Top Ten Tips in Winning Poker
A couple of days ago, my supervisor called me into the meeting and his first question was "Do you play poker?" For a second there, I thought it was some kind of a trick question, only to later realize that playing poker trains you in your dynamic decision making. How cool is that! Quite frankly, I played poker specifically Texas Holdem twice and both times, I lost badly. My problem - I can't seem to hold a poker face. People could read my poker cards from my face! So I decided that if I ever want to be a better decision maker, I should start by playing poker, any kind of poker, texas holdem, online poker, any poker. As usual, I start with top ten tips on winning poker for rookies like myself.
1. Playing too many hands
Most poker beginners play way too many starting hands, in fact top poker players typically play between 20-30% of their starting hands. Concentrate on higher value starting hands and help remove the luck element of the poker game.
2. Know when to hold’em, and know when to fold’em
Learn how to fold a hand, and don’t be a poker calling machine. Many beginners keep betting regardless of the board or what their opponent’s actions are suggesting. Top poker players frequently say it’s the hands you can lay down that are often the key to profitable play.
3. Choose less skillful poker opponents
...if you want to win money. Sounds fairly obvious, but you should play at betting limits where you can beat the majority of poker players. Move down in limits if you are having difficulties winning money. In poker, always leave your ego at the door.
(E: No wonder my friends ALWAYS want to play with me!!!)
4. Watch your opponents habits in poker
Especially when you aren’t in a hand. The best time to study poker is when you aren’t emotionally invested in the hand, and you can make more prudent observations. Watch how opponents bet, and how much they bet, in what position are they betting. Learning how your opponents play in poker is key.
5. Betting in poker to gain knowledge
Betting in poker is not always because you have the best hand. Top poker players use various betting techniques to try to gain information. For example, a defensive bet is one that you can use early on to avoid calling a bigger future bet. A re-raise may be used to probe the credibility of your opponent’s hand.
6. Learn to put your opponents on a hand
Once you have mastered Tips #4 and 5, it is time to put your knowledge to work. Try putting yourself in your opponents shoes, and learn to put them on a hand. Ask questions like “Why did he re-raise me that amount?”, and “Why did he only call in the previous betting round?”, “Maybe because he only called me, he has a kicker problem?”
7. Learn how to bluff and semi-bluff in poker
...at the right times against the right poker players, and at the right frequency. Bluffing is often a misunderstood concept, and much to many beginner’s dismay most pros use bluffs quite sparingly. A bluff can be very effective when used rarely, and where there is a seemingly low risk of being called by your opponent.
8.Changing Gears in poker
Unpredictability can be good. Most pros can figure out a really loose player by waiting for the nuts and being patient. However, an even easier opponent is a tight player or “rock”, who plays only the Group 1 type hands. You need to change your poker game up, and let them see that you can run bluffs, and can play some lower value starting hands. These changes should be subtle and shouldn’t dramatically affect the flop rate we mentioned in Tip #1
9.Understand player position
...and how it is critical. Not only is it important to play strong hands, it is even more important in what position you play them. For example, the ideal position is the Button (the Dealer), as you are last to act, and have the advantage of watching all of the betting action before you need to make a decision. eg. If the action before you consists of a bet, a raise, and a re-raise, and you hold a pair of Tens, you might think that folding is the right decision.
10. Read books on poker and take notes
Players can always learn more if they want to be a better poker player. Keep notes on what works and doesn’t work for you, and eventually you will come up with a style of play that works uniquely for you and improves your poker game.
These tips don't matter unless you put them in practice. So.. who's game for a round of poker? :)
Useful links to get started:
Poker for Beginners
Tips on Texas Holdem
Types of Poker Strategies
Start playing Online Poker here
How to make money by cheating in Poker
1. Playing too many hands
Most poker beginners play way too many starting hands, in fact top poker players typically play between 20-30% of their starting hands. Concentrate on higher value starting hands and help remove the luck element of the poker game.
2. Know when to hold’em, and know when to fold’em
Learn how to fold a hand, and don’t be a poker calling machine. Many beginners keep betting regardless of the board or what their opponent’s actions are suggesting. Top poker players frequently say it’s the hands you can lay down that are often the key to profitable play.
3. Choose less skillful poker opponents
...if you want to win money. Sounds fairly obvious, but you should play at betting limits where you can beat the majority of poker players. Move down in limits if you are having difficulties winning money. In poker, always leave your ego at the door.
(E: No wonder my friends ALWAYS want to play with me!!!)
4. Watch your opponents habits in poker
Especially when you aren’t in a hand. The best time to study poker is when you aren’t emotionally invested in the hand, and you can make more prudent observations. Watch how opponents bet, and how much they bet, in what position are they betting. Learning how your opponents play in poker is key.
5. Betting in poker to gain knowledge
Betting in poker is not always because you have the best hand. Top poker players use various betting techniques to try to gain information. For example, a defensive bet is one that you can use early on to avoid calling a bigger future bet. A re-raise may be used to probe the credibility of your opponent’s hand.
6. Learn to put your opponents on a hand
Once you have mastered Tips #4 and 5, it is time to put your knowledge to work. Try putting yourself in your opponents shoes, and learn to put them on a hand. Ask questions like “Why did he re-raise me that amount?”, and “Why did he only call in the previous betting round?”, “Maybe because he only called me, he has a kicker problem?”
7. Learn how to bluff and semi-bluff in poker
...at the right times against the right poker players, and at the right frequency. Bluffing is often a misunderstood concept, and much to many beginner’s dismay most pros use bluffs quite sparingly. A bluff can be very effective when used rarely, and where there is a seemingly low risk of being called by your opponent.
8.Changing Gears in poker
Unpredictability can be good. Most pros can figure out a really loose player by waiting for the nuts and being patient. However, an even easier opponent is a tight player or “rock”, who plays only the Group 1 type hands. You need to change your poker game up, and let them see that you can run bluffs, and can play some lower value starting hands. These changes should be subtle and shouldn’t dramatically affect the flop rate we mentioned in Tip #1
9.Understand player position
...and how it is critical. Not only is it important to play strong hands, it is even more important in what position you play them. For example, the ideal position is the Button (the Dealer), as you are last to act, and have the advantage of watching all of the betting action before you need to make a decision. eg. If the action before you consists of a bet, a raise, and a re-raise, and you hold a pair of Tens, you might think that folding is the right decision.
10. Read books on poker and take notes
Players can always learn more if they want to be a better poker player. Keep notes on what works and doesn’t work for you, and eventually you will come up with a style of play that works uniquely for you and improves your poker game.
These tips don't matter unless you put them in practice. So.. who's game for a round of poker? :)
Useful links to get started:
Poker for Beginners
Tips on Texas Holdem
Types of Poker Strategies
Start playing Online Poker here
How to make money by cheating in Poker
posted by Tripp at 11:24 AM
1 Comments:
Count me in!
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