8 replies to this topic

[hoppityhow]

being pretty new to poker, i was wondering if some of you veterans could possibly post a trapping guide with some hand examples to help some of us newbies out. maybe post both sides of it, with a section on setting traps, and also an example or 2 of avoiding them. i haven't seen any posts about it, and i think it could help a great number of people out. NL btw :]

[holman3rd]

hoppityhow said:

being pretty new to poker, i was wondering if some of you veterans could possibly post a trapping guide with some hand examples to help some of us newbies out.  maybe post both sides of it, with a section on setting traps, and also an example or 2 of avoiding them.  i haven't seen any posts about it, and i think it could help a great number of people out.  NL btw :]

Do a search under my name and you'll find threads with hand history discussions where you'll read both sides of the slowplay argument. In fact, I think you'll hear very good arguments on both sides (i know that I've learned a thing or two from the discussion). (actually, you'll find much more value in reading Sklansky's books then reading my rambling posts--see below)Brunson advocates straight forward play against weak opponents. I think that's where I get myself into trouble in some hands, and in debates with other posters here. Sometimes, I try to be too tricky for my own good. Based on some of the discussions here, I'm definitely slowplaying less in the games I play.Then again, every situation is different. Against very good players, I'm more apt to slowplay, or at least try it occassionally. I don't want to be too readable. However, against weak players, I almost never slowplay.I know that didn't answer your question with specific examples, but I'll leave that to others. Meanwhile, check out some of Sklansky's books, especially Theory of Poker...he covers this in detail there.

[jayistheman]

read any article where phil hellmuth complains about a "bad beat"it might change your views on constantly trapping.its only really ever appropriate when you have the supreme nuts and a lock on the deck... i.e. u have KQ on a flop of K K Q, or if you flop quads or a straight flush or something.occasionally... just occasionally, i'll trap with a set. the board has to be optimum though... no straight or flush draws. the turn card is almost always making draws possible, so i usually unload by then.

[holman3rd]

jayistheman said:

read any article where phil hellmuth complains about a "bad beat"it might change your views on constantly trapping.its only really ever appropriate when you have the supreme nuts and a lock on the deck... i.e. u have KQ on a flop of K K Q, or if you flop quads or a straight flush or something.occasionally... just occasionally, i'll trap with a set.  the board has to be optimum though... no straight or flush draws.   the turn card is almost always making draws possible, so i usually unload by then.

Jay--Check out the "tournament wwyd #5" thread where I advocate fast play. Once again, there is disagreement. I'd appreciate your thoughts there.

[RISEorFall]

If you've just started playing poker, i would recommend not trying to get too fancy with slow playing and trapping or bluffing too much. I think you should learn the ins and outs, especially in NL before getting too fancy. The most I'd recommend trying is check raising. If you flop a set, two pair, flush, etc. you might try a check raise, once you've used this play for a while you'll get used to seeing when you should completely slow play and when you shouldn't. Trapping and slow playing can be more of an art in NL than most think, and it'll only come with experience.

[Lorax]

In addition to the strong vs weak.....Trapping is usually only successful against aggresive players.....Passive players & calling stations cant really be "trapped"......So trapping is dynamic, you have to know the players, the table & situation....etc..

[Smasharoo]

NL btw :]Really? A new player starting with NL? How odd.Don't worry about trapping, bet with good hands, fold with bad ones, count your money.

[hoppityhow]

Smasharoo said:

NL btw :]Really? A new player starting with NL? How odd.

is this odd? i just dont find the enjoyment in limit that i find in NL. it's a whole different game, and i dont understand it nearly as well as i do NL. heh, not that i understand NL either

[Smasharoo]

is this odd? No, it's odd for people to start with limit, actually, but the ones who do tend to end up better NL players in the long run.That's not a suggestion, just an anectdotal comment of little to no importance.