How many times have you folded with consecutive suited cards and then would have have had a flush or a straight? Then your normal player will go in with these cards regardless for the rest of the game.
Judge Each Hand
There is no definitive answer to what you should do with these cards. Some people nearly always go in no matter what the bet whereas others always fold. For me, it is best to find somewhere in between. However, you can not fold one time because you went in the last time. Try and forget the past hands when deciding if you should go in or not.
High Cards
If you get dealt cards ranging from K,A suited to 10,J you should definitely go in. With these cards you have the possibility of every possible hand. These are fantastic cards to have and if others do not raise you should as while you might catch a decent pair then is a good chance of getting a straight, flush or even royal flush.
In some cases it might be a good idea to just check pre-flop if everyone else does. You are likely to catch a good hand so you will want to draw as many players in as you can. Moreover, after the flop you will know if you have a good chance of winning the hand or not.
Low Cards
This is when the decision becomes difficult. 4,5 suited could potentially be an amazing hand but at the start you have little chance of winning. The ideal situation is to see the flop so can see whether you a chance of a straight or flush. However, if someone makes a big pre-flop bet than you need to think carefully. The best policy is normally to call as long as the bet does not equal more than 10% of your chips. Online straights and flushs seem to come up more often than in a real life poker game. Obviously, if nothing comes up in the flop then you should fold. Bluffing with a 4 and 5 is not a good idea.
Overall
Ultimately, if you get dealt consecutive suited cards above 10 then you should be the aggressor as pre-flop few players have a better chance than you. However, anything below that you need to just try and see the flop without spending more than 10% of your chips. If you fold and it comes up, that happens and you need to forget about it.
Be lucky!!
Chris
Sunday 6 April 2008
Saturday 5 April 2008
No One Is Your Friend
Even if you are playing poker with your best mates or even your wife you can not treat them as friends. As soon as you show weakness or make a decision based on emotion you are on your way to defeat. Moreover, do not make the foolish mistake of thinking they will treat you the same way.
Too Nice
Too often a player knows they have the winning hand but check or call so the other player does not lose too many chips. If you have the hand then get as much money as you can, you do not know when you will next win a hand. You do not have to make them go all in if you do not want, although the more you win the better.
Loans
Lending money is another common thing in games between 'friends'. I to lend money but it is to my advantage and comes at a price for the person borrowing. You should demand a % of their future earnings or demand at least double what you lend them. This may sound harsh but you have just doubled your chance of winning.
They Know You
The thing that will aid when you are playing friends is you know how people act. However, it is important to remember that they will know how you react. Consequently, it is a good idea to show no emotion or act completly different to normal otherwise people will be able to read you.
Overall
If you are able to forget the other players are your friends then you are half way to winning the game. Try to avoid your common habits and be ruthless. If you have the chance to win then seize it!
Be lucky!!
Chris
Too Nice
Too often a player knows they have the winning hand but check or call so the other player does not lose too many chips. If you have the hand then get as much money as you can, you do not know when you will next win a hand. You do not have to make them go all in if you do not want, although the more you win the better.
Loans
Lending money is another common thing in games between 'friends'. I to lend money but it is to my advantage and comes at a price for the person borrowing. You should demand a % of their future earnings or demand at least double what you lend them. This may sound harsh but you have just doubled your chance of winning.
They Know You
The thing that will aid when you are playing friends is you know how people act. However, it is important to remember that they will know how you react. Consequently, it is a good idea to show no emotion or act completly different to normal otherwise people will be able to read you.
Overall
If you are able to forget the other players are your friends then you are half way to winning the game. Try to avoid your common habits and be ruthless. If you have the chance to win then seize it!
Be lucky!!
Chris
Friday 4 April 2008
Bluffing An Over Used Weapon
When most people think of poker while they think of money they also think of bluffing. The common perception is that by the bluffing you will win the game. However, there is an important detection between bluffing well and bluffing. If you bluff welll and play well you have a good chance of winning the game. If you bluff badly you are certain to lose.
Bad Bluffing
Picking random hands to act in is a bad idea. This signals to your opponents you are trying to bluff and over the course of the game you will be worked out.
So many people simply go really happy and upbeat to disguise that they actually have a terrible hand and in contrast when they have a good hand they suddeleny go sad or acted depressed. If this is you, you need to stop doing it and start winning!
Good Bluffing
As soon as you sit at the table you then to bluff if you are going to bluff at all during the game. It is not something even the most gifted players can turn on and off. You need to keep your opponents guessing throughout.
While exaggerating your emotions do not go to the extremes because it stands out so badly and barely ever works.
Moreover, you need to introduce variation in the reactions you have to the same hand. If you react the same way players can easily tell what hand you have.
A good trick is to show your cards when you the other players fold. If you have a good hand and show then when you bluff in the future the other players are less likely to call. Alternatively, if you had the losing hand then in later hands they may call your raise when you have the winning hand. This technique always works as long as it is not over used.
Safe Option
If you are not a good bluffer then the simple option is to not bluff. While gaining nothing you will also lose nothing. This means you need to take around 15 seconds to make every decision if when you know what you are going to do and show no emotion.
Be lucky!
Chris
Bad Bluffing
Picking random hands to act in is a bad idea. This signals to your opponents you are trying to bluff and over the course of the game you will be worked out.
So many people simply go really happy and upbeat to disguise that they actually have a terrible hand and in contrast when they have a good hand they suddeleny go sad or acted depressed. If this is you, you need to stop doing it and start winning!
Good Bluffing
As soon as you sit at the table you then to bluff if you are going to bluff at all during the game. It is not something even the most gifted players can turn on and off. You need to keep your opponents guessing throughout.
While exaggerating your emotions do not go to the extremes because it stands out so badly and barely ever works.
Moreover, you need to introduce variation in the reactions you have to the same hand. If you react the same way players can easily tell what hand you have.
A good trick is to show your cards when you the other players fold. If you have a good hand and show then when you bluff in the future the other players are less likely to call. Alternatively, if you had the losing hand then in later hands they may call your raise when you have the winning hand. This technique always works as long as it is not over used.
Safe Option
If you are not a good bluffer then the simple option is to not bluff. While gaining nothing you will also lose nothing. This means you need to take around 15 seconds to make every decision if when you know what you are going to do and show no emotion.
Be lucky!
Chris
Thursday 3 April 2008
No Limit Betting
In a no limit every time in enter a hand all of your chips are potentially on the line. You can either accept this and play the hand on its merits or you can easily be bullied by large bets.
Mistakes
Too many novice players assume the other player has a good hand when they bet big and abandon their hand which was actually the winning hand. Poker is a game of odds so try to judge each hand on its merits.
Another common mistake is assuming a player is bluffing because they keep making big bets. If a player keeps making big bets it does not mean they are necessarily bluffing rather than getting good cards. Too many players assume they are bluffing and call when they themselves have very little.
Finally, going all in does not mean everyone else will fold. If you play computer games then maybe they will but in real life i would advise only going all in when you have the best chance of winning. It will not automatically mean everyone else will fold. Especially, for those of you playing in play money tournaments, it is rare than going all in will make the other players fold.
Advantages
No limit betting means once you have become the chip leader you can now boss the game. Big pre-flop bets are a must whenever you have a decent hand because the other players will be forced to fold or put all of their chips on the line. However, it is important to only raise big when you actually have something and not get to complacent. If you lose one big hand you could be back to where you started.
Obviously, if there is no limit then you can potentially win a lot more money on each hand while also potentially lose it all in one hand. It is so important to think logically and not be scared by big bets while at the same time not calling just for the sake of calling.
Overall
I prefer no limit betting because it means the game is on the line every hand, rather it being hours before anyone is close to being eliminated in ordinary limit poker. This is the much more fun version but if you are a novice playing real money games i would suggest trying your hand at limit poker before risking it all.
Be lucky!!
Chris
Mistakes
Too many novice players assume the other player has a good hand when they bet big and abandon their hand which was actually the winning hand. Poker is a game of odds so try to judge each hand on its merits.
Another common mistake is assuming a player is bluffing because they keep making big bets. If a player keeps making big bets it does not mean they are necessarily bluffing rather than getting good cards. Too many players assume they are bluffing and call when they themselves have very little.
Finally, going all in does not mean everyone else will fold. If you play computer games then maybe they will but in real life i would advise only going all in when you have the best chance of winning. It will not automatically mean everyone else will fold. Especially, for those of you playing in play money tournaments, it is rare than going all in will make the other players fold.
Advantages
No limit betting means once you have become the chip leader you can now boss the game. Big pre-flop bets are a must whenever you have a decent hand because the other players will be forced to fold or put all of their chips on the line. However, it is important to only raise big when you actually have something and not get to complacent. If you lose one big hand you could be back to where you started.
Obviously, if there is no limit then you can potentially win a lot more money on each hand while also potentially lose it all in one hand. It is so important to think logically and not be scared by big bets while at the same time not calling just for the sake of calling.
Overall
I prefer no limit betting because it means the game is on the line every hand, rather it being hours before anyone is close to being eliminated in ordinary limit poker. This is the much more fun version but if you are a novice playing real money games i would suggest trying your hand at limit poker before risking it all.
Be lucky!!
Chris
Wednesday 2 April 2008
Control The Table With River Betting
This is the climax of the hand and your chance to take the pot. The idea at this stage is to either get the most out of your winning hand or to try to get the other player to fold if you are unsure whether your hand is good enough.
Winning Hand
If you think you definitely have the winning hand there are three real options that work and it is up to your own judgement which one you choose. It can also depend on how many players are left. The idea in all cases is to try and maximise the money in the pot.
#1 Check
If you check the other players may think you have a poor hand so raise allowing you to then call or reraise and win the pot. However, if you check and then the other player checks as well you are not really winning as much as you should. If there are more than two people left in the pot this is an effective option because now at least one player if not both will bet. The idea of this option is to draw the opponent out by making them think you have a weak hand.
#2 Low Raise
This is the least effective of the options. A weak raise can often give the impression that you are trying to draw other players out so they fold. In an ideal situation the other player would reraise. However, the most likely outcome is the other players will call or fold winning you some money but not as much as you could have won.
#3 Big Raise
This is most effective when there are more than 2 players contesting the pot. Big raise is designed to win you big money. While in most cases the other players will fold if you have not been betting much earlier in the hand such as a big raise could mean your bluffing. This is my favourite method because it is decisive and people instinctively want to see what the other players have.
Marginal Hand
This is primarily down to your own judgement as to what you think the other players have. The one thing i would say no to do is to make a weak bet. A good player will sense the weakness and reraise you. So you are left with the option of folding or placing a big bet. For this reason, it is more sensible to either check or make a big bet in the hope that the others players fold or you have the better hand. A big raise is most effective when only two players are competing for the pot.
Losing Hand
If you have the losing hand and you know you have the losing hand i would check if you can or fold and move on. If you are going to bet you will have to bet big but this is a huge risk probably not worth taking.
Overall
River betting is the most important part of any hand. A good river bet is one that is decisive and well thought out. Tentative raises or big raises when you have nothing are not worth doing and in the long run will not win you money!
Be lucky!!
Chris
Winning Hand
If you think you definitely have the winning hand there are three real options that work and it is up to your own judgement which one you choose. It can also depend on how many players are left. The idea in all cases is to try and maximise the money in the pot.
#1 Check
If you check the other players may think you have a poor hand so raise allowing you to then call or reraise and win the pot. However, if you check and then the other player checks as well you are not really winning as much as you should. If there are more than two people left in the pot this is an effective option because now at least one player if not both will bet. The idea of this option is to draw the opponent out by making them think you have a weak hand.
#2 Low Raise
This is the least effective of the options. A weak raise can often give the impression that you are trying to draw other players out so they fold. In an ideal situation the other player would reraise. However, the most likely outcome is the other players will call or fold winning you some money but not as much as you could have won.
#3 Big Raise
This is most effective when there are more than 2 players contesting the pot. Big raise is designed to win you big money. While in most cases the other players will fold if you have not been betting much earlier in the hand such as a big raise could mean your bluffing. This is my favourite method because it is decisive and people instinctively want to see what the other players have.
Marginal Hand
This is primarily down to your own judgement as to what you think the other players have. The one thing i would say no to do is to make a weak bet. A good player will sense the weakness and reraise you. So you are left with the option of folding or placing a big bet. For this reason, it is more sensible to either check or make a big bet in the hope that the others players fold or you have the better hand. A big raise is most effective when only two players are competing for the pot.
Losing Hand
If you have the losing hand and you know you have the losing hand i would check if you can or fold and move on. If you are going to bet you will have to bet big but this is a huge risk probably not worth taking.
Overall
River betting is the most important part of any hand. A good river bet is one that is decisive and well thought out. Tentative raises or big raises when you have nothing are not worth doing and in the long run will not win you money!
Be lucky!!
Chris
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)