To have great decision making power potential, you must research and collect vital or significant information. Watch how other player play. But try to focus more on watching over tight players and loose players, you can learn a lot from them. Also, you must observe some raises, most especially pre-flop raises that usually win the blinds.

You must also be open to all possibilities. Open your mind and understanding to things that may take place. Of course you will never know what’s in store for you till you reach the end. Be very patient. Say for an instance, you have raised pre-flop, consider then what may possibly come out on the flop. Doing so will keep you away from being surprise later. And if something unlikely takes place, you are prepared. Poker is about taking risk and will always be about taking risk.

Also, you must not cram, try to taking things slowly. Never be rattle or be in a hurry when on play. Just consider the champion Chris Ferguson who always stops for a minute or two before making decisions. He knows he can’t get anything good with being so fast when making decisions.

Be aware that stopping for some time to think can really help. You can’t only be able to check everything, the odds, probabilities and the like, but also eventually figure out what’s the best thing to do. You can consider all factors, and never miss important things and so errors or mistakes will also be minimized or be lessened.

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Basically, a tough game is a game which is full of skillful players but at its pre-flop with few players. In a tough game, there are so many raises and re-raises and pots are at most at heads up or three-way. Aggressive players are also very apparent in a tough game. Hence to win in such kind of game, you must be very patient and determined.

As mentioned there are so many raises and re-raises that can be experienced in a tough game. Players making raises and re-raises most probably just want to steal others’ blinds including yours of course. Hence, try to defend your blinds at all times.

In late position, try to raise more hands in order to draw out the good players. This may also force them to play mediocre hands which can be good for you if you are also playing such kind of hands.

As also mentioned, aggressive players are very apparent in a tough game. They will try to overcome you and make you feel you have a smaller edge. Well, you may be harsh on yourself but don’t lose hope and faith. Although you may really have a smaller edge, you can still make it. Try not to wait for the nuts so you can raise. Remember that the chance to have nuts don’t come that often. Instead of waiting for the nuts to come, try to focus your attention to your position and on how you would become aggressive.

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Rule on Misdeals

In casinos, misdeals do not often take place. However, in home games, misdeals are very apparent and would actually mean reshuffling of cards and repeat of the dealing of cards. Thus, if you happen to play in a home game and there’s a misdeal, be aware of the consequences.

There is actually a misdeal if dealer exposes two or more face-down cards, wrong cards are included in the deck, incorrect amounts of cards dealt to a player, first or second face-down card of the deal is shown, first card delivered to the wrong person, and cards placed in front of a vacant position.

Rule on Misbehavior

Some players can do things that are simply unacceptable, for an instance acting out of turn, revealing cards while a hand is still live, stalling the game, and table talking about one’s hand while an action is taking place. Oftentimes, any of the misbehavior can lead to issuance of a warning or worst disqualification of the player from the game.

Rule Concerning Blinds and Cards

Some players put a blind when it is not their turn or discards a card that they don’t tend to keep. Any of these two will actually call the floor’s attention. For the first, in the event the cards haven’t been dealt yet, the player can still get his or chips back, however depending on the floor’s final decision. For the second, in the event dealer is stopped before putting of cards in the muck pile, player may still get his or her card back but again depending on the floor’s final decision.

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Basic Rules for Texas Holdem

The Shuffle, Deal and the Blinds

Generally, dealer should use a standard 52-card deck. If in casinos, dealer doesn’t have to play. Then a dealer button or a round disc will move clockwise from one player to another with every hand. Then as the game continues, button marks which player would be the dealer.

Normally, Texas Holdem games begin with two players to the left of the dealer, the button. Before any cards are dealt, there should be “posting of the blinds” which means there should be money to be placed into the pot so play can continue on each hand. Oftentimes, the player to the left of the dealer or the “first blind” is the one to put half the minimum bet, and the “second blind” the full minimum bet.

Hole cards will then be dealt to every player, face down.

The Betting Round

Starting with the player to the left of the two who posted the blinds, a round of betting must take place. And when it’s time to bet, every player can call, raise, or fold.

The Flop

To prevent cheating at the table, “burning of card” should then take place. Dealer should discard the top card after the first betting round.

Afterwards, dealer should flip the next three cards which are called “flop ”face up. Five community cards will then be placed face up and then players can form the best possible five-card hand. They can use their hole cards.

Another betting round should then take place after the flop and it should start with the button.

The Turn or Fourth Street

Turn or Fourth Street should then follow, and the dealer should burn another card and play one more face up. Button then should start the third betting round.

The River of Fifth Street

River or Fifth Street must follow, and the dealer should burn another card before placing the final face-up card.

The Final Betting Round and the Winner

Final betting round should then follow and should begin with the button. In this round, remaining players will have to reveal their hands. Usually the player who made the initial bet or who made the last raise should be the first one to show his hand. Player with the best hand will win.

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I believe you once said that A5s is a pretty good hand for hitting straights and flushes. One thing I’m bothered of is that I’m actually under the idea that you couldn’t use wrap-around straights, A2345, in holdem. Another thing, in case you can use them, is JQKA2 a valid wrap-around straight? Your thoughts?

Warm regards,
Jones
Jones,

A-5 suited can be used to make flushes, but the straight potential is weak. I would see a flop in the blinds or late position, or in limit holdem I might play this.

Wrap around straights are not legal in any form of poker. An ace may be used to make a wheel or broadway, and that is all.

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The other night I was in a 10 man tournament. Later I was in heads up and was the chip leader. My opponent then was a kind of player who always seems to play and bet every hand. Later he became the chip leader as he won over most of my blinds as I wasn’t getting my cards then. Because of what happened, I went all in with Jh9h and he called me with A4 off suit. In the end, with ace high, he won. Well, I know I should have played differently but I don’t know how. Any thoughts?

Many thanks,
Austin
Austin,

Loosen up your hand requirements. Any hand with an ace, two big cards, and any pair is a potential raising hand. Otherwise, try and see a lot of flops for the blinds and push your hands when you flop strong.

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I’m here again to ask something about the right time to move up in No Limit Holdem. I’ve been into $10 sit n’ goes for some time and luckily have won for several times. In cases I lost, not that bad as I was the second placer then. Before my series of winnings, I fairly take home the pots. Now, do you think it’s already time to move up in the limits? If you think yes, how much?

Another thing, I joined a charity tournament with $20 buy in just 2 weeks ago and something came up. Right after I sat down, I received 45 worth of chips. Blinds were at 1-2 but were increasing every 10 mins. Within 30 mins, blinds went from 1-2 to 4-8, to 10-15. Honestly, with the blinds moving so fast, I was a bit confused on what strategy I should use. Later I thought of picking up solid cards early but I ended up moving all-in preflop for a few times with cards I typically wouldn’t pushed through. Much later I pushed all in with K9 suited with only 15 chips left, blinds were at 10-15. I have no regrets then as I was the next big blind. Any thoughts? Am I right for pushing all in with K9?

By the way, you’re site is so great. Thanks for the effort you’ve invested here. It’s very much appreciated by us readers and visitors. Keep up the good work!

All the best,
Mike Camson
Mike,

When you are regularly winning at the game you are in, you can take a shot at the larger games if you think your bankroll can handle it. If you do not do well at the game, move back down. If you do well, take another shot until you determine if you are comfortable playing at this level. I would move up to the next level. Jumping multiple levels can be a disaster to your bankroll.

As far as pushing with K-9, you were short stacked and needed to push a hand. K-9 isn’t that horrible a hand to push with short stacked. Now in regards to strategy, in fast moving blind structures, play tight the first couple of levels while the blinds are low and really push your advantages hard. Push them harder than normal. After a couple of levels, widen your hand ranges and take some chances to steal blinds and antes if present.

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I’ve been into micro-stakes no limit holdem online. Typically I play at .10/.25, $25 max buy-in. Ever since, I don’t know already how to play pocket pairs, more specifically 10′s and lower. As of the moment, I’ve been applying what you advised before to a particular player and things have been running smoothly. But I still have some clarifications.

At what point do you stop limping in with pocket pairs? Is there any magic value I should consider so that I can isolate one or more players? 9′s, 10′s, J’s? Normally, it appears to me as good thing when lots of players are in preflop with a small raise and I call with a low pocket pair and hit the set, however it’s also at times a bad thing when I lost lots of money as I can’t get out of a set. I admit I can’t teach myself how to get out of a set and I don’t have the discipline as well. Oftentimes, I get burned on the turn or river bets and end up losing two times or more of what I typically win when I play with sets.

Any thoughts now? By the way, in order to have more money in the pot, will you not anymore isolate players with anything? Except A, K or Q’s?

I’ll look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thank you very much.

All the best,
Chris
Chris,

In early and middle position, I like to limp with pairs up to 9’s to try and hit a set. 10’s and up I tend to raise. In late position, I will raise most any pair above 5’s. Sometimes I will raise 5’s too if the blinds are the only players left.

You can try and isolate players with other hands other than big pairs, but if you do so, you must at least fire out a continuation bet on the flop, even if you miss. Otherwise, when you miss with you’re A-K, you will look like someone who missed with A-K.

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I’m done playing the latest 6 person tournament. Well, I’m not boasting here or what but I actually finished two of those in a single night.

I remember in the first tourney, I did well earlier and had a bit over 20K in chips. Couple of good hands also were present. Unfortunately in the mid part, something came up, I was holding pair of Jacks then. I raised two early callers to 1,000 from the button. At such point, blinds were 200/400. Then blinds folded, heads up coming. Flop came and brought A-A-x. My opponent then checked and I placed 4K bet. He then went over top and placed me all in. At such instance, I had 10K to my name. Then I called and he revealed he had Ace. I believe I made a mistake at some point. I never entertained the idea what if he had Ace or the idea how willing he is to go all in even without the Ace.

In the following tournament, almost same things happen. Earlier part, I believe I did well. I had around 15K. I was allowed to play for free with 8d-2d from the big blind. Flop came and brought Ad-Kd-5d. There were three players then who were in the pot. Hoping someone had hit the A or K, I led out with $2K. I then got a call. One player then went all in over the top. I then laid down what I had as I’m afraid to take risk. In the end, I surprisingly won the tourney.

Now, how do you suppose to balance being an aggressive player with the ability to lay down properly? And in the first tourney, do you think I should have laid down as well? I think I should have laid down too. How about in the second tourney, do you think I should have called?

By the way, when playing against an inferior player, should I fear a one in three odds to double up than being busted out?

Glad to hear from you soon.

Many thanks,
Mart
Mart,

In the first tournament, you should have folded when the two aces hit the board. When you raise and are called by two players, the odds are high that one of them holds an Ace. When you bet and he check-raised, you were beat and should have folded.

The other hand, I would have probably called there. The odds of flopping a flush are around 30% and the odds of two people flopping such are much longer. You should have called here and tried to double up.

Being able to lay down hands requires the ability to be able to put your opponent on hands properly. This comes by observation and watching playing style. Part of this is simple common sense of what could be out there. When you have J-J and overcards hit the board with more than one opponent, odds are you are going to be behind. Sometimes you are not, but you have to be aware of the possibility.

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A certain situation happened not only once or twice but a lot of times, more or less 75% of the heads up matches I have been into. In the said situation I’m typically the aggressor in the beginning. I of course have an opponent and he usually folds a lot which then makes me think he’s actually a tight player or a wise one trying to discover how often do I raise, check, call, and the like. I’m confident most of the time but then suddenly he’d turn around maybe 5 min into the match. He then begins to raise almost all hands preflop and then bets on flop and turns if in case I call.

Oftentimes, I’m supposed to win in 5 hands as I raise or call down and win with high card however he normally be in between and then will start to take over and so I’ll be left troubled, clueless of what to do next. Raises aren’t small. If blinds are 15/30, BB preflop raise will be three times and bet will be pot size by which can be your stack in a while.

Just yesterday, same situation happened. I tried to bully the guy more. With high card A on the flop, I checked raised him and he just called and checked. Quite as I expected, I won the pot. I tried such approach for several times but then to my surprise he turned gears again. When I’m up to do check raising back then, for about 3/4 of my stack he would raise me. Well, I wanted to call however I don’t want to take risk specially I don’t have a top pair or something else good.

Any thoughts? Any strategy I can use to eventually play effectively against such wild player the next time around?

By the way, you’re site is so helpful. Keep up the good work!

Thanks a lot!

Regards,
Merlin
Merlin,

You will have to change gears at different times. When your aggression isn’t working, then play tight. If the player lets you see flops cheap, then see them and punish him when you connect well. Chances are this player is getting tired of getting bullied and is starting to get desperate. The easiest way to beat this player is usually wait for strong hands and push them hard. The blinds are so low that you can sit back and play tight for a while.

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