Pros of poker use image to advantage

By Steve Rosenbloom - Chicago Tribune
Many of the top pros think poker is a game of people, not cards. They develop an ability to read players, and they start with reading themselves.

The amount of TV time they get gives them an image even before a hand is played, so the top pros take that image and use it against opponents. Jeff Madsen, for instance, developed a reputation as a loose-aggressive player after the UC-Santa Barbara film student became the youngest player to win two World Series of Poker bracelets in 2006. It's an image he'll bet into in other tournaments, such as the World Poker Tour's $15,000-buy-in Five Diamond World Poker Classic at Las Vegas' Bellagio in 2006.

With blinds at $50-$100, Madsen drew 9-6 offsuit in the big blind. The under-the-gun player raised to $400 and got two callers. Madsen called the additional $300 because the pot was worth $1,350, giving him about 4-1 odds on his money, which would be about the right price even if someone held aces.

"At this stage, the stacks are huge ($30,000 in chips for the $15,000 buy-in) and the blinds are pretty small, so I'll pretty much play anything based on my ability to play flops and hit a big flop," Madsen said, sizing up his image and his talent. "I could hit 6-6 and get paid when I've only invested $400 to start. When the blinds are small, I'll play almost anything."

The flop came 6-2-5, rainbow, giving Madsen top pair. He checked, as did the other three players behind him.

The turn came the 10 of hearts. Madsen led out for $700.

"I kind of thought I had the best hand on the flop, but I was out of position so I was going to call a bet if anybody bet," said Madsen, who represents the Full Tilt Poker online site. "The turn was a harmless card, so I bet it out to thin the field and see where I was at. It was kind of a tester bet."

The under-the-gun player folded. The next player called. A third player folded.

The river came the 9 of clubs, giving Madsen 9s and 6s. He bet out $1,500. Holding top pair/top kicker with A-10 and likely knowing Madsen's reputation for taking stabs at pots, his opponent called.

"I knew I was going to get paid off because he called on the turn," Madsen said, "and I show bluffs, and he had seen me play every hand. He called on the turn, and the river was kind of a harmless card. He hit the 10 on the turn, so he's not going to fold on the river when a 9 hits."

One more thing: Madsen's thinking isn't meant just to take down early pots.

"It's setting up the first few levels so I get paid off in later hands," Madsen said.

News Added: 26 August, 2007

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