The following hand occured in May of this year, at the Bellagio.


Ok, ATE was in Las Vegas during the World Series of Poker. I had occasion to play in the no limit game, at the Bellagio. This games features 10 and 20 blinds, and a $600 minumum buy-in. Like all REAL no limit games, their is of course, no maximum. The average person had about $4000, some with up to $20,000.

I started my game, by placing my Alaska driver's license on top of the table, then went to go get some money. (knowing that the players would look at the I.D.) Alaska players have a reputation for being tough and good, so I though I might just be able to get some value, by using the License for a place marker. It worked. As soon as I came back to the table, someone said" so, what part of Alaska are you from".

Ok, now all I need is a hand. I wait for my BB, and low and behold, up pops an AK (offsuit) The first person passes, but the next opens for $120. There are two callers (both twenty something types, who look too inexperienced to attempt a slow play.) The original raiser, raised for more than the typical amount. I strongly felt that he did NOT have a big pair, and neither did the two callers. In fact, I actually was able to put the guy, on an AK also.

Ok, here's where I did right, but also wrong. The action came to me, and I made it $1000 straight (total). The original raiser thought, muttered something about pocket deuces, then asked for a count down on my remaining money. I had bought it for $4000, and someone sold me a thousand, in $20 chips (the standard chip for that game) So, I had three thousand left, in a big stack of cash. I announced in a matter-of-fact way, that I had "three thousand' That was very important. If I had tried to show extra emphisis like" THREE THOUSAND!! the guy could very well have sensed this as weakness, and popped me back. There are a lot of things you must think of, in a game of this size.

Anyway, he finally folded, as did the other two callers. Now, I want to set someone up, incase in get a REAL hand, like AA. So, I flip over the ace king, while saying "I was just bullshi##ing, and you KNOW this, man!
(remember the movie FRIDAY?)

Well, I got bored with the game, after winning another pot, so I was never able to take advantage of showing the bluff.

Ok, notice how I made what would have been a good play, HAD I NOT Made it so much. While the presence of an ace and a king in my hand, as well as my perception of the original raiser's bet-made it UNLIKELY that anyone had AA or KK-This does NOT mean that they did not!

The fact is: I made an incorrect play, as I am risking too much for the potential profit ($390). It would have been a great play, had I made it about 440 more. This was also almost certain to fold everyone, and had the other AK called, I may have been able to out play him, or have the hand checked down.

Second, I made the mistake of leaving the game. My reason for showing the bluff, was to set someone up for the kill, later on in the game.

My friends, at a no limit game of this size, the best players will make very
ELABORATE plays, sometimes taking weeks or even MONTHS, to complete. When the stacks are twenty grand, it's very hard to get that much from a good player. even set over set is not going to get all their money. So, you have to set 'em up.

Example: everytime you bluff, you say '"Let's take a stab at it" (the pot)

Now, there is a player that you know has picked up on this. a week later, you find yourself heads up with them, each with twenty grand. Now, you make the nuts, and you think they have a good hand, but not enough to call your whole stack. So you say "Let's take a stab at it" Well, you can see where we're going.

The whole point of this article, is not to give myself a pat on the back.
Although the moderator of this section will never admit it, I annouce when I make a mistake. I humble myself, in the interests of poker education.

The lesson of this article, is the type of thinking you will have to do, if you ever play NO MAX no limit. This may be a ways away, for most of you, but if you continue your education you may be able to excell in this game.

See you at the tables

I definately see the point of this and have used a version of this to set up some of the people I regularly play with. Nothing this elaborate because the people I play with and the stakes I play ($20 buy ins) people are calling me so your play wouldn't work for me but a very good post.

Oh, had I only stayed in this game!!


Glad you liked it, please keep up with the replys


No replys=no fresh articles, 'dems my rules

If people do not support "REAL" no limit, the @#$^@#$^% powers that be, may decide to drop it altogether!!
Just buy in for an amount that you're comfortable with. Just because there is no max, it does not mean that you have to morgage your house!!

Many people seem to equate no limit, with the wild west type (IF that ever actually existed) that is portrayed in the movies.

"Well, I see you're 100, and raise you 20,000" "But I only have 500" "Well, gimme your house and farm then"

It NO work like DAT, friends.

There are tiny no limit, SMALL no limit, medium large, HUGE

you never need buy more than you wish.