To ensure this article is not just dry theory, we will take real examples from actual games. First, we will look at the five cards a player receives, discuss how to arrange them, and then see how our observed player arranges them and analyze their chosen strategy.
So, let's begin. We are analyzing the lowest stakes games in the TonyBet poker network. Why did we choose the lowest stakes games? Because there is a higher probability that the players we observe will make many mistakes, giving us more room to analyze and discuss their play.
I – Hand
Here we have a completely new game, all players have 50 points each. We have no information about the players, i.e., we do not know if they tend to choose aggressive arrangements, are more inclined to take risks, or play passively, we do not know what mistakes they make, etc. Also, our analyzed player is playing the first hand out of position, which also complicates our situation because we do not see any discarded cards, so in this case, safer lines should be chosen.
Several lines are possible. The safest would be: T T K at the bottom, 6 3 in the middle. This ensures a strong bottom, the existing TT pair gives a real chance to make a full house, and K as a kicker increases the chance that our full house will be higher than our opponent's. However, it's a bit of a shame to place such a good card like K at the bottom.
A slightly more aggressive line would be: T T 6 at the bottom and K 3 in the middle box. This line still ensures a strong bottom and the possibility of making a full house, of course, the downside is that we do not know if all T and all 6 are live. K in the middle is also a very safe choice in this case, such a starting arrangement is like preparing for a hand like TTTXX / KK / QQ. K ensures a safe middle and the possibility to place QQ at the top, gaining +7 points and fantasy. I would also classify this line as a safe choice, and playing out of position, I would choose this one. [Brilijant's choice: this line]. However, we should also consider more aggressive lines, and I will repeat once again that when playing out of position, safer initial lines should be chosen.
Aggressive line: I think one of the most aggressive lines would be TT / 36 / K (TT at the bottom / 36 in the middle / K at the top). Such a line means we are playing very aggressively for 8 points at the top and fantasy. However, this line is very risky and very aggressive, we have no information on whether the kings are live or if our middle cards are live, which is very important. Such a line would be suitable if we were acting last and saw, for example, that 2 or 3 queens were discarded, and there is little or no chance for us to place queens at the top, and we also see that all 3/6 and aces are live, then I would feel much calmer about my middle line and would not be afraid of burning out.
So we discussed three possible lines, their advantages and disadvantages. And now it's time to see what arrangement our opponent chose.
So our analyzed player chose the most aggressive option. I think this is one of the typical mistakes when players play too aggressively for fantasy. Getting fantasy is good, but our primary goal is not to burn out, especially when we are playing out of position.
II – Hand.
In this case, we will again try to analyze several possible options and then see what option the second player chose. In this case, the second player's situation is much better, as he already sees five revealed cards. For example, he has information that the first opponent has no Aces, which is very good information for the player and an opportunity to have a safer middle. But let's start again with the safest line.
The safest line: I think it's clear here that the safest line is to place a flush at the bottom and 82 in the middle, thus leaving the possibility for a second flush.
Aggressive line: would be (85 / 2A / K) 8 5 at the bottom leaving them as two live cards that also have a straight possibility, placing a completely live A in the middle, and K at the top hoping to get +8 points for the top “box” and get fantasy. A natural question may arise – why place 85 at the bottom and not 82, which would also give a flush possibility. I think the difference between these cards is quite small, one has a backdoor flush draw, the other has a backdoor straight draw, so we just place higher cards to have a chance to make two higher pairs than in the middle if, for example, 2277A or similar falls in the middle.
Which line to choose? First, we should look at the live cards we need. In this case, all live Aces and live 85 allow us to choose an aggressive line. Also, all Queens are still live, which is also very good for us, so the aggressive line looks quite good in this place. However, there is one but, our first opponent is super aggressive and chose one of the most aggressive lines, so there is a high probability that he will just burn out. So against such aggressive play out of position, it would be optimal for us to choose a safer defensive line with a flush at the bottom. Hoping to make something like flush/flush or flush/two pairs and leaving the top for QQ or a high pair, which would give us a few extra points. Brilijant's choice: Safer line
So, we see the choice of our second analyzed player, he chose a safe and good arrangement. It's time to move on to the third hand.
III – Hand.
In this round, the player has the greatest advantage over his opponents because he has the position. In this case, the first player made his moves knowing nothing, while the third player makes his moves seeing even ten revealed cards. What should we pay attention to first? First, we see a pair of 55 in the player's hand, which is a great start for making a strong bottom line, we just need to check if there are any fives discarded by the opponents. Unfortunately, one five is already used :(. However, one remaining five is still not bad. Now we need to find a live kicker for those fives. I think the difference between these cards is quite small, one has a backdoor flush draw, the other has a backdoor straight draw, in this case, we have 6 and 9. 6 is a bit too small for our kicker and one is already used. In this case, 9 is a good kicker for the fives, if we draw 5599X at the bottom, smaller pairs like 6677x and similar can play in the middle. If we place 6 as a kicker at the bottom, then only 3344x and lower would fit in the middle. So the bottom is clear. What else do we have good in our hand? It's clear that Q, and most importantly, all Qs are live. This is very good news for us, and of course, we place Q at the top. The only downside of this hand is a very weak middle. In the middle, we only have 6, which is already dead, and it's also very important to note that two Ks and one A are already out. For this reason, if I draw a second Q without strengthening my middle, I will not rush to place it at the top. In this case, the third opponent has only one optimal choice – 559 / 6 / Q (5 5 9 at the bottom, 6 in the middle, Q at the top). In this case, it is both the safest and most aggressive line, and any other placements would be a mistake. Brilijant's choice: 559/6/Q
This was a brief analysis of starting hands performed by Brilijant. I remind you that the rules on how to play Open Face Chinese poker can be found in previous articles. In the next strategy article, we will try to analyze one game from start to finish together.
