Here at Black Belt Poker, we like to try different things, and push the envelope slightly further than anyone else, so it is with great pleasure that I present a brand new strategy feature that we are trying out: The Poker Tree.
The poker quiz itself isn’t a new creation, but I’ve always considered them to be a restrictive process in which you are obliged to follow the route of its creator, and then listen as that one person tells you what the correct route is. At the conclusion, you are then scored based on how closely your decisions correlated with those of the author.
Personally, I believe poker is a game of opinions, and the author’s reasoning shouldn’t necessary to be taken as fact, and thus shouldn’t be the basis of a scoring system. Similarly, poker isn’t as rigid as a poker quiz suggests; there are numerous branches to a poker hand, and all should be available to explore.
With that in mind, I’ve come up with The Poker Tree in which players can reminisce on their Fighting Fantasy days by choosing their own route and embarking on their own personal journey through a hand. Before I published this item, I asked Black Belt Poker’s Nik Persaud to work his way through the hand. His final path is known as ‘Nik’s Golden Route’ and is what Nik believes to be the most plus EV route, and the one that will churn out the best results in the long run. It is also the only route that doesn’t end in money being lost.
Of course, hand analysis is a subjective process, and although we have highlighted Nik’s Golden Route, it may not necessarily be the best possible way to play the hand. Therefore, next week, Nik and a couple of other Black Belt Pokers will be explaining which route they took and why, so you as a viewer can examine multiple possibilities and come up with your own conclusion.
So, without further ado, I bring you the first ever Poker Tree. To play is quick and simple, just read the set-up below and then select/click the option which you wish to choose. The page will then escort you to the next number (appears at the top of the page, but remember your number nonetheless), and thus scenario. Once you’ve chosen your route, post your chosen path – as well as an explanation, if you so wish - on the Black Belt Poker boards and we can see if they echoed those chosen by the Pros next week.
Game: Six-max $1/2 NLH cash
History: The game has been going for around an hour. In this time, neither you nor the villain have been involved in a big hand. Both players have taken down a handful of pots preflop with a standard three-bet. The rest of the table are relatively tight, including the big blind who has $150 and is unlikely to make a squeeze play without a genuine hand.
Villain MP ($200) – 20/16/2.5 – Villain likes to play hands and will often call three-bets. However, he’s not a maniac and is believed to be a winning player. You have collated just over 200 hands on him, including a reach showdown percentage of 28% and three-bet percentage of 6%. Having watched him previously, you believe he is capable of overplaying hands.
Hero SB ($200) – 17/14/2.25 – Your image is relatively solid and Villain will likely be aware that you are a capable player. He will also be aware that you are multi-tabling and may try to nick your blind with marginal hands. However, he knows you might three-bet light.
Villain raises to $7, folded around to Hero with Qc-Jc.
Do you fold (go to 1), call (go to 2) or raise to $23 (go to 3)?
1. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($199), Villain ($203).
2. Hero calls.
Hero ($193), Villain ($193), Pot ($16)
Flop: Qs-Tc-7d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you check (4) or bet $13 (5)?
3. Hero raises to $23.
Villain calls.
Hero ($177), Villain ($177), Pot ($48).
Flop Qs-Tc-7d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you check (6) or bet $36 (7)?
4. Hero checks.
Hero ($193), Villain ($193), Pot ($16)
Villain bets $13.
Flop Qs-Tc-7d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you fold (8), call (9), or raise to $34 (10)?
5. Hero bets $13.
Villain calls.
Hero ($180), Villain ($180), Pot ($42).
Turn: 8d.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d.
Do you check (11) or bet $34 (12)?
6. Hero ($177), Villain ($177), Pot ($48).
Hero checks.
Villain bets $39.
Flop Qs-Tc-7d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you fold (13), call (14), raise to $100 (15) or move all in (16)?
7. Hero bets $36.
Villain calls.
Hero ($141), Villain ($141), Pot ($120).
Turn: 8d.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you check (27), bet $80 (84) or move all in (85)?
8. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($193), Villain ($209).
9. Hero calls.
Hero ($180), Villain ($180), Pot ($42).
Turn: 8d.
Board Qs-Tc-7d-8d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you check (17) or bet $34 (18)?
10. Hero raises to $34.
Villain calls.
Hero ($159), Villain ($159), Pot ($84).
Turn: 8d.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you check (72) or bet $75 (73)?
11. Hero ($180), Villain ($180), Pot ($42).
Villain bets $34.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you fold (19), call (20) or raise to $90 (21)?
12. Hero bets $34.
Villain calls.
Hero ($146), Villain ($146), Pot ($110).
River: 9d.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d-9d
Do you check (54) or bet $80 (55)?
13. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($177), Villain ($225).
14. Hero calls.
Hero ($138), Villain ($138), Pot ($126).
Turn: 8d.
Board Qs-Tc-7d-8d
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you check (36) or move all in (37)?
15. Hero raises to $100.
Villain moves all in for an additional $77.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you call (38) or fold (39)
16. Hero moves all in for an additional $138.
Villain calls.
Villain shows Kd-Jd.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d.
Turn: 8d.
River: 9d.
Villain wins with the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).
17. Hero checks.
Hero ($180), Villain ($180), Pot ($42).
Villain bets $34.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you fold (22), call (23) or raise to $90 (24)?
18. Hero bets $34.
Villain calls.
Hero ($146), Villain ($146), Pot ($110).
River: 9d.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d-9d
Do you check (30) or bet $80 (31)?
19. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($180), Villain ($222).
20. Hero calls.
Hero ($146), Villain ($146), Pot ($110).
River: 9d.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d-9d
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you check (25) or bet $80 (26)?
21. Hero raises to $90.
Villain moves all in for an additional $90.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you call (34) or fold (35).
22. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($180), Villain ($222).
23. Hero ($146), Villain ($146), Pot ($110).
River: 9d.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d-9d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you check (28) or bet $80 (29)?
24. Hero raises to $90.
Villain moves all in for an additional $90.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you fold (60) or call (61)?
25. Hero checks.
Hero ($146), Villain ($146), Pot ($110).
Villain bets $80.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d-9d
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you fold (62), call (63), move all in (64).
26. Hero ($146), Villain ($146), Pot ($110).
Hero bets $80.
Villain moves all in for an additional $66.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d-9d
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you fold (32) or call (33)?
27. Hero ($141), Villain ($141), Pot ($120).
Hero checks.
Villain bets $80.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you fold (83), call (40) or move all in (41)?
28. Hero calls.
River: 9d.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d-9d.
Hero ($146), Villain ($146), Pot ($110).
Villain bets $80.
Do you fold (44), call (45), or move all in (46)?
29. Hero ($146), Villain ($146), Pot ($110).
Hero bets $80.
Villain moves all in for an additional $66.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d-9d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you fold (47) or call (48)?
30. Hero checks.
Hero ($146), Villain ($146), Pot ($110).
Villain bets $80.
River: 9d.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d-9d
Do you fold (49), call (50) or move all in (51)?
31. Hero ($146), Villain ($146), Pot ($110).
Hero bets $80.
Villain moves all in for an additional $66.
River: 9d.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d-9d
Do you fold (52) or call (53)?
32. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested
Hero ($66), Villain ($336).
33. Hero calls.
Villain wins the pot with Kd-Jd for the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).
34. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($90), Villain ($312).
35. Hero calls.
Villain shows Kd-Jd.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
River: 9d.
Villain wins with the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).
36. Hero ($138), Villain ($138), Pot ($126).
Hero checks.
Villain moves all in.
Board Qs-Tc-7d-8d
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you fold (56) or call (57)?
37. Hero moves all in.
Villain calls.
Villain shows Kd-Jd.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d
River: 9d.
Villain wins with the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).
38. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($77), Villain ($325)
39. Hero calls.
Villain shows Kd-Jd.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
River: 9d.
Villain wins with the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).
40. Hero calls.
Hero ($61), Villain ($61), Pot ($280).
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you check (58) or move all in (59)?
41. Hero moves all in.
Villain calls.
Villain shows Kd-Jd.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
River: 9d.
Villain wins with the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).
42. Hero calls.
Villain shows Kd-Jd.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d
River: 9d.
Villain wins with the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).
43. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($61), Villain ($341)
44. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($146), Villain ($256).
45. Hero calls.
Villains wins the pot with Kd-Jd for the king high flush.
Hero ($66), Villain ($336)
46. Hero moves all in for an additional $66.
Villain calls.
Villains wins the pot with Kd-Jd for the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).
47. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($146), Villain ($256).
48. Hero calls.
Villain shows Jh-9h for the straight. Split pot.
Hero ($201), Villain ($201).
You have found Nik's Golden Route.
49. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($146), Villain ($256).
50. Hero calls.
Villain wins the pot with Kd-Jd for the king high flush.
Hero ($66), Villain ($336).
51. Hero moves all in for an additional $66.
Villain calls.
Villain wins the pot with Kd-Jd for the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).
52. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($66), Villain ($336).
53. Hero moves all in for an additional $66.
Villain calls.
Villain wins the pot with Kd-Jd for the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).
54. Hero ($146), Villain ($146), Pot ($110).
Hero checks.
Villain bets $80.
River: 9d.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d-9d
Do you fold (67), call (68), or move all in (69)?
55. Hero ($146), Villain ($146), Pot ($110).
Hero bets $80.
Villain moves all in for an additional $66.
River: 9d.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d-9d
Do you fold (70) or call (71)?
56. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($138), Villain ($264).
57. Hero calls.
Villain shows Kd-Jd.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d.
Turn: 8d.
River: 9d.
Villain wins with the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).
58. Hero ($61), Villain ($61), Pot ($280).
Hero checks.
Villain moves all in.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you fold (65) or call (66).
59. Hero ($61), Villain ($61), Pot ($280).
Hero moves all in.
Villain calls.
Villain wins with Kd-Jd for the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).
60. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($90), Villain ($312).
61. Hero calls.
Villain shows Kd-Jd.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d
Hero has Qc-Jc
River: 9d
Villain wins the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).
62. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($146), Villain ($256).
63. Hero calls.
Villain wins the pot with Kd-Jd for the king high flush.
Hero ($66), Villain ($336).
64. Hero moves all in for an additional $66.
Villain calls.
Villain wins the pot with Kd-Jd for the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).
65. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($61), Villain ($341)
66. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($61), Villain ($341)
67. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($146), Villain ($256).
68. Hero calls.
Villain wins the pot with Kd-Jd for the king high flush.
Hero ($66), Villain ($336).
69. Hero moves all in for an additional $66.
Villain calls.
Villain wins the pot with Kd-Jd for the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).
70. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested
Hero ($66), Villain ($336).
71. Hero calls.
Villain wins the pot with Kd-Jd for the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).
72. Hero checks.
Hero ($159), Villain ($159), Pot ($84).
Villain bets $63.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you fold (74), call (75), or move all in (76)?
73. Hero ($159), Villain ($159), Pot ($84).
Hero bets $75.
Villain moves all in for an additional for $84.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you fold (77) or call (78).
74. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($159), Villain ($243).
75. Hero calls.
Hero ($96), Villain ($96), Pot ($210).
River: 9d.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d-9d
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you check (79) or move all in (80)?
76. Hero moves all in for an additional $96.
Villain calls.
Villain shows Kd-Jd.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d
Hero has Qc-Jc.
River: 9d.
Villain wins the pot with the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).
77. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($84), Villain ($318).
78. Hero calls.
Villain shows Kd-Jd.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d
Hero has Qc-Jc.
River: 9d.
Villain wins the pot with the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).
79. Hero ($96), Villain ($96), Pot ($210).
Hero checks.
Villain moves all in.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d-9d
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you fold (81) or call (82)?
80. Villain calls.
Villain wins the pot with Kd-Jd for the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).
81. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot with uncontested.
Hero ($96), Villain ($306).
82. Hero calls.
Villain wins the pot with Kd-Jd for the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).
83. Hero folds.
Villain wins the pot uncontested.
Hero ($141), Villain ($261).
84. Hero ($141), Villain ($141), Pot ($120).
Hero bets $80.
Villain moves all-in for an additional $61.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d.
Hero has Qc-Jc.
Do you fold (43) or call (42)?
85. Hero ($141), Villain ($141), Pot ($120).
Hero moves all in
Villain calls.
Villain shows Kd-Jd.
Board: Qs-Tc-7d-8d
River: 9d.
Villain wins with the king high flush.
Hero ($0), Villain ($400).