The “Nuts” in poker is the best possible hand given the cards available in a specific situation. It is a fitting slang term developed over the years for a game dominated by whiskey, guns, and testosterone. You most certainly needed big clanking family jewels to play in the saloons in the Old West, where you were one crooked comment away from getting a six-shooter pointed at you, nuts or no nuts.

Fortunately for us, poker has become a lot less dangerous and a lot more popular, flooding the programming on television channels such as ESPN, The Travel Channel, The Game Show Network, and even mainstream NBC.  These tournament airings offer a lot of money, a lot of fame, and a lot of adrenaline.

However, this series, new to PSA, is not going to focus on the celebrity of the game, but rather the nuts and bolts of everyday card games. As a regular player both online and in casinos, I have found hand analysis to be helpful in evaluating decisions, noticing trends, and improving my poker skills. Hopefully, this will be a constructive addition to those looking to improve their skills, or as the case may unfortunately be, looking at what NOT to do.

I currently play 200nl and 400nl, where the average wins range from $150 to $500 a day. Since I started at 10nl three years ago, my game has come a long way, but still has a long way to go. January’s goal is $3k, currently at +$1,685.

Just as an aside, if you are new to the game, these links contain helpful tutorials and even a chance to play for Play Money to get your feet wet:

Pokerstars Tutorial (largest online site in the world)

Wikipedia’s Texas Hold’em Page

Cardplayer Magazine (News and info)

So, the day’s biggest loser: http://www.pokerhand.org/?1951312

Pre-flop: I have a fairly tight image here, and raising as ‘first to act’ shows strength. I may flop good, but it isn’t necessary, as I will be betting the flop about 90% of time regardless.

Flop: A standard continuation bet. I’m not thrilled about my top pair, as my 8 kicker is often beat in a showdown. However, this player is aggressive, and he could be floating the flop to steal on turn, or calling with flush draw/strong king.

Turn: I give him the opportunity to try and buy the pot, as my check here looks weak. With only $52 left, my check/raise all in has about zero fold equity. It is a bad move, given that he effectively put me all in with his half-stack bet.

Biggest Winner: http://www.pokerhand.org/?1951345

Pre-flop: Early position raise, I flat call in position hoping for more players and to flop a five. If it is heads-up, I have position and can evaluate is post-flop betting.

Flop: Flop is gin. No real draws, so I elect to flat call his continuation bet, hoping he catches up on turn or decides to 3-barrel bluff.

Turn: He bets again on this brick of a turn. I raise for value, looking to get called by AJ-QJ, AA-TT. He tanks, shoves all in, obviously thinking I’m trying to bluff raise him. It’s fun to get it in when your opponent is drawing dead.

That’s it for now, good luck at the tables!