Online Poker Secrets» Opponent

Being the Big Stack

jen — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:04:47 +0000

Phil Gordon gives some great online poker secrets in regards to how to play when you are the big stack at the table in a poker tournament:

1. Never limp into a pot
2. If the blinds consist of tight players with average stacks, play almost any hand in position
3. Punish limpers with big raises from position when you think they are weak
4. Call from position more often when an opponent with an average stack enters the pot with a raise
5. Rarely, if ever, confront a short-stacked opponent without a premium poker hand
6. Try to win more hands before the flop

All-In Before the Flop

jen — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:37:51 +0000

“Moving all-in before the flop is one of the most powerful plays in No Limit Hold’em. It’s also one of the most dangerous” – Phil Gordon

When is it right to move all-in before the flop?

- When you have the best hand and believe your opponent will call.
- When you have the worst hand and believe your opponent will fold (The pot must be big enough to steal)
- When you have the worst hand, but even if your opponent calls, you are getting great odds on your money
- When you are getting the right pot odds no matter what your opponent holds
- When you have the best hand, and your opponent has the right pot odds to call, but an all-in bet might scare him into folding.

Observe

jen — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:02:14 +0000

Some great online poker secrets on your opponents:

Put your opponent on hands
Look for betting patterns
Remember showdown hands and positions
Figure out what mood your opponents are in (if they are speaking)

These are all good things to think about while playing online poker

Think some more!

jen — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:51:08 +0000

After you have answered the first set of questions, then the most important ones come into play:

1. Should I bet?
- If you think you have the best hand, the answer is 99% YES!
- If you think you can fold a weak/passive player to fold, then the answer shoudl be YES!
- If I have a good draw and I think my opponent will fold, the answer is YES!

2. Should I check or fold?
- If you think you have the worst hand, the answer is YES!
- If you think my opponent is strong, the answer is YES!
- If you are on a draw and you are not getting a good price, he ansewr is YES, YES, YES!

If you’re gonna bet….

jen — Sun, 31 May 2009 18:31:50 +0000

Dont give up at the end! A big mistake that happens in poker, is that you realized by the time the river comes – you may not be good. If you realize this, the biggest mistake you can make is Not betting (unless of course, you have absolute rubbish). Make the final bet. You may be surprised, and at the very least, you are putting the decision on your opponent instead of allowing them to do to you.

You are your biggest opponent

jen — Sat, 02 May 2009 16:50:23 +0000

Your lack of ability to learn from your mistakes, your rationalization of playing marginal hands, lack of patience, inability to play emotionless….these are your biggest opponents, all within yourself. If you can take the time to master a Zen like state in poker, then you will be eliminating your biggest opponent and creating a more profitable game of online poker.

The Continuation Bet

jen — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 15:05:21 +0000

In light of my last post about Super System, I wanted to make a quick comment about the continuation bet.

While the continuation bet is a good strategy in a lot of circumstances, you must know when the continuation bet is going to be worth your while. If you are playing against a calling station, stop doing the continuation bet – as the real purpose of this move is to get the opponent out of the hand.

Super System edjucates players to always continue their bet after the flop if they have raised pre flop – and I think that if you want to be a winning player you need to discover when the right time to continue your bet is!

Don’t Keep Betting!

jen — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:57:56 +0000

I understand that when you bet the flop and the turn you feel like you should at least give it another shot on the river. Think about what you are doing when you keep betting. Are you trying to represent you have a hand or do you have a hand and are betting for value? If you bet and bet and you keep getting called you should stop to think what they could be calling you with. This is especially important if you have position on your opponent and they keep check calling you. It is ok to check on the river and save yourself from being in the position to have to call a raise especially if you only have a pair. This will save you a lot of headaches and money in the end.

Deep in the tourney: Big Pocket Pairs

jen — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:21:37 +0000

You’re playing in a tournament and you get deep with about average chip stack. You pick up a big pocket pair (TT,JJ,QQ), how do you play it?

This is a good online poker secret to maximize your play with these hands. If you are in early position it is a good idea to make a bigger than normal raise. You don’t want to see a flop multi-handed and the blinds are normally big enough to make it worth it if everyone folds. If you are in middle or late position with an early position limper or raiser then I would suggest going all-in to protect your hand. If you get called then you probably have to win a race but you put the decision on your opponent to make the mistake of calling with a weaker hand. The last scenarios on how to play these hands are in the blinds. If you yhave a limper or raiser, pushing is the best option, but if you are facing an all in from any position except the button or cutoff then I would suggest thinking about the size of the all in or if it was a reraise all in. You may have to let this one go if it looks like you have a multi-way pot when you may be dominated.