Poker Expert's Advice with Allen Cunningham
Question: How does an amateur gain respect at the table?
Answer: If the amateur is not very good there isn't really anything he can do to gain respect because his inexperienced will show in his play. The best thing to do is to know how to hold your cards properly, and make all your moves look strong and confident.
Question: Is it important to have an aggressive table image?
Answer: Yes, I think having an aggressive image is a good thing to have. People will be more timid and a little less likely to play flops against you.
Question: What do you think is better, talking at the table or keeping to yourself?
Answer: Either one can work, depending on who you are. If you are good at talking then it can work for you, if you know the right things to say to the right people. Otherwise, being quiet is best.
Question: Do you have a favorite player to play against?
Answer: No, not really. The worse they play the more I like playing against them! I like the amateurs.
Question: What is your favorite hand?
Answer: My favorite hand is the one I won my bracelet with at the world series in 2005, 6-3. I made two pair and won the tournament.
Question: What is your best no-limit poker tip?
Answer: In a no-limit tournament, if you are going to make a strong move in a hand, make sure you make it early, not late. Don't check all the way down and then try to bluff the river. Make a move early. Question: Can you actually win any money at low-limit?
Answer: Yes, as long as the competition is weak enough. The main detriment to winning to low-limit is the high rake, but usually the games are soft enough that you can win, anyway, if you play well.
Question: How much should you tip the dealer?
Answer: If you are playing a hand like 6-3 and you win a decent pot, you might want to give the dealer a dollar. If you win a really big one, you can give more. I would say if you are playing 6-3 and you win a tiny pot, you shouldn't tip, and if you win an average pot give a buck.
Question: How do you keep from steaming?
Answer: Just keep in mind that poker is a long-term game, and everything evens out. You may lose with a couple of really good hands, but you must realize that you will win with them more often in the long run. Remember your good sessions.
Question: Which should you chase more, straights or flushes?
Answer: Flushes are definitely stronger and easier to hit. I'd say in limit flushes are better to chase. In no-limit you may want to chase straights because they are harder to read.
Question: When you are the big stack, should you get super-aggressive and steal a lot!
Answer: Not necessarily. Whether you are a small or big stack, how much you steal should depend on how other players are playing.
Question: At what point in a tournament should you become aggressive? From the start, later, on the bubble�?
Answer: Again, it depends on how the other players are playing, but on the bubble is often a good time because that's when people tend to be playing really tight to ensure finishing in the money. Before any big money jump in prize money is a good time to steal.
Allen Cunningham has been voted by his peers as "Best All Around Player Under 35," and for good reason. He garnered four first-place finishes in 2005; one of those wins being for another World Series of Poker bracelet. He was also named the 2005 Toyota World Series of Poker player of the year. We suspect he generally plays in the best poker sites which use only the Meilleur Logiciel Poker.