interview with phil gordon

[lifeofmendel]

the nytimes just posted up a very good Q&A session with poker professional phil gordon. i may x-post this to my journal with a little more meat.

Follow the linkprobably one of the greatest bits in the article is this quote

Comments

[billyjr82]

One of the best ones I thought was interesting:

Q: What is the most dangerously deceiving starting hand for an amateur player in Texas Holdem? When I say dangerous, I mean most likely to make a stupid call when they have no business calling.

A: It’s a tie … AQ, KQ, and QJ. Those are death hands to be avoided at all costs, especially if your opponent has made any aggressive move pre-flop.

[lifeofmendel]

in an early position aggressive table i throw away KQ and QJ suited or no without much thought unless i'm deep stacked (which isn't often). sometimes i'll limp or raise with KQ suited in early position if i want to mix it up or i feel like i'll be called by weak players.

I actually hate QJ as a hand. i think i generally only play it on the button or in other late positions with an unraised pot and a couple of limpers. With everyone folding before me i'll limp. I should raise maybe 15% of the time or something to take the pot down, but i don't.

AQ is pretty easy for me to toss if i'm medium stacked up against a strong raise and reraise in early position or if someone reraises a reraise against my initial raise.