If you’re exploring poker, you might have encountered ‘blockers’ without fully grasping the concept. Simply, blockers are visible cards that diminish the possible combinations hands might utilize. For instance, holding the Ace of clubs means opponents can’t have certain hands like AcAh or AcKh, impacting strategic considerations and potential hand outcomes.
What effect would our Kh Qh have?
With a dealt hand of Kh Qh, understanding possible hand combinations is crucial. While it doesn’t block combinations like AA, JJ, 88, it does influence others. KK combinations, for instance, are reduced from 6 to 3. AK combinations drop from 16 to 12, which comprise 9 unsuited and 3 suited. Also, combinations like KQ, QJ, and QT are now less likely. As hands progress, blockers become increasingly influential, especially post-flop when they can ‘interfere’ with numerous possible combinations.
Be Realistic
Using blockers effectively involves combining their usage with practical thinking. Consider scenarios involving potential flushes: sometimes, a decent hand might be slowed down due to fear of opponents achieving a flush. Take a scenario where you’ve raised pre-flop, see a Ks Qs Tc Flop, and worry about an opponent flushing. By employing blocker understanding and logical analysis, you realize combinations like Ks Qs, As Ks, and Qs Js are impossible due to the board cards. Removing both impossible and improbable starting hands like 8s 2s, Js 3s, or 9s 4s, might leave around 25 flush draw combinations to consider in decisions, or even fewer against tighter opponents. With this knowledge, you can confidently navigate through potential draws, exerting more pressure on opponents. Embracing blockers, along with swift calculations, enhances your game by facilitating informed, optimal plays, steering towards profitability.
