For most players the middle pocket pairs (eights through tens) are some of the trickiest hands to play.

When playing middle pairs, your position and the number of opponents in the pot should significantly influence your decision-making.

Accurately putting your opponent on hand ranges is also extremely important for taking down pots with middle pocket pairs.

Put your decision-making skills to the test against our Pros with the following scenarios and be ready to make the best decision possible the next time you look down at a middle pocket pair:

• 9♥9♣ on the Turn
• T♠T♣ on the Button
• 9♥9♦ Multiway on the Flop
• Late in a Tournament with T♠T♣
• 8♣8♦ Facing a Preflop Raise
• T♠T♦ Facing a Check-Raise

Deliberate application of key concepts at the table and consistent practice of your decision-making skills is essential for success in No-Limit Hold’em.

Remember… Amateurs play, Pros practice!

That’s why we ask that you read these scenarios and keep practicing… even if you don’t always agree with our analysis.

See you online,
-LearnWPT

P.S. A Membership with LearnWPT is the easiest way to add more levels of complexity and nuance to your game PLUS members have access to 300+ scenarios like this to practice!

DECISION POINT: In a live $1-3 game with a $6 Under The Gun straddle, the UTG+1 player calls and it folds to you in the Hijack. You raise to $25 with A♠A♥. The Button and UTG call and UTG+1 folds. UTG checks the 3♠3♦5♣ flop and you bet $35. The Button folds and UTG check-raises to $70. Action is on you, what do you do here?

PRO ANSWER: We are dealt pocket aces in the Hijack seat in a $1-3 cash game with a $6 straddle from under the gun. UTG+1 calls the straddle and it is folds to us. In this spot it is standard to make it 3x the straddle amount plus the call amount, or $24.

In most common live games players in the UTG straddler tends to be “stickier” than other players. Making an UTG straddle is a bad play, and people do it to either create action or gamble. Because of those reasons the likelihood of UTG folding goes down significantly. In addition, if we make our raise too small the UTG+1 player is likely to call as well, and taking a multiway pot with pocket aces isn’t what we want to do. This is a spot where we should probably make it $30+ but in the moment we elect to bet $25 instead and get called by both the Button and the UTG straddler.

The flop is 3s3d5c and is one of the better flops for us that doesn’t contain an ace. UTG checks and action is on us. Given the dryness of the board and how our hand performs versus our opponent’s ranges, we don’t need to bet very big here. Something in the neighborhood of 35-40% of the pot is perfectly fine, especially given that the stack to pot ratio (SPR) is around 3. The Button folds and the original straddler min-raises to $70.

This is a spot where some players often see monsters under the bed. The very small raise does make it less likely that our opponent is bluffing, since they can reasonably expect us to call with most of our range. That being said, their range here is much wider than just 3x/55. Our opponent could easily have other overpairs, or could be setting up a big turn semi-bluff with a hand like A2s/A4s/46s/76s. Villain could also be overvaluing a hand like 77/88 or even A5s in this spot. Sometimes our opponent will have 55/3x and we will be crushed.

When we consider all the hands UTG's range we are way ahead, especially once we factor in that our opponent is straddling UTG preflop. Straddling from UTG is a very negative expectation play typically used by people who are looking for action rather than a tight aggressive strategy.

Given the overall wide range UTG can have in this spot and our position, if we move all-in now it gives our opponent the opportunity to get away from some of their semi-bluffs and even A5s type hands fairly easily. If we proceed by calling we give UTG additional opportunities to pot commit themselves on future streets with bluffs and worse value hands, which is very good for us.

Calling is the best play.

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DECISION POINT: In a Tournament where blinds are 500/1,000 it folds to you in the Cutoff. You minraise with K♦8♦ to 2,000 and it folds to Big Blind who calls. Big Blind checks the 2♠K♣7♠ flop, you continuation bet, and Villain calls. The 9♠ turn is checked. The K♥ comes on the river giving you trips and BB check-raises. Action is on you, what do you do here?

PRO ANSWER: In a multi-table tournament at 500/1,000 blinds we are dealt K8s in the Cutoff seat. It folds around to us and we make a standard raise for this point in the tournament to 2,000 and the Big Blind is the only caller. Even though we only raised to the minimum amount preflop, often in the mid/late stages of tournaments this small of a raise size is more than enough to put our opponents to meaningful decisions and skew the risk vs reward heavily in our favor, allowing us to steal more often and play more hands.

The flop is 2sKc7s and the Big Blind checks to us. This is a relatively dry flop and we have a massive range advantage in this spot as the preflop raiser. Given both of these factors we should continuation bet and favor a smaller bet size. We choose to make it 2,000 and our opponent calls.

The turn is the 9s. This is actually a close decision for us. Our opponent could reasonably have called on the flop with a flush draw, but they could also have any pair as well as ace high. Many of those are hands that we beat that will fold if we bet again, making it tough for us to get additional value out of our hand.

On the other hand we don’t want our opponent to get a free card with any of the random hands containing only 1 they could have in their range. If the pot were much bigger in relation to our stacks, we could make a better case that equity denial is more important than extracting some additional value in this spot. We decide to check in order to induce some bluffs from our opponent on the river as well as get some value out of some 2x/7x hands (or hands like 55 or ace high) on the river.

The river is the Kh and our opponent checks to us. Given the action so far it is difficult to put our opponent on a big hand. We have to figure most flushes or Kx hands would bet this river given the action thus far, so we’re really targeting 7x/2x/55/Ax type hands if we decide to bet. Given those target hands are all relatively weak, a smaller bet sizing seems reasonable. We elect to go with 2,000 which may be a little too small as most players who will call 2,000 here will likely call a bet as large as like 3,000-3,500 as well. Our opponent raises to 5,000.

This is one of those spots where game theory would say to call 100% of the time with our hand. We only need to have the best hand 16% of the time and our line in this spot somewhat caps our hand range, making it harder for us to have a strong hand.

If our opponent believes we have a capped range, they should be bluffing some percentage of the time which makes this a fairly trivial call. In the real world we will run into opponents who simply never check-raise bluff the river and we are ahead here very close to 0% of the time.

The price we are getting to make this call is simply too good given the strength of our hand. If we had an opponent specific read then we could perhaps make an exploitative lay-down here. Absent that information we are simply too strong to fold.

Calling is the best play.

LearnWPT Tournament Strategy Workshops are for poker players who know the fundamentals of tournament strategy and are ready to take their game from good to great.

Attend a Live Workshop and learn...

• Strategies to take you from a player who "min-cashes" to one who dominates the final table
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Have a question about LearnWPT? Contact us at [email protected] or (888)600-5593 and we’ll be happy to help!

LearnWPT Instructor Tony Dunst recently faced a tough river spot against two time WPT Champion J.C. Tran at a $3500 buy-in event at Thunder Valley Casino.

Check out Tony's blog where he breaks exactly what he was thinking during this heads up battle against a fellow WPT Champion.

Learn more about Tony and how he can help improve your game by clicking here: Meet LearnWPT Instructor Tony Dunst

P.S. Join Tony on Tour and put what you've learned into play at the table! Click here to view the World Poker Tour's calendar of events.

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DECISION POINT: In a Tournament where blinds are 2,000/4,000 with a 4,000 big blind ante, it folds to the Hijack who pushes all-in for 13BB. The Cutoff and the Button both fold. You have 8♠8♣ in the Small Blind with a 32BB stack and action is on you.

What do you do here?

PRO ANSWER: In a Tournament with 2,000/4,000 blinds with a 4,000 big blind ante we are dealt pocket 8s in the Small Blind. It folds around to the Hijack who moves all-in for 52,000 chips. Action folds to us and we have a decision to make.

The first thing we want to do when facing an all-in is estimate our opponent’s hand range. In this particular spot they shoved 13 big blinds. Since most players don’t start shoving all-in until they hit around 10 big blinds, this is far more likely to be a reasonable range of hands instead of a very wide range. In addition, our opponent may not want to play with a low stack to pot ratio (SPR) postflop.

With that in mind, it is less likely, although not impossible, that our opponent has QQ/KK/AA since they would be far more likely to just raise with those hands to encourage some action.

If we put our opponent on a range of pairs 22-JJ, A2s+, ATo+, and KQ (both suited and offsuit) we are roughly 59% versus that range. With dead money in the pot it is very hard to justify passing up on nearly a 60% edge in a Tournament. Even against a range that does include the big pairs we are likely to be around a 55/45 favorite.

We could potentially fold if we had a player specific read that they are shoving much narrower here, but without that read we just have too big of an edge with additional dead money in the pot from the blinds and antes.

A shove in this spot is nearly half the Big Blind’s stack so if we continue we want to reraise all-in to maximize our leverage over the Big Blind and shut them out of the pot with big cards that have reasonable equity against us.

Moving all-in is the best play.

We created LearnWPT.com to make it as easy as possible for anyone to improve their poker game, on their own time and their own terms.

Our goal is to empower players to ask questions, focus them on fixing leaks, and provide a solid game-plan for them to bring to the table every time they sit down.

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We've made it easy for you to watch, train, discuss, study, and improve by using these LearnWPT Features:

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Have a questions about LearnWPT? Contact [email protected] or click the red Contact Us button and we'll be happy to help.

Our goal for 2019 was to create new ways to help LearnWPT Members improve their poker game.

We accomplished that goal by adding new game-elevating features, advanced content, additional ways to interact more with our Pros, and more. All with the help of feedback from YOU.

Here’s a recap of the best from 2019:

Nick Binger and the Development Team spent most of 2019 creating the The WPT GTO Trainer where Members can now practice and learn Game Theory Optimal Strategies used by the world's greatest players by simply playing hands of poker.

The Community Forums were created in 2019 for Students to join in and discuss all things poker with Nick, Eric, LuckyChewy, and fellow Members.

We've also made it much easier to improve your game with our new Membership Tiers. Now you can choose the Membership to best fit your budget, schedule, and stage in your development

• Viewed 99 New Strategy Videos
• Reviewed 100 New Poker Hands
• Voted 224,335 times to Fold, Call, Check, or Raise
• Played 100+ different WPT GTO Training Packs using over 1 Billion Solved Hands
• Received 1100+ Answers to Ask a Pro Questions
• Submitted 770+ HIT Hands for Analysis
• Attended 315 Minutes of Webinars
• Downloaded 12 New Studying Tools
  
  

LearnWPT Member Sue bested a field of 1,713 to win her 1st WSOP Bracelet (and over $120K).

The World Poker Tour interviewed and featured LearnWPT Students Scott & Lisa in an article highlighting their phenomenal summer.

LearnWPT Instructors Tony Dunst and Andrew "LuckyChewy" Lichtenberger had huge 2nd place wins in 2019...

Tony added $250K to his bankroll in the Baccarat Crystal World Poker Tour Tournament of Champions and Chewy banked $917K in the WSOP 50K High Roller!

1. Episode 294: C-Betting Against Tough Opponents
2. Episode 305: Advanced First-In Hand Ranges
3. Episode 290: Equity Advantage and Nut Advantage
4. Episode 352: WPT GTO Introduction
5. Episode 287: Advanced Big Blind Defense - Cash Games

1. Q♣Q♠ vs a River All-In
2. K♠K♣ Facing a Flop Raise
3. A♦K♠ vs a Check-Raise
4. K♥K♦ vs a Donk Lead
5. A♠Q♠ Facing a 3-Bet

1. Jared 's AMA series
2. WPT Final Tables at the HyperX Esports Arena
3. Danielle's Poker After Dark Live Sessions
4. LuckyChewy Sits Down with Matt Savage
5. New LearnWPT Live Lab Day Sessions
   
   

We hosted Live Workshops in Los Angeles, Vegas, and Atlantic City which included:

• Two Advanced Cash
• Two Advanced Tournament
• One Tournament Mastery
• Two Brand-New Interactive In-Person Lab Day Experiences
• Two $3500 WPT Seats Won During Workshop Satellites
• Savings to Members of up to $600 off Live Workshops
• Attendees Winning Big and Getting Results

To all of our current, former, and future Members - THANK YOU for a great year and for being a part of LearnWPT!

The LearnWPT Development Team is hard at work on several Enhanced Features and we look forward to helping your game grow in 2020.

We'll see you online,
- LearnWPT

We know, you want it all now….

The calendar has just turned over and 2020 is gonna be your year, no matter what it takes. You’re committed to making the changes that will transform your game and your life.

• Effortless decision-making
• A dynamic game-plan that accounts for all the situations you’ll face at the table
• A calm and unshakable mental game
• And maybe even to shed a few pounds from the holidays 🍗

But we both know that in order to make a real change it takes small pieces of consistent effort over time.

We see it each January... everyone rushes to join the local gym in attempt to affect change immediately. You can barely find a parking space, let alone an open treadmill or weight machine.

Fast forward to March 1st.... you can pick any machine and park with ease! Everyone who made the big commitment to exercise and make a change is gone.

So how can YOU avoid the January rush and the March drop-off in your game? Simple, commit to a cycle of constant improvement.

It’s a fact that new habits take time to form, a little over 2 months on average (p.s. 2 months of LearnWPT will cost you only $34!).

Not sure how to do that for your poker game? Here are some suggestions to get started today:

• Choose one section of your game that you want to improve such as preflop play, and commit to memorizing hand ranges by position. Pick a hand range to try and memorize for 15 min a day then move on to the next range.
  

• Commit to work on your Mental Game. Write down exactly what you are feeling and thinking when you make a strategic mistake. Review your notes before each session to inject logic and avoid the risk of future blow-ups. Need help setting 2020 goals? Check out this free Strategy Episode from Mental Game coach, Jared Tendler.
  

• Schedule time on your calendar to study by watching Strategy Episodes on LearnWPT.com. Block out 15 mins twice a week with no distractions and watch an Episode to reinforce a strategy or to start learning a new concept.
  

• Practice strategies by playing 25 hands each day using the WPT GTO Trainer. You'll find specific leaks, narrowed down to hand categories and specific actions, by playing solved poker hands. There’s no grey area, simply play, review your Session Data, and see which leak is YOUR biggest.

Winning players train consistently to change bad habits and sharpen decision-making.

Let LearnWPT help you build the same consistency, one day at a time!

That’s what we’re here for.
-LearnWPT

PS Join LearnWPT.com now for just $5 and you'll also have the ability to Ask a Pro all of your poker questions.

If you are eager to learn the Foundations of No-Limit Texas Hold'em, one of the most popular and exciting card games in the world, then this beginner's article guide is the perfect place for you.

And if you are new to the game but not sure where to start, don't worry LearnWPT is here to help.

In the video above we covered some basic things a new poker player needs to know in order to play the game. LearnWPT Lead Instructor Nick Binger shows you the Foundations of No-Limit Texas Hold’em:

1. Poker hand rankings
2. Tips for proper betting
3. Handling cards
4. Key strategies for selecting which hands to play at the start of each hand

Plus get FREE downloadable tools below!

First-In Hand Range charts are an amazing poker tool to help you quickly learn the Foundations of No-Limit Texas Hold’em. This tool will tell you what hands to play when you are the first person to put money into the pot at the poker table. They'll keep you on very solid, profitable ground and ensure that you aren't playing bad poker hands!

Download your FREE copy of first-in hand range charts here

Here are some tips for using them at the table:

• Use the Position Graphic at the beginning to determine your position at the table and reference the appropriate chart for your seat. Always count backwards from the Button ("dealer button") to determine your position
• You should raise with all hands highlighted in PINK. Do not call the minimum bet amount - RAISE!
• Your raise sizing should be 3 times the big blind amount. For example if blinds are 100-200 in a tournament and you elect to raise first-in to the pot, your total bet amount should be 600
• Stay consistent with your raise sizing. If you raise a larger amount with a specific hand and smaller amounts with others, you will be easier to read at the table (IE don't raise to 600 with AA, but 400 with 99)

Remember, these charts are intended for use when you are the first person to put chips in the pot before the flop aside from the blinds (forced bets). If someone else has already voluntarily put chips in the pot before your turn to act, these charts do not apply.

When you join LearnWPT.com for just $5 your first month we'll teach you the 5 Key Factors every player needs to know to put your opponents on accurate hand ranges!

• Position
• Range
• Stack Depth
• Board Texture
• Number of Opponents

When you start playing, no matter if it is a cash game, online poker tournament or the biggest live poker event, understanding the fundamentals of No-Limit Texas Hold’em will help you elevate your skills toward becoming a professional poker player.

Check out this preview of the Episodes you'll receive as part of your $5 First Month Membership introducing the 5 Key Factors...

PRO TIP: To build mental muscle memory for these tasks in real-time, focus on the 5 Key Factors even when you are NOT in the hand.

TRACK YOUR PLAY TO BUILD A STUDY ROUTINE

If you want to learn No-Limit Texas Hold’em poker strategy and start seeing better results at the table, the first step is to write down the specifics of what happens in hands when you are faced with difficult decisions.

Poker software programs that capture hand histories and allow users to control replays such as LearnWPT’s Hand Input Tool, offer an easy way to enter hands with your favorite internet-connected device.

When just beginning to study poker it’s often most beneficial to start tracking your play simply using a pen and paper. It is important to make sure you are tracking the right factors when noting hands for poker strategy study so that you can develop a consistent process and measure your progress.

Here is a simple checklist of 8 questions to use when tracking your play for poker strategy analysis:

1. ☐ What was my seat position at the table?
2. ☐ What were the seat positions of my opponents?
3. ☐ What was my chip stack to start the hand?
4. ☐ What were the chip stacks of my opponents to start the hand?
5. ☐ What were my 2 cards, specific rank and suit?
6. ☐ What were the community cards, specific rank and suit?
7. ☐ What were the specific actions in the hand? Which player opened the betting?
8. ☐ Did my opponents show down their hand, if so what were the specific cards?

Use this checklist to review your play on a regular basis and you will start to see patterns that can be adjusted to increase your win rate. It is very important to remember that the result of any given hand does not matter when studying poker hands to try and improve your game.

Focus your study on trying to determine what actions your opponent would take with all types of hands they could have in a specific spot and avoid trying to pinpoint a single hand.

We created LearnWPT to make it as easy as possible for anyone to improve their poker game, on their own time and their own terms. A plan for improvement that includes small, consistent amounts of effort over time is the key factor that most often separates winning pros and students of the game from the average poker player.

Ready to continue learning the Foundations of No-Limit Texas Hold’em Strategy and become a better player?

Enter your email in the box below or visit LearnWPT.com and click the green PLAY NOW button to immediately gain access to Free Poker Strategy Content and Tools (including Full LearnWPT Strategy Episodes)

PLUS Receive free poker strategy emails to your inbox each week.

No matter how you choose to use LearnWPT.com there’s a path for you to learn, improve, and have fun on your own time and your own terms.

I am honored to be your guide on this journey and appreciate your support of LearnWPT!

Nick Binger
Lead Instructor, LearnWPT

Have Questions about LearnWPT? Send an email to our Support Team at [email protected] or click the red CONTACT US button and they will be happy to help!

We all make mistakes due to lack of focus, loss of motivation, or because we are simply unprepared. Thousands of hours studying hands and playing in pressure situations should make decisions easier over time, but even the best players in the world make mistakes when it matters most.

The key to improvement and avoiding these mistakes comes from being a student of The Mental Game.

In Strategy Episode 58, Jared introduces us to the concept of The Mental Game and why players of every skill level should add these strategies to their study routine right now!

Gain access to our full library of Mental Game Strategy Episodes from Jared Tendler right now when you join LearnWPT.com as part of your $5 First Month Membership!

We'll see you online!
-Team LearnWPT