Poker Strategy

Poker is a game of luck and skill. It is less a game of cards than betting on the outcome of your hand. The one who is betting according to odds and outs and other strategic principles will have long-term better results than the casual player who knows nothing about that. The experienced players call these casual players often "fish" when they make strange plays and win despite playing according to the theory. This frustrated and often arrogant reaction is dumb. The poker eco system is living from these casual players, as they bring new money in the system. Without them the now winning players would turn into losing players because of the house rake.

Therefore our first rule:

TREAT the FISH FRIENDLY ! Don't make them go away.

Our categories inlcude:

These theory articles are supported with a lot of example hands. We think that this is the best way to learn the game.

Here is an example:

Table info:

Seat 1: Scorpion-9 ($8.28)
Seat 2: $MS.vs.KA$ ($35.77)
Seat 3: HESSUK2 ($24.63)

Dealer

Seat 5: Fcesc73 ($5.65)

Posts small blind $0.12

Seat 6: AssKing77 ($38.14)

Posts big blind $0.25

Seat 7: .tekiz. ($23.60)
Seat 8: elitri ($19.75)
Seat 9: rabelek198 ($6.44)
Seat 10: Judas2727 ($29.47)

Dealt to Fcesc73

Preflop: (Pot: $0.37)

FOLD elitri
FOLD rabelek198
FOLD Judas2727
FOLD Scorpion-9
CALL $MS.vs.KA$, $.25
CALL HESSUK2, $.25
RAISE Fcesc73, to $1
CALL AssKing77, $.88
FOLD .tekiz.
CALL $MS.vs.KA$, $.75
CALL HESSUK2, $.75

Analysis:

Hero in BU has ATs and there were two callers before him.

Hero raises to 4 Big Blinds and gets called by three players.

The preflop raise of Hero is good. He has the best post-flop position.

Flop: (Pot: $3.63)

CHECK AssKing77
CHECK $MS.vs.KA$
CHECK HESSUK2
BET Fcesc73, $4.65 allin
CALL AssKing77, $4.65
FOLD $MS.vs.KA$
CALL HESSUK2, $4.65

Analysis:

All three opponents check to Hero and he makes his contibet with top pair / best kicker.

He is a little overbetting the pot as he wants to win it right now and discourage possible flush or straight draws.

But he gets two callers.

In this moment we must think why these players are calling. Possible reasons are:

a flush draw
a straight draw
someone has trips
someone has a Ten with a weaker kicker

Turn: (Pot: $17.58)

BET AssKing77, $6.25
CALL HESSUK2, $6.25

Analysis:

The Big Blind is now betting about 1/3 of the pot and the CO is calling. This bet of the Big Blind would make me very suspicious.

I wouldn't call this bet with draws or a Ten.

When I would have tripps I would probably raise allin, because the Big Blind can also bet a draw.

River: (Pot: $30.08)

BET AssKing77, $26.24
CALL HESSUK2, $12.73

Analysis:

The CO didn't show, but I guess he had

Tripps too
maybe a weaker fullhouse

Calling here with a hand like AT, KT would be an error

Showdown:

SHOWS AssKing77

SHOWS Fcesc73

AssKing77 wins the pot of $66.87

Last Updated on Thursday, 24 June 2010 00:15