Posts Tagged ‘Cards’

Strategy and Poker Tips for be a Good Poker Player

If you are a beginner or even an intermediate or advanced player, you can take advantage of these poker strategies and tips.
Lesson 1: Playing preflop:
- The preflop strategy is very important if you want to make the most money in the postflop play. You need to choose the right hands to play otherwise a bad hand selection can make you loose money.
- But, with which cards I should play? There’s no right answer. This will depend of many factors: the number of players you are playing against (6-max or 10-max tables), the style of playing of your opponents (how aggressive they are), your position and your own style of playing (if you are an aggressive player, a tight-aggressive player or a very tight player).
-> Number of Players: if you are playing in a 6-max table, you can be more aggressive than in a 10-max table since the odds of your opponents making a great hand is lower than in the 10-max table.
-> The Style of Your Opponents: sometimes, we face very aggressive players that will raise almost every hand, so, the best strategy in this case is to be more tight than usual and wait for a premium hand and trap this loose-aggressive opponent. If the opposite happens and your opponent is very tight, so, you need to change your strategy and be more aggressive and make more preflop/postflop raises, because he will usually fold, but remember if this tight opponent reraise you and you don’t have a very good hand, fold cause you are probably against a better hand than yours.
-> The position: this is a very important thing in poker, because understanding the position in poker can affect how you play. If the UTG player (the first position to speak preflop) raises preflop, you will suppose that he have a very good hand. Or, when the button player raises when all the other players folded and you are in the small/big blind, you will think that his hand is not that good and you consider a reraise against him if you want to play with your hand.
- Your Own Style: some players are more aggressive than the others, this is just the way we are, but that doesn’t mean we can’t change. If you feel more confortable playing tight, maybe you should consider playing more tournaments than cash game. If you decide that cash game is your game than you should start to be more aggressive player since, if you want to make money, you will need to raise/reraise more.
Lesson 2: Playing postflop:
- Ok, so, you play right preflop and now what? The postflop is when is decided which player will win the pot, so, is very important to know how to play postflop. In the postflop play, you will need to analyze very fast the texture of the flop. Check if there are suited hands (and a possible flush draw?), connected hands (and a possible straight draw?), many high cards (probably someone will have something since it’s very common players only playing with high cards) or a possibilty for trips. You need to analyze these factors before betting, if you think that maybe your opponent are calling your bets with a draw than you should make him pay high bets to see the next hand.
- But, if you are the player that have a draw? You need to understand the definition of outs, odds and pot odds. Outs is the cards that you need to make your hand. Odds is the probabilty these hands appears in the turn/river. Pot Odds is the relation between the profit and the bet you will need to pay to see the next card. So, you will need to analyze the pot odds to see if it’s worth to pay the bet to see the next card.
- Like preflop, in postflop you need to consider the style of your opponent and your position. If you are in a good position and you are the last player to speak postflop, you have better odds to win the pot with a bluff.

Besides the strategies that you will need to know to learn how to be a profitable player, it’s always good to know some tips that will help you too:
1- Choose the type of poker that fits with you: there are several types of poker (No Limit Holdem, Fixed Limit Holdem, Pot Limit Holdem, Omaha, Omaha H/L, 7-Stud, Razz and 5 Card Draw are usually the types of poker that are offered).
2- Choose your game: you can choose between cash games, multi-table tournaments or sit’n'gos. Play a little bit of each one and see which type of game fits more with you.
3- 6-max or 10-max? If you are more aggressive, you should pick the 6-max table, because usually there are these type of players on these tables. 4- Choose your limits: you always need to play within your bankroll, so, when choose a table, you need to consider which levels your bankroll you can play.
5- Learn to Lose: this is one of the most important things to learn in poker. Many players ended up losing their bankroll after a tilt. So, if you lost your set amount for the day, just relax and go do something else, don’t try to recover playing in higher limits table.
6- Learn to Win: ok, so you had a great day and you already thinking that you can move up to a higher limit? Don’t do it! Poker have a lot of variance, specially on cash game, so, you need to be aware of this before moving up to higher stakes.
7- Study the Game: no matter if you are a beginner or an advanced player, you always need to study and improve your game.
8- Check your game: it’s always good after a determined number of hands or tournaments played, to review your hands and see your mistakes and what you can improve.

Winning Poker Strategy: Perfecting Your Poker Bluff

Everyone does it but very few do it well. The poker bluff is a refined skill, something that can tilt a game in your favor if used sparingly and at the right time.

In order to learn when is the right time to use your bluff we first have to study the behavior of the other players in the game. It is important to understand the betting habits of those at the table with you in order to execute a well timed bluff. First, establish yourself as a consistent player, show the others playing with you that you don?t make a bad habit of raising when you are holding a pair of deuces or holding back and calling with a full house. Establish your table character so you can use your bluff effectively.

Once you feel you have established your betting identity at a given table and have a good read at the betting habits of others you are now ready for your first bluff. The two players you have marked as quick betters raise with their first bets while at the same time those you have marked as ?rocks? or conservative betters have either called or folded leading to your ideal bluff scenario. Start off with a conservative raise as you are not trying to scare off the ?maniacs? still in the game. If the quick betters once again raise you are now set to begin betting aggressively with the intent of either building the pot or scaring of those faint of heart.

At this point the knowledgeable players remaining in the game will either decide it is time to fold or will counter with a call. The novice player marked as a ?maniac? will se too enthralled with the size of the pot to back out at this time which is exactly what you were hoping for.

The ideal bluff strategy is what is called a semi-bluff, where you may be holding a pair of low numbered cards that offer you a change at winning the pot against the ?maniac? bluffers simply waiting for all the other players to fold.

Using a well executed bluff will also help you with your strong hands, as now the possibility of you bluffing has been shown to the other players. They may go deeper into a game with an average hand knowing there is the possibility you are playing another bluff. Use the bluff sparingly and you time at the table will be much more enjoyable and profitable!

Why Can’t I Win at Online Texas Holdem?

How many times have you… said to yourself, “this has to be fixed.” More than a few? You might want to consider that your game isn’t as strong as you previously thought. In fact, it is quite possible that there is still a good deal of work to do.

You need to figure out whether or not you are playing to make money. That’s right! The evidence suggests that you are playing to play, not to make money.

Perhaps, you arbitrarily grab the first open seat and start blasting. This may accomodate your need for action and that’s great, however, since loss is not our objective we want to do something a little different.

We suggest that thoroughly scouting games at the desired level of play to be a preferred method. You are attempting to identify weakness in one form or another. Typically, you want to zero in on tight passives, calling stations and maniac play.

This is the internet and there is nothing preventing you from taking all the time you want in locating that soft seat.

Unlike the live brick and mortar rooms you are not stuck with whatever they give you.

You found the perfect seat for your style of play. There could be any number of reasons why that particular seat is open. You discover why soon enough.

The past twenty minutes has produced the coldest wave of cards in your entire playing history.

Do you press? Do you play those marginal and rag starters?

Of course not! You get out of there! There’s dozens of games to choose from. For that matter go open another account at another site. Give yourself an even wider selection. There is absolutely no rule that requires that you sit there and get your brains beat in.

You like to see a lot of flops. On the internet this approach is a real cash killer.

We have found that a range of 30-33% seen flops from all positions combined is about right. There is no hard and fast rule here, but evidence suggests seeing a greater number of flops to be from players who tend to rely more on luck.

Speed is a factor. Don’t kid yourself. These hands are being dealt at a very rapid clip.

As a general rule you will be dealt approximately twice as many hands on the internet in the same time frame compared to a regular brick and mortar card room. What this means is that your errors translate into cash losses at an accelerated clip. This is the greatest argument for playing premium starting hands.

It has been said, “that the next best thing to playing and winning is playing and losing.”

Although mildly amusing, the statement contains nothing but an attitude that places your finger squarely on the self destruct button.

Do you increase your bankroll threefold or more only to blow it back along with your original stake? I have no problem leaving the table with a double or triple. You shouldn’t either.

I have heard the professionals discuss this subject repeatedly. Apparently the conventional wisdom supports continued play as long as you continue to play well.

We disagree with this position for one main reason. This is a classic apples to oranges comparison in our view. First of all they are world class professionals playing live with advanced skill sets. You are trying to survive for the chance to win in an entirely different venue.

Don’t be in a hurry! There is always a game somewhere. Like the ads point out, non-stop action. If it’s money you want you will need to play emphasizing discipline and focus.

Don’t make it so hard on yourself. Life already has plenty of challenges. Do the scouting. Pick your spots and don’t force it. Put these practices into play now and you will see vast improvement.