Poker bankroll management, building and strategy – online poker guide

Why players struggle in no limit cash games – part 3

Sunday, December 4th, 2011 | Poker and Life, Poker Cash Games, Poker Strategy | No Comments

Everywhere you look these days then there are poker coaches, poker websites and poker books and magazines all discussing no limit hold’em. But yet even as a full time player and writer then I am still not blinded to the fact that this form of poker is probably the most difficult of the lot for novice players to succeed at. In the final part of this series then I want to discuss variance and how this affects your mind set. I often hear how tournament poker has the worst variance out of all of the major forms of poker. I am certainly not going to dispute this as it is a given.

We recommend these poker bonus deals

However what you also need to factor into the equation is that if you are playing a live event then even if you bust out horribly, you are never going straight back into another event in a negative frame of mind. This is not the case in online cash games where if you get AA busted by KK for 100bb then you just may be multi-tabling and facing several more key decisions within the next few seconds. In fact you may be buying back into the very same table that you have just lost 100bb on.

What makes matters even worse is that these beats can come thick and fast online and you can take several very big punches in a very short space of time even though the speed of online play means that you will get into the long term faster. This is not always seen or noticed by novice players in the heat of the moment and is why variance can often be the most formidable enemy that any poker player has to face during their lifetime as a player.

We recommend these poker school and poker tools

In fact many a potential successful player has probably stopped playing the game simply because a really bad run very early in their poker life totally and utterly destroyed their confidence. Someone once said that poker was a “tough way to make an easy living” and these words are very prophetic. Poker can be an easy living if you can accept everything that comes with it or it can just be the hardest thing that you have ever tried to do in your life.

Carl “The Dean” Sampson plays poker at www.pokerstars.co.uk

Why players struggle at no limit cash games – part 2

Sunday, December 4th, 2011 | Poker Cash Games, Poker Strategy | No Comments

Following on from part 1 and in this article I want to discuss a very obvious but yet under-estimated part of no-limit hold’em. This is the fact that it is a two card game and not a four card or a six card game like at PLO. So what does this very obvious statement have to do with difficulty in playing the game?

We recommend these poker bonus deals

Well only having two starting cards in your hand means one very important thing. It means that it is much more difficult to flop or to make a strong hand. Now you may say that this isn’t bad news at all but good news as this means more bluffing opportunities.

This much is true but the mere knowledge that both you and your opponent are unlikely to have a hand causes many players a lot of problems in this form of poker. Players who understand how difficult it is to make a hand then begin to think that they are quantum leaping their game by being very aggressive. So they start bluff-raising, floating, double and triple barrelling and all the rest of it simply because they know two things……this is that their opponents are unlikely to have a hand and that their aggression will likely win the pot a high percentage of the time.

But here comes the problem because if you are putting more money at risk without the necessary skill then who do you think comes out on the positive side of your strategy……certainly not you. Blind aggressive play is not good poker play and if you take these strategies into higher levels then you are going to get picked off by the better players.

We recommend these poker school and poker tools

If your own skill level or lack of skill makes you –EV against the field or against selected players then you are going to be placing more money on the table in these situations. You are also going to be polarising your ranges as well and so the blind aggression will fail miserably because your more astute opponents will begin to call you down lighter. So the fact that it is more difficult to make a hand in a roundabout way is actually getting an awful lot of players into trouble and hence the term “Dumb LAG” and “LAGtard” became part of the poker dictionary because these are terms used to describe poor aggressive players who have no idea what they are doing or why.

Carl “The Dean” Sampson plays poker at www.pokerstars.co.uk

Why players struggle at no limit cash games – part 1

Saturday, November 26th, 2011 | Poker Cash Games, Poker Strategy | No Comments

Many people ask me as a full time player/writer and coach what the toughest aspect is about playing no limit hold’em? It is in actual fact the potential to put your stack at risk in any one individual hand and while everyone knows this, what they may not be aware of are the mechanics of just why this is the case. This will be the first part of a three part series explaining just why no limit hold’em cash games are just too tough to crack for many players.

We recommend these poker bonus deals

Firstly you have the capacity to play very deep whereas in tournament poker then you are rarely playing all that deep unless you reach the final stages. However in a cash game then you can immediately buy in for 100bb and if you amass money at the beginning then your stack could soon be several hundred big blinds deep. The size of the mistake that you can make are commensurate with the size of the stack that you have. This means that if you play the post flop part of the game badly then your mistakes will be bigger sitting on a 150bb stack than if you were sitting with a 40bb stack.

When you play deep then no limit hold’em becomes a whole new ball game! But one factor that few players take on board is that unlike in limit hold’em, you are constantly taking and laying odds in no limit play. This form of poker requires you to have an intimate knowledge of gambling odds and probabilities and if you are weak in that area then no limit play will find you out and expose you. Let us look at an example here to show you what I mean.

We recommend these poker school and poker tools

You decide to steal raise from the button with 100bb at NL100 meaning that the stakes are $0.50-$1.00. You make it $3.50 and the big blind calls you. This puts $7.50 in the pot which is really around $7 after the rake. So you were risking $3.50 to make $1.50. If the big blind checks and you make a c-bet of around $5 then you will likely take the pot down quite often. But then again you need to because at this stage of proceedings then you have placed $8.50 into the pot and there is only $3.50 of that money which isn’t yours. These are hardly good odds to be taking and you have to win this pot with a very high frequency to justify the risk.

Players get this part of the game wrong because they bet and raise for the wrong reasons and I will explain this in part 2.

Carl “The Dean” Sampson plays poker at www.pokerstars.co.uk.

The social factor of online poker table selection

Thursday, June 23rd, 2011 | Poker Articles, Poker Strategy | No Comments

Submitted by Dave, this article about the social factor of online poker table selection belongs to the Poker Strategy series.

Choosing the right online poker site and table to play at is about more than just statistics. The social factors of a table are not difficult to filter and can lead to a more enjoyable session.

Table selection is certainly an important part of any successful poker player’s strategy. Being at the right table can significantly increase your hourly earnings. There are a number of factors to consider when searching for the right table. Most poker authorities have already invested a significant amount of time and effort into what to look for based on player tendencies, average pot size and other statistical information. An equally important, though less objective, factor is the friendliness of the players at a table.

We recommend these poker bonus deals

Making as much money as possible is not always the objective of an online poker session. Many people are playing for fun or for the social aspects of the game. If this is your goal for the session, the statistical criteria for a good table will only play a small factor in your final decision. More important is to identify what kind of players you want to be surrounded by.

Playing poker while having a good conversation is a most pleasurable experience. If you like to find out about different places and cultures, you want to play at a site that has a good mix of players from around the world. If you would prefer to talk with individuals who have similar interest to your own, start by finding a site that caters to you and your countrymen.

If you are a UK player, the task should be rather easy. Finding a good social table isn’t like playing UK bingo online, you don’t have to rely on luck. Simply search the Internet for UK friendly poker sites. The process would be the same regardless of where you live. Take a look at why these sites are considered friendly to you and your countrymen. Some may be owned and operated in your country or they may simply provide a number of amenities that appeal to the general public where you reside.

If you already have an account with some of these sites, start checking the tables with an eye for fellow countrymen. When you identify a table or two with quite a few UK players, for instance, load the table and drop a quick comment into the chat.

We recommend these poker school and poker tools

If no one responds, you are probably looking at a table of people who are taking their poker pretty seriously. The majority of them may be playing several tables at once and simply don’t chat. Just go to the next favorable looking table and try again. Once you find a table with a good, talkative mix of players either take an open seat or join the waiting list. If you have never played at the site before, you will have to make a deposit first.

A little research and some scouting will quickly identify tables that meet your social goals. Playing at a table where the players are friendly and talkative can often result in a enjoyable poker experience. Many players also discover that their game becomes much sharper when they play in an environment they like even if the statistics say it is just an average table.

Poker theorems; David Sklansky, Baluga Whale, Andy Morton, Zeebo and Clarkmeister

Sunday, May 22nd, 2011 | Poker Articles, Poker Mathematics, Poker Strategy | 3 Comments

The following massive piece of work on poker theorems was submitted by Conrad. Poker theorems are pieces of fundamental poker strategy and advice, usually expressed in poker literature and forums. An ‘objective’ poker strategy is hard come to come by – the generation of hyper aggressive internet hotshots have caused us to revamp our ideas as to what constitutes an ‘optimum’ strategy. Internet star Dusty ‘Leatherass’ Schmidt, who posted the world’s highest win rate for $5/$10 NL in 2007 and 2008, even released a book entitled ‘Don’t listen to Phil Hellmuth: correcting the 50 worst pieces of poker advice you’ve ever heard’. Due to the evolution of the game, advice from the ‘old guard’ of is often considered dated, and players such as Hellmuth have been heavily scrutinised for their cash game performances. That said, books such as Doyle Brunson’s Super System and the Harrington on Hold’em Series are still well respected. Although their doctrines are contested, poker theorems are good as general rules of thumb. They may not be a substitute for things like poker training, but are useful nonetheless. They are not concepts that a player should stick to religiously, but ideas that a player should
always have in mind.

The fundamental theory of poker by David Sklansky

The Fundamental Theorem of Poker is described by esteemed poker player, theorist and author, David Sklansky. Sklansky is considered to be a leading voice on gambling and poker theory in general. The theorem states:

‘Every time you play a hand differently from the way you would have played it if you
could see all your opponents’ cards, they gain; and every time you play your hand
the same way you would have played it if you could see all their cards, they lose.
Conversely, every time opponents play their hands differently from the way they
would have if they could see all your cards, you gain; and every time they play their
hands the same way they would have played if they could see all your cards, you
lose.’

This is a very basic theorem, stating that every decision we make should be in accordance with maximizing EV (expected value). In the long term, this is what counts. So even though chasing a flush on the river may be tempting, we should only call if our opponent is giving us the correct pot odds.

Morton’s addition to Sklansky’s theorem

Sklansky’s theorem is only applicable in heads up situations. Morton’s theorem, articulated in a poker newsgroup by Andy Morton, explains why Sklansky’s theorem is not applicable in a multi-way pot. It often occurs when one player has the best hand, and two players are on draws. The player with the best hand might make more money in the long run when an opponent folds to a bet, even if that opponent is making a correct fold and would be making a personal mistake to call the bet. For instance, Player A holds Ac-Qc, player B Ah-9h, and player C Js 3s on a Ad-Jh- 4h board. Player A has a made hand – top pair, and when he bets the pot Player B with the flush draw is going to call. In the long run, Player A would make profit in a heads up situation with Player B. His odds are dashed and Player B’s enhanced, however, if player C, with his mid pair, makes the call. This is because he has 6 outs to improve his hand. This concept is sometimes referred to as implicit collusion.

The Beluga Whale Theorem

Other popular theorems are documented in community site twoplustwo. The Beluga Whale Theorem states that when you are a pre-flop raiser, and your top-pair hand is raised/check-raised on the turn, it is time to re-evaluate your hand. This is because your opponent is often trying to build a pot to get paid off with his monster. If you have AK on a K-10-5-9 board, and you face a raise on the turn, it is quite conceivable your opponent has two pair or better. This theorem is reliable against weaker opposition, however shrewder players can exploit this by floating.

Zeebo’s poker theorem

Zeebo’s Poker Theorem states that nobody ever folds a full house. So, if you have any inclination that your opponent has a weaker full house, bet out. People tend to overestimate boats because in a large number of situations they tend to be good. If you have KK on a board which includes AAA, bet out even if you put your opponent on something as low as 22.

Clarkmeister’s Theorem

Clarkmeister’s Theorem argues that when you are out of position heads-up on the river, and a 4 to a flush card comes, always bet (unless you have something with realistic showdown value). This is a perfect bluff spot, and an opponent will fold something like a weak/middle flush a large percentage of the time.

To find out about more obscure poker theorems, or the mathematical explanation behind some of the ones stated in this article, be sure to browse twoplustwo along with other poker forums.

Use this  carbon poker bonus code to join the new leader of US online poker: Carbon Poker.  Only one of a few rooms offering real money games to American players.

Variance in poker – understanding heaters and coolers

Friday, February 25th, 2011 | Poker Articles, Poker Strategy | No Comments

Submitted by Joe from Coolercash this article about Variance in poker – understanding heaters and coolers belongs to the Poker Strategy series.

When I started playing cards 20 years ago, I was only concerned with one thing…winning. This seems like it is always the goal when you sit down and play any form of cards. I have played most forms of poker and consider myself proficient in most all of them, but now good enough to be giving much advice on. The few games I am good at, I will give advice on because I think there are always bits of information that will prove useful in any given session of poker.

We recommend these poker bonus deals

Poker variance and loosing streaks / coolers

The one concept that had always perplexed me as I was getting a start in poker was why I would go on streak of losing and winning, where on one hand I could not seem to win a hand and the other no one had a chance of beating me. The idea of variance was lost on me and I conceded that I was either very lucky or very unlucky at any given time. Now, you will hear people talk about variance in the broadest terms and will glaze over the subject, but this is one I think we need to spend some extra time on because it comes into play with not only poker but everything we do in our lives.
Have you ever been in a casino, dog track or home game and hear someone proclaim that they are most unlucky person in the world? I know I have felt the sting of defeat over and over again and never knew when the tides would shift. Sometimes the tides don’t shift for months, sometimes it is only a few days. When we go on these long streaks, we must remember our teaching. We must regress back to the simplest form of the game because this is what is going to get us through this rough spell. If we fight the tide it is only going to drag us further from shore. Now, it is nature in this current poker climate to get fancy with out play and try to bluff everyone off of every pot because we are 100% convinced that poker is a skill game and nothing more. Well the truth is that poker in the short run is teemed with variance. This is something that poker players have a long time getting used to because it contradicts the “egotistical” driving force behind what makes most of us play the game. For some, money is not all the as important then winning. Now the two ideas seem to go together, but to the ego driven mind winning is more then dragging a pot…it is dragging a pot when you weren’t supposed to. We all love this feeling and it is this feeling that keeps us coming back for more. Money is always great but we must learn to control this desire to constantly outplay our opponents. Variance is a fact and it is not something we can circumvent no matter how much we try.

We recommend these poker school and poker tools

How to deal with poker variance

Now, like I said variance just happens and it will happen over and over for good and bad. I like to think of the whole thing as if I had a key in my hand. The key is in itself nothing but a device to open a door. The lock consists of tumblers that will fit inside the groves of the key to make the lock turn. When we have the right key in our hand and put the key into the whole all the tumblers will fall into place and the door will open. When this happens we have streaks of good luck and we “run well”. Everything that we do seems to work and all of the planets seem to line up and everything is right with the universe. This is a good feeling and we must relish it and remember our good fortune because there will be a time when we are not holding the right key and the lock will not open no matter how hard we turn. The problem comes into play when we try to turn the key when it simply will not budge. There are nights when nothing that we do will work, when we constantly get outdrawn and none of out plays will work. This will happen because it is supposed to. The fool is the one who says in his heart that they will always find a way to win. You can sit on a table for hours on end but all you will end up doing is making a bad situation worse…i.e. ripping the key off inside the lock. When they lock is “jammed” it is impossible to put another key in. We cannot use different methods or “keys” to make the lock turn again because we are no longer thinking clearly.
The last thing we must realize is that we not only have to deal with our own variance, but we have to deal with the variance of those around us. When there is someone at the table who can’t seem to lose, you need to be very careful because his streak of positive variance might act as a vacuum and turn your variance more negative then it already is. We must learn to swim with the current of the streak and never work against the tide. Let the natural variance of things work in your favor by minimizing your losses when the tide turns against you.

Position in poker

Sunday, February 20th, 2011 | Poker Articles, Poker Strategy | 1 Comment

Submitted by Matthew Tonge this article about position in poker belongs to the Poker Strategy Series.

This is the last article in a series describing 5 key steps  to become a winning poker player. The topic at hand is position in poker.

Overview of the entire article series

1. Which starting hands to play in poker
2. Poker hand strength
3. Bet sizing in poker
4. Aggression in poker
5. Position in poker

We recommend these poker bonus deals

Position in poker

Summary: Play less hands when in early position. Having position in a hand gives you an advantage.

If you watch poker on TV, you will hear the commentators talk about ‘position.’ “He’s going to play this out of position”, “She will have position for the rest of this hand.” But what is position? Put simply, it is based on when it is your turn to act in relation to the other players. So, if you are first to act after the blinds have been posted (also known as under the gun), you are in early position. A player who is in early position is also referred to as being ‘out of position.’ The closer you get to the dealer button, the later your position. If you are on the button you are always last to act, and you will be ‘in position.’ Being ‘in position’ gives you an advantage, as it means you will be able to see other players act first, and gather information about the strength of their hands before you have to make your decision.

Restrict your playing range in early position

Generally, you need a stronger hand to play in early position than you do in later position. For example, if you get a hand such as King-Ten suited, which can look quite nice, in early position, you are best folding. You still have most of the players at the table to act behind you, and there is a good chance someone will have a better hand. And if you decide to play, they are going to gather information from you before they have to act – giving them the advantage. However, if you get dealt the same hand on the button, and everyone folds around to you, then you can certainly play. You only have the blinds left to act, and so there is less of a chance that there is a better hand than yours out there. You should make a raise. And if the big blind, for example, opts to call, you will ‘have position’ on him, and the advantage will be yours.

We recommend these poker school and poker tools

Open up your playing hand range in later positions

Also, hands such as suited connectors and 1-gappers, such as 5-7 hearts, are best played in position, as you have the chance to see a free card when other players check to you, and you get to hit your straights and flushes without paying too much. If you play these hands out of position and check, a player in later position is more likely to bet to try to win the pot, which makes seeing another card more expensive. If you have a hand that you would like to play, such as King-Queen suited, and you are in middle position, raise. This may force everyone behind you to fold, giving you position for the rest of the hand if you get a call from the blinds. If you just call, there is more of a chance that others behind you will also call, meaning they will have position on you.

Matthew Tonge

For free poker tutorial videos, please visit my YouTube page at you tube.com/unkempt27

Tags: Poker Articles, Poker Strategy

Aggression in poker

Friday, February 18th, 2011 | Poker Articles, Poker Strategy | No Comments

Submitted by Matthew Tonge this article about aggression in poker belongs to the Poker Strategy Series.

This article series contains 5 key steps  to go from break-even to a winning player in poker. This fourth step deals with aggression in poker.

Overview of the entire article series

1. Which starting hands to play in poker
2. Poker hand strength
3. Bet sizing in poker
4. Aggression in poker
5. Position in poker

We recommend these poker bonus deals

Aggression in poker

Summary: Be the aggressor – you have more chance to win the pot if you don‘t have a good hand, and you can build a nice big pot if you do have a good hand. And don’t give your opponents cheap cards to beat you.

Be more aggressive! So, you’ve learned to fold your weaker hands. But what about hands you do want to play? Beginners tend to ‘limp in’ (call the big blind) too often pre-flop, and just call other players’ bets on later streets (on the flop, turn and river). You should try to bet and raise more often. This gives you a better chance to win the hand right away, as you will look like you have a strong hand, whether you really do or not! Also, if you have pocket aces, you don’t want to limp in and risk having 5 or 6 other players in the pot, as there is a higher chance that one of them will beat you. With every extra opponent you have, the chances of your Aces winning decrease. In fact, if your Aces are up against 4 other hands, you are more likely to lose than to win. You should raise, ’thinning the field ie. Forcing other players to fold and hoping to get only one or two callers,’ meaning a higher chance that your aces will remain best. If you have Ace-Queen, and raised before the flop, your opponents already believe you have a strong hand. Therefore, even if you completely miss the flop, you can bet again and still win! If you flop 2 pair, you want to build up a nice big pot as you are likely to have the best hand. You aren’t going to achieve this by checking and calling. Also, you don’t want to give your opponents the chance to see cheap, or even free, cards to beat you.

We recommend these poker school and poker tools

An example of aggression in poker

Take this hand for example. You are in early position and are dealt Ace-King off suit. You raise, and the button and the big blind call. The flop comes King, Nine, Eight, with 2 hearts. The fist player to act checks. Now, you have a strong hand – top pair, top kicker, and you might not want to scare your opponents away and not make any more money from the hand. But there are 2 hearts on the flop, and a possible straight draw if your opponents have a hand such as Ten-Jack. So you need to bet. Do not make it cheap for them to beat you. And if they fold, remember it is better to win a small pot than lose a large one!

Matthew Tonge

For free poker tutorial videos, please visit my YouTube page at you tube.com/unkempt27

Tags: Poker Articles, Poker Strategy

Bet sizing in poker

Sunday, February 13th, 2011 | Poker Articles, Poker Strategy | No Comments

Submitted by Matthew Tonge this article about bet sizing in poker belongs to the Poker Strategy Series.

This series of articles covers 5 key steps  to go from novice to a winning player in poker. The third step deals with bet sizing in poker.

Overview of the entire article series

1. Which starting hands to play in poker
2. Poker hand strength
3. Bet sizing in poker
4. Aggression in poker
5. Position in poker

We recommend these poker bonus deals

Bet Sizing in poker

Summary: Remember what you are trying to achieve by betting or raising. The size of your bets and raises should be big enough to achieve this.

Bet sizing early in tournaments

So you now know when you need to bet, and why. But how much? Like we said, you don’t want to give away cheap cards. If you want to raise pre-flop in the early stages of a tournament when the blinds are 10 and 20, making a minimum raise to 40 is usually a bad play. If you have a strong hand, and want to minimize the amount of opponents you have, this is unlikely to achieve that. If a player was willing to pay 20 chips to see a flop, they will probably pay 40. Generally, you want to raise to 3 to 4 times the size of the big blind in the early stages when the blinds are small. The same applies to cash games when the blinds remain the same.

We recommend these poker school and poker tools

Bet sizing late in tournaments

In the later stages of a tournament, when the blinds increase, 2 ½ to 3 times the big blind should be enough. If your opponent has a flush draw and there is 500 chips in the pot, it is pointless betting 50. Your opponent is not going to fold for 50 chips. You should generally bet between half the size of the pot and the size of the pot. So, in this case, between 250 and 500. Also, if you have a very strong hand on the river, for example, and you want your opponent to call your bet, you must size your bet accordingly. Let’s say there is 1,000 chips in the pot, and you both have around 3,000 chips left in your stacks. Going all in is likely to scare your opponent off most hands, and if you don’t have the absolute nuts, then a shove will only be called by a hand that beats you. Betting around half the pot is much more likely to be called by a hands which yours beats but still has some showdown value.

Matthew Tonge

For free poker tutorial videos, please visit my youtube page at you tube.com/unkempt27, and check out Quicksilver if you’re looking to play slot games.

Tags: Poker Articles, Poker Strategy

Poker hand strength

Sunday, February 6th, 2011 | Poker Articles, Poker Strategy | No Comments

Submitted by Matthew Tonge this article about poker hand strength belongs to the Poker Strategy Series.

Matthew recently submitted an article series about 5 key steps  to go from beginner to winner in poker. The second step is all about mastering the concept of poker hand strength

Overview of the entire article series

1. Which starting hands to play in poker
2. Poker hand strength
3. Bet sizing in poker
4. Aggression in poker
5. Position in poker

We recommend these poker bonus deals

Poker hand strength

Summary: Don’t fall in love with your hands. Some look nice at first, but if the action gets too hot, throw them away!

The strength of your poker hand is relative to the strength of your opponents’ hands. You are on the button and are dealt Ace-Jack. That’s a good hand. If it is folded around to you, there is a good chance that your hand is best. But let’s say that a player in early position raises, and then a player in middle position re-raises. Now, do you still think your Ace-Jack is strong? Remember what we said about needing a stronger hand the earlier your position. The player who raised in early position probably has a strong hand. Then the person who re-raised said “hey, I know you probably have a strong hand, but my hand is even stronger!” A good player will probably not re-raise here with a hand worse than yours, like Ace-Ten or King-Queen. In other words, your hand is almost certainly behind! It is a slight underdog to a pair of tens or lower, is a big underdog to Jack-Jack, Queen-Queen, King-King, Ace-King and Ace-Queen, and is a huge underdog to Ace-Ace. The beginner would still want to play the Ace-Jack. The intelligent player will realize that it is no longer good enough, and fold.

We recommend these poker school and poker tools

So, be more selective about which hands you play, try not to play too many hands out of position, don’t be passive – be aggressive, bet an amount that will achieve what you want to achieve, and pay attention to the strength your opponents are showing. If you can do these, you will be well on your way to becoming a competent poker player.

Matthew Tonge

For free poker tutorial videos, please visit my youtube page at you tube.com/unkempt27

Tags: Poker Articles, Poker Strategy