"Know how to win before you sit down. Experience may be the best teacher, but it’s also the most expensive."
-Doyle Brunson, Poker Wisdom of a Champion, 2003
Hold'em is basically HIGH card game. The players holding two good high cards have the best chance at the best hand or a draw to the best hand after the flop.
Only play strong hands that will stand a raise or multiple raises, from early betting positions. Play medium strength and other playable hands from the later positions if you have a good chance of seeing the flop at a reasonable price.Play strong high hands MOST of the time, and play them very aggressively.
Take all the raises you can get. If you don't thin out the competition, you reduce your chances of winning. Plus, your aggressive play before the flop can add credibility to any strong play you might want to use on the next round if a garbage flop falls and you want to try a steal. Be ready to fold your high pair if you get a lot of action with a threatening flop
However, before you start betting like a madman when you get two eights in the pocket, you need to carefully consider all factors involved in solid pre-flop strategy.
The factors to consider are the number of players, how aggressive/passive the players at the table are, your bankroll, your position, and how much risk you are willing to entail.
Number of players: With 10 people in the game, it's much more likely that someone else has a strong hand in the pocket than in a short-handed game. Also, you'll need to be more cautious in larger games, as the chances of someone's pre-flop hand fitting the flop will be much better. More competition means stiffer competition.
How aggressive the players are: Assuming you've been playing with a few people for several hands, and you noticed some jerk is raising every hand pre-flop, you'll want to play tighter. Let the guy win the blinds (big deal) and nail him to the wall when you have a solid hand in the pocket pre-flop.
Your bankroll: If you have $2 left, you'll want to play extremely carefully and select one hand to bet on, hoping to get as many players involved as possible for a larger pot. You'll want to be all-in before the flop is dealt. On the flip-side, if you have $1000 at a $1/$2 table, you can take the high-risk, high-payout bets.
Your position: People in late position (big blind, small blind, on the button) have the ability to influence the size of the pot much more than those in early position.This is especially true pre-flop. See our separate section on position.
Your tolerance for risk: Depending on your playing style, you may want to play more or less aggressively pre-flop. Players who shoot for larger pots, but don't mind a greater chance for losing a few hands will want to raise pre-flop, especially if they are in late position. Some players prefer to be as selective as possible pre-flop, grinding out a winning hand here or there. It really depends on your own style of play, and how you perceive the players around you.
You of course will want to consider what cards you have in your hand. Naturally, AA is the best to start with. It helps if your hand is suited or if the cards are sequential in rank like a Seven and an Eight ("connected").
It's important to understand how your two cards hold up against other combinations of cards though.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
23.BETTING – Squeezing – Online Poker
Squeezing is a tactic only used in a short-handed game. It's betting when you have a good hand currently, and you suspect another player or players may be on a draw. For example, you have top pair with the best kicker.
Chances are they won't make their draw (be it a straight or a flush draw, etc). Your goal is to limit their pot odds. The above examples are really just examples of bets. If you are playing no limit or pot limit hold em, the whole thinking behind betting becomes radically different.
When you're dealt Aces, Kings, or AK suited, you can and should raise and even re-raise before the flop, no matter your position.
A pair of queens or jacks you have to be a bit more careful with, but the chances are still huge that you are top hand before the flop. Raise and drive out the draw hands, if there are no raises in front of you.
With strong cards (paint suited), look to raise in middle or late position, only if no one has raised before you.
If you raise in middle position and someone in late position re-raises, be careful.
If they're a strong player they probably have you beat in card strength unless they’re bluffing to try and take the blinds and antes.
While bluffing might be a good tactic for some players, it’s not always the way to go. Hard and fast strategies will help you to win in the long run.
Chances are they won't make their draw (be it a straight or a flush draw, etc). Your goal is to limit their pot odds. The above examples are really just examples of bets. If you are playing no limit or pot limit hold em, the whole thinking behind betting becomes radically different.
When you're dealt Aces, Kings, or AK suited, you can and should raise and even re-raise before the flop, no matter your position.
A pair of queens or jacks you have to be a bit more careful with, but the chances are still huge that you are top hand before the flop. Raise and drive out the draw hands, if there are no raises in front of you.
With strong cards (paint suited), look to raise in middle or late position, only if no one has raised before you.
If you raise in middle position and someone in late position re-raises, be careful.
If they're a strong player they probably have you beat in card strength unless they’re bluffing to try and take the blinds and antes.
While bluffing might be a good tactic for some players, it’s not always the way to go. Hard and fast strategies will help you to win in the long run.
22.BETTING – The opener – Online Poker
This reckless move is often done by people who bluff. It is when the person first to act raises, making all other players call two bets at once. Its intention is to limit the number of players.
Basically, this move amounts to a backwards steal-raise.
The effect will almost certainly cause many players to fold, but the ones remaining will either be equally aggressive or truly have a great hand.
This is also known as betting for information. This tactic is best used with few players in on the hand.
Basically, this move amounts to a backwards steal-raise.
The effect will almost certainly cause many players to fold, but the ones remaining will either be equally aggressive or truly have a great hand.
This is also known as betting for information. This tactic is best used with few players in on the hand.
21.BETTING - The check-raise – Online Poker
Check raising is checking to your opponent, with the intention of luring them to bet, so that you can raise them back.
Your intention is to lure them into a false sense of security so that you can raise them and increase the pot (remember, after one bet is committed, its more likely they'll commit to two).
Your intention is to lure them into a false sense of security so that you can raise them and increase the pot (remember, after one bet is committed, its more likely they'll commit to two).
21.BETTING - The steal-raise – Online Poker
If you are last to act and all players have checked to you, betting to simply limit the number of players or take the pot is called a steal-raise.
Don't use this exclusively, as better players will be onto you quickly and begin check-raising against your (most likely) poor hand.
It is good to use a steal raise when you have an excellent drawing hand such as a nut flush draw. Players will tend to "check to the raiser". If you draw to your hand, you now have a larger pot to win. If you don't, you can always check, and hope the fifth card makes your hand.
Don't use this exclusively, as better players will be onto you quickly and begin check-raising against your (most likely) poor hand.
It is good to use a steal raise when you have an excellent drawing hand such as a nut flush draw. Players will tend to "check to the raiser". If you draw to your hand, you now have a larger pot to win. If you don't, you can always check, and hope the fifth card makes your hand.
20.BETTING - Blind-stealing – Online Poker
When you are in the dealer's position, and only you and the blinds are remaining in the game, a raise is often called "blind-stealing".
This is because the blinds may fold, whereas if you didn't raise but simply called, the blinds would simply check. It’s a good way to make a buck or two, but will never make you rich.
It’s more of a way to end the game fast and have a new hand dealt with more players (and more money).
This is because the blinds may fold, whereas if you didn't raise but simply called, the blinds would simply check. It’s a good way to make a buck or two, but will never make you rich.
It’s more of a way to end the game fast and have a new hand dealt with more players (and more money).
19.BETTING – Online Poker
Nobody is always a winner, and anybody who says he is, is either a liar or doesn't play poker.
— Amarillo Slim
A bet is a declaration that either:
a)"I have the best hand and I'll wager money on it" or
b)"You have a poor hand, and you will fold if you are
forced to wager on it”
Typically, players are supposed to bet when they have a good hand. Players who don't have good hands are supposed to fold. Of course, if it was this simple, there would be no need for this book.
You might as well wager on Tic-Tac-Toe. Most players play contrary to this idea, attempting to be a cunning or deceptive player. Don't fall into this trap when you are just learning to play.
Your betting strategy should be built upon this simple idea, but you must know when to stray and bet in situations when you otherwise wouldn't. Here are some situations you should start looking at to improve your game:
— Amarillo Slim
A bet is a declaration that either:
a)"I have the best hand and I'll wager money on it" or
b)"You have a poor hand, and you will fold if you are
forced to wager on it”
Typically, players are supposed to bet when they have a good hand. Players who don't have good hands are supposed to fold. Of course, if it was this simple, there would be no need for this book.
You might as well wager on Tic-Tac-Toe. Most players play contrary to this idea, attempting to be a cunning or deceptive player. Don't fall into this trap when you are just learning to play.
Your betting strategy should be built upon this simple idea, but you must know when to stray and bet in situations when you otherwise wouldn't. Here are some situations you should start looking at to improve your game:
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