Poker Strategy - How Not To Lose
Written by Gary Steele - Programmer of The Edge - www.TheEdgePoker.com
Poker Software for Tracking Opponent’s Statistics
There are hundreds of pages on poker strategy available already, but the
problem with simple poker strategy is that everyone plays poker differently.
You are not going to be able to find one page which tells you how to beat
every poker player because everybody has their own style. Frankly, if I
had all of the answers on how to beat everybody I would be in Vegas and
on TV winning millions and I would never have a bad poker day.
Sadly (for me) this is not the case, and though I am able to offer you
good poker strategy that will assist you on many hands in your future, you
too will find your own style which works best for you. After years of playing
poker online I have only just refined my game to the point where I can win
money consistently, and only six months ago I finally won enough to cover
all of my previous losses. I am in the black now, but I learn new things
every day and my poker game will never stop growing.
Of course, I will admit, I started winning when I started using my stat
tracking software, so maybe I needed a little help, but hey, whatever works.
The knowledge I gain from using The Edge is going to pay for my next trip
to Atlantic City.
I have never seen what I am about to write in another advice or strategy
column anywhere, so maybe I will be able to teach you something new. You
can go to any poker strategy site and see the words “how to win,”
but in my opinion it is more important to first learn “how not to
lose.” By this I mean you have got to understand and master these
four main ideas:
- Do not go on tilt;
- Do not chase cards when it is not profitable for you to do so;
- Know yourself;
- Know your opponents.
Do not go on tilt
The first piece of poker advice is “do not go on tilt.” On tilt
means you play hands or make bets you should not normally make because you
are not playing your game. Maybe you have been losing, maybe one player has
been beating you over and over, or maybe you have been drinking. As many games
as I have played in my life, I still have problems with going on tilt on a
regular basis.
There are a couple of techniques you can use to avoid this. The most important
thing you have to learn is “patience.” It is okay to lose a
nice pot with Big Slick, it happens to everyone (just happened to me as
I am writing). It is okay to fold King/5 offsuit and have the flop come
up King/King/5 (happened the next hand). Yes, I am irritated, but I have
to concentrate on playing my game because I know in the long run I will
win more than I lose. I cannot play this 8/9 suited because I am irritated,
that is not my game. If I become impatient now I will walk away from this
table with nothing left, it has happened to me before. When I become so
irritated that I cannot play my game I have to realize it is time to “get
up and walk away”. You have to play your game 100% of the time.
Do not chase cards when it is not profitable for you to do so
The second piece of advice in my poker strategy guide on “how not to
lose” is “do not chase cards when it is not profitable for you
to do so.” Learning how to avoid this is all about understanding Pot
Odds. I have written an article with a simple and informative explanation
of how to calculate and use Pot Odds.
Be sure you read and start using the advice. Just knowing and understanding
it is not enough; you have to practice it.
Know yourself
Third in my “how not to lose” poker strategy guide is “know
your game.” In a hand I just played I was dealt Ace/5 of hearts. It
was cheap to see the flop, I was on the button, and there were a few other
players so I limped in (paid a small bet to see the first three cards) even
though the hand is not one I would typically play in any other situation.
The player two seats behind me, in the big blind, raised $20. Now I know there
is not much chance of getting a straight or flush, even though both are possible
with Ace/5 suited. I also know that if an Ace comes on the flop I will drop
the hand like a hot rock with a low kicker like the 5 if anyone bets (people
don’t drop aces). Unless I get a fantastic flop, I do not have the game
to play against a betting player with this hand.
Even though I am already in the pot, I know my game well enough to understand
there is not much I will be able to do with it other than bluff. I fold.
Maybe you would not. Maybe bluffing is a large part of your technique and
works for you. I know myself well enough to understand that bluffing and
chasing cards is not my style.
Knowing your playing style is important because it keeps you from throwing
away chips on hands you probably wouldn’t play anyway. The Flop comes
Ace/10/9, the raiser bets another $20 and eventually shows Ace/Queen, which
loses to three 10’s. I played it just right and saved the first $20
bet simply by knowing I personally would not call a bet anyway, even with
an Ace on the Flop. You have to know your game just as well to avoid losing
money.
Know your opponents
My last piece of poker strategy on “how not to lose” is “know
your opponents.” If you have read through The Edge poker software web
site, you already know how this works and how tracking your opponent’s
statistics can help you to “not lose”. If not, let me explain.
It is important to know who the tight (only play very good starting hands)
and loose (will play just about any hand) players are. When you are in a
hand with a tight player you can be assured they have a very good hand.
If a loose player is in the hand and you only play quality cards, you can
feel confident knowing your hole cards are better than his or hers.
It also is important to know if a player is bluffing. Bluffing is not a
technique most players can turn on and off. Most either bluff too much or
not at all. Figuring out which players bluff every hand is important because
you can use them to do your betting for you when you get good cards, thus
disguising your strength. You also need to understand you do not need to
drop against these players with a marginal hand like second pair. Watch
their betting style though. When these players get good hands they usually
change their style by either betting more than usual or much less. This
will become easier as you play more hands and learn to pick up these subtle
tells.
These techniques on “how not to lose” can only be learned
by playing close attention to the game. Watching TV or writing an article
while you are playing is a sure way to lose. Oh, that reminds me, I’ve
got some catching up to do in this tourney I am playing. TTFN.
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