Introduction
An endless amount of literature has been written on poker strategy and this topic is very complex. With so many divisions and sub-divisions within the poker world, as well as different house rules prevalent in many gambling institutions, a player really needs to find a poker strategy that suits them best. A player will ultimately know what type of poker game he plays the most and in what playing situation he is normally based (casual game between friends, at a land casino, online poker room etc.) Click for information on texas holdem, 7 card stud, 5 card stud, badugi, chinese, guts, omaha, omaha hi lo, one on one, hand rankings, history, pot odds, strategy, terminology and freerolls.
There are also different levels of poker play and hence different levels of strategy. There is beginner’s level strategy which helps a new player understand the basics of the game and a few elementary tips on playing correctly. The intermediate level allows players with a little bit more experience to try some bold moves, because they have absorbed the nature of the game. Advanced strategy is for those that are already on the way to becoming high rollers and who may be playing in tournaments. We will be focusing on beginners’ level strategy.
Basic Poker Skills
A person who wants to get to pro level has to begin thinking and acting like a pro right from his first hand of cards. There are four basic skills that a new player needs in order to reach this. The first is basic mathematic skills which includes knowing the importance of ‘outs’ (the number of cards that will improve one’s hand), how to calculate pot odds and how to convert them into a betting strategy. A player also needs discipline whereby he makes things happen and demands an advantage. A disciplined player knows that different games require different approaches, that the game is not always perfect and that sometimes you simply have to quit. Having a good psychological understanding of one’s opponent is imperative and understanding one’s opponents thought processes can be a very useful skill: What cards does my opponent have? What cards does my opponent think I have? What cards does my opponent think I think he has?
Money management and control of one’s bankroll is another basic skill that needs to be learnt before advanced strategy can be applied. One should never bet more than one can afford to lose and this will range from player to player. One can afford to lose $10 while another can afford $1000.
Online beginner players should also take advantage of the play money options that most casinos provide and practice playing without wagering a thing. This helps a player get a better understanding of the rules of the game, and will also get him used to the site’s software.
Opening Moves
A player should spend some time learning what a good hand is and what a bad hand is. For a low limit Texas Holdem game, there are some hands which are worth raising with and with which one should jam the pot with pre-flop: 2 Aces, 2 Kings, 2 Queens, Ace/King, 2 Jacks, Ace/Queen and 2 Tens. There are some opening hands, however, that a player would need to see the flop first before deciding on his call. These hands are: Ace/Jack, King/Queen, King/Jack, Queen/Jack, Jack/Ten, Ten/Nine of the same suit, 2 Nines, 2 Eights, 2 Sevens.
Psychological Combat
Poker is not just a game of mathematical calculations of odds, but rather a game of psychological combat too. A player has three psychological weapons at his disposal: bluffing, semi-bluffing and slowplaying.
Bluffing entails pretending that one has certain cards by acting in a particular way in the hope that the opponents will believe that the player has a high hand and then fold. While this is one of the most popular poker tricks, it is not worth pulling this stunt with low limit games, and it should rather be saved for when a player is ready for the high limit tables.
Semi-bluffing works on the same technique as bluffing, but this is usually done when a player possesses a strong draw. Semi-bluffing is very useful during no-limit games.
Slowplaying causes opponents to think that the player has a worse hand than he does. A person should slowplay if a very good hand is held and there is no chance of an opponent drawing on them, and if there will only be action if some other cards come out to better the opponents' hands.
Getting Ahead of One's Opponents
Not all winning poker players better cards than their opponents, but rather they combine a number of elements which result in them winning the pot. A player does not have to be a superb player to win, but should rather know how to outplay weaker opponents. New players should aim at keeping to low limit tables and trying to keep ahead of the weaker players, rather than rushing for the high limit games and trying to outplay the high-rollers.
At low limit games, most people are so absorbed in their own game, that they forget that one of the key elements in winning at poker is to pre-empt their opponents’ moves. At low limit tables, players will be implementing their own personal strategies and will not be paying any attention to the others around them. Keeping one’s game simple and straightforward will not draw too much attention and will hopefully keep a player ahead. A new player should play a solid game by playing tight, not over-bluffing, betting aggressively if the circumstances allow it, and using pot odd calculations when deciding to draw.
Slowplaying is often the best form of deception for low limit games, while bluffing is not advisable. Most players at low limit tables are convinced that they have the best hand even if they are holding a pair of twos – they will not be scared away by a bluff and ultimately they want to see if they have the best hand.
Adaptability
Many people think that once they have found a poker strategy, they will be able to implement it in every situation. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Unlike blackjack, where there is an optimal basic strategy that generally works in all pre-determined situations, poker is a dynamic game with limitless options of what could happen next. Poker requires players to be aware of these options, but to know how to act in given situations, depending on a wide range of factors.
Top poker players could never have one strategy because they would then become too predictable and their opponents would be able to read them like a book after the first few hands. Adaptability and the ability to make decisions on the spot are an essential part of one’s personal poker strategy. Within each situation, a player will have to judge several factors and make a playing decision accordingly.
Common Beginner Mistakes
1. Most players like to play as many hands as possible in the beginning, but a player should remember that bad opening hands are generally an indicator of the rest of the game and should therefore be avoided.
2. Beginners might like to play above their bankroll ‘just in case’ they win big. Greed and irrational play will not pay in the long run. Most poker games offer tight competition and a player should pace their wagers and have consistent lower limits.
3. Emotions might run wild for new players due to both excitement and frustration. Experienced players keep their emotions controlled (most of the time) and new players should learn to do this too. Every player will have bad runs and good runs, but one should not get too upset or excited about any of these issues, as it will simply cloud one’s judgment for the rest of play.
4. Not using pot odds can be to a player’s disadvantage. While some new players might find the concept too confusing, it is not too complicated to grasp once explained.
5. Using a two color deck can cause confusion as often the ‘reds’ and ‘blacks’ are lumped together and a player can misread their hand. Many online poker rooms offer the 4-color suit option and this should be used.
6. A player should always be aware of etiquette whether playing at a land casino or online. Many new players are so fixed on keeping up with the rules and the play, that they forget that there is another entire system of unwritten rules called player etiquette.
7. Other players at the table should not be imitated because a player could easily pick up on all their bad moves and habits. Trying to reenact a hand that one saw during a tournament or on TV is also unadvisable as these hands are normally very situational. The most important element of watching other people play is trying to understand why they made a specific move, but not to copy their play.
8. New players often place too much value on a suited hand and ignore other basics. When a player considers their opening hand, the first two factors should be the ranks of one’s cards and whether the cards are paired or not. These elements are much more important than two suited cards.
Conclusion
Acquiring a personalized poker strategy takes time and effort. On the one hand a player needs to read as much information as possible about the different games and strategy options, but on the other hand, he needs to implement these theories in practice.
Playing at the free games that online casinos provide is a great way for a player to build up their confidence and learn the game’s rules. While this confidence is an important element of the game, and an understanding of the rules are crucial, proper strategy can only really be practiced against other ‘live’ players in poker rooms.
A player should absorb as much information as possible, but remember that in the end, a strategy is only a theory, and one’s personal judgment and application of the theory into practice in a specific situation is what will make or break a game. |
