Bad Hat Poker

Okay.... I was asked to address this situation. Although I was at the table when this particular event occured, it didn't involve me and I am not absolutely certain about how exactly it all ended up! I am certain that the ultimate outcome would not change what I am about to say here:

Here is the senerio: Player "A"... draws pocket Kings! Player "B" , clearly a passive / aggressive style player [also in a Badhat, by the way] , draws Ace King. Player "A" raises. Player "B" reraises... Player "A" re-reraises, now player "B" pushes All - In... Player "A" calls.

Player "A" asked for my opinion of how they played the hand. Here is what I think: Everone at that table should have easily identified player "B" as a passive / aggressive player, meaning... he sit's back and doesn't do much until he gets on a big hand... then he bets it to the hilt!

When he is in this mode, player "B" will show no fear.... He also will play pretty fast and not really think things out too carefully. He has basically decided when he sees that big hand that he will go with it to the end if he has too. The only thing that might stop the aggression from a player like this is if someone he knows to be a very strong player stands in his way and re-raises him... If he doessn't already know you... He will go to the end with any big hand. Let's face it, be believes the odds will favor the big hand and he is in most cases in a "coin toss" situation at worst with Ace - King, pre-flop.

The only time he has real trouble is when someone else also has a big hand ... But with the Ace - King, he could have "Outs" against all hands except Ace - Ace. He figures Ace - King is good in most cases. At least a pre-flop 50-50. And actually, that's about right!

The mistake that I see here actually comes from player "A" ... the King - King.

When Mr. "Passive - Aggressive announced that he was on a big hand with his intitial "re-raise", Player "A" should have simply called to see the flop. this keeps player "B" from having the ability to push all in pre -flop and put you to a decision. Of course you are going to call with King king... we all would ...But here's the deal.... If an Ace hits the board, you are still in the tournament. If he pushes with an Ace on the board, the Passive - Agressive player usually has the Ace in his hand. Your Kings are dead. You can fold and get away... You can't if you are already all in pre-flop...

So that's the answer... King - King raise... P/A player re-raises... you call. If no Ace... Take him to the cleaners... Make him not be able to afford to gamble further on the hope that an Ace will come on the "Turn" of the "River"... i would much rather win a smaller pot than lose a big one!

Good luck, and I hope to see you at my table soon!

Kenny "Badhat" Piel

▣ A Professional Approach.... to Losing!

posted by Badhat on March 1st, 2010 at 3:55 PM

1 Comment added to this post

▣ 2010 Oklahoma State Poker Championships

posted by Badhat on February 20th, 2010 at 11:34 PM

0 Comments added to this post

▣ This Was Outragously Funny!

posted by Badhat on February 7th, 2010 at 11:04 PM

2 Comments added to this post

Sitting at a full table at a $1080 buy-in WSOP Circuit Event in Tunica, Jan 2010!

▣ A SECOND LOOK AT MEGA'S BEFORE THE WSOP TUNICA MAIN EVENT

posted by Badhat on February 4th, 2010 at 11:22 AM

1 Comment added to this post

Want a main event seat? Do this:

▣ Giving Up Too Much Info at the Poker Table!

posted by Badhat on January 30th, 2010 at 3:34 PM

1 Comment added to this post

▣ wsop

posted by Badhat on January 28th, 2010 at 2:00 AM

2 Comments added to this post

▣ World Series of Poker

posted by Badhat on January 24th, 2010 at 10:12 AM

2 Comments added to this post

I'm in it again! The WSOP is here in tunica! We started the 800 player Saturday $340 buy in yesterday! there are 77 of us left for the last day today... We go back in 2 hours. the average stack is 102K. I am at 105K....

Will update my final postion later...

▣ Got Tea?

posted by Badhat on January 2nd, 2010 at 7:28 AM

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▣ Tribute to Tea Party Movement

posted by Badhat on December 14th, 2009 at 11:46 AM

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Below is a link to the You Tube video I just made and posted... Take a look

I felt like I should do something... This was it.

Click the link below and take a look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuhNvh1sHBw

▣ Absolutley Nothing to do with Poker...But Really Important

posted by Badhat on December 11th, 2009 at 12:20 PM

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I am in a large hotel today at a Poker tournament. I woke up this morning and looked out the window and saw approximately 30 people greeting car after car in the cilrcular drive. It was about 10 degrees outside... The people would approach each car and be given what appeared to be bags of food, which were placed in one of approximately 20 very large bins ...

It began to snow... The people stayed... Then a helicopter arrived and Santa joined the group. I am pretty sure it was Phil Hellmuth, because of the entrance, but I was too far away to be certain.

My Father told me years ago that every so often, someone will come along to renew your faith in the human spirit. These folks freezing their butts off to help their neighbors certainly did it for me this morning.

Lately, all you hear about in the news is how bad our economy is...and if you listen to our President speaking around the world... How bad Americans are in general... there doesn't appear to be much to be thankful for... It couldn't be farther from the truth.

The American spirit is alive and well... There has never been a more generous and giving country in the history of the world, than the United States of America, So.... Keep the faith, all will pass. Merry Christmas to each of you and may God Bless you and your family.

▣ TheTraveling Poker Pro

posted by Badhat on December 1st, 2009 at 2:20 PM

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I get a lot of questions about traveling around the country from tournament to tournament. People ask about expense, rate of success, skill level of opponents in various locations, and many other things.

In a relatively brief blog entry, I will try to answer some of those questions... First; is it expensive? Sure it is... but everything is relative. I am careful to not be wasteful with my bankroll, and I have a much higher tournament cash percentage than the average player.

Those two things alone make all the difference in the world. As for the skill level at various venues... Yes there is a difference, however, I simply try to adapt to whichever situation I am faced with at a given moment. If I am facing other solid pros... I can open it up a little more. If I am playing against beginner to intermediate skilled players, I tighten it up.... They don't bluff and if they have any kind of hand... you can't bluff them either!

The bottom line is; I do this because I love poker, and I truly enjoy the competition. I have met a lot of really good people through my travels and I figure I am still going to meet a lot more!

Playing poker professionally is a lot of work...But it is worth it!

▣ Skill - Luck - Statistical Probabilities - Odds, - Human Nature - Averages - & Poker

posted by Badhat on November 24th, 2009 at 11:33 PM

2 Comments added to this post

Skill - Luck - Statistical Probabilities - Odds, - Human Nature - Averages - & Poker

Now that’s a title!

I decided to write on this topic because of the difference in opinion I have had with my good friend and Tunica local poker player: “Horseman Dale”.

Dale and I argue every time we discuss poker. Dale professes the absolute importance of the bell curve as it applies to poker. He sites statistics and averages, and confidently proclaims that he has played poker exactly the same way regardless of whether he’s winning or losing for years. Dale has also expressed his belief that there is virtually no extra value to experience…. He has played poker for years, so how could someone else who has also played for years have any kind of advantage? Dale attributes winning or losing poker to one thing: Luck, either good or bad. He has told me that luck is at least 75% of poker while skill level is 25%.

Although I think Dale is a good player, I couldn’t disagree with him more.

I believe that statistical probablities, averages, odds and luck are all important elements of poker, but ultimately, except for luck, are simply tools. In my book, luck eventually equals out, but skill doesn’t!

In Dale’s defense, I have been told by a very skilled professional poker player; “When is doubt, let the math decide your actions”. I believe :"Math": would be “pot odds” and a statistical assessment of the value of your hand and what percentage of the time, it will win.

Here is where Dale and I truly differ in our approach to poker. I place a much higher value on my ability to read my opponents and determine the strength or weakness of their hands. If I believe that I am beat… I can fold ANY HAND at any time! Dale might suspect that he is beat, but if the stats and pot odds lean toward playing the hand… He more often than not, will. The other Pro, I sited above appears to support this approach with one major caveat that seems to escape my friend Dale: That caveat is “When in Doubt”. That narrows things down a lot for me. I seldom play a hand of poker and doubt that I can win…. I am willing to trust my reads on my opponents.

I also make a conscious effort to learn something new every single time I play in a poker tournament. It might not be a big thing, but I generally accomplish this to some degree.

For instance… There was a really hot girl showing a ton of cleavage in the four seat today. She was truly beautiful and very aware of the distraction she presented to us, her male opponents. The truth is I am completely convinced that Dale would have noticed her too! I am not so certain that he would have noticed that while at rest in a seated position, and not actively involved in a hand, her respiratory rate was a constant 16 cycles per minute.
When she played a strong hand, her respiratory rate increased dramatically and each breath became very shallow. I believe Dale would have been watching the cleavage the same as I was…but for different reasons… That is the strength of a skilled poker player… and getting to look at great cleavage… well Dale, that is just good luck!

▣ RE-POST...The Way That America Runs

posted by Badhat on November 17th, 2009 at 6:02 AM

1 Comment added to this post

Go to the link below, and download the most recent song I have written... Let me know what you think!

http://cid-1d489e84cb41b5ac.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Documents/The%20Way%20That%20America%20Runs%20%7C5By%20Kenny%20Piel%7C6%20%20FULL%20MIX.mp3

▣ Badhat soon to be back on the road!

posted by Badhat on November 10th, 2009 at 12:58 PM

0 Comments added to this post

2010 is almost upon us.... I still have some tournaments i am traveling to in December....

My 2010 tournament travel schedule will appear here and on the front page of my web page, as soon as i know what it is!

▣ Playing Amateurs

posted by Badhat on October 14th, 2009 at 4:58 PM

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I have come by this information the hard way! Now I am going to share it with you. Count on this and you will make money:

Amateurs seldom bluff!

Now go get'em!

▣ Lessons!

posted by Badhat on September 20th, 2009 at 6:26 PM

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I'm considering it!

▣ 3 Badhat-White Tiger Cash blasts in October at the Horseshoe!

posted by Badhat on September 20th, 2009 at 6:17 PM

3 Comments added to this post

Cash out of this No Limit Hold'em tournament anytime you like and keep every dime you earn!

▣ Mega Satellites

posted by Badhat on September 18th, 2009 at 12:12 PM

2 Comments added to this post

HOW TO WIN A MEGA SEAT!

▣ FRIENDS AT THE TABLE!

posted by Badhat on September 9th, 2009 at 12:38 PM

1 Comment added to this post

▣ BADHAT'S World Poker open Results

posted by Badhat on August 10th, 2009 at 3:39 PM

0 Comments added to this post

▣ Badhat - White Tiger Cash Blast NLH Poker Tournament (Completed)

posted by Badhat on August 1st, 2009 at 1:41 AM

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The first ever "Badhat - White Tiger Cash Blast No Limit Hold'em Poker Tournament" is in the books! We had 103 players. There was Players paid a $339 entry; $30900 in actual dollars in the tournament with $2500 added by the Horseshoe to first place. The primary difference between this and other no limit hold'em tournaments is that a player could pick up their chips and CASH OUT dollar fo dollar out of this one!

The tournament started off with the same feels as a $1 $3 No limit Hold'em cash game. By the time we got down to 2 tables left, it had completely morphed into a true tournament feel.

At the final table, 1/2 ($15400) of all the money in the tournament was still on the table.

The final five players chopped up te added house money and finished in the following position:

1: J.C. Leroy $4220

2: Ben Mintz $3280

3: William Totolo $2270

4: Joe Slyvester $1600

In contrast to a normal no limit hold'em tournament were 10% of the field would get paid, we had 30% of the field cash out.

Overall.... This was a hugh success! The Horseshow wants to discuss doingit again!

▣ Badhat - White Tiger Cash Blast NLH Poker Tournament

posted by Badhat on July 16th, 2009 at 2:44 PM

1 Comment added to this post

THE BADHAT – WHITE TIGER CASH BLAST NO LIMIT HOLD’EM POKER TOURNAMENT

AT: The Horseshoe Casino & Hotel – Tunica, Ms

July 30^th, 2009

2:00pm

This is a “first of it’s kind” CASH No Limit Poker Tournament

You buy in for $339. $9 goes to the staff… $30 goes to the house… and you play dollar for dollar with the remaining $300.

You can pick up your chips and cash out ANY TIME YOU LIKE!

Remember…if you stay to the end… the house is adding $2500 to the final table purse!

Questions? Call me: (928) 925-5641