SCENARIO 19
Suppose Solid Sam opens in first position for $100. Novice Nancy calls $100 and Authority Artie also calls $100. You are sitting on the button with holdem poker game:
You also call the $100. The small blind folds. Tight Ted, the big blind, announces "I'm all in!" and moves his chips to the middle. Authority Artie starts complaining "Oh no," he yaps, "the tight player has moved in-he must have aces. What a waste it would be to put any more gaming money in the pot. " Ignoring him, Solid Sam calls all-in. Novice Nancy folds. And, still complaining, authority Artie folds.
It is Back to you. The pot limit holdem poker now has $2,310 in it.
What's Your Move?
A. Call with your remaining $900
B. Fold
Analysis
With this much betting and the type of poker players putting in the bets, your jacks should be beaten before the flop. You could get lucky, of course, and hit a set on the flop, but do you rally want to put your chips in when you have to hit a jack to stay alive? It would be much better to seven card stud the $900 for another hand.
As for Authority Artie, he should learn to be quiet while the hand is going on. It is very poor etiquette at the about poker table for players to voice opinions about the play of others. While action is going on, players should watch but aren't suppose to guess everyone's hole cards out loud, because it could influence the play glossary.
Your best move is option (B).
SCENARIO 20
Now suppose you are in the large blind with:
Solid Sam raises the pot to $100 in first position and everyone folds around to Reckless Rick on the button. He calls, the small blind folds, and now it's your turn to act extrastuff.
What's Your Move?
A. Raise to $300
B. Move all-in
C. Just call no limit holdem
Analysis
Two jacks is a good hand but one that must be played with caution. Since Solid Sam raised from up front, it is quite possible that he has a larger pair than jacks. Reckless Rick is capable of playing lots of hands and, since he didn't reraise, we will assume that he doesn't have a pair higher than jacks. We want to look at the flop and then make the best decision as to how to play our pocket jacks introduction.
Therefore, just calling © is the best move.