Lee Markholt

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A poker pro since the mid-1990s, Lee Markholt is a survivor – and an adaptor. Though a serious force in Vegas cash games, the Washington native made a name for himself in tournament play...

A poker pro since the mid-1990s, Lee Markholt is a survivor – and an adaptor. Though a serious force in Vegas cash games, the Washington native made a name for himself in tournament play. He has won several live tournaments, cashed 53 times and has lifetime winnings of more than $2 million. One of the father of two’s first big scores came in 2005 at the Season 1 Professional Poker Tour $500,000 freeroll, which he won, raking in $225,000. He topped that by winning the WPT’s World Poker Challenge main event in Reno last year for a $468,000 payday. Talking with Lee one gets the impression that he still has not peaked.

When should you four-bet A-K preflop?
– John, Oregon

I’m not an advocate of four-betting A-K with deep stacks. I would only four-bet if I have a below-average stack and it’s an all in four-bet.

What can you do to make sure you don’t price someone into the pot? Can you give an example of a pot and the correct amount to bet so as not to price a person in?
– Mike, Mississippi State

When you price someone in it means you are giving him the right pot odds to stay in the hand. The best way to avoid this is to know the approximate odds and bet enough that if he does call you he is making a mathematical error to call with a draw.

In what situations is it OK to get all your chips in on a flopped flush draw?
– Up a Tree, Waupun Prison

If you have extra outs, say two overcards and a flush draw, or a pair and flush draw, or a flush and straight combo draw, this is never a bad spot unless you’re up against a flopped flush or set. If you only have a flush draw, you want to be the one pushing so you have some fold equity. I would use some caution when pushing with only a flush draw if you sense a lot of strength from your opponent.

What are some things an average player can do at the game to become more successful?
– Christian, Orange County

Study all the material you can – books, magazine articles, etc. – and pay attention to what the successful players are doing!

What kinds of things would compel you to call down someone leading into you if you only had ace-high?
– Confused, Tennessee

You have to have a good idea of what your opponent’s range is. If you know his hand range and he continues to bet into you on a scary board, it’s fishy. He has to be afraid of the scare card just as much if not more than you.

In a satellite when you are ten off winning the seat and you have average chips, would you be willing to call an all-in late-position shove with A-K?
– Marky, Vegas

Only if the call doesn’t put you on a short stack! If a short stack is shoving and it doesn’t cripple your stack too much, you should call.

Is ‘tight is right’ the best mentality in a low-stakes cash game? If it isn’t, what is?
– Marge, Washington, D.C.

Generally speaking, tight play will win in low-stakes cash games unless the rake is too high, but if you happen to find yourself in a very tight game you should take advantage and pick up those uncontested pots.

Is it ever correct to bluff into someone for three streets? I can’t figure out how long to hold onto a bluff.
– Mickey Mouse, Orlando

You have to have a good feel as to what kind of hand your opponent has. If you’re certain he is on a draw but maybe he has you high-carded, you should probably bet the river if a blank comes. But be careful betting the river because if he has a made hand and he called the turn with top pair, even if he has a weak kicker he probably will call the river unless a scare card comes. This is mainly a feel situation.

If you are at a loose
table in a cash game where your raises still gain you three or four callers, do you stop
raising with almost
everything but really good hands? Like should you just flat-call with A-Q but raise with A-A?
– Going Broke, Atlanta

This is more based on position. You should still raise with your A-Q if you have position, but maybe consider limping sometimes when early into a pot, because if you raise with A-Q and get called by four people behind you and you miss the flop, you will just have to give up on the hand.

I have trouble figuring out the perfect river bet when I have the nuts. I often get so frustrated when I bet too little and I see they would have called a lot more. How do you gauge what is a good amount to bet for value on the river?
– Best Player You Never Heard Of, Gulfport, MS

This is just a matter of how strong you think the other guy’s hand is. If you think he has a big hand, then make a huge bet – you have a good chance of getting called. If you think he’s kind of weak, then give him a price he can’t refuse!

I cannot figure out when the right time to show a bluff is. How do I make sure this doesn’t work as a disadvantage to me?
– Stephen K., Maine

Remember, the more you show your hands, the more information you are giving. The only time I will show a bluff is if I think it will take my opponent off his game.

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Last Updated on Monday, 01 June 2009 19:16

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