Know When to Change Gears in Poker

You always hear the words «be unpredictable» in poker, and you know how much this can prove to be true when it comes to your games.  But you should know though that you only have to change gears at appropriate times, lest your opponents see right through you.

So, when is the right time to change gears in poker?

When you notice an opponent observing you.

In a game of poker, you have to be aware of a lot of things.  This most certainly includes the cards you hold, your poker tells, and your opponents' poker tells.  But you also have to be aware of the fact that your opponents are also observing your every move and studying how you play the game, so you have to change gears and become less predictable since what you show could cost you a lot. [Read][more...]

Simple Strategies to Win at Texas Hold’Em Sit and Go Tournaments

For an avid poker player, sit and go tournaments are very important since this is a great way to build your bankroll and earn some extra cash.  Aside from this, sit and go tournaments are also the best way to get a seat into one of the major poker tournaments, especially if you are strapped for cash and cannot afford to pay for the huge buy-in fees.  Although playing your best at sit and go tournaments is a must, it cannot be denied that you will need some simple strategies to stay in the game and ultimately achieve what you are aiming for.

Play Premium Hands

Once you have a good hand, you should never let it go because it could spell success or disaster for you during the sit and go tournament.  [Read][more...]

Online Poker and Your Bankroll

We all know that playing online poker can be a losing endeavor, especially if you have a small bankroll to start with and most especially if you do not know how to manage it.  And then again, you have to add to this the fact the house edge is always greater than that of the players' because this is how they earn their profits.

Now, how can a player with a minimal bankroll strategize to win some money without losing what little they have of their bankroll?

Enjoy the Game

One of the main strategies that many poker players will tell you is to enjoy the game.  [Read][more...]

Satellite Tournaments Poker Strategy

Now that the 2009 Aruba Poker Classic is fast approaching and UltimateBet hosting numerous satellite tournaments where you could win a seat in APC, it is time to brush up on your satellite poker skills and strategies to make sure that you do get into the major event.  Not only will it save you some money, but you also get the chance to take home a big share of the guaranteed prize pools.

Here are some strategies worth bringing into your satellite tourneys if a seat in the APC is at stake. [Read][more...]

A Suggestion for Early Play in a Holdem Tournament

This suggestion works and will get many players deeper into the tournament than if they just sit and wait for a super starting hand.  The suggestion is this play suited connectors even if they are small value cards.  The reason this works is simple.  The blinds early in the tournament are small and unless you are playing -with some all-in maniac, the wagers to see the flop are not very threatening to the starting stake.  If you get lucky with this starting hand you may have the best of it at the end of the hand as a player with Ace King or such will be sucking wind even if he hits one of these cards on the River.  Your two pair, straight or flush may just win you a huge pot.  Another facet of playing this way early is you can play this way several times and fold.  The small loss of chips is nothing compared with the possible big pot this starting hand may capture.  Remember, many players will only play big cards of pairs.   If you are playing these small cards, the flop may hit you perfectly and give you an unbeatable hand at the end of the deal. [Read][more...]

Pot odds or Implied odds

Solid poker players use pot odds or implied odds to decide if a pot is worth making a call on a bet or a reraise.  If you have four cards to a flush for example after the flop, you have two more cards to make the flush.  This is about one out of three making the flush.  If you have to call a wager of say $50 and the pot is now at $300, then this is a six to one proposition.  This call should be made based on pot odds.  You have a reasonable shot at making your hand and the pot is plenty big enough to warrant the risk.

The implied odds are a little more difficult to calculate exactly.   Implied odds are what the pot could total after the last bet versus what you will have to wager to be live after the last card is dealt.   Obviously this situation is speculative, but an experience player will know that the bets will be bigger after the turn and the river card is dealt.  You can expect full wagers in a limit game and who knows in a no-limit game. [Read][more...]