This is an old poker cliché but it has never served me wrong in the past. This method means you can win without necessarily having the best hands, which is I like it and your odds are improving already.
What Does It Mean?
Though this is the main piece of advice in poker few actually understand the concept and even fewer actually manage to use it to there advantage. There are a few simple steps that you can follow to help give you the edge.
#1 Bluffing
If you are a talented actor or gifted at lying then by all means show as much emotion as you want to try and disturb your opponents. However, few people are in this category but that does not mean they can not play the person not the cards. If you are not a good bluffer then do not bluff try to be as boring as possible this way you keep people guessing and do not look like an idiot. See the post on bluffing for more information.
#2 Observing and Finding The Tell
If you are to play the person not the cards then you need to make sure you pay attention to your opponents every move and try to find their tell. Every player has a ritual, test them out early on for any patterns in behaviour like taking more time etc... when they have a good hand. Even if you lose a few chips to find their tell it is worth it and you are half way to winning.
#3 Take Your Time
Too often poor poker players rush to place a bet when they have a good hand making the other players fold straight away and means winning no real money. Moreover, if the player then has a difficult decision whether to call, raise or fold then they will take more time and show weakness.
However, a expert player can use that to their advantage. If you normally rush to bet or fold but then take your time, the other players will think you have a tough decision to make and probably you do not have the winning hand. Therefore, if you take your time and only make a small raise when you have an unbeatable hand, then your chances of luring the rest of the table in, have dramatically increased. This is a subtle technique and requires the utmost concentration so if you do not think you are there yet then do not try it because if you do it wrong the rest of the table will be able to see right through you.
Subsequently, if you are a novice player then it is probably safer to take your time on every hand even if you only have a 7 and a 2 and are going to fold straight away. While you will gain no real advantage your opponents will not gain an advantage either.
How To Implement It?
Some of these tips can be implemented straight away while others will take time to develop as you play more and more poker you will be able to read people. Especially, if you play with your friends every week. In addition, because of the techniques above they will have no idea what cards you have and you will soon be earning yourself some drinking money for the weekend.
Be lucky!!
Chris
Monday, 31 March 2008
Sunday, 30 March 2008
Finding The Tell and Hiding Your Own
Finding another player's tell is like being able to see their cards every hand and means you are guaranteed victory even if you have terrible hands. The tell is a habit or twitch or anything that a player does when they have a particular hand. To find the tell you will have to make sure you see their final hand and play close attention to their every movement. Seeing their hand may cost you a few chips but if you find the tell it is worth it.
Moreover, it is best to try and find the tell at the beginning of the game when the blinds are still low and players are unlikely to make as large raises and very unlikely to go all in. If you leave it too late you could end up paying too high a price as the blinds increase and players generally get more aggressive.
Finding the tell is particularly easy and effective against novices who do not play regularly and are happy when they have a good hand and sad when they have a bad one. Yes it really is that simple in some cases. If you are playing an experienced player beware of using the tell solely.
Hiding Your Own Tell
You are probably thinking if you can find their tell then surely they can find yours and that is the case. However, there are simple techniques to avoid people finding your tell.
#1- Aggression
One effective technique is too not bet too aggressively and only really stay in if you think you have a good chance of the winning the hand. If you adopt this tactic early on you won't win many chips but you won't lose any, leaving you in a good position for the later stages of the game. By folding unless you have a good chance of winning other players do not get too see your hands. In addition, I have found that if you are not winning many hands then people tend not to focus on you, so even if you have a tell they are not looking for it.
#2- Time
Taking your time on every hand is a good way of a disguising your tell. I recommend at least 15 seconds even if you are going to fold. Taking the same amount of time on each hand means there is no distinction between a good hand and a bad hand.
#3- Expressions
If you treat each hand the same way and try to show the same boring facial expressions then people will not pay attention to you. The same facial expression means there is no distinction between when you have a winning hand or a shockingly bad hand. Acting boring means people will not focus on you and you can quietly observe the other players.
Using Your Tell
Advanced players are capable are making up a tell that other players can pick up on. By making up a tell other players will think they know how good your hand is lulling them into a false sense of insecurity. If you have a tell when you have a good hand and then go all in without showing the tell then the other players are likely to call thinking they have you worked out when actually you will be on your way to being the new chip leader.
This is a difficult technique to master and can go disastrously wrong. I strongly recommend having a tell in mind rather than making one up on the spur of the moment as it is unlikely to be convincing and differently not work. If done properly and maintained throughout the whole game until the crucial hand then you will win every time.
Be lucky!!
Chris
Moreover, it is best to try and find the tell at the beginning of the game when the blinds are still low and players are unlikely to make as large raises and very unlikely to go all in. If you leave it too late you could end up paying too high a price as the blinds increase and players generally get more aggressive.
Finding the tell is particularly easy and effective against novices who do not play regularly and are happy when they have a good hand and sad when they have a bad one. Yes it really is that simple in some cases. If you are playing an experienced player beware of using the tell solely.
Hiding Your Own Tell
You are probably thinking if you can find their tell then surely they can find yours and that is the case. However, there are simple techniques to avoid people finding your tell.
#1- Aggression
One effective technique is too not bet too aggressively and only really stay in if you think you have a good chance of the winning the hand. If you adopt this tactic early on you won't win many chips but you won't lose any, leaving you in a good position for the later stages of the game. By folding unless you have a good chance of winning other players do not get too see your hands. In addition, I have found that if you are not winning many hands then people tend not to focus on you, so even if you have a tell they are not looking for it.
#2- Time
Taking your time on every hand is a good way of a disguising your tell. I recommend at least 15 seconds even if you are going to fold. Taking the same amount of time on each hand means there is no distinction between a good hand and a bad hand.
#3- Expressions
If you treat each hand the same way and try to show the same boring facial expressions then people will not pay attention to you. The same facial expression means there is no distinction between when you have a winning hand or a shockingly bad hand. Acting boring means people will not focus on you and you can quietly observe the other players.
Using Your Tell
Advanced players are capable are making up a tell that other players can pick up on. By making up a tell other players will think they know how good your hand is lulling them into a false sense of insecurity. If you have a tell when you have a good hand and then go all in without showing the tell then the other players are likely to call thinking they have you worked out when actually you will be on your way to being the new chip leader.
This is a difficult technique to master and can go disastrously wrong. I strongly recommend having a tell in mind rather than making one up on the spur of the moment as it is unlikely to be convincing and differently not work. If done properly and maintained throughout the whole game until the crucial hand then you will win every time.
Be lucky!!
Chris
Friday, 28 March 2008
Video On How To Play Omaha
This video is fantastic in simplify Omaha and showing the difference by this form of poker.
Thursday, 27 March 2008
Hand Ranking
The hands below are ranked in order with the top hand being the best hand.
Royal Flush
This is the highest poker hand. It consists of ace, king, queen, jack, ten, all in the same suit. All the suits are equal which means all royal flushes are equal.
Straight Flush
This is when five cards of the same suit are in sequence - such as 10-9-8-7-6 of clubs. The better straight flush is the one with the highest high card. For the purposes of a straight flush an ace is counted as low. The cards cannot "turn the corner": 4-3-2-A-K is not a valid hand.
Four of a kind (Quads)
This is when your hands has four cards which are all the same. The fifth card can be anything you. If two people have the same four of a kind then the higher fifth card is the better the hand although this can not happen in normal poker. The better of two four of a kind hands is the one with the higher set of four cards. For example, four jacks beats four nines even if their fifth card is an ace and yours is a two.
Full House
This consists of three cards which are the same in rank and two cards of another rank. The hand is referred to ? full of ? mark For example, three sixes and two fours is known as sixes full of fours. When comparing full houses, the rank of the three cards determines which is higher. For example 4-4-4-4-6 beats 3-3-3-A-A. If the threes of a kind were equal, the rank of the pairs would be used to decide decide.
Flush
This is a hand comprised of five cards of the same suit. When comparing two flushes, the highest card determines which is winnign hand. If the highest cards are equal then the second highest card is compared and so on until there is a difference. If all the cards are equal then the pot is split.
Straight
This is a hand made up of five cards of varying suits in order. For example, 2-3-4-5-6. When comparing two sequences, the one with the higher ranking top card is the winning hand. Ace can not count as both high and low but a straight can not "turn the corner" therefore K-A-1-2-3 is not a straight. 5-4-3-2-A is the lowest kind of straight, the top card being the five because the ace counts counts as low.
Three of a Kind
This a hand containing three cards of the same rank plus two other cards. This combination is also known as Trips. When comparing two threes of a kind the hand in which the three equal cards are of higher rank is the winning hand. If the two trips are equal than the highest of the other two cards are compared and if they are equal then the other card is compared.
Two Pairs
A pair is two cards of equal rank. In a hand with two pairs, the two pairs are of different ranks (otherwise you would have four of a kind), plus a fifth card. When comparing hands with two pairs, the hand with the highest pair wins, irrespective of the rank of the other cards. For example, K-K-4-4-5 beats Q-Q-J-J-A. If the higher pairs are equal, the lower pairs are compared, and if both pairs are equal then the fifth card is compared.
Pair
A hand with two cards of equal rank and three other cards which do not match these or each other. When comparing two such hands, the hand with the higher pair is the winning hand irrospective of the other cards. If the pairs are equal, compare the highest ranking odd cards from each hand; if these are equal compare the second highest odd card, and if these are equal too compare the last card of each hand.
High Card
Five cards which do not form any of the combinations listed above. When comparing two such hands, the one with the better highest card wins. If the highest cards are equal then the second card is compared and so on. Therefore, a 7 high is the worst hand possible because 2 high is not possible.
Be lucky!!
Chris
Royal Flush
This is the highest poker hand. It consists of ace, king, queen, jack, ten, all in the same suit. All the suits are equal which means all royal flushes are equal.
Straight Flush
This is when five cards of the same suit are in sequence - such as 10-9-8-7-6 of clubs. The better straight flush is the one with the highest high card. For the purposes of a straight flush an ace is counted as low. The cards cannot "turn the corner": 4-3-2-A-K is not a valid hand.
Four of a kind (Quads)
This is when your hands has four cards which are all the same. The fifth card can be anything you. If two people have the same four of a kind then the higher fifth card is the better the hand although this can not happen in normal poker. The better of two four of a kind hands is the one with the higher set of four cards. For example, four jacks beats four nines even if their fifth card is an ace and yours is a two.
Full House
This consists of three cards which are the same in rank and two cards of another rank. The hand is referred to ? full of ? mark For example, three sixes and two fours is known as sixes full of fours. When comparing full houses, the rank of the three cards determines which is higher. For example 4-4-4-4-6 beats 3-3-3-A-A. If the threes of a kind were equal, the rank of the pairs would be used to decide decide.
Flush
This is a hand comprised of five cards of the same suit. When comparing two flushes, the highest card determines which is winnign hand. If the highest cards are equal then the second highest card is compared and so on until there is a difference. If all the cards are equal then the pot is split.
Straight
This is a hand made up of five cards of varying suits in order. For example, 2-3-4-5-6. When comparing two sequences, the one with the higher ranking top card is the winning hand. Ace can not count as both high and low but a straight can not "turn the corner" therefore K-A-1-2-3 is not a straight. 5-4-3-2-A is the lowest kind of straight, the top card being the five because the ace counts counts as low.
Three of a Kind
This a hand containing three cards of the same rank plus two other cards. This combination is also known as Trips. When comparing two threes of a kind the hand in which the three equal cards are of higher rank is the winning hand. If the two trips are equal than the highest of the other two cards are compared and if they are equal then the other card is compared.
Two Pairs
A pair is two cards of equal rank. In a hand with two pairs, the two pairs are of different ranks (otherwise you would have four of a kind), plus a fifth card. When comparing hands with two pairs, the hand with the highest pair wins, irrespective of the rank of the other cards. For example, K-K-4-4-5 beats Q-Q-J-J-A. If the higher pairs are equal, the lower pairs are compared, and if both pairs are equal then the fifth card is compared.
Pair
A hand with two cards of equal rank and three other cards which do not match these or each other. When comparing two such hands, the hand with the higher pair is the winning hand irrospective of the other cards. If the pairs are equal, compare the highest ranking odd cards from each hand; if these are equal compare the second highest odd card, and if these are equal too compare the last card of each hand.
High Card
Five cards which do not form any of the combinations listed above. When comparing two such hands, the one with the better highest card wins. If the highest cards are equal then the second card is compared and so on. Therefore, a 7 high is the worst hand possible because 2 high is not possible.
Be lucky!!
Chris
Monday, 24 March 2008
Sunday, 23 March 2008
Virgin Poker Review
This is brought to you by the every growing Virgin grow which seems to be moving into every possible market. This means it has vast wealth and is trust worthy.
Gaming- 8/10
The action is relatively quick so you are not sitting there are hours upon end. The tables are well laid and the graphics are good. Basically, it meets all the requirements of a poker room while not standing. Moreover, while i was on the site it did not lock up at all and once you had selected a table it loaded almost instantly and my internet connection is not that good.
Challenge- 6/10
I do not know if it is because it is not that well known but when i was playing on their the people i was playing were quite poor and helped me lined my pockets compared to other sites like Pokerroom where the competition is tough and challenging.
Unique- 7/10
This site has incorporated all of the good parts of all the other poker sites. It offers the chance to earn V loyalty points which can be used to purchase air miles and other Virgin products which is a big plus for this site.
Conclusion
This has all the standard features and excels at all of them with quick loading times and the major plus of earning Virgin loyalty points. However, if you are an expert player seeking a challenge then at the moment this room is not for you.
Sign Up Here For Virgin Poker For Free
Gaming- 8/10
The action is relatively quick so you are not sitting there are hours upon end. The tables are well laid and the graphics are good. Basically, it meets all the requirements of a poker room while not standing. Moreover, while i was on the site it did not lock up at all and once you had selected a table it loaded almost instantly and my internet connection is not that good.
Challenge- 6/10
I do not know if it is because it is not that well known but when i was playing on their the people i was playing were quite poor and helped me lined my pockets compared to other sites like Pokerroom where the competition is tough and challenging.
Unique- 7/10
This site has incorporated all of the good parts of all the other poker sites. It offers the chance to earn V loyalty points which can be used to purchase air miles and other Virgin products which is a big plus for this site.
Conclusion
This has all the standard features and excels at all of them with quick loading times and the major plus of earning Virgin loyalty points. However, if you are an expert player seeking a challenge then at the moment this room is not for you.
Sign Up Here For Virgin Poker For Free
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
Play Money Poker Analysed
This is the most popular form of poker on the internet rather than real money poker. These are great fun because you can call and raise or whatever without ever being in danger of losing any of your own. However, for this same reason bluffing is limited because most people will call because they are not actually losing anything.
Uses
Play poker is great for getting your bearing and learning how to play the game to a decent standard. Sites like Poker Room will also give you a % chance if you have a showdown which helps to give you an idea of the odds of certain hands coming up. It is also great as downtime or entertainment rather than having to concentrate like you would on real money poker. Moreover, you develop some online poker tricks which could be helpful in real life.
Downsides
While it is good that you will actually lose any money it also means you will not win any money either. In addition, while you can learn some useful skills you can develop bad habits like always seeing the flop no matter what other players bet which could cost you dearly in real money games. In play money games you can do not fully develop your techniques because most players will call if you raise because there is nothing for them to lose other than a few play chips.
Overall
If you are new to the online poker scene and have never used the programme before you should play a play money game to work out how the software works and possibly understand the rules of the game if you are a complete novice. Play poker is also good as a relaxing form of entertainment. However, if you want to properly develop your skills and win real money then I would recommend the real money tournaments which are often excellent.
Be lucky!!
Chris
Uses
Play poker is great for getting your bearing and learning how to play the game to a decent standard. Sites like Poker Room will also give you a % chance if you have a showdown which helps to give you an idea of the odds of certain hands coming up. It is also great as downtime or entertainment rather than having to concentrate like you would on real money poker. Moreover, you develop some online poker tricks which could be helpful in real life.
Downsides
While it is good that you will actually lose any money it also means you will not win any money either. In addition, while you can learn some useful skills you can develop bad habits like always seeing the flop no matter what other players bet which could cost you dearly in real money games. In play money games you can do not fully develop your techniques because most players will call if you raise because there is nothing for them to lose other than a few play chips.
Overall
If you are new to the online poker scene and have never used the programme before you should play a play money game to work out how the software works and possibly understand the rules of the game if you are a complete novice. Play poker is also good as a relaxing form of entertainment. However, if you want to properly develop your skills and win real money then I would recommend the real money tournaments which are often excellent.
Be lucky!!
Chris
Saturday, 15 March 2008
Control Your Emotion
Everyone has lost on the river and there are times when everytime you call the other person seems to bet your card by one and you decide that your odds have to change and so keep betting with marginal hands and soon you are no longer in the game. While it may sound difficult to avoid this there are simple ways to help lessen the effects.
#1 Attached To Starting Cards
Too many people get dealt pocket aces and become very attached to them. Crazy i know but it is true. If you have pocket aces but then the flop comes up, there is a straight and flush draw and another player raises big you should fold. Do not let your emotions get to you let the hand go. It is important to judge every hand on its merits.
#2 Forget The Last Hand
Unless you are trying to count the cards then forget the last hand. It does not do well to dwell on the past especially in poker. Too many players stay in when there is a big pre-flop bet just because they narrowly lost the last hand so want to win this one. Moreover, just because an Ace came up last time, if the deck is shuffled it has just as good a chance of coming up this time.
#3 Time
I have written a post related to this before but it really is important to take at least 15 seconds before you make any decision. If you do this it should calm you down and help you make the right decision. If you need more time then use it.
#4 Getting Over a Bad Hand
While i would say you should forget about it and move on this is almost impossible to do. Instead you should try and bet moderately for the next few hands or sat out a few so you do not anything stupid. Once you have recovered then resume playing the game normally rather than looking for a quick fix.
#5 Opposite Effect
Players who are consistently winning can also let their emotions effect their judgement. They make stupid decisions because they are on a role and think luck is with them. I have been there and lost all my money when i was chip leader. Again the only real advice i can give is to treat each hand as a new game and judge each hand on its merits.
Overall, it is almost impossible to stop your emotions effecting your play but if you take the simple steps outlined above you should be able to at list control your emotions in a better way and win your money back rather than losing more.
Be lucky!!
Chris
#1 Attached To Starting Cards
Too many people get dealt pocket aces and become very attached to them. Crazy i know but it is true. If you have pocket aces but then the flop comes up, there is a straight and flush draw and another player raises big you should fold. Do not let your emotions get to you let the hand go. It is important to judge every hand on its merits.
#2 Forget The Last Hand
Unless you are trying to count the cards then forget the last hand. It does not do well to dwell on the past especially in poker. Too many players stay in when there is a big pre-flop bet just because they narrowly lost the last hand so want to win this one. Moreover, just because an Ace came up last time, if the deck is shuffled it has just as good a chance of coming up this time.
#3 Time
I have written a post related to this before but it really is important to take at least 15 seconds before you make any decision. If you do this it should calm you down and help you make the right decision. If you need more time then use it.
#4 Getting Over a Bad Hand
While i would say you should forget about it and move on this is almost impossible to do. Instead you should try and bet moderately for the next few hands or sat out a few so you do not anything stupid. Once you have recovered then resume playing the game normally rather than looking for a quick fix.
#5 Opposite Effect
Players who are consistently winning can also let their emotions effect their judgement. They make stupid decisions because they are on a role and think luck is with them. I have been there and lost all my money when i was chip leader. Again the only real advice i can give is to treat each hand as a new game and judge each hand on its merits.
Overall, it is almost impossible to stop your emotions effecting your play but if you take the simple steps outlined above you should be able to at list control your emotions in a better way and win your money back rather than losing more.
Be lucky!!
Chris
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