At the poker table, it is important that you set a good image. Others should not have this perception that you are a weak player and can be easily beaten.
Well, a weak player can be very straightforward and are easy to read. Oftentimes, they do not use the strategy of deception and depend on the merit of his or her own hand to make it and win in a certain game.
A weak player is of course the opposite of a strong player. A strong player will take risk, not only play his or her own cards but also his or her their opponents’ cards and believe that with his or her skill and attitude he or she will win. A weak player on the other hand, oftentimes lose confidence and whenever has a weak hand will think unusually that he or she must check the hand down but if has a strong hand will consider to immediately take the pot away. And unlike a strong player, a weak player will only play his or her own cards.
If you will try to closely analyze everything mentioned, it is really unhealthy to become a weak player. Still, it is best to be the opposite. But of course, you can’t easily be a strong one. It will take time before you fully gain the confidence and the attitude that will help you become a strong player. More or less what you can do now is to just avoid appearing like a weak player. Never try even once. Once you appear like a weak player, other players will think that you are really a weak one. And later you will find it hard to change their perception about you so be careful on the image you are trying to set at the table.
You have certain obligations to consider once seated at the poker table. Once you are settled, there are some things you need to do to be able to participate well in a game. Below are some of these things.
Posting to be Dealt In
Normally, for you to be dealt in, you have to post. However not all casinos have this kind of rule. To be sure, consult the dealer of the game wherein you are a participant.
In case in a certain game there’s this rule about posting to get dealt in, just abide by the rule. But if you are near the big blind, remember not to post as down the road you will be required to pay the big blind.
Calling Out Action
It is a must to call out actions. This will make things easier for everyone at the poker table. When calling out your action, be sure that everybody will hear you. Call out loudly.
Following the Action
When finally seated, be ready for the action. Always try to be observant and keep track of the action. Be sure you know what’s happening at the table and who should act after who. In case your time to act comes, be sure you are prepared and already know what to do. You must be alert.
Showing You’re in the Hand
It is a must that you make everyone believe you are still in the hand. Be sure that your cards can be easily seen and they are in front of your stack and covered by a chip.
Securing the pot
Before you give up, be sure pot is secured. Before throwing your hand towards the center, be sure you have the right reason for it. Never make any serious decision when you are not sure pot is secured.
Making some bluffs and semi-bluffs sometimes can be a good strategy. Bluffing or semi-bluffing at the right time can actually be so effective that you will be able to win big bucks.
Well, your main goal when you bluff should be to confuse your opponents. You have to make them belief that you are having a certain hand although you are not. Say you have the marginal hand at best and to make a bluff about it, you have to make them believe that you have nuts. And to make this effective, you have to continuously bet and raise. Eventually, if successful, players will decide to fold and you will make your way to the pot.
On the other hand, when you semi-bluff, your main goal will still be to confuse your opponents. However, you will be into some kind of a progressive bluffing. Same as when you make a typical bluff, when you semi-bluff you have to make your opponents believe that you have a certain hand although you are not. Normally, it should be a weak hand. But unlike when you bluff, when you semi-bluff you must not run after making your opponents fold but mainly you should run after getting the chance to work out on your hand for it to become really strong and unbeatable.
On the flip side, although making some bluffs and semi-bluffs can be a good strategy and can be really effective, there are also some strings attached to it. If you happen to make some bluffs and semi-bluff at the wrong time, at the wrong situation, then you will be on great trouble that may eventually lead to you losing your entire bankroll. Thus, be very careful when making bluffs and semi-bluffs at the poker table.
Yes it is true that calculating odds can be so simple. However, depending on the player’s ability and wit, it can also be so difficult and complicated.
Calculating odds is mainly about knowing your chances of winning a hand. But a number of things are involved when calculating odds – computing pot odds, working out the possible cards in the hands of the opponents, and getting to know the number of outs.
When troubles arise in relation to calculating odds, seeking help from a poker odds software can be so significant. The Holdem Genius software is worth trying out. It is one of the most famous and most effective poker odds softwares at present. It will help you in your every game by calculating pot odds based on how many players remaining and by giving out insights and suggestions on the best possible moves. When it is your time to act, it will give you some hints on how you should suppose to act. With Holdem Genius, you’d surely have a personal coach beside you in your every game.
There are some other pot odds softwares that could really help. There is the Texas Calculatem which is like Holdem Genius, can serve as your personal coach. However, its main strength is on calculating drawing odds which is actually essential when ascertaining which cards are still in the hands of the dealer or in the hands of other players at the poker table. Well, knowing the drawing odds is also helpful as you can get ideas on how you should play as the game continues. Good thing, right now there is a new version of Texas Calculatem which is more helpful and more effective. It can already calculate pot odds and also can give vital details on winning probabilities and similar stuff.
Hello,
I’ve been playing $2-4 online for some time now and actually been trying so hard to be tight aggressive.
In a short span of time I’ve been into Poker, I’ve already experienced so many ups and downs and faced a lot of intriguing hands. There were three hands I can’t forget.
The first hand I lost to a straight flush, I have a full house. Second hand I don’t have directly anything to do but it was the very next hand and another straight flush was dealt. I’m curious how often such situation happens? Third and final hand, I had full house but lost to another full house pulled on the river by which was far better.
Well, first thought in my mind was that maybe I wasn’t that aggressive enough in terms of betting particularly on two hands I lost. But on the contrary, though I was aggressive enough the other player might still not fold therefore I could have lost even more.
Any thoughts?
Many thanks,
Jamez
Jamez,
Without more information, I cant say whether you were not aggressive in your betting of hands. In regards to back to back straight flushes, that is very rare, but is possible. I personally have never seen it happen. I’ve seen two in the span of 10 minutes, but not in back to back hands.
In regards to your betting, you may have pushed someone out of the hand, but depending on how the hand unfolded, you may have lost more money as well. To be honest, you had three highly rare situations unfold there. They happen, and when they do, you will lose money. They are so rare that I would just look at them as what they are, abnormalities. Congratulate your opponent for a fortunate hand and take his money later.
Hello,
I typically play with some close friends. I can’t believe it but there’s one person who always wins. Well, he does bluff some pots and gets others to fold but I don’t totally believe that these are the reasons why he always makes it.
Normally, when he’s in a hand in someone and he happens to ride it all the way to the river calling any bet, he then makes it to have a pair or a gunshot straight. Not to mention that whenever a certain player is in a pot with him and we finally turn over a pair each, I usually have a king kicker while he has an ace.
I remember one time in a 3 handed game, with QhJh I went all in. He called and flipped 8h7h over. Flop came up and was Q Q 6. Turn followed and was a 9. River then was next and brought 10, thus granting him a straight. In the end he made it again. I don’t understand why he’s always lucky and he’s always on top of the line.
Next time when he gets either a pocket pair or suited picture cards almost every hand, what should I do? I need your advice please.
Thank you.
Regards,
Cade
Cade,
Your friend is riding a hot streak. You can either choose to play tighter against him, or choose to play small ball. A player such as this is a good one to play small ball with. See a lot of cheap flops and when your marginal hands connect big, then you punish him. Since he seems to be a bit of a calling station, you should be able to profit from him.
Hello,
Online, I never show my pocket card after a hand without being requested as I don’t want others, particularly my close opponents, to know how I played a certain hand. I believe the less information I give the better. But then what if unusual situations happen like situations where I don’t make any decisions about being in the hand like if everyone folds to me in the big blind or heads up if the small blind folds, will I still stick with what I believe in? Maybe it’s also helpful to once in a while show my uncalled hand right? There’s a great possibility that I can also use giving little infos to my own advantage. In case my opponent figured things wrongly, they might end up making a call with a weak hand. Any thoughts?
Thank you very much!
Warm regards,
Dustin
Dustin,
Showing your hands gives other players information on how you play. You can use this to give them only the information you want them to have. For example, I only show strong hands late in a tournament to give off the impression that I only play the nuts late.
Hello,
I know for a fact that there’s a huge difference in starting hand selection from full tables to short-handed tables. But what if you try to change the way you think, your mindset as far as the quality of your hand pre-flop when before you some players have folded?
Consider when you have Q10 in late position. Well, with many callers this might be the perfect hand you would push till the end however in short-handed games it would be a different story. Q10 will have a lot of potential when in short-handed games. But what if it’s folded around to you, will you change your thoughts and then just imagine you’re at a short-handed table? Do you think this will help?
Thanks in advance!
Regards,
Ricky
Ricky,
Q-10 in late position can be a playable. Whether to limp in or raise will depend on the remaining opponents etc. You may want to limp in and see a cheap flop, or you may want to take the pot right there.
When at a short handed table, you will need to widen your range of starting hand requirements as more hands become playable due to the reduction in the number of players.
Hi,
You once said that you typically fight very aggressive players with tight conservative play waiting for extremely strong hand at a large table but when you are on a heads up play, you find such approach to be not practical at all. So what do you do when you are on a heads up play with an aggressive player? I hope it’s okay for me to ask this.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Rain
Rain,
With an aggressive player, you try and keep the pots small. Another thing to remember is that you can open up your hand ranges a lot in heads up play. Any two big cards, any ace, and any pair become strong hands. When you get such against an aggressive player, play back at them. Many times they will back down, but if they don’t, you will be ahead a majority of the time.
Hi,
I heard 72 off is considered the worst hand in Texas Holdem, is this true? If so, why? Well, for me, it should be 92 off and not 72 as with the former you’re up for nothing while with the latter you could still actually make a straight. Any thoughts?
Glad to hear from you in no time.
Many thanks,
Hanz
Hanz,
7-2 is considered the most inferior hand because it has the least chances of making a straight and top pair over any other starting hand. If you pair your nine, you might still win the pot. A pair of nines is much stronger than sevens. You actually cannot make a straight with either hand unless you catch four running cards, and by that point, your straight usually isn’t any good.
