All poker games from the high stake bright light games for sin city to the free poker games come down to the ability to win cash from small opportunities. The strategy is to attempt to play reasonable in every game possible- sounds almost defeatist, but the truth is you simply can't win every game. One way to achieve this to out bet the opposition and a way of achieving this is through slow play.
The Art of the Slow-play
The slow-play is when you deliberately under bet so as to disguise the strength of your hand and trap your opponent with a weaker hand.
Unlike the bluff bet, the slow-play is effective against strong and weak opponents. Bad opponents simply bet their hand, so if they have something or they are simply on a draw, they are going to pay you off.
When not to Slow-Play
You shouldn't slow play when there is a flush or straight draw on the board. You should only slow play when your opponent has a hand that is not likely to improve enough to beat yours. Suppose the flop is AD-7H-KC and you hold 7D-7C, and you put your opponent on an A or K. It's usually more profitable to bet the hand aggressively on the turn.
If you slow-play the turn, you are sacrificing an opportunity to make money on the turn. The only reason to slow-play here is if your read on your opponents is that they will fold with any bet you make.
If you manage to get quads or a full house don't over play the hand- if the opposition are not strategically sitting right, they don't seem to gamble often on the river, instead they check or call. By slow playing this turn, this type of opposition wont raise or re raise on the river.
As a result continue to gamble on the turn regardless of their development. They will hardly put you on the quads so attempt to get some game on the turn.
How to Represent Your Hand
The obvious assumption is that a big gamble stands for decent cards. This is believed even more so when gambling after the flop. If an ace or king comes to surface on the flop you can represent the same by gambling. You will learn that it's what the opposition believes you have that is almost as important to the cards you are actually holding, especially if you have a relatively poor hand.
So there you have it a fast guide to the slow play. Typically it works better with money games than free poker where you'll find many beginners who don't pick up the nuances and throw all in regardless! But of you find yourself in a free online poker freeroll with real money up for grabs then think about how and when you might apply it.
Monday 29 March 2010
Sunday 28 March 2010
Free Poker Tournament Guide a Hand by Hand
I'm going to talk you through a step by step account of a recent free poker tournament I played in. My intention is making you think and question future plays of certain scenarios.
The game was ten of thirty one paid- decent odds of three to one so my decision is to play smooth and take a back seat as the games commences. A few of the cards I used at the start were fifty two suited in the small blind & K9 off with six to one pot odds. AJ off I fall pitiless- the odds are purely the difference between the cost to call to the size of the pot e.g. one hundred dollars to see six hundred dollars would be six to one.
I have built up around a grand playing the K9 forcefully with Q9Q flop and hitting a free ace on the river with an ace / jack. I find myself saying the same old thing time and time again: you have to gamble in the uncertain plays if no one else has or you will end up with nothing else to go on.
I gamble with three times my bet with a King / King and have one caller- the flop happens at five, eight, ten, and he bets so I blag his J10 for another grand. The generalisation of slow play is when you're holding unstoppable cards; however the game here is far too tight.
An example of cards I have had to limp off with are: A2, A3 suited, and 88 due to the poor odds. By poor odds I mean to work out how much cash your opponents are holding and to know if it's possible to bankrupt someone with good cards calling five dollars with junk may not seem as bad if you can take their fifty dollars in doing so.
Some hands that I have passed on now that the blinds are higher and pot odds are getting slimmer are K10 suited, J10 suited and Q8 suited and the Q8 turned out to be a bad fold. About 1 hour 30 minutes in and I still have the 2k I made early plus another $560 with random small pots.
I am folding AQ off suit here because we are two away from payout and it looks like smooth sailing to the final table. Folding these higher hands takes a lot of discipline but becomes easier with each bubble you get. The bubble refers to the last person to go out before the pay. I end the match in 6th place which I'm very happy with...you can make living from places like that if you're consistent. So start small, play on free poker tournament sites and work your way up in line with your growing confidence and bankroll.
The game was ten of thirty one paid- decent odds of three to one so my decision is to play smooth and take a back seat as the games commences. A few of the cards I used at the start were fifty two suited in the small blind & K9 off with six to one pot odds. AJ off I fall pitiless- the odds are purely the difference between the cost to call to the size of the pot e.g. one hundred dollars to see six hundred dollars would be six to one.
I have built up around a grand playing the K9 forcefully with Q9Q flop and hitting a free ace on the river with an ace / jack. I find myself saying the same old thing time and time again: you have to gamble in the uncertain plays if no one else has or you will end up with nothing else to go on.
I gamble with three times my bet with a King / King and have one caller- the flop happens at five, eight, ten, and he bets so I blag his J10 for another grand. The generalisation of slow play is when you're holding unstoppable cards; however the game here is far too tight.
An example of cards I have had to limp off with are: A2, A3 suited, and 88 due to the poor odds. By poor odds I mean to work out how much cash your opponents are holding and to know if it's possible to bankrupt someone with good cards calling five dollars with junk may not seem as bad if you can take their fifty dollars in doing so.
Some hands that I have passed on now that the blinds are higher and pot odds are getting slimmer are K10 suited, J10 suited and Q8 suited and the Q8 turned out to be a bad fold. About 1 hour 30 minutes in and I still have the 2k I made early plus another $560 with random small pots.
I am folding AQ off suit here because we are two away from payout and it looks like smooth sailing to the final table. Folding these higher hands takes a lot of discipline but becomes easier with each bubble you get. The bubble refers to the last person to go out before the pay. I end the match in 6th place which I'm very happy with...you can make living from places like that if you're consistent. So start small, play on free poker tournament sites and work your way up in line with your growing confidence and bankroll.
Monday 22 March 2010
Free Poker Tournament Position Play Tactics
Your position in a free poker tournament or Sit 'n Go is very important. Depending on where you are, there are certain ways to play and optimise your chances.
Imagine one of your opponents opens, the following 2 call, and the next opponent raises it, than it's impossible for me to come in on a str8. For instance say I call the raise the other opponents following me and could have limped their decent cards. So if I put my checks in to draw at the str8- the following opponent calls and the next moves in and raises the raiser- my str8 would become very doubtful. Remember putting checks into the pot means you have to believe you can go with your cards.
Additionally I'm not in place- and it comes down to being in a bad position as under the gun- 1st to tattletale your hand. The original raiser could go again with a common amount- I could call them- as at this time I don't believe my str8 has the potential to win. I will also get some action from 4 other opponents. When this occurs it will leave the pot at five to one I cant make my str8 although the card draw chances are not five to one that I wont. So in this play I could gamble all my checks and this is where the concealed percentages appear. I know that my str8 will take an opponent down.
Regardless as I'm not able to be open- I don't have a 1/4 in the pot at this stage and therefore I don't see the point risking my check to come in and draw at this probable. I could go in and make it, I may still go bankrupt. In stead of playing all of this speculation- I could just wait a minute and play with a new hand.
However, I would play this hand altogether differently in a limit game. I'd go ahead and call this raise and re-raise, knowing there is a limit on what I could lose. And if I did make it, I'd sure as hell bet that I could, because I don't draw to any hand that I won't bet. If you draw at something, make it, and check it, then you're defeating yourself.
There are general strategies you can use for Hold'em competitions & sit & go tables. Practice makes perfect and the more you practice your style and advance the better you will become. You don't want to learn this trade by parting and potentially loosing your hard earned cash so what better place to learn your trade than playing a free poker tournament.
Imagine one of your opponents opens, the following 2 call, and the next opponent raises it, than it's impossible for me to come in on a str8. For instance say I call the raise the other opponents following me and could have limped their decent cards. So if I put my checks in to draw at the str8- the following opponent calls and the next moves in and raises the raiser- my str8 would become very doubtful. Remember putting checks into the pot means you have to believe you can go with your cards.
Additionally I'm not in place- and it comes down to being in a bad position as under the gun- 1st to tattletale your hand. The original raiser could go again with a common amount- I could call them- as at this time I don't believe my str8 has the potential to win. I will also get some action from 4 other opponents. When this occurs it will leave the pot at five to one I cant make my str8 although the card draw chances are not five to one that I wont. So in this play I could gamble all my checks and this is where the concealed percentages appear. I know that my str8 will take an opponent down.
Regardless as I'm not able to be open- I don't have a 1/4 in the pot at this stage and therefore I don't see the point risking my check to come in and draw at this probable. I could go in and make it, I may still go bankrupt. In stead of playing all of this speculation- I could just wait a minute and play with a new hand.
However, I would play this hand altogether differently in a limit game. I'd go ahead and call this raise and re-raise, knowing there is a limit on what I could lose. And if I did make it, I'd sure as hell bet that I could, because I don't draw to any hand that I won't bet. If you draw at something, make it, and check it, then you're defeating yourself.
There are general strategies you can use for Hold'em competitions & sit & go tables. Practice makes perfect and the more you practice your style and advance the better you will become. You don't want to learn this trade by parting and potentially loosing your hard earned cash so what better place to learn your trade than playing a free poker tournament.
Tuesday 16 March 2010
More Than Just Beginners Luck For Any Novice Free Online Poker Players
After playing free online poker for a week now I have found that patience is the key to consistency. Since my last article I have discovered the wonders of the free-roll. In my opinion the best way to play tournaments is carefully. I have seen countless numbers of people going all in on the first hand and then getting burned, it's crazy!
It goes without saying this puts all but one player into a shallow grave. If you can play conservatively till you find yourself on the top table; you will then be in with a shout of playing more forcefully. Many would be disappointed with some of the cards I have folded with near the beginning of the game, but chances are those same people would not make it to the later stages as often as I do.
My highest Free-roll finish was 4th from 150 which I was proud of being only a beginner. This game made me realise that getting into the paid places is easier than it first appears when everyone goes all in.
Using a step up raise technique I have found continues to work. The most I have won in one hand with this was $75 FreeD in the same hand I got my first straight flush beating a very confident ace high flush that pushed it's owner to go all in.
Mathematics I have found to be incredibly important. Knowing the chances of a flush by the river from two suited cards or the chances of winning from a certain pocket pair. Wising up on your odds will help greatly.
Every game is still a learning curve, and the opponents I pit myself against on my free online poker site are remarkably sociable ensuring win or lose I have a great time.
I know that I will continue to play free poker online for a long time to come and I look forward to perfecting my game as time goes on.
It goes without saying this puts all but one player into a shallow grave. If you can play conservatively till you find yourself on the top table; you will then be in with a shout of playing more forcefully. Many would be disappointed with some of the cards I have folded with near the beginning of the game, but chances are those same people would not make it to the later stages as often as I do.
My highest Free-roll finish was 4th from 150 which I was proud of being only a beginner. This game made me realise that getting into the paid places is easier than it first appears when everyone goes all in.
Using a step up raise technique I have found continues to work. The most I have won in one hand with this was $75 FreeD in the same hand I got my first straight flush beating a very confident ace high flush that pushed it's owner to go all in.
Mathematics I have found to be incredibly important. Knowing the chances of a flush by the river from two suited cards or the chances of winning from a certain pocket pair. Wising up on your odds will help greatly.
Every game is still a learning curve, and the opponents I pit myself against on my free online poker site are remarkably sociable ensuring win or lose I have a great time.
I know that I will continue to play free poker online for a long time to come and I look forward to perfecting my game as time goes on.
Monday 8 March 2010
Free Poker Tips - A Beginners guide to Texas Holdem
By reading this article you will gain an essential understanding of the basics on how to play Texas Holdem, whether you're playing pay or free poker. Like all variants of poker, individuals compete for combined money or chips (known as the pot). The rotation of the game is always to the dealers left. At the start of the game each gambler receives 2cards, placed with the suit down so the gambler can not see their hand. This is your first chance to have a flutter and during this first period each participant gets the chance to continue or walk away.
The following play involves an additional 3 community cards being dealt out by the dealer in the middle of the table face up- also known as the "flop". These cards are an essential part of the players "hand" and will be used alongside the original 2 cards in hand. After the flop the next round of betting takes place, although there is now an opportunity to "pass" due to the pot previously commencing.
As with before 2 additional cards ("the turn" and "the river") are then dealt out to the middle of the table with the suit facing upwards for all to see. After each card there is a further chance to have a flutter, check or walk away and fold.
When I play I make it good practice to 'throw away' the top cards at every turn: throw one away then turn another. The min theory behind this method is to stop swindling. I will explain; in nearly all cases of marked card deception the top cards are used as marking points, but by throwing away the top card(s) breaks this cycle.
We're not accusing anybody of being a cheater: Burning the top card is just a traditional thing in professional and in many amateur games.
Most of the games I play in have no limit, but hold'em is an interesting game to play with a limit, because after the turn there are plenty of times that you'll have something good to draw at.
If you are new to Hold'em then have a go at playing free poker online where its totally free and you wont lose any of your own cash.
The following play involves an additional 3 community cards being dealt out by the dealer in the middle of the table face up- also known as the "flop". These cards are an essential part of the players "hand" and will be used alongside the original 2 cards in hand. After the flop the next round of betting takes place, although there is now an opportunity to "pass" due to the pot previously commencing.
As with before 2 additional cards ("the turn" and "the river") are then dealt out to the middle of the table with the suit facing upwards for all to see. After each card there is a further chance to have a flutter, check or walk away and fold.
When I play I make it good practice to 'throw away' the top cards at every turn: throw one away then turn another. The min theory behind this method is to stop swindling. I will explain; in nearly all cases of marked card deception the top cards are used as marking points, but by throwing away the top card(s) breaks this cycle.
We're not accusing anybody of being a cheater: Burning the top card is just a traditional thing in professional and in many amateur games.
Most of the games I play in have no limit, but hold'em is an interesting game to play with a limit, because after the turn there are plenty of times that you'll have something good to draw at.
If you are new to Hold'em then have a go at playing free poker online where its totally free and you wont lose any of your own cash.
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