Typically, it is time to change strategy when it seems like what you are applying is not working anymore and you are losing significantly. However, of course, before you finally change strategy, know first what strategy will you use after. Be sure to think things over. Study what may probably went wrong so you can decide effectively.

It is also a time to change strategy when your winnings have dried, say for an instance you moved up to a certain limit coming from a certain limit. More or less, there is something wrong with the strategy you are using. Take time to study everything that happened at the poker table.

On the other hand, it is not time to change strategy when you lost just once. It is not a good reason that because you lost in one session you will already change strategy. Your lost may not be directly due to your strategy. There might be some other reasons for it. You maybe not aware but you may have failed to play better than your opponents as you didn’t get good cards or say position. There are so many other reasons actually. You just have to open your mind and understanding for them. There might be just some glitches and unnoticed lapses on your part.

However, of course, you need not to experience a lot of bad beats or losses before you change strategy. After a loss, try again to play using your strategy. If again you didn’t make it, then maybe you can finally change strategy. But be sure your next strategy is far better and more effective.

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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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In poker, the best position to be in is the late position which you are behind the dealer’s button. Because of being in this position, you will get the chance to get vital information from your opponents. You may get an idea what cards they are most probably holding or which path are they taking. And later on, you may be able to use the information you collected to make your way to the pot.

Also, if you are in the late position and you get a strong hand, you can get the chance to control the game. You can dissemble by betting just enough to be in the game, push players with strong hand into folding, or let the pot grow so you get big pot when you win.

On the other hand, the worst position to be in is the early position. If you are in this position, you will be much pressured. Whenever you need to make decisions or moves, you will filled with uncertainty. And in the event you are on the first or second, bets won’t be optional.

But the good thing is, there is chance for you to make it to the pot if ever you are granted a strong hand. You can play calmly and eventually when timing is perfect, ambush other players at the table. You can still win the pot although you are in the worst position.

However to be safe try to be in the late position. But of course getting the best position is actually something you have too little control. Position changes throughout the game and depends on the initial positioning. Also, it is not common that you can pick your position.

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The Button: The Best Position to Be In

The Button position or the last position is actually the best position to be in. By being in the last, you can get to see actions of all players before you and get free information. You can then eventually base your decision say whether to bet or fold on other players’ last action made.

And also, when you are the last, the expected value of your hand becomes greater. You also have the least risk because you can evaluate other players’ cards based on their actions made. Thus, when you happen to be in the last position, make sure to make most out of it.
Learn to maximize the advantages of being in the last position.

Under the Gun: The Worst Position to Be In

Being in the position of an “under the gun” is one of the worst things that could happen to you at the table. Nonetheless, if you are in this position, you will not be able to get any free information instead will be the source of information of other players at the table. Players after you will base their decisions on your last action made.

On the good side, you can still win even if you are in the “under the gun” position. With right strategy and patience you can actually still win. And just learn to minimize the disadvantages of being in the said position and you will make it.

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3 P’s of Poker Prosperity

Patience

The very first contributor to profit is patience. If you’ll come to think of it, there would be nothing else that can destroy the profit potential like lack of patience. Thus, it’s important to always keep enough patience. When you start to enter to many pots with marginal hands, stay too long though signs are clear you are beat or draw to long-shot hands, be careful as you might already be losing your patience. Remember that because of lack of patience, you might get yourself into strings of bad beats.

Planning

To get a profit from your bankroll, it will help if you will make a plan. Plan out how you will play big pair after a raise, how to cope with a losing streak, when to quit if a game is too tough, how to change your play when the mood of the game changes or the like. Do your homework. Although making a plan won’t guarantee you a profit, it can keep you organized and well knowledgeable of the things you need to do under certain conditions or situations.

Position

Position is indeed an important contributor to profit. It’s vital that you know how to correctly use whatever position you have. Like for an instance circumstances put you in the last or near the last to act, know what you should do to make a profit. Nonetheless, know that you should bet in order to win the pot. Thus, take advantage of your being last or near the last to act.

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Early Position

If in early position, A-A, K-K and A-K suited cards can be played. Raise them. While call A-K, A-Q suited cards, K-Q suited cards, and Q-Q J-J, T-T. Everything else, you need to fold.

Middle position

If in middle position, it’s worth calling with A-J suited cards, A-T suited cards, Q-J suited cards, A-Q, K-Q, 9-9, 8-8, and the like.

Late Position

If in late position, calling with Q-T suited cards, J-T suited cards, A-J, A-T, K-T suited cards, small pairs, and any suited cards with A, is reasonable. To call a raise, it will actually take a stronger hand. In the event there is a raise before your turn to act just fold in order to be sure. Think if there is good reason behind why you will put in two bets with marginal hands.

Important Tip:

At times, some players will try to play any two suited cards from any position and will play an Ace with any small kicker. Actually, these are losing hands and should be avoided. They are not worth playing. Nonetheless, they will just cost you big bucks because they are traps. Avoid playing these hands.

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Before anything, thanks for your quick response last time.

Well, I’m here again to ask you something. At a short handed table, say at the the end of the tourney, how should my play change compared to regular one? I know for a fact that I have to loosen up however most of the time I end up playing aggressively. Any advice?

Thank you very much.

All the best,
Leo
Leo,

You should loosen up your hand requirements late. The easiest way to think about this is to take hands that you would play in later position and back up a position with them. Play late position hands even in middle position, middle position hands in early position, and widen your late position holdings up a bit. When you do flop a strong hand, then play the hand aggressively. Also push your big hand.

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Earlier this evening I tried my luck but unluckily didn’t get any good cards at all. In case it happens again, do you have any suggestion, tips, or the like? Do you think bluffing more will work? How about preflop raising?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks and more power!

Regards,
Chen
Chen,

You might want to try and open you hand ranges up in later position. Without knowing more about your game I cannot recommend bluffing. Raising preflop just for the sake of raising usually just leads to lost money. If you are going to raise, do so for a reason, such as a big hand or a tight game.

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You once said that it’s hard to play with pocket queens and jacks. Well, I agree with you on that but I believe it’s even harder to play pocket 9s. Such hand has become overrated in Low Limit games. In heads up play it’s actually a good hand but not in Low Limit. Not to mention that it ranked as a top 20 and often top 15 starting hand.

When you flop a set during the 12% of the time you suppose to have a great chance of winning big however the problem is, I find it hard to let it go most especially when there’s only one overcard on the flop. On the better side, if the board comes with an Ace I can dump it easily as I know nobody folds an Ace in Low Limit, however when the board comes Q 7 2 or J 8 5, I find it hard to let it go again. Later part, I just end up losing although normally just a small one.

Now, do you think pocket 9s should be treated essentially the same as pocket 2-6? Basically if you don’t flop a set, check or fold the hand? Another thing, with 9s, does position matter significantly?

Hope to hear from you in no time.

Many thanks,
Andrew
Andrew,

Position matters with all hands. 9’s are a raising hand in late position. Personally, unless there are multiple overcards or I am against an opponent that I know flopped an overpair, I am going to probably call down to the river when only single bets are fired. Usually it is wrong to let go of a pair such as that when there is a lot of bets in the pot. Of course if there is only a bet or two in the pot, Ill probably let go of nines if there is even one overcard on the board since the pot isn’t laying the odds to call.

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• On How to Play Pocket Pairs Hello, First I would like to commend you for this nice site. Keep up the good work. Well, I’m actually here to ask you something. I’m just a newbie and have actually tried playing small pocket pairs recently. The experience...

First I would like to commend you for this nice site. Keep up the good work.

Well, I’m actually here to ask you something. I’m just a newbie and have actually tried playing small pocket pairs recently. The experience was really intriguing.

At a certain table, I had 22 with a similar flop of 2 6 T rainbow. Unfortunately, because other players who called preflop had 66, I didn’t win such hand. Also he called post flop. I thought I then bet the river but later on discovered things went differently, also called post flop.

After the flop I was really troubled. I was thinking what if someone started with starting hands like 55, TT, 52s, T5s and even T2s that was being slow played and could eventually beat me with a draw on the turn or else on the river.

Now, is it the nature of the betting scenario that creates the confidence to play small pairs or is it an odds or probability scenario? Any thoughts? By the way, any specific way I should play small pocket pairs? Most of the time, I play limit holdem tournament style.

Thanks and more power!

Regards,
Phillip
Phillip,

Small pairs in limit are usually playable, sometimes to a raise in later position. You still want to hit the flop hard with them. When you do flop your set, bet your hand aggressively. The odds of a player flopping a set is around 11% so don’t worry about another player flopping a set too. It happens and when they flop a bigger set, you will lose usually, but that is just part of the game. Most of the time, you will win a nice pot with your set.

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• Lower Pocket Pairs Hello, I want to ask something, it’s about pocket pairs particularly pocket 10’s and below. Well, some said it is far better to raise with strong pocket pairs as you prefer to play them against fewer players. But how about...
• With Pocket 9s Hello, You once said that it’s hard to play with pocket queens and jacks. Well, I agree with you on that but I believe it’s even harder to play pocket 9s. Such hand has become overrated in Low Limit games....