First time posting in this section, though I do read the threads from time to time. Hoping I might get a bit of feed back for both me and my youngest son as I attempt to continue his recent introduction to poker.
So, here's "Poker Practice" with my 7 year old. £20 buy in cash game (pretend money), 5p/10p blinds. I play/simulate 5 stacks while he plays his one to try and give him a more realistic table experience.
My main aim right now is to continue to drill him on folding discipline, coach him on bet sizes and post-flop play and presentation (at this time specifically with respect to aggression in so far as playing against more players means more chance of losing even with a good hand, so getting players to fold is generally a good thing). NB: I'm a fish in your world but I'm all he's got and it's fun, so all comments are welcome to help both me and him.
We are about 45 minutes in and he's showing some frustration at how many hands he's had to fold — "change the deck dad," he says, "this one isn't giving me any hands!"
I try to get him to look at the positive aspect of that and compliment him on his folding discipline, pointing out that (1) it's better to fold than to play hands he shouldn't because he'll only lose in the long run and (2) he'll be due a hand sooner or later. We coin the phrase "Patience Wins Pots"
Next hand:
He (I'll refer to him as Villain as tradition dictates) is in the SB position.
Preflop:
UTG folds
UTG+1 (5h5c) raises to 3BB (30p)
Cut-off (JhJc) re-raises to 90p
Dealer folds
Villain calls
BB (JQs) calls
UTG+1 calls
Pot = £3.60
Flop: 9s 5d Jd
Villain bets £2.00
BB pairs his J and calls with an eye on folding a poor turn
UTG+1 flops a set (555) and calls, though is conscious of the diamonds flush draw
Cut off does likewise with JJJ
Pot = £11.60
Turn: 3d
Villain bets £10
—I'll chip in with my thoughts here considering I'm playing/simulating the other 3 hands: aware of Villain's frustration at a long run of poor hands I did wonder if he was bluffing from semi decent hole cards, considering the bet size it's possible he was trying to trim the field or steal the pot outright. As a young starter he is generally TAG but can switch to LAG as quickly as the sun can change to rain here in the North of England, much to my frustration (though that said it does make him hard to read).
BB (JQs) thinks and folds
UTG+1 (555) calls, but despite suspecting a bluff feels the grim reaper of the flush standing over his shoulder
Cut-off (JJJ) does likewise
Pot = £41.60
River: 7d
Villain goes all in with around £20, making the pot just over £60. He has the others covered but only just.
With a 4th diamond in play and no pairing of the board, how would you play either set? Would you have got this far or folded before now?
Without knowing Villain's cards at this point but knowing he's generally TAG but prone to moments of LAG (either through tilt or hubris) what would you do or have done differently?
I'll post more info after some replies
So, here's "Poker Practice" with my 7 year old. £20 buy in cash game (pretend money), 5p/10p blinds. I play/simulate 5 stacks while he plays his one to try and give him a more realistic table experience.
My main aim right now is to continue to drill him on folding discipline, coach him on bet sizes and post-flop play and presentation (at this time specifically with respect to aggression in so far as playing against more players means more chance of losing even with a good hand, so getting players to fold is generally a good thing). NB: I'm a fish in your world but I'm all he's got and it's fun, so all comments are welcome to help both me and him.
We are about 45 minutes in and he's showing some frustration at how many hands he's had to fold — "change the deck dad," he says, "this one isn't giving me any hands!"

I try to get him to look at the positive aspect of that and compliment him on his folding discipline, pointing out that (1) it's better to fold than to play hands he shouldn't because he'll only lose in the long run and (2) he'll be due a hand sooner or later. We coin the phrase "Patience Wins Pots"
Next hand:
He (I'll refer to him as Villain as tradition dictates) is in the SB position.
Preflop:
UTG folds
UTG+1 (5h5c) raises to 3BB (30p)
Cut-off (JhJc) re-raises to 90p
Dealer folds
Villain calls
BB (JQs) calls
UTG+1 calls
Pot = £3.60
Flop: 9s 5d Jd
Villain bets £2.00
BB pairs his J and calls with an eye on folding a poor turn
UTG+1 flops a set (555) and calls, though is conscious of the diamonds flush draw
Cut off does likewise with JJJ
Pot = £11.60
Turn: 3d
Villain bets £10
—I'll chip in with my thoughts here considering I'm playing/simulating the other 3 hands: aware of Villain's frustration at a long run of poor hands I did wonder if he was bluffing from semi decent hole cards, considering the bet size it's possible he was trying to trim the field or steal the pot outright. As a young starter he is generally TAG but can switch to LAG as quickly as the sun can change to rain here in the North of England, much to my frustration (though that said it does make him hard to read).
BB (JQs) thinks and folds
UTG+1 (555) calls, but despite suspecting a bluff feels the grim reaper of the flush standing over his shoulder
Cut-off (JJJ) does likewise
Pot = £41.60
River: 7d
Villain goes all in with around £20, making the pot just over £60. He has the others covered but only just.
With a 4th diamond in play and no pairing of the board, how would you play either set? Would you have got this far or folded before now?
Without knowing Villain's cards at this point but knowing he's generally TAG but prone to moments of LAG (either through tilt or hubris) what would you do or have done differently?
I'll post more info after some replies
