games every evening
(as cold as I ran in the tournaments, I ran even hotter in the cash games, so its all good), while having enough downtime during the day to finish
APLO Vol. III.

Working for Joy was a tremendous experience, and theres nobody better than Joy in this business.

Id also like to thank Jon Bickford, the cameraman and the other member of the 2 + me crew that started the series. Jon showed me how to handle
the expensive video camera, and showed me the nuances of using my new camera. Bickford could so easily have played the intern card at any point,
but hes too cool for that. Free $50
Free $50
Randall Ward came in a few weeks into the WSOP and provided relief when Bickford finally took a few days off, and then came back for the Main
Event. Randy is a true professional and a veteran of the WSOP. It was Randy who gave me my first shot with the dual-cam attack (dual camera -- did
I just make that up?) in 120-degree heat at Lake Las Vegas.

These guys are way cool, and I cant imagine having done this with anybody else.

Id also like to thank Eric Morris, President of Bluff Media, for this opportunity. Eric could easily have objected to having a Card Player columnist
around.

Susan Myers and Eva Kuczynski

And last, but not least, Id like to thank the people responsible for the professional presentation in this book. Susan Myers did the copyediting work on
APLO Vol. II and Vol. III, as well as APLO Vol. I. Likewise, Eva Kuczynski did the typesetting work for the entire series thus far, but we really put her
to work on APLO Vol. III, making her put together the ring graphics with stack sizes for about 200 hands -- no small task.

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
Free $50 About the Author

Jeff Hwang is an expert blackjack player, a semi-professional poker player, a columnist for Card Player magazine, and the best-selling author of
Pot-Limit Omaha Poker: The Big Play Strategy and Advanced Pot-Limit Omaha Volume I: Small Ball and Short-Handed Play. A graduate of
Washington University in St. Louis with degrees in both finance and management, Jeff is also an investment writer/ analyst and a long-time
contributor to The Motley Fool/Fool.com, a multi-media financial services company.

Jeff has been an advantage player since 1999, when he took an interest in blackjack and started hitting up the cruise ships off the coast of Florida
near his hometown of Ft. Lauderdale. Shortly after graduating from college in 2003, Jeff began covering the gaming industry stocks for The Motley
Fool, where his highly regarded work on the gaming industry in general and the regional gaming markets in particular has led to an appearance in
Cigar Aficionado, as well as in publications as geographically diverse as the Las Vegas Business Press, Macau Business, and the Baton Rouge
Business Report. At the same time, Jeff also picked up poker, and began playing regularly on the riverboats in his adopted home of St. Louis.

Jeffs interest in blackjack, poker, and the gaming industry has led him to visit virtually every commercial casino in the United States, and has given
him an intimate knowledge of the riverboat casinos unrivaled in the financial media. Meanwhile, the time spent playing poker primarily on the
riverboats of Missouri, Mississippi, and Indiana provided the impetus for Jeffs first book, Pot-Limit Omaha Poker: The Big Play Strategy, which
was released in December 2007.

In March 2008, Jeff was enlisted by Card Player magazine to write a regular column on Omaha poker, and -- given his background as an investment
analyst -- bankroll management as well. And thanks in large part to the success of both the column and the book, Jeff has quickly established himself
as the worlds leading authority on Omaha poker.

In August 2008, in an effort to dive deeper into the gaming industry, Jeff made the move to Las Vegas and enrolled in the MBA/MS in Hotel
Administration program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

In November of that year, in a partnership of mutual interests with North Carolina-based PokerTek, Jeff began hosting a regular small-stakes PLO
game on PokerTeks PokerPro electronic poker tables in the fully-automated poker room at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.
And on November 20th, 2008, Jeff hosted the official kickoff event at Excalibur with a lineup featuring Lyle Berman -- a 3-time World Series of Poker
gold bracelet winner, as well as Chairman of PokerTek, Lakes Entertainment, and World Poker Tour Enterprises -- and David Sklansky, a 3-time
WSOP bracelet winner, as well as perhaps the most influential poker author ever.

And in July 2009, in concert with poker room management at The Venetian, Jeff brought small-stakes live PLO to fruition in Las Vegas by starting a
regular $1-$2 blind game with a $5 bring-in and $500 max buy-in. That game has since become the longest-running PLO game in Las Vegas in the
post-Moneymaker era.

Free $50
Free $50

Free $50
Free $50 Glossary

All-in: to bet all the money you have on the table.

Ante: Aforced bet in which all players put an equal amountof money or chips into the pot before the deal begins

Bankroll: the total amount of available funds a player has allocated for poker play.

Bare: with no improvers (e.g., bare two pair, or bare nut straight)

Blind: a forced bet a player puts into the pot before the cards are dealt

Blockers: key cards in your hand that make it unlikely that the opposition has the nuts.

Blocking bet

Bluff: to bet with the intention of getting a superior hand to fold.

Broadway: the A-K-Q-J-T straight.

Broadway wrap: a 13-card nut straight draw to the A-K-Q-J-T straight, utilizing three cards from your hand and two community cards (i.e., A-Q-T-x
on a K-J-x flop).

Button: a hockey puck-shaped disc designating the dealer position for a given hand.

Call: to voluntarily put money into a pot matching the size of an opponents bet.

Check-raise: a betting tactic where a player checks and then raises on the same betting round.

Cold-call: to call a raise without having yet put any money in the pot on a given betting round.

Combo float: a float with part made hand, part draw, and part air.

Community cards: the board cards shared by all active players in an Omaha hand.

Continuation bet (c-bet): when the pre-flop raiser bets the flop.

Cutoff seat: the player directly to the right of the dealer button.

Dangler: term coined by T.J. Cloutier in Championship Omaha referring to a card that does not work in concert with the other three cards in an
Omaha starting hand.

Deep-stacked: to have a significant amount of money on the table.

Dog: a player not favored to win a hand.

Domination: when one player is drawing dead or near-dead to a split, or otherwise to a second-best hand.

Double-gutshot (double-gutter): to have two gutshot straight draws at the same time.

Double-suited: an Omaha hand with two sets of suited cards, and thus two flush possibilities.

Draw equity: your share of the pot derived from tangible hand value -- such as a flush or straight draw, or even a draw to two pair or trips in some
cases; a combination of direct and implied equity.

Dry-Ace Bluff: a bet representing the nut flush when there is three-to-a-suit on the board you have only the Ace of that suit.

Duplication: when two players hold the same draw.

Favorite: the player with the highest probability of winning a hand at a given point in the hand.

Fixed-ratio reinforcement schedule: A schedule in which reinforcement is delivered at fixed intervals.

Float equity: intangible value derived from a combination of fold equity and the value of the information our opponents give us when they check with
the intention of giving up to a bet.

Floating: an advanced bluffing technique where you call a bet on one street with insufficient hand values, but with the intention of taking the pot away
with a bet on a later street

Flop: the first three community cards, and the second betting round in Omaha

Flush: a five-card poker hand consisting of five cards of the same suit

Flush-over-flush: a confrontation between two players both with a flush, one bigger than the other Free $50
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Fold: to forfeit a hand

Fold equity: the expected gain in equity based on the probability of getting your opponents to fold to a bet.

Free card: the next card when everybody checks on the previous betting round

Freeroll: when two players have the same hand, but one player has a draw to a bigger hand

Fundamental attribution error - the tendency to underestimate the influence of external factors and overestimate the influence of internal or
personal factors.

Gutshot: a four-out straight draw that requires hitting a card of one specific rank.

Halo effect - when we draw a general impression about an individual on the basis of a single characteristic.

Heads up: a one-on-one confrontation.

High SPR situation: when there are more than three pot-sized bets left to play; generally speaking, when the effective stack-to-pot ratio is 13; Big
Play or Implied-odds territory.

Hijack: the player directly to the right of the cutoff seat, and two seats to the right of the button.

Hole cards: in Omaha, the four concealed cards unique to each player.

Implied odds: odds to call on the draw factoring further betting action should you make your hand.

Initiative: the first right to bluff after representing a made hand by betting on the previous round

Inside wrap: a nine-card straight draw.

Isolation Play (3-Betting) - 3-betting to isolate the pre-flop raiser in a deep-stack situation.

(Using) Leverage: to use the threat of further betting to magnify the effective size of a bet or call on the current betting round.

Loose player: a player who plays too many hands.

Low SPR situation - generally speaking, when the effective stackto-pot ratio (SPR) is 4; shove-or-fold territory.

Maniac: a player who is inclined to jam the pot without discretion.

Marginal: sub-premium, or less-than-optimal.

Mississippi Straddle - a straddle that is posted on the button. Technically, a pure Mississippi Straddle can be done from anywhere on the table with
the button getting first priority to straddle, and the player to the right of the button getting second option and so on. But in some places, only the button
and UTG player get the opportunity to post the straddle, with the button getting first priority.

Multi-way pot: a pot in which four or more players see the flop.

Naked float: a float with no hand or draw.

No-limit: betting structure in which a player can bet any amount above the bring-in at any time.

Nut flush: the best possible flush, usually the Ace-high flush.

Nut straight: the best possible straight.

Open-ended: to have four cards in a row, two in your hand and two from the board (i.e., you hold 9-8-x-x on a 7-6-x-x board), where hitting a card at
either end will complete the five-card straight.

Open pair: when there are two cards of the same rank on the board (i.e. the board reads 9-9-x).

Out: a card that can improve your hand to a winner.

Overconfidence bias - the natural tendency for one to overestimate his own abilities.

Overfull: the nut full house.

Passive: disinclined to bet or raise.

Pivot card: the board card that fills a gap in your hand to give you multiple backdoor wrap possibilities. For example, if you hold Q-J-9-8 and the flop
comes T-3-2, then you hit the pivot card, which in this case is the ten; a seven, eight, nine, jack, queen, or king can come on the turn to give you either
a 13-card or 17-card wrap.

Position: where a player sits relative to the dealer button or relative to the other active players left in the hand.
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 Pot-limit: betting structure in which the maximum bet at any point is equal to the size of the pot.
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Pot odds: odds to call a bet accounting only for money already in pot.

Primacy bias - the tendency to give undue weight to the initial experience.

Profiling: to size up another player and classify him as good/bad, loose/tight, passive/aggressive, etc.

Projection - the tendency to attribute ones own characteristics to other people.

Pump-and-Shove - 3-betting to build the pot and create a low SPR situation such that there are only two bets left.

Rainbow flop: a flop consisting of three cards of different suits.

Raise: to bet more than the previous bettor on any given betting round.

Recency bias - the tendency to give undue weight to more recent experiences

Redraws: a draw to a bigger hand when you have a made hand.

Reraise: v. to raise after an opponent has already raised; n. any raise after the first one.

Re-steal float: when you bet from late position, a player who suspects a steal may try to float you from out-of-position by calling your bet and then
betting out on the turn, and you float him back.

Reverse float: a float from out-of-position.

Reverse implied odds: what you are giving when you have a hand that rates to either win a small pot or lose a big pot.

River: the last betting round in Omaha.

River card: the fifth and last community card in Omaha.

Rundown: a starting hand consisting of four connecting cards.

Scoop: to win the whole pot, as opposed to half or less.

Second-nut: the second-best possible hand at the moment.

Selection bias: when you hear stories about all of the big winners in poker, but you hear about few if any of the losers.

Semi-bluff: a bet with a hand that does not figure to be best at the moment, but has a legitimate chance to improve to a winner on the next card.

Set: three of a kind utilizing a concealed pair matched with a community card (i.e., you hold A-A-x-x and the board reads A-x-x).

Short-handed pot: a pot in which either two or three players see the flop.

Slowplay: to play a big hand in a weak manner.

Small Ball: a loose-passive pre-flop approach to playing short-handed pots, which essentially entails playing short-handed pots with the positional
advantage, but without the pre-flop initiative.

Speculative: low percentage, high reward.

Stereotyping - when we judge someone on the basis of our perception of the group to which he or she belongs.

Stopping call: a call designed to steal the initiative, either from the pre-flop raiser or another player on the possible steal

Straddle: an optional blind bet, usually posted to the left of the big blind.

Sucker wrap: a wraparound straight draw consisting mostly of nonnut outs.

Suited Ace: an Ace that shares the same suit as at least one of the other three cards in an Omaha starting hands.

Symbiosis - a mutually beneficial relationship between unlike organisms; when tight players want the tough and/or aggressive players on their right
and vice versa.

The nuts: the best possible hand at the moment.

Three-bet (3-bet): to re-raise.

Tight: having strict starting hand requirements.

Tilt: emotional steaming that results in poorer-than-usual play; usually caused by a perceived bad beat or a series of perceived bad beats.

Top set: three of a kind utilizing a concealed pair in your hand matched with the top community card on the board.
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Trash: stuff you probably shouldnt play.

Trips: three of a kind utilizing a concealed pair in your hand matched with the top community card on the board.

Turn: the second-to-last betting round in Omaha.

Turn card: the fourth community card in holdem and Omaha.

Ultra-low SPR territory : when the effective SPR is 1, and as such there is less than one pot-sized bet left remaining to play; pot-odds territory.

Underfull: a full house where the three-of-a-kind is of lower rank than the pair (i.e., your five-card poker hand is 9-9-7-7-7 rather than 9-9-9-7-7).

Unsuited: a starting hand consisting of four cards of entirely different suits.

Value bet: a bet that rates to show a profit if called.

Variable-ratio reinforcement: Delivering reinforcement after a target behavior is exhibited a random number of times.

Variable-ratio reinforcement schedule: Aschedule of reinforcement that uses a predetermined ratio while delivering the reinforcement randomly.

Volatility: the degree of unpredictable short-term swings; the greater the expected swings, the larger the required bankroll to support it.

Wheel: the A-2-3-4-5 straight.

Wheel wrap: a draw to A-2-3-4-5 using three cards from your hand and two community cards (i.e., you hold A-2-3-x on a 4-5-x board).

Wraparound: a straight draw bigger than the standard eight-card straight draws in holdem; unique to Omaha poker.

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Peak Performance Poker:
Revolutionizing the Way You View the Game

By
Travis Steffen

A NEW ERA OF POKER IS DAWNING

As a poker player, you have a great deal in common with todays professional athletes: Youve dedicated serious time to learning the fundamentals; you practice regularly; you strive to
improve by analyzing every move; you use psychology to hone your winning edgeand, if you dont take care of yourself both mentally and physically, youll lose your winning edge...

CAN YOU COMPETE WITH THE BEST?

Learning to treat poker like the competitive endeavor it isand yourself like the sportsperson you arewill give you the best chance at success every time you play. Packed with solid
research and feedback from top pros, PEAK PERFORMANCE POKER will show you how to prepare your body and your mind to achieve optimal results during that next big tournament or
cash game.

Being in peak physical condition sharpens every aspect of your play, whereas poor diet and neglect of your emotional life undermine your game at every turn. Just ask Daniel Negreanu,
Phil Hellmuth, and the other top pros featured in this book, all of whom understand crucial aspects of PEAK PERFORMANCE POKER, including:

Flowwhat it means to top athletes and why its equally important to you
Chips on the table, not on your plateeating right to improve your game
Taking it easyhow essential rest and recovery really are
Getting psychedapplying sports psychology to help you win
Time managementthe benefits of balancing poker with the rest of your life

The modern poker table is the domain of smart, fit, healthy competitors; let PEAK PERFORMANCE POKER seat you with the best of them.

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Small Stakes No-Limit Holdem

By
Ed Miller, Sunny Mehta & Matt Flynn

Small stakes no-limit holdem cash games offer remarkable opportunities...if you come armed with the right skills. To win in todays game you need to draw on a complete arsenal of the
latest theories, strategies, and tactics. Now, available for the first time in print, this ultimate handbook outlines a powerful path to success, as three of the worlds top expertsnoted poker
authority Ed Miller, top pro Sunny Mehta, and renowned practical theorist Matt Flynnput their expertise to work for you.

Using hand examples from actual play to illustrate key concepts, Small Stakes No-Limit Holdem translates high-level poker theory into an easy-to-learn format that will give you the edge
needed to win in todays games. Youll learn solid money-winning tactics and be able to craft winning strategies just like the top cash-game pros.

Get the lowdown on:

7 easy steps to no-limit holdem success

Making decisions using steal equity and showdown equity
Beating online 6-max games
Isolating bad players and handling tough, aggressive players
Determining optimal bluff sizes and planning big bluffs
Balancing your lines of play to maximize deception

...and much more!

Poker is a fun game, but its even more fun when you win. With Miller, Mehta, and Flynn as your mentors, you will have all the advanced-yet-practical information you need to dominate any
small stakes no-limit holdem cash game.

Ed Miller is one of the worlds best-known and respected poker educators. Hes authored five books which have sold over 200,000 copies worldwide.

Sunny Mehta has been successfully making a living as a no-limit holdem cash game pro for over five years. Sunny has played as high as $25-$50 and won at every level hes tackled.

Matt Flynn is an expert in no-limit holdem theory. Matts incredible math background and degrees from Harvard, Stanford, and Duke, provide the book with a solid theoretical grounding.

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The Poker Mindset: Essential Attitudes for Poker Success

By

Ian Taylor & Matthew Hilger

What secret separates top poker players from poker wannabes?

Is it zen-like mind-reading skills, a computer-like brain or thousands of hours of play? No. It is a series of established approaches and behaviors that enables these experts to bring their
A game to the table session after session, regardless of short-term results.

In this groundbreaking book, Taylor and Hilger lay bare the secrets of the Poker Mindset: seven core attitudes and concepts that ensure you have the optimal emotional, psychological, and
behavioral framework for playing superior poker.

The Poker Mindset deeply explores vital topics that most poker books only touch upon:

Tilt: What it really is, why and when you are most prone to it, and how you can avoid it.
Bankroll: A complete examination of bankroll management from a technical, but more importantly, from a psychological and emotional viewpoint.
Opponents: How to determine your competitors mental and emotional processes so that you can dominate, out think and outplay them.
Downswings: Every poker player experiences them, but you will truly understand and be armed against low ebbs when they occur.
Bad Beats: The Poker Mindset will enable you to overcome the trauma of bad beats and losing big pots.

Poker is a fun game, but it is even more fun when you win. The Poker Mindset may be the most valuable poker book you will ever read. Embrace its concepts and you can overcome the
unseen obstacles that are limiting your success at the table.

When you make the Poker Mindset your mindset, you will take control of your game and walk away a winner.

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Winning Poker Tournaments One Hand at a Time

By

Eric Rizen Lynch, Jon PearlJammer Turner, and Jon Apestyles Van Fleet

Want to win poker tournaments?

Now you can learn exactly how consistent winners REALLY do it.

Meet PearlJammer, Rizen, and Apestyles. These top guns of tournament poker are frequent winners in todays highly competitive online scene, as well as in live tourneys. Their
collective experience and track record is staggering: more than 35,000 tournaments played, more than 1,000 final tables made, over 200 major wins, and more than $6,000,000 in cashes.
They regularly outplay fields consisting of other top professionalsvictories that are documented by detailed online hand histories

Are you ready to learn winning ways from todays true tournament experts?

The authors are not only consistent winners, but powerful teachers as well. Step-by-step, they reveal their decision-making processes, using hands drawn from actual playnot examples
contrived to fit a particular poker theory.

Reading this book is like attending a master class in tournament poker.

Youll see the way cutting-edge pros use their wisdom and incredibly extensive experience to analyze almost every poker situation imaginable. Deepstacked or short-stacked,
against single or multiple opponents, youll learn the skills that will make you a winner including:
When and how to play aggressively or tightly
When to make moves
When to make continuation bets and when to hold back
How to induce and pick off bluffs
How to accumulate chips without constantly risking your tournament life

Poker is a fun game, but its even more fun when you win.

If you want to become a great tournament player, shouldnt you be learning from the best? NOW You can!

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Winning Poker Tournaments One Hand at a Time
Volume2

By

Eric Rizen Lynch, Jon PearlJammer Turner, and Jon Apestyles Van Fleet

YOURE IN THE MONEY...NOW WHAT?

Youve put in the time, youve built up your stack, and now, at last, youre inching ever closer to serious tournament payoffs. At this stage, playing smart is more crucial than ever, and who
better to give you the edge than three of modern pokers greatest tournament pros?

THEYLL TAKE YOU FROM THE BUBBLE TO THE FINAL TABLE

Volume 1 of this series shed new light on the fundamentals, and now in, Volume 2, Pearljammer, Apestyles and Rizenplayers whose collective stats include, more than 1,800 final
tables made, over 300 major wins, and more than $10,000,000 in cashesreturn to show you how to crush the final table.

When deep in a tournament, the ability to analyze opponents play is more than an advantageits a necessity. In this exciting follow-up, you get to sweat the best as they walk you through
the key hands of actual tournaments: what they did right, what they did wrong, and what you need to do to win, including:

How to use the changing dynamic of stack size to your advantage as the field narrows
The unique strategies and tactics of Final Table play
How to dominate weak players and outthink strong players
How to take maximum advantage of your table image to confound your competition
How hand selection changes in short-handed and heads-up play

Poker is a fun game, but its even more fun when you win. Online or live, you need to keep your cool and make the right moves to enjoy big-money finishes. If youve gotten this far, these top
professionals will help you go all the way.

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