Poker Strategy

One Strategy to Rule Them All

Poker advice is everywhere. There are hundreds upon thousands of books that lay out strategies and tips for playing the game, there are magazines galore that each have their own poker advice column, and there are websites all over the net. Every form of media has an example of poker advice; videos, podcasts, blogs, websites, articles, books, magazines, it’s everywhere! Novices’ and beginners’ can also hire game coaches to learn faster, get quick and simple advice from a number of pros, and can even boast to be a pro thanks to online poker if they play often. It’s all great, but there is one thing to keep in mind; there is no one way to play the game of poker. The term “One Strategy to rule them all”, doesn’t exist anywhere in the world of poker.

Poker or card games in general, have been around since the 15th century. Wow…that’s quite a ways back in history isn’t it? Just think about how many players have reinvented new ways to play the game. Historically speaking Omaha can even be considered fairly new. But no matter what game is played, poker is poker; so how could there possibly be a chance that there is no one specific way to play?

Often, players who have come to know the game of poker well have learned to place opponents and other players in certain categories. There are many of these categories that opponents and players fall into in order to classify their particular skill at the game; for example here’s a few: There’s the scared fish that rarely bets or calls, and when he/she does they fold right away as soon as they sense danger, even when it may not be there. There is the terribly underrated novice that can often pull a good play from his/her sleeve and actually does understand the important aspects of the game but is not quite on par with veteran status yet. There is the slimy loud-mouth or bragger that usually thinks they are an extreme poker pro, but really doesn’t have any skill at the game whatsoever. This list can go on and on, but the fact remains that all of these categories and classifications so to speak are very broad. Some players may fall perfectly between categories, and others may play the game with a mixed bunch of aspects from a number of classifications. The main point being made here is that no one player is the same, no matter how similar they play or what category they can be placed into.

One saying that holds true in the world of poker, much like it does in the real world is; “what works for some, may not work for others”. Some players may be very aggressive, and may go all-in quite often and they remain successful where other players can’t. Some players may check bet more often and pull in tons of cash, while others rarely even use the strategy. Some players may hold back more chips no matter what cards they have, and still bank out with plenty of cash, while others just lose it all using the same technique. It basically means that every player will have different ways to play the game and be successful. This is attributed to the fact that everyone has their own set of strengths and weaknesses. It is also important to note that over time players’ change, much like they do in life. Players in a late stage of their poker career will not play the same as they would in a novice or earlier stage. This is mainly due to experience, and knowledge built up over time.

Because players’ constantly change and adapt, they never truly fall into these “categories” that have been made up to classify a broad range of players. This does not mean that you can’t use the category strategy (classifying opponents) to play the game; on the contrary if it works then use it. This simply means that, as stated above, no one player is truly like another.

That’s fine and dandy but what does all of this have to do with poker advice? The answer is very simple.

The people who write the poker advice columns, make the strategy movies, post tips on blogs and so on and so forth, are biased. The reason I say they are biased is because they are simply reporting strategies that work well for them when they are playing the game. This same concept holds true for pros and veterans of the sport. If every player has a different successful strategy for playing the game that works for them, then how does it make sense for the advice they give to work for everyone? I’m sorry to let you down guys (this is for you vets out there), but as time goes on the game evolves just as much as the players participating do and strategies that didn’t work before all of a sudden will; just like some that do work now, no longer will work correctly at a later time. Take the differences between online poker and real table poker for example; there are many things you can’t do at a real table that you can while playing online and vice versa.

Just because Joe Blow the super pro says that playing aggressively will earn you a large stack doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for you. That is the way Joe Blow plays, and while he may be successful at it, you might not have the skills or knowledge to do the same. The same idea means that just because he is trying to teach you, doesn’t mean it will work after you know how to play his way.

Poker advice must be taken in moderation, especially if you already are plenty successful because of the current way you are playing. Sometimes changing up game strategies even a little can be deadly in the long run, just like sometimes it can help you cash in big. It all depends on how YOU play the game of poker, and YOUR strengths and weaknesses.

This doesn’t necessarily mean you should stop reading or searching for poker advice on a constant basis; it just means you need to be aware what type of player you are and where your individual strengths remain. This in turn means that if you read an advice column that talks about using one of your weaknesses to play the game then you can be sure you probably won’t win much money when using that particular person’s strategy; that is exactly why these problems of ours are called “weaknesses”. They are OUR weaknesses not someone else’s, and that person sitting opposite might have the exact same aspect that is a strength, instead of a weakness.

So, one thing to keep in mind when reading your daily poker advice columns is that just because the article tells you a particular strategy works great doesn’t mean it will for you, and it doesn’t mean that you should change your game to compensate for what was mentioned. Every player is different regardless of how similar two players may act in a game; and every player has their own set of strategies that are successful. If you have your strategies that work, then use them and don’t discard ‘em just because of Joe Blow the super pro and his biased advice. There is no individual, certain and all powerful way to play the game of poker; there are many.

The saying with poker might as well be, “NO Strategy to Rule Them All” because in essence every strategy could work if used correctly.

Playing poker online? Don’t forget to get the best Titan Poker Bonus Code and Full Tilt Bonus Code from ruffpoker.com

Tags:
Omaha, Online Poker, Poker, Poker Advice

How Does Online Poker Differ From Traditional Poker?

When poker was first started there was no such thing as the internet. Players matched their wits against each other in traditional games; sitting around a table face to face. In today’s world, it is possible for a group of players to engage in a full match without ever laying eyes upon one another. Thanks to online poker venues, poker matches are available at any hour during the day or night and players from all over the world can test their skills at the table. Poker enthusiasts never even have to leave their living room or home office; and can play anywhere provided they have a decent internet connection.

It should be noted however, for both poker novices and professionals, that there are plenty of differences between online poker and traditional B&M (“Brick and Mortar”) games played at a casino. Many sites provide a biased insight claiming online poker has more advantages because they are just trying to attract more participants. The truth, however, is that online venues are tailored more towards player convenience; and is not necessarily the better choice between B&M tables or online tables. The best choice for where a player lays down his/her stack of chips is always going to be a matter of preference.

The biggest disadvantage to online play is probably one of the most important aspects of traditional B&M poker matches. The term used to describe it is known as, a “tell”, and online matches lack some of the more traditional forms. A poker tell is a sign, sometimes obvious, that informs more experienced players about betting patterns and habits of their opponents. For instance; a player calling or raising a bet merely on a hand bluff may have nervous ticks such as blinking more often, scratching their necks or cracking their knuckles. Of course a tell can sometimes include more important signs such as a player’s betting habits, things they say, and fold/flop percentages. During online play, opponents are not face to face with one another and can only view other player’s avatars’ or profile pictures. On the other hand, the lack of more conventional poker tells does have a positive effect over time. Novices and more experienced players are forced to focus more on the table environment, as opposed to their opponents, and this often helps build a stronger player in the end. In order to study a rivals habits online a player must pay attention to the chat box, betting amounts, fold/flop percentages as mentioned earlier, and how long a player takes to bet.

Advantages of online poker room, as said earlier, are designed to convenience participating players. The biggest difference between a conventional poker and online poker is that online venues are available any time of the day and night whereas this may not be possible in a regular casino. It is possible to play games on a lunch break, before going to bed, late at night when you can’t sleep, and whenever free time opens up. All that is required of online play is a login to the program on your computer; whereas traditional poker you would have to get dressed, drive all the way to the casino, and then drive home after and due to this it can often leave you strapped for time while you’re there.

The rate of average play for poker games is much faster online than it is in a traditional casino. Online there is no waiting for the dealer to shuffle cards, the deal is instant, and blinds are often placed automatically for opponents and players. There are also buttons which make the method of playing faster, including check and pre-made betting selections. The average rate of play for a traditional casino table is around thirty hands per hour, and during online play the rate is around ninety hands per hour.

Online poker does also offer much more than traditional casino’s for the learning novice. Many online poker providers offer a poker school to beginners or classes which teach the basics of the game. Due to lower costs of online venues it is also possible for online poker casinos to offer free money play tournaments to the community. This provides many players a chance to hone their skills without the risk of losing any amount of real money. This lowers the learning curve considerably for beginners and provides practice with other real opponents for those who normally have no one to play with.

Another positive between online and conventional casinos is the table limits. The limits online are generally much lower than those offered at traditional tables; this is another trait earned due to the lower cost of running an online casino. The lowest table limits in a regular casino are generally around $1 to $2 dollars, and on an online casino they reach as low as $.01. This provides the possibility of losing very little money in the event a player is forced to retire from a table.

Online poker also offers the chance to be a part of more than one table at a time. In the long run this can earn the average player much more money than in a traditional casino; provided they win at the tables they are participating in. In a traditional poker game it is only possible to be at one table at a time; and the only real way to make more money is to increase your limit. There are even a number of online venues which do not have a limit on the number of active tables a player can participate in; thus it is very possible for an experienced player to remain active in up to seven or more tables at a time.

On a final note it is very possible to see that in many cases for the more traditionally experienced player the switch over to online play will provide many disadvantages along with the advantages. Online play still does however provide its advantages, especially in the case of beginners, and will certainly provide poker enthusiasts with a more convenient way to play the game they love.

Tags:
Online Poker, Online Poker Rooms, Poker, Tell