Tutorial: How to play good 4 handed poker.

First, lets set the scene. 4 people left. I have more chips than the two guys on my left and king high. I raise all in b/c the big blind doesn't want to lose and get 4th and the shortstack folds too much. So obviously the small blind thinks about calling for 10 minutes, and then manages to grow the stones to finally call, with AJ. But don't worry, right my cards are live?

Come on be fucking serious.

PokerStars Game #14712822542: Tournament #74588799, $15+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level VIII (200/400) - 2008/01/21 - 03:48:28 (ET)
Table '74588799 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: robinson23 (1200 in chips)
Seat 3: xWhiteSaucex (2675 in chips)
Seat 5: SunnyBooy86 (6030 in chips)
Seat 7: Weir (3595 in chips)
robinson23: posts the ante 25
xWhiteSaucex: posts the ante 25
SunnyBooy86: posts the ante 25
Weir: posts the ante 25
robinson23: posts small blind 200
xWhiteSaucex: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Weir [7s Kd]
SunnyBooy86: folds
Weir: raises 1200 to 1600
robinson23: calls 975 and is all-in
xWhiteSaucex: folds
*** FLOP *** [Qd 4c Jh]
*** TURN *** [Qd 4c Jh] [7c]
*** RIVER *** [Qd 4c Jh 7c] [6d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
robinson23: shows [Ac Js] (a pair of Jacks)
Weir: shows [7s Kd] (a pair of Sevens)
robinson23 collected 2850 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2850 | Rake 0
Board [Qd 4c Jh 7c 6d]
Seat 1: robinson23 (small blind) showed [Ac Js] and won (2850) with a pair of Jacks
Seat 3: xWhiteSaucex (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: SunnyBooy86 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Weir (button) showed [7s Kd] and lost with a pair of Sevens



MOVE FORWARD TWO HANDS:

Now the situation has changed. We are basically tied for 4th and are on the button with KJ. For those of my readers who have played poker before, this is a very easy all in. Sadly, the big blind managed to pick up kings. But you flopped an open ender. Thankfully the fact that you have lost 27 of the past 30 sitngos you have played has affected you in such a way that you no longer actually expect to ever win hands, so the depression of the non helpful turn and river don't illciit and reaction.

PokerStars Game #14712833992: Tournament #74588799, $15+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level VIII (200/400) - 2008/01/21 - 03:49:55 (ET)
Table '74588799 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: robinson23 (2375 in chips)
Seat 3: xWhiteSaucex (2675 in chips)
Seat 5: SunnyBooy86 (6030 in chips)
Seat 7: Weir (2420 in chips)
robinson23: posts the ante 25
xWhiteSaucex: posts the ante 25
SunnyBooy86: posts the ante 25
Weir: posts the ante 25
robinson23: posts small blind 200
xWhiteSaucex: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Weir [Kd Jh]
SunnyBooy86: folds
Weir: raises 1995 to 2395 and is all-in
robinson23: folds
xWhiteSaucex: calls 1995
*** FLOP *** [Td 3c Qs]
*** TURN *** [Td 3c Qs] [5h]
*** RIVER *** [Td 3c Qs 5h] [Tc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
xWhiteSaucex: shows [Ac Ks] (a pair of Tens)
Weir: shows [Kd Jh] (a pair of Tens - lower kicker)
xWhiteSaucex collected 5090 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 5090 | Rake 0
Board [Td 3c Qs 5h Tc]
Seat 1: robinson23 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: xWhiteSaucex (big blind) showed [Ac Ks] and won (5090) with a pair of Tens
Seat 5: SunnyBooy86 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Weir (button) showed [Kd Jh] and lost with a pair of Tens