Poker concepts

TWO PAIR

The strategies presented in this chapter are for two pair when you match both your hole cards with two of the flop cards. If there is a pair on the flop, then strategy is more like playing either an overpair/top pair, or middle/bottom pair. For example, if the flop is T55 and you have JT, I treat this like top pair for strategy purposes. You will flop two pair matching both hole cards approximately once every 50 hands... next

Top Pair/Overpair

The relative strength of your hand depends on the following factors:
How high your pair is. When the flop is favorable but your pair is vulnerable to overcards, you generally should choose the best strategy that will drive out your opponents by betting, raising, or check-raising, The higher the pair the more risks you can take since a free card is less likely to hurt you...next

Middle/Bottom Pair

Middle or bottom pair is when you hold a pair but there is another card on the board higher than your pair. For example, you hold JJ, QT, or A8, with a flop of KT8. One of the more common mistakes made by weak players is drawing too often with poor pot odds to middle or bottom pair... next

Flush Draws

Strategies for flush draws with a three-suited flop are very different than with a two- suited flop. Strategies for two-suited flops can vary depending on other qualities of the flop. For example, the flop could also have a pair or connected cards. Flush draws increase in value when you add other elements to your hand such as straight draws, pairs, or overcards... next

Straight Draws

There are three main types of straight draws: open-ended using two cards in your hand, open-ended using one card in your hand, and gut-shot draws. Lei's quickly summarize the odds for straight draws. An open-ended straight draws is approximately 2.2 to 1 against improving by the river. A gut-shot draw is approximately 5 to 1, but is 11 to 1 when you plan on just taking one more card. An open-ended straight with a pair has 10 good outs (eight for the straight and two for trips), which is 1.6 to 1. An open-ended with two overcards should hit a little over 50% of the time, so you are even money. Be careful however with an overcard out since it could be counterfeited by giving an opponent a straight... next

Overcards

Drawing to overcards too often is a common mistake made by many players. Overcard draws have six outs, which is approximately 7 to 1 against improving when drawing one more card. The big problem with these types of draws is that you are drawing to a relatively weak hand that might not win. You could be drawing practically dead to opponents with sets, two pair, or an overpair to your overcards...next

Trash Hands

I define a trash hand as a hand that has no pairs, no straight or flush draws, and does not have two overcards.
For example A ♣ 7 ♣ , 7 ♥ 4 ♥, or K ♠ 8 ♦ with a Q ♦ T ♥ 5 ♠ flop.
The only time when trash hands are playable is when you are against one or two opponents and you believe a bluff can be successful. Sometimes ace high is the best hand, which might even justify a bet... next

The Turn

The turn is one of the more difficult rounds to play in Hold'em. The bets are doubled, so the true strength of everyone's hands is usually communicated. Many players will often call a cheap bet on the flop hoping to hit overcards, gut-shot straights, two pair, etc., but will often fold these hands on the turn when the betting becomes more expensive. Since bets are doubled, any mistakes on This round of betting can become very costly... next

The River

The river is a much different type of betting, round, as now all cards have been shown. You either have a really strong hand, a busted draw, a medium holding, or a decent hand with worries that an opponent hit a draw. Most players make quick decisions on the river without thinking through the various possibilities. For example, should you always bet out when you think you have the best hand? The answer is no. Should you check and call a set when the board has four suited cards or four connected cards? Sometimes you should bet out, yet most players make the quick, most obvious decision, which is sometimes incorrect... next

Playing Your Opponent

Some of the things to consider:

Play more hands against players with loose starting hand requirements and fewer hands against tight players.

Play more hands against players who play poorly after the flop.

Don't bluff very often against loose players and play aggressively against tight players.

Induce bluffs against loose aggressive players. Induce calls against tight players

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Bankroll Management

"If a good poker player plays 100 hours of $20-$40, he could win as much as $20,000. but once in a blue moon he might lose $10.000. A good poker player could only break even after 1400 hours of play. Given any time below that, he could possibly lose."
A good understanding of the fluctuations that will occur playing Hold'em should help you manage your emotions and bankroll; otherwise, this game can be extremely frustrating, and if you are not careful, you could lose your entire bankroll in a short period of time. ...next

Internet Poker Site and Game Selection

One of the unique features of the Internet is the tremendous selection of different sites mid games. This gives an experienced player a great advantage, as you can evaluate all the games and decide which site and which game has the best action at the moment. next...

Poker Concepts