Vince Van Patten's Poker Tips

[Patricia]

Vince Van Patten is going to be posting some poker tips for you from time to time. I have been told he will be posting the first one some time today or tomorrow so if you keep your eyes on the boards you can get tips from Vince.

[Vince Van Patten]

Ingredients to Being a Successful Poker Player

My father **** Van Patten taught me how to play poker and he always said to suspect the worst - in other words, what’s the best hand the other guys could have? Always suspect that you could be beat at any time. He made me a suspicious player and a sneaky player. Those are the ingredients you have to have to be very good: You have to be suspicious and you have to be sneaky. It’s a strength in poker, not to be over-confident. Don’t go to a table when you’re eager - it’s the worst thing you can do. I listened to these things and over the years, I molded and nurtured my game and realized what it took to win. But it takes many different things to win. It takes the competitive spirit of wanting to win as well as having a great desire to win. If you want to just play and have a social time that’s one thing. You don’t have to have certain attributes. But if you want to be a winning player and beat games you have to have many things going for you - and one of them is that true competitiveness. The heart of a lion! a big heart. You have to have a big heart. And most importantly you have to have the ability not to lose your head. If you lose it, you’re done. With poker, you have to find the ingredients it takes you to be a winner and you have to know when to quit. It’s the subtleties that separate the winners from the losers.

[Hollay]

Hollay's question:
How do you disguise a big hand? What's your technique?

Vince's answer:
Be extremely deceptive and contrarian; leave your ego out of the game!

To ask Vince Van Patten a poker-related question, e-mail me!
hollay@hollywoodpoker.com

He'll be answering one every week

[honey_comb1]

HMMMM. I think this will be a thread I will be checking out often.
I NEED ALOT OF POKER TIPS!! LOL.
Look forward to your post Vince.

[Vince Van Patten]

Question - Tournaments can be daunting for new players. How easy is it for novice players to get started with tournaments?

Look, when you’re dealing with sports the luck factor is pretty small. When two football teams go at it or when two tennis players that are comparable, you know, there’s not that much luck involved in that match. It’s like a 5 or 7 luck factor that you got lucky. In poker tournaments, there’s a huge luck factor. Maybe up to 50%. I would say 50-60% in a tournament. That’s the best thing about it. It gives everybody a chance. It makes it so difficult for anyone to really dominate the game. I think tournaments are great for new players. They really help refine and broaden your playing skills.

[Patricia]

Don't forget to ask Vince Van Patten a poker-related question, e-mail Hollay.

hollay@hollywoodpoker.com

[Vince Van Patten]

Question: I have now been playing Hold'em for over a year. I still have 4 losing sessions for every winning one and the losing sessions are more expensive. I realize I play too conservatively and no doubt, I am easy to read. Also, I have had some terrible bad beats, (i.e. losing with Aces full, small straight flush to larger straight flush, etc) and though I have read several of the top poker books, it doesn't seem to help. Suggestions, please?



My father, **** Van Patten, taught me to expect the worst. In other words, to always wonder what the best hand the other players could have. Play like you could be beat at any time. He made me a suspicious player and a sneaky player. Those are the ingredients you have to have to be very good and while they may not be beneficial in every aspect of life, they are a strength in poker.
Above all, you need a great desire to win. While you shouldn’t be over-confident, the competitive drive to play the best game you can should be the basis of every decision you make at the table. If you want to just play and have social time that’s one thing, you don’t have to have certain attributes. Every player has distinct and individual qualities that make her or him a great player, but a common trait among all winning players is a true competitiveness. With poker, you have to find out the ingredients it takes you to be a winner and knowing when to quit.
Which brings me to this: if you are concerned with your losses, try playing in lower stake games and tournaments until you build your confidence. With time, patience and dedication, it will happen!

I really hope this helps you out! Remember: It’s the subtleties that separate the winners from the losers.

[Vince Van Patten]

Question from StaringBlind:

I have been playing Hold ‘em progressively now for about 8 months. Most times I do well and see the final table, but I have a huge challenge that I think could set me over the top, if I overcome it. The biggest challenge I have overcoming is during the blind. What do you consider an acceptable hand to call pre-flop? Suited 9-J? Off 10-J? Suited 2-3? I normally find myself being patient and waiting for the cards 9 through A in the blind, but I really feel as though I am missing out on potential rakes. When I follow my gut with say a K-8, I get burned by the kicker. What are your thoughts on this age old mystery?

Vince's answer:

Great question. First off, I’m assuming that you’re talking about a no-limit game. In my opinion, the game is played more by the feel of the table than the cards you have. So, in regards to the hands you mentioned, I may play them all the time or not at all – depending on the other players. You have to play the other players and get in touch with the table. It’s harder to get busted by playing the blind with a mediocre hand.

[Vince Van Patten]

Question:
How do you suggest playing a good (but not great) starting hand against very aggressive players who seem to be continuously raising and reraising preflop no matter what they have?

Advice:
Of course, my advice is widely dependent on the variables in a no-limit game, like your position, the number of players, etc.
Remember the biggest strength in poker: Check and raise.
Wait until you have your solid hand, and then lay it on the maniacs. Make them hurt for all the times they walked all over you – it’s a great pay off!

[Hollay]

Hey all!

Make sure to e-mail me your questions for Vince at hollay@hollywoodpoker.com!

See you at the tables, my pets