ITH Poker Forum

[robrobrob]

I have been reading a lot of posts from the past semester when I was on my poker hiatus, and I have also been hearing reports in the IRC chatroom of people misunderstanding 53o, and others wondering where it comes from.

It was suggested to me that I offer up a word of caution as some people seem to be mislead by the fun many of us have with 53o.

It all started here:

http://www.internettexasholdem.com/phpb ... hlight=35o

After that night, I started playing it in the ITH tourneys, and managed to hit a couple flops and cracked some premium hands. Soon after that, it became a bit of a game for some of us at the ITH monthlies to see who could win a hand with 53o.

It was all good fun. And still is. Matthew played 53o in the WSOP this year.

Now for those of you who are getting yourselves into trouble, let me say a few things about it. I never play it in a real game, tourney or ring game, unless it is a move I would make with any 2 cards. There is a right time to make strong plays with junk cards. It is just fun to show it when it wiorks with 53o as the junk cards, and you are playing with those that share in the history of the hand.

I also play it from time to time in my home games with others who know that it is my pet garbage hand, and that it has taken on a life of its own.

So for those of you who know what you're doing with it, do whatever you want. But for the more inexperienced players out there, this is a losing hand most of the time, and if you don't have the skills to recognize which opponents allow for a profitable bluff or steal, I'd recommend that you continue to fold it.

I just checked my poker tracker stats, and it is the 8th most frequent hand I have been dealt in ring games. Now mind you, my database is being rebuilt from scratch as of this month, as I lost my old data in a reformatting disaster, but I have seen it over 1% of all hands, and it loses me .15 BB/hand. I have called 3 preflop bets with it. All of them in the $25 NL6-max games from the small blind where the implied odds are very high. In my tournament games, I have called it twice pre-flop in the first level of party SNGs where it is only 1/3 of a bet to complete the blind in unraised pots. I'm not crazy, and don't recommend that you be crazy either.

So there you have it, the history of the 53o, and my cautions about playing it. I hope that this satisfies the request from those that asked for this info, and clears up a little of the history for those new to the site.

rob

[nsidestrate]

IBut for the more inexperienced players out there, this is a losing hand most of the time, and if you don't have the skills to recognize which opponents allow for a profitable bluff or steal, I'd recommend that you continue to fold it.

I heard that you will make good any losses that we have when playing 53o. Isn't that true?

[robrobrob]

That is sort of true.

I claimed I won't make good any losses that we have when playing 53o.

rob

[pwtjax]

You mean it's not really a powerhouse hand? Or are you just trying not to give away any secrets?

[RiverCascade]

Whatta party pooper!

Keep on with that line, Rob. It's just like when they ask us, "What's the weather like in Seattle," and we just keep answering, "It's raining... it's raining"!

[ammbo]

My opinion that the value of 53o (besides it's obvious powerhouse-ness) is as a bluffing tool. If you play it like AA whenever you see it, it can teach you to bluff. I personally do not feel that I bluff enough and playing 53o occasionally has helped me learn to find good spots.

But Rob is right... It is still trash and should usually be treated as such. Playing this hand is an inside joke... don't try this away from home!

[nsidestrate]

I feel wrong saying this, but I actually don't ever play it except in ITH events. I didn't remove it from my avatar -- that would be wimpy.

[DTheater]

i find your doubt in this hand sad
have a look at this and then repeat what you said.





SB is DTheater(ME)

CO (t2240)
Button (t2430)
SB (t1625)
BB (t1515)
Hero (t1510)
MP (t1760)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Ace of Diamonds, Ace of Hearts.
Hero raises to t300, 3 folds,SB raises to t675, Hero raises to t1510, SB calls t910.

Flop: (t2645) 6 of Clubs, 2 of Spades, Ace of Clubs (2 players)

Turn: (t2645) King of Hearts (2 players)

River: (t2645) 4 of Hearts (2 players)

Final Pot: t2645

Results in white below:
Hero has Ad Ah (three of a kind, aces).
SB has 3h 5c (straight, six high).
Outcome: SB wins t2645.

[Dihxm]

Just as i found this thread i was dealt 53o in the BB, decided it was a sign and called a 3xBB button raise. Flop came 585 and i won a monster pot!

[MOMOwheeler]

I'm at work so I dont have any example Hand-histories,.. but I have been using this hand whenever possible in tournament play.

The point I try and drive home with it is simple...... win the hand (not at ALL costs by any means) costs and show the cards.

My stratagy has been this: Play the hand only once per event; but do whatever it takes to win the hand. If my flop doesnt hit, I will be the first bet if possible...... 90% of the time you will get a caller. Check the turn and wait for the caller to bet..... then come over-the-top like its no bodies business (assuming you have a good read on your opponent).... he will fold 95% of the time..... then show the 53o.

It IS a bit risky and you need to have a hell of a read on your opponent, but in the later rounds of the event anyone who saw your bluff will have to consider the possibilites everytime they call you from there on out.

I rarely bluff so this works out for me most of the time,..... .I dont recommend it if you bluff often as you will obviously get called more frequently after pulling this manuevor.

I'm by NO MEANS an advanced player,... but this move has certainly helped my game in more ways than one.

[simmo5050]

There's a saying which applies to me regarding 53o.

1. Learn to walk before you can run. I'm not a whizz at the basics of pre and postflop play yet and I lose quite enough BBs without needing to resort to 530 to help my opponents.

This is akin to artists having to know how to paint/draw and having to know the rules before you can start bending them.

I have a chuckle when I am dealt 53o and fold it unless it's in an unraised Big Blind!

simmo5050

[TheFakeG]

The beauty of this is you get to play like Gus Hansen ("Any two cards will do") with garbage for a hand. I've seen other boards have their favorite trash hand, like 3J (CBL - the Camel Ball Licker), but the philosophy remains the same - play these hands like you would a big pair once in a while, and win some more $$$ or chips.

[KickYo1]

Interesting. I was wondering what all the Hype about 53o was. I must try this hand for a few kicks. Maybe think about the bluffing ammbo posted lol

[Soultwister]

Don't forget that 53o can hit more flushes and straights then AKs!

[DoubleDown89]

Okay, I feel better informed now. It seems like a really good "jumping the shark" / bluffing tool. I'm not sure I understand the exact science of it, but I don't feel like I'm completely in the dark anymore. A few of my friends have mentioned this now and then.