Better Players can be Bluffed

The one rule of poker that new players have a difficult time learning is that it is not a sin to lay down the winning hand after the river card is dealt.  Players who never do this are not yet as good a player as they can be or should be. Good players can be bluffed out of pots and made to lay down a winning hand.  In fact sometimes it is easier to bluff a very good player than it is to bluff the table calling station that never folds a hand.  Good players will replay the betting in their mind and come to a conclusion of whether they think they have the winning hand or not.  If the bluff was carried out right, the good player may well fold a hand that would win.

No less a player than Daniel Negreanu has stated this fact.  His idea is do not do it too often, but never become a calling station all the time.  If this becomes a tendency it will make it harder to book winning sessions.  Players that compute pot odds all the time are given a slight edge in this situation as the odds enter into their calculations about the hand they hold. [Read][more...]

Early position betting in Holdem

The betting that a player makes in the early position at a Holdem cash game is different from a late position bet.  A good hand may be played softly in hopes that there is a chance to raise before the flop.  A weak pair should be played softly in case there is a later raise.  Small pairs can be a big winner if the flop gives you a set.  If you are playing a rush, then you may consider reraising.  Early position is always a dangerous position as there is a possible raise from later positions.  Consider this when deciding to play a hand from the early position at the table.

When the flop gives you a monster hand, be aggressive in your betting, but remember you can still be beat by a good draw. With a mortal lock then there is no fear and slow playing is in order from the early position.  Your hope is a later positioned player will raise your bet or try to bluff you out of your hand.  This is a great way to make a better profit from a winning hand. [Read][more...]

When to make a large bet in No Limit

No Limit poker is an exercise in skill and courage.   Either alone is not enough to make a player a winner.  Knowing when to bet or how much, takes time and experience to learn.  A player with four of a kind early in a Holdem game is a fool to make a large bet early.   This kind of a hand should be played to gain maximum payoff.  Slow playing solid hand will gain more profit than making a large bet.   Just call other player's bets is the way to play this hand.  Only on your last bet should you raise and try to get another player or players to call.  This rare hand should get maximum profit from the other players.

A large bet can be made when you have four to a flush and a pair of Aces.   This bet may win the hand right then or at least you have the best of it with the coming deal.  Making large wagers when you have the edge is the way to gain maximum profit from good hands.  A drawing edge is a reasonable place to make a bigger wager. [Read][more...]