The Games Within the Game

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Poker is interesting to most games players because it’s an ever-evolving, dynamic game, where the conditions – and therefore the optimal strategies – are always shifting. Another interesting aspect of poker is the layered aspect of the game. At any poker table, there’s the main game, but then there are also usually several games within that game. Recognizing the multiple games occurring below the surface of the primary game is a critical skill that many newer, and even some experienced players, fail to appreciate.

In this article, we’re going to break down a sample hand to give you an idea of the different layers that can exist in even a very typical situation.

The hand below is taken from the 20R 6 max on Full Tilt Poker. The rebuy period is closed. The table has two regulars in Seats B and D. The SB was just moved to the table last hand You gained a good amount of your chips an orbit or two ago from the BB when you took a big pot away with a river bet.

When you play a hand, it’s important to remember that you’re actually playing a unique game against each of your opponents. In this hand, here are a couple of factors helping to define those sub-games.

Stack Sizes
This is a critical one, and it comes up more often in tournament play than cash games. In this example, you’re clearly playing at least two different games based on stack size – one with Players B, D and the BB, and another with the shorter stacks Player C and the SB. If C and the SB weren’t in the hand, you’d probably be willing to open a wider range. If you do open and get flat called by C or the SB, your post-flop situation is much different than it would be if you were called by, say, the BB. Recognizing the different stack sizes and how you should react to each is a critical aspect of your preflop (and postflop) planning.

Skill Levels
You’re also playing various games against opponents based on their skill levels. For example, let’s say you open raise and the regular on the button three bets you. You should react very differently to that three bet then you might to a three bet from the unknown player in the BB, as a skilled, regular player is more likely to be three betting you with a wider range. If you raised preflop and were called, you would also likely feel more comfortable making a continuation bet against the BB post flop than you would c-betting against the strong player in seat B, simply because you could feel more confident that the BB would play their hand in a more straightforward fashion. Skill level defines what a player is capable of, and the varying capabilities of your opponents can justify wildly different tactics on your part.

History
Perhaps more than any other single factor, your history with an individual creates unique levels to each individual hand. In our example, your recent history with the BB suggests that they’ll probably be more inclined to get involved in a hand with you than a typical player would be, and probably more stubborn about getting out of the hand post-flop. You’d probably be inclined to make a marginal call or re-raise if the BB showed aggression, given your recent history. Contrast that with the SB, who will be making their decisions based solely on their cards and a generic read on you.

In any single hand, each individual opponent will have their own reasons for choosing how to play against you. Treating your opponents as a homogeneous whole or even as one of a few generic types is a mistake. Pay attention to the factors that control your intra-game with each opponent, and you’ll likely find value that you didn’t know existed.

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