Nov 23, 2010
Poker Tips for the Beginnger
1. Instead of focusing on the cards you are dealt and/or how the flop hits, start looking at SITUATIONS. By this I mean look for times when you can a)get into a hand cheap b)take down a pot by getting everyone to fold c)use your position to make it seem like you have a big hand.
Perception is key-you want other players to think you have a big hand regardless of whether you do or not. Remember in my book-”raises look like Aces to other players”? that is the truth and you will probably remember that from several spots yesterday where we took down pots post flop with nothing.
In tournament play it is crucial to be able to spot situations where you can take down a pot without great cards or even the best hand. As you know, sometimes you just don’t get dealt good cards, so you have to find other ways to win pots. Practice this even if you don’t actually make the play. Just look for times when you ‘could’ make a play.
2. Get away from junk hands. Do not give in to the tendency to play ‘weak Aces’ This means hands like A-7, A-9, etc when you could be out-kickered. Strong players will crush you if you play these types of hands. Believe me, I love to look for players who play weak Aces. This also means hands like K-9 and Q-7. These hands are death in online poker. You would be better off with 4-5 off suit than K-6 off suit.
3. When you make a play for a pot or bet at all, do not be afraid to bet strongly. A weak bet such as a bet of $100 into a pot of $500 will look weak to other players and they will raise you with anything or nothing at all. BET LIKE YOU MEAN IT Again, you probably remember the pots we won with a strong, close to pot-size bet that would not have been won with a smaller bet. Mix it up. Make these bets even when you have a strong hand. This will keep them guessing. There is nothing better than having someone call you down because they think you are bluffing.
Do not make stupid bets. Always bet in relation to the pot and always bet with a PURPOSE. Don’t bet just for the sake of betting. Think about what you hope to accomplish-a)do you want a call because you have a great hand? If so, bet less. b) are you trying to get everyone to fold? Bet more pot-sized c)are you betting for information? This will be more in the middle; not to little or they can call you with anything, not too much in case they come over the top of you with a great hand. Do not be afraid to spend chips, but always do it for a reason. Also, do not do things like go ‘all in’ when you have $1500 in chips and the pot is $300. This is a dead give away, I don’t care how strong your hand is. If it is that strong, you want players to stay in the pot and pay you off, not fold because your bet was ridiculously big.
4. Start learning to multi-task more. Make notes when you see someone make an odd play. Make a note if they called to the River with nothing or if they play junk hands. This is information that you can easily see later and it may help you when you play another hand against this player or even another game on another day. Poker is a game of incomplete information. The more info you have, the more advantage you have on your opponent.
Go back and use the hand history. Replay the hands.See what your opponent mucked if he called you to the River. Check where you are at in the tournament, how much the chip leader has, what the average chip stack is. How far until the bubble. All these things will influence what hands you play and when.
Also, if you have to call ‘time’ alot and let your time bank tick down because you are looking at these things, that is fine. Do not let it make you nervous and do not worry about the other players. You are there to make money, not friends. Who cares what they think?
5. Practice. The more games you play and the more hands you play, the more experience you will have the more you will begin to see situations and think outside the box. It takes practice and it is a huge mental challenge to keep up with all this stuff. You can’t learn it overnight. So, don’t get discouraged-it will become easier to for you to see the things I am seeing when you play. It just takes practice. We are lucky to have the internet to be able to practice so cheaply. There is a whole other game going on than the one you see just by looking at the cards you are dealt. Once you begin to notice everything else, you will be on your way to becoming a good poker player.
To purchase my 224 page ebook The No BS Guide to Winning Online No Limit Texas Holdem or coaching sessions with Chris Wilcox, click this link:https://escient.infusionsoft.com/cart/store.jsp
For any questions, concerns, or to opinions, please email Chris Wilcox at chris@internetpokercoach.com
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