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.
Showing posts with label free online poker games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label free online poker games. Show all posts
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.
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.
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Free Poker Online Guide to Understanding Styles of Play and How This Will Win More Games
Playing paid or free poker online is a game of skill, chance with a little luck thrown in for good measure.
As we all know, 52 cards make up a deck and whatever 5 cards are dealt out, one of those will always win. It could be the ultimate hand of a Royal Flush or the lowest possible pair of 2's. In some cases, it could even be A high. That is the great unknown of poker, which cards are going to win for any given hand.
When dealt cards you must first decide whether they are suitable to your style of play. Then the decision is whether to fold, call or raise the big blind.
Every individual player has their own style of playing. Some players will only play face cards, whereas others will play any card given to them. That is a style of play. I know of many players who will play nearly every hand pre-flop as long as the bet is within their comfort zone.
Once the flop is seen, it becomes more interesting and a bigger decision needing to be made. If you are holding 3 4 off suit and the flop shows AKJ, what is the likelihood that you will continue with the hand? I would imagine you would fold, unless it is a check through until the turn card is shown.
No poker player is the same, and its important to remember that you can never bee 100% sure how each player will play a hand. There could very well be someone holding 3 4 offsuit and try to bluff and bet big once the flop is shown. I, for one, would never attempt that with such low cards, but I have seen it happen, it's a great mystery of how others play!
For this reason, it is essential that you study each of your opponents where possible before sitting down with them at a table. You should be able to grasp enough information about their game play to figure out their moves when playing them.
As advantageous as this may be, you are not always going to win every time by adapting this approach. As I stated earlier, any given 5 cards will win a hand and they may very well be holding Q 10 and flopped a straight. But the odds are in your favor to predict certain scenarios after learning others' style of play.
Always be observant, never just assume someone is bluffing, and most important, remember to play your game. Your style of play is ultimately what you must rely on to win in poker so be sure to practice and refine in free poker online freerolls before moving up to cash games.
As we all know, 52 cards make up a deck and whatever 5 cards are dealt out, one of those will always win. It could be the ultimate hand of a Royal Flush or the lowest possible pair of 2's. In some cases, it could even be A high. That is the great unknown of poker, which cards are going to win for any given hand.
When dealt cards you must first decide whether they are suitable to your style of play. Then the decision is whether to fold, call or raise the big blind.
Every individual player has their own style of playing. Some players will only play face cards, whereas others will play any card given to them. That is a style of play. I know of many players who will play nearly every hand pre-flop as long as the bet is within their comfort zone.
Once the flop is seen, it becomes more interesting and a bigger decision needing to be made. If you are holding 3 4 off suit and the flop shows AKJ, what is the likelihood that you will continue with the hand? I would imagine you would fold, unless it is a check through until the turn card is shown.
No poker player is the same, and its important to remember that you can never bee 100% sure how each player will play a hand. There could very well be someone holding 3 4 offsuit and try to bluff and bet big once the flop is shown. I, for one, would never attempt that with such low cards, but I have seen it happen, it's a great mystery of how others play!
For this reason, it is essential that you study each of your opponents where possible before sitting down with them at a table. You should be able to grasp enough information about their game play to figure out their moves when playing them.
As advantageous as this may be, you are not always going to win every time by adapting this approach. As I stated earlier, any given 5 cards will win a hand and they may very well be holding Q 10 and flopped a straight. But the odds are in your favor to predict certain scenarios after learning others' style of play.
Always be observant, never just assume someone is bluffing, and most important, remember to play your game. Your style of play is ultimately what you must rely on to win in poker so be sure to practice and refine in free poker online freerolls before moving up to cash games.
Friday, 12 February 2010
Free Online Poker - Sandbagging, Slow Play and Trapping
A good technique to turn a solid hand in buy-in and free online poker games into a great one is to "sandbag," or in plain language, not disclosing your power until the "Kenny Rogers Right Time."
When the game starts and other players start betting, hold back and keep your cool. Avoid making any raises of any size.
The key is to keep as many players as possible in the game for as long as possible and then "kill" them with an "all-in" at the critical time.
Sandbagging is also known as 'trapping' or 'slow play', whereas in my opinion you don't need to play too slow, just hide your hand well.
This technique works well when another player has good cards, too. That player will do the betting for you and you will remain "hidden" until you are ready to slam them with an allin.
Many times by doing this you get into a nutz situation as the flop, turn, and river fill up your hand.
I have found its much easier when playing online poker rather than face to face poker as its easier to hide your expression.
In internet paid and free online poker games it is much easier because no one can really "see" you. Sandbagging also gives you the option to make economic bets by not blowing a raise and ultimately losing to someone who hits big on the turn or river.
So, the key to being good at sandbagging when playing free online poker, is to entice as many players as possible into the pot and then jump all-in at the crucial time to take the pot. Good luck in giving it a go and I hope this tip serves you well.
I very much hope my tips on the sandbagging techniques help you in your poker play and look forward to seeing you on the poker tables soon.
When the game starts and other players start betting, hold back and keep your cool. Avoid making any raises of any size.
The key is to keep as many players as possible in the game for as long as possible and then "kill" them with an "all-in" at the critical time.
Sandbagging is also known as 'trapping' or 'slow play', whereas in my opinion you don't need to play too slow, just hide your hand well.
This technique works well when another player has good cards, too. That player will do the betting for you and you will remain "hidden" until you are ready to slam them with an allin.
Many times by doing this you get into a nutz situation as the flop, turn, and river fill up your hand.
I have found its much easier when playing online poker rather than face to face poker as its easier to hide your expression.
In internet paid and free online poker games it is much easier because no one can really "see" you. Sandbagging also gives you the option to make economic bets by not blowing a raise and ultimately losing to someone who hits big on the turn or river.
So, the key to being good at sandbagging when playing free online poker, is to entice as many players as possible into the pot and then jump all-in at the crucial time to take the pot. Good luck in giving it a go and I hope this tip serves you well.
I very much hope my tips on the sandbagging techniques help you in your poker play and look forward to seeing you on the poker tables soon.
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