Poker Strategy

What to wear, what to wear

The poker player has many weapons in their arsenal, and along with your playing skills you should also project a definite image. Psychologically most people make a judgment based on appearance when we first meet someone, whether we admit it or not.

Dress like Jennifer Tilly

Wearing a hat, a hood or sunglasses can help to cover your eyes so no one can tell when you look at your cards or study other players.

When we sit down at the poker table, we usually try to size up our opponents and their clothes are the biggest tell before the first card has been played and you can use this to your advantage.

Dressing like a pro can also male you feel like a pro (but nor play like one). However like Poker itself, there’s still a deeper level, consider the idea of fashion as a bluff.
While playing poker at a big Vegas Casino I shared a table with a guy who was wearing shorts, socks, a hard Rock Café hat and a horrid Hawaiian shirt, this guy looked for all the world like just another tourist. The way he acted fitted his clothes down to a tea, telling stories, laughing hard, complaining about the heat, amazed at the size of the casino and joking with the dealer and other players.
But for a tourist rube he played the cards like a Ungar. He played very few hands and when he did he played tight and aggressive. This was no travelling mug, and I treaded very lightly when we found ourselves going for the same pot.
Beyond dressing like a chump, there are a couple of things you can do at the table to improve your chances of winning.

There are some big tells that can be deduced from your eyes. If a player quickly looks at the flop, looks down at his stack and swiftly looks away, the flop most likely helped his cards. On the converse, if a player is intently studying the flop it probably hadn’t help him and he’d be trying to figure out some combination that’ll work for him.

Recently it became legal to have headphones at the poker table. Initially, there was a little hoo-ha as reading players’ emotions and their cards should be tantamount and headphones were considered a distraction.
But the idea caught and many professionals were seen sporting headphones and winning pots. A headphones wearer may give off the impression that he is not bothered about the game in front of him, and trick the opponents lean into the punch. That may have worked when headphones were a novelty, but that ship’s pretty much sailed now.

The great thing about online poker is you can wear what you like, be it your favourite gown, hockey shirt or tuxedo, as you can when writing about poker.

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Poker, What to wear

Online poker giant introduces online home games

Offering users to customize their interface and invitations in order to create their own tournaments and home games will means players can reunite with their college buddies, ex-girlfriends or family on the virtual felts.

The latest addition to the myriad of services offered by PokerStars gives players the chance to host private Poker games and tournaments online with a personal touch that is meant to lead to the creation of exclusive, private clubs.

Special features of the Home Poker Games option, that has been undergoing testing and parallel running on the poker room’s play money Website and is to go live with real money users this week, include: the tournaments and cash games can deliver an online home game with a buy-in range from micro-stakes up to $1/$2; the new clubs can have memberships of up to fifty players who will not show up on the search feature while seated at Home Game Poker tables; the private games are not subject to the IP requirements used elsewhere on the Wesbite so players in the same household are able to play on different the tables at the same time.

Club managers are able to notify their members of newly-created tournaments and cash game tables instantly through direct connections to their Facebook and Twitter accounts. Once a club has been created, the manager can assign “Administrator” status to other members in order to give them to set up their own games.

The home game atmosphere can be defined by choosing your “local” type of poker played, from Texas Holdem Poker, Omaha Poker and HORSE to the Mixed Game format. Club members compete against each other for long-term glory with a point system presented as club leaderboard. Each and every tournament and statistic of the action that makes up the club’s history will be stored and available for perusal at any time by club members.

Even though the major online poker rooms have promoted the idea of private tournaments in various ways for a number of years, this new feature is the first real attempt to engage groups of users to customize their own cash games, tables and tournaments.

Tags:
Games, HORSE, Omaha Poker, Poker, PokerStars, Texas Holdem Poker

Avoid the Fancy Moves in Limit Poker

This is something that you see new player try quite a bit when they are first starting out in limit.  There really is nothing but television to blame for this one as the only poker that is televised is no limit.  Limit tournaments are few and far between because producers tend to think it is much less interesting, and the result is that newcomers try and make the same moves in limit as they do in no limit.

Why this does not work is because of the odds that are present in limit poker that you can eliminate in no limit.  For instance, if you make a pre-flop raise in limit, there are few draws that will not have odds in a multi-way pot.  Once the flop hits and that flush, straight or over card draw is present, you can only make a single bet. If the same thing were to happen in no limit, you could bet 3 times the pot and virtually take away any odds that a player was looking for.

That being the case, you are going to get called.  While you will want to keep the hammer down if the draw does not hit, you have to take a second look at how you are going to play when the board blanks you or the draw pops. If you bet, you are going to get called.  If you are behind the player, you may very well get check raised.

The issue with all of this is if you get check raised on the river, you pretty much still have to call because of the money that is in the pot.  If you are playing in a $20/$40 limit game and bet $40 into a $500 pot and then get raised, it is costing you $40 to see a pot that is worth $620 at that point.  Regardless of what you have, you are forced to make the call because of the 15:1 odds.

The entire thought process in limit needs to be straight forward.  When you don’t hit, play very cautiously and try to keep the pot to a minimum.  If you are the raiser, stay aggressive if nothing hits the board and you think you are still ahead.  If you hit, continue to pound the pot and give no mercy to anyone.  If the board hits a draw, you are better to back off and give up the pot if that is the hand that you put your opponent on.  You do this before you get into the 2 bets and you are forced to call and waste money on the river.

Limit is not a place for fancy moves.  Plain and simple, it is about crunching numbers and playing the odds.  The ONLY time that you can get away with a move is when you have the absolute nuts.  In that case, you can try a check-raise that may set up one bluff down the road, but for the most part, you need to play ABC poker and take the odds when they are there.

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ABC Poker, Limit Poker, Online Poker, Poker, Poker Tips, Pre Flop

6 Man Tables -vs- 9 Man Tables

There is a lot of debate between players about what kind of tables are the best to play in both SNG’s and Ring games. It all really comes down to what type of player you are and how much you want to be in on the action. Each of these tables presents their own sets of challenges and skill sets to be successful.

SNG’s

When you are looking at SNG’s, you are taking a much larger risk to play in the 9 man tourneys than you are in the 6 man tourneys. It takes you longer to fight your way to the money and you also are adding an additional 3 players to get through. Together this means that your cards are going to have to hold up longer in order for you to cash and you are going to have to have much better hands early on in order to stay alive.

When you are playing a 6 man table, you only have to get past 4 players as compared to 6 in order to make the money. The main concern here is that you are creating the extra traffic to merely get your entry fee back in a 9 man tourney. The payoff for making the money in a 6 man tourney is usually significantly higher than it is in the 9 man tourneys.

Ring

This is much more difficult that SNG’s. This truly comes down to playing style. A lot of players are not comfortable playing a lot of hands. When you are in a 9 man game, you can use all of your live skills at the table. You can be very selective in your starting hands and not mix it up so much unless you are playing a monster. This is the style of a lot of players as they do not like to get in there with small starting hands and take a shot. You may have one or two players on the table that are like this, but for the most part they are going to play very tight.

A 6 man table is the total opposite of that. You are already starting out short-handed and when someone gets up from the table, the game really opens up. Your starting strength goes way up on hands that you would not even consider playing were you on a 9 man table.

Another factor that scares a lot of people when they are playing a 6 man table is that the blinds come around much more frequently. This means that there is the potential to go through a lot more money when you go card dead as you are facing 3 rounds of blinds to every 2 at a 9 man table. When you do the math, you can see how quickly this can add up.

In all, you would have to think that playing 6 man SNG’s is a much more reasonable move. You have to fight through less people and the payouts are more rewarding. For a cash games, it is a matter of preference. If you are a tight player, stay away from the smaller tables. If you like to mix it up and play a wide variety of starting hands, you are the ideal player for a 6 man game.

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6 Players, P Players, Poker, Poker Table, Sit And Go

You want me to fold AA pre-flop?

While it may sound like a crazy and unorthodox thing to do, there is a time when you need to fold AA. While you are never likely to fold it in any situation in a cash game, there is a time when you have to let the hand go in either a SNG or a MTT. It is a rare time, but sometimes surviving is better than risking your stack.

Sooner or later you are going to be in a SNG tournament or a MTT and you are going to be sitting somewhere from the button to the BB and you are going to have multiple players that are pushed all in ahead of you. If you are looking at a stack where you are covered by most or all of the players that have already pushed, you are going to have to let this hand go. The time to do this of course is when you are on the bubble. It may be difficult to do, but if you want to make the money, this is a golden opportunity to slide right in there with absolutely no risk.

Let’s say that there are 6 people left in the tourney (of a SNG) or there are only 2 positions left to go for the money in a MTT and you are on the button. Everyone has started the tournament with $2,000 in chips and you are sitting at $1,200 and you are in the BB. Under the gun pushes with a short stack of $1,000 and next position immediately pushes all in with $4,000 in chips. The next player also pushes in and has $2,100 and the button also pushes and has $2,400 in chips. If you double up, you would be looking at $5,800 in chips, but you have to get through 4 hands to survive.

Before you rush and just throw those chips in there, start to break down the hand and really figure out where you stand. In most cases, the short stack is going to be sitting on some type of pair. The big stack will more than likely be looking for isolation and would have two high cards or a pocket pair. The third and fourth players in almost certainly have a pocket pair. Best case scenario, you are looking at three pocket pairs and AK or AQs.

While you are still the favorite on the poker table, your percentages go dramatically down every time someone else puts in their chips. You are not going up against only one hand here, you have to beat all of them in order to be alive. For arguments sake, let’s assume that they all have a pocket pair. At pre-flop, you now have 8 cards that can beat you in the deck. That means that you are actually a severe underdog to the rest of table as any one of those 8 cards can beat you and send you to the rail.

While the ‘technical odds’ have you much higher, AA will really only hold up about 70-80% of the time. In this situation, you are better off dropping the hand and letting other players get eliminated. You can actually make the money right there if the big stack wins, but either way, you are going to be a lot closer to the money and in no risk of being eliminated.

This is not an easy play to make as most people will rush to get their chips in the pot here. However, if you have the discipline, you are must better laying down the hand and letting everyone else go to war. We all know you will get sick to your stomach if the AA holds up, but you can be assured that in most scenarios, it is more likely to go down that it is to win that hand. Take solace in knowing that you made the right call.

Tags:
MTT, Online Poker, Poker, Poker Games, Pre Flop, SNG

Poker Life vs. Normal Life

Poker is a very time consuming game; especially for veterans and professionals who earn a living from it. Every good poker player knows that as long as you are skilled at the game; the more hours you put in, the more of a chance you have of cashing out just like time spent at a regular job. The only problem with careers that consume most of one’s time is that; the career consumes every bit that it can and then most people are left with just a job they no longer enjoy. Many players out there sacrifice a social life or even a personal life just for the game of poker. All players need to find a balance; a place of Zen in-between that allows them to play the game and make a living, but at the same time still have a life devoid of the poker world.

One of the most important aspects of life involves physical fitness and health. It stands to reason that poker is not a game of physical activity, therefore you need to find time on your own to exercise and remain in shape. Sitting around day after day at a poker table or at a desk playing online poker, while doing nothing but eating and shuffling plastic chips will eat away at your fitness level. If you don’t take the time to exercise, then before you know it; you’ll be twice the size of your mother in law. If you already are on the heavy side; well then you got a long road ahead but need to get in the schedule of exercising as well. If you want to play poker for a very long and healthy life; remaining in shape will be a necessity.

Alcohol consumption and smoking habits also need to be controlled. A good player shouldn’t even be anywhere near alcohol while playing the game; even one drink can inhibit your activity and mind so much that it costs you more money. There is no other career on the planet where it is acceptable to drink while working; it’s just not right. On the other hand smoking can cause big problems as well; especially for those chain smokers who are routinely reaching for a pack. Cravings and smoke breaks can cut in on your play time, and for those cravings that are bad enough can even interfere with your focus on the game. Not to mention that both aspects could seriously harm your physical body condition and alter your health; which just adds another reason to stop. For those who don’t wish to stop it is important to understand that your habits do need to be under control before stepping up to a poker table; unless of course you want to lose the money you have to a stupid mistake.

Sleep is a very important part of a healthy lifestyle. Not just five minute catnaps here or there but a regular sleeping pattern. There is so much that sleep contributes to even in our daily lives that it cannot be skipped over. Therefore it is extremely important that poker players take the time to give their body the correct amount of rest. Sleep deprivation, or the lack of sleep thereof, can cause severe drowsiness, trouble concentrating or keeping focus, poor mood cycles, an increased risk of falls and accidents, and lower productivity. All of these negative side effects will, without a doubt, affect any player’s poker game. So before you hit the tables for that big tournament you’ve been waiting for; don’t pull an all-nighter practicing extra, just make sure your body gets the rest it needs.

Social life, or what poker players should consider as life outside of poker, is a very important part of life as well. No matter how much you may love the game of poker; “too much of something is never good”. Life needs to exist outside the casino or office to give your mind and body time away from your career. If you do not take time for yourself, then eventually it will bleed over into your career and cause problems just like anything else. An unhappy person is never a good poker player; they often get too aggressive and act on emotion; and if it’s one thing that should always remain absent from any poker player’s arsenal, it includes emotional involvement. Take time to keep yourself happy with your life and career; it may also be somewhat like work but nonetheless it is required to stay focused on the game. Think of it as a sort of refreshment from the poker world. A social life should include friends and family that are stretched far from the world of poker; which means just hanging out with buddies from your regular poker sessions doesn’t count.

Everyone needs love; even the meanest poker players out there; which goes to show that a healthy romantic lifestyle is also a necessity in one’s life. Unless you are a secluded hermit, nun, or catholic priest relieving sexual tension will also play a role in your career. It may seem somewhat silly or ridiculous but I think everyone can remember one time or another when they had to go for months without sex while in-between relationships. I don’t know about you; but when it happens to me I become a more unpleasant person to be around. It can also cloud judgment and cause more aggressive behavior. Sex is a necessity in life; but it goes without saying “too much of anything is never a good thing”; so in other words don’t fall into the habit of having sex with a different woman every night because that is just as unhealthy as smoking cigarettes, eventually one will kill you.

On top of that it is important to keep a significant other who identifies with you. Most people fall in love because it provides a balance in every aspect of their life; and that is exactly what is needed while playing poker. Sometimes as much as we hate admitting it; it’s good to have a person around to point out your faults. If you get yelled at all the time for putting too much of your life and stakes into your career; then obviously you are a workaholic. If you get yelled at all the time for just sitting around; then obviously you need to jump into some physical exercise. It may not seem like something good at the time you are being pointed out; but in the long run it will help make you a better person and a better poker player. This aspect is of course not required, as some people have their own reasons for not maintaining a romantic relationship; but it should be noted that the absence of a romantic lifestyle will affect any career.

Maintaining a very healthy lifestyle is extremely important to keeping oneself in a good physical and mental condition. You need to be both mentally and physically healthy to fully concentrate in the game of poker. So, this adversely shows in order to be a successful poker player your best bet is to remain healthy and keep an active lifestyle. This does not mean that there never has been an unhealthy poker player; on the contrary just look around next time you are at a poker casino. Poker however is a game of strengths and weaknesses; every player needs to take every chance they get at having an advantage over their opponents; keeping an active lifestyle will give many advantages, therefore the reasons for doing just that are self-explanatory. A balance needs to be set and every player needs to divide their life into two parts; “Poker life” and “Normal life”. At many times this is a difficult thing to do; but it does need to happen nonetheless. Keep a special part of your life devoid of the poker world and when it comes time to focus on the game, you will quickly find it is much easier to do so.

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Alcohol, Online Poker Room, Poker, Smoking

Online Poker – Bonuses and other tips

Signing up for an online poker venue is an easy task; but one that often leaves you with many unanswered questions. This is especially new for those players not yet comfortable with the idea of playing poker online.

Here is a small collection of questions and answers that will hopefully help solve that problem.

What are these “sign up bonuses” that all the venues offer?

Every online venue has some collection of promo codes for sign up that ensure new user accounts get a small bonus. The majority of these promo codes are percentage match deals; meaning they will add in an additional percentage of your original deposit up to a certain amount. For example; let’s say Bob deposits $1000 in his account to start with; Bob uses an active promo code that gives him an additional 200% up to $1500 extra. When Bob finishes all his account information and enters his credit card info; the venue will then charge his form of payment and finally transfer money into his poker account. Bob will get his own $1000 dollars deposited and then get the extra percentage which would be $2,000 (200% X $1,000) but since the promo is only up to $1500 that is what Bob will get extra. So, instead of just the $1,000 Bob originally deposited; his account now has a $2,500 total limit to play poker with. We can conclude extra money is always good; thus ultimately showing us that using the poker bonus promo codes when making a deposit will be very advantageous.

Is it safe to deposit money into a poker account through an online venue?

These days with many different types of thievery in existence including internet fraud; it’s tough to be certain what is safe. Rest assured; these online poker venues can be considered just as safe as withdrawing and depositing money from one’s own bank. The data information transferred over the internet electronically is quick and safe; specifically due to the fact that the information is both secure and encrypted. There is little to no possibility of an individual viewing or collecting your personal information. In fact; as a general statement you are probably safer handling money through your poker account than using your credit card for other amenities; such as eating out at a restaurant, paying for gas, or shopping at a local store. It should also be noted that your account balance will never expire or change under any circumstances without the obvious withdrawal’s or deposits made by you personally.

Do I have to deposit money in order to play poker online?

No. In fact all online poker venues offer account creation for free and deposits in what is known as “play money”. Play money can also be renewed as much as needed for free whenever users run out. So, in other words if you just want to waste some free time playing online you never even have to spend a cent in order to do so.

What is the deal with these “free” buy-in tournaments?

Many of the online venues host tournaments for players in which it is completely free to enter; with a certain high-payout. This is possible due to advertising and sponsorship; so technically they are not giving money away for free. There usually is always a stipulation however, one being that in order for users to enter they must have some amount of “real money” deposited into their account. Some venues however have no requirement to enter; besides the fact that all users play under an active account. By all means this is a great way for any novice to ease their way into the world of professional poker.

What information will I need to disclose in order to create a new account?

In most instances if you are only interested in playing for fun (“free money”), than you will only have to provide a valid e-mail address, a personal account name and a password. Of course if you want to play for real money; than the venue will need a little more information. This is required for pay-outs and withdrawals much like a bank needs your info for the same reason; as mentioned before all information that you give is kept safe, secure and private. To play for “real money” users will have to give their mailing address, full name, a valid e-mail and of course a valid payment source including all the information needed right alongside it (billing info and address).

What is installed on my computer in order to play?

Every online venue has an application or program that must be installed that includes all the necessary files in order to play poker online. Each venue has a different interface and design; so file size varies from venue to venue. For the most part users will have to download the client install file, in the form of an .exe, in order to play. None of the online venues install hidden spyware or adware on your computer, nor any hazardous files or data; so it is completely safe to install the application. Setup is very easy and the interface for each installation will be similar to other programs you have installed on your machine in the past.

Where do I sign-up for a new account and download the poker software from?

It depends on what online venue you choose to play poker with; there are many out there. Of course to download and sign-up you will have to visit each venue’s official website.

What happens if I no longer wish to play poker with the venue I have chosen?

All accounts can be canceled at any time under no obligation. You will of course have to give additional information if there is “real money” on the account for the venue to provide a refund. Keep in mind however that any money you have spent or lost at an online table will not be refunded; consider it as money spent just like that of money you spend at a store with perishable items.

Now that your biggest questions have been answered, get out there into the world of online poker and make yourself an account. The world of online poker offers one of the biggest advantages to learning the ropes of the game, offering everyone the chance to play against real players, without having to spend any money.

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buy-in tournaments, Online Poker, Poker, Poker Bonus, Real Money, Sign up bonus