Betting tips

Israel - Romania

2008-02-06T12:54:00.000Z

Pick: Romania Bet365
Odd: 2.62 Stake: 3/10

Date: 06/02/2008 20:45

Interesting match between Israel and Romania.
Israel has made huge progress in the last past years, and managed to gather 23 points in the qualifying group for Euro 2008, same as England who occupied the 3rd position in the end, and remain at home together with Israel.
Romania on the other hand seems more powerful than ever, and Victor Piturca's hunger for fame makes his players confident. After the "Golden Generation" who reached its limits in USA in 1994, it is time for the present generation to show what metal is made of - and this might be a last chance for players like Chivu, Lobont, Mutu or Contra. Now or never.
Israel will be a tough opponent, but under no circumstances I see Romania losing at Tel-Aviv.

Lanus - Olmedo

2008-02-04T23:17:00.000Z

Date 02/06 00:00
Pick: Handicap (0:1) 1
Stake: 3/10 Odds: 1.80
Bookmaker: Bet365

Lanus lost 1-0 in the first leg.(a game played at high altitude).

I won't wait for asian lines for this game.I'm happy with this 1.8.
I remember teams from Ecuador loosing big when playing away in Argentina or Brasil.

Afterall Lanus is argentinian champions a win by two goals is a must in order to qualify and i don't think this is much to ask at all.

High stakes for me as i see Lanus scoring at least 3 times.

Lanus - Olmedo 3-0 +2.4

Egypt - Angola

2008-02-04T16:06:00.000Z

Today, 19:00

Pick: Egypt
Stake: 8/10 Odds: 1.90
Bookmaker: Bet365

Tonight in 3rd 1/4final of African Cup of Nations is a game between Egypt and Angola.
Egypt played very good in group stage.:
30.01.2008. Zambija 1:1 Kup Afrike
26.01.2008. Sudan 3:0 Kup Afrike
22.01.2008. Kamerun 4:2 Kup Afrike
Their most impressive game of the tournament was against Cameroon on the opening group game.They won 4:2. A great match was for Mohamed Zidan and Hossam Hassan. Egypt won the group C with 7 points.
Angola played in group D, and they finished at 2nd place of the table, behind Tunisia. Their most impressive player was, Manucho, player from Manchester United, who will spend a half season in Panathinaikos.
Angola played 2 draws and have one win against Senegal:
31.01.2008. Tunis 0:0 Kup Afrike
27.01.2008. Senegal 3:1 Kup Afrike
23.01.2008. South Africa 1:1 Kup Afrike
Egypt is Champion from last edition of African Cup of Nations. They will play against Ivory Coast in semifinals if win tonight. They are better team, and I`m sure did they will win tonight!

Egipt - Angola 2-1 +7.2

Tunisia - Cameroon

2008-02-04T15:34:00.000Z

Pick: <2.5 Bet365
Odd: 1.65 Stake: 6/10

Today, 22:30

They showed big problems in first match against Egypt and most of them because they lost the ball very easy in midfield , defenders were left alone and got easily surprised by Egypt counters.
Then two big wins against two very poor teams with joke defences......but still unconclusive and uninteresting results when thinking about the match against Tunisia.
From what i saw 'till now this Cameroon side can concead a goal even from Luxembourg U21 team.
On the other hand Tunisia showed lots of mistakes in defence, especialy central defender Jaidi seams out of form.
Si , IMO this will be a close encounter with defensive mistakes and in consequence goals scored.
GL!

Tunisia - Cameroon 2-3 -6u

Inter - Empoli

2008-02-03T12:31:00.000Z

Pick: Handicap (0:1) 1
UNIBET
Odd: 1.74 Stake: 4/10
Date :February 15th, 2008

I usually don´t bet much on international matches but this match seems to be a clear thing. Inter is on first place at the moment and they have got five points more than Roma. Last weekend they only played draw and their advance sank. Roma and Juve are playing against two teams from the end of the table and they also expect three points this weekend. During the weekend Inter played very good against Juve in the Cup and won with 2-3.
Inter won nine of thier ten home matches and i can´t imagine the won´t win this match. They have a goal-average from 2.6 goals per home match and i see them scoring some goals tomorrow,too. A win is duty and i am sure they will pull this duty. I go into this match with full stake and cover it with HC 0:1 X.
Inter - Empoli 1-0 -4u

Blackburn - Everton

2008-02-02T12:23:00.000Z

Today, 17:00
Soccer - Eng. Premier
Pick: Over 2.25
Stake: 3/10 Odds: 2.10
Bookmaker: Bet365

Poor EPL round in terms of value, got my eyes on a pick for tomorrow, as for today the only offer I really like is the OVER between Blackburn and Everton. You know that I'm not an under/over stickler, and only rarely get involved in this market, but this time I really think there's some nice value to be had there.
The stats say everything and make the odds either. If you take a glance to Blackburn's home matches, and Everton's away matches you'll notice that the two sides have mostly been undersish, while in fact, I don't quite see Blackburn for instance scoring a goal and then defending the result with 11 men in their own box. On the contrary, I see them very free when they attack, attacking-minded attitude if I can say so.
All in all, the idea is that I do see Blackburn scoring, Santa Cruz is in top form and their middle works perfectly well, and I do see Everton scoring either, even if they miss Yakubu, they can still create chances I suppose, and take their last home match for example when they've missed some really nice chances, but Johnson just couldn't find the net, hopefully he gets it done today.

Blackburn - Everton 0-0 -3u

Portsmouth - Chelsea

2008-02-02T12:19:00.000Z

Today, 16:00
Soccer - Eng. Championship
Pick: Under 2.5
Stake: 3/10 Odds: 1.70 (Unibet)

I cant see there 3 goals.
Probably 0:0 0:1 1:1 0:2
I have to bet it, because it is great example of under match.
Chelsea strong defence + Drogba out + Portsmouth attack on low level + H2H matches 0:2.

Portsmouth - Chelsea 1-1 +2.1u

Ivory Coast - Guinea

2008-02-01T12:15:00.000Z

Pick: Ivory Coast (-1)

Odd: 1.70 Stake: 4/10 Bet365
February 03rd, 2008

Quarter final game between Cote d'Ivoire (who impressed so far) and Guinea (team that knocked out Marocco).
I decided to bet on this game early as i don't think the (-1) line will resist much longer.I have no doub't in my mind that Cote d'Ivoire will winn this match ,but i don't wanna put big stakes on a quarter final match when a "simple" win will put you through.
Guinea will be again without Feindouno witch is a very big blow for them ,he's doing all the play in midfield and without him strickers Mansare and Bangoura won't have many balls up front.
Cote d'Ivoire with Drogba, Kone,Dindane - in attack, Eboue, Toure, Boka - in defence, Yaya Toure, Zokora in midfield shouldn't have troubles scoring here.
They are focused and determinet to win this ACN and probably only Ghana (with refs) could stop them.
Anyway Cote d' Ivoire (-1) is a bet i really like for this match and i'll put high stakes.
GL!
Ivory Coast - Guinea +2.8

Tunisia - Angola

2008-01-31T12:01:00.000Z

Pick: Under 2.5

Odd: 1.50 Stake: 4/10 Interwetten

Tunisia faced today Angola in game from group D for African Nations Cup.Situation is a little tricky bacause both teams are need only of 1 point to be sure for next stage.Odds ofcourse are dropped fast and now high odds are around 1.90.
Ofcourse nothing is so sure and can we see different result of Draw,but in this situation is a must try bet.
Tunisia crushed South Africa with fast 3 goals till 34 min. 3:1 - Francileudo Santos scored twice,while Chouki Ben Saada scored one goal.This comming after tought draw in first game with Senegal 2:2.
Angola impress with good performing and last game they downed Senegal with 3:1,so now they will try to keep respectable display with qualify for next round and this is priority of win in this game and they will be very happy on Draw result on the end.
With drwa ill try Under also because in this cautious battle cant see more of 2 goals i think...

Tunisia - Angola 0-0 +2u

Money exchange

2008-01-31T11:54:00.000Z

Bookmakers

2008-01-31T11:51:00.000Z

Poker articles

2008-01-31T11:44:00.000Z

Money management

2008-01-31T11:22:00.001Z

Getting the Most Out of Bonuses and Promotions

2008-01-31T01:14:00.002Z

By PokerListings.com

If you plan to play a lot, we recommend that you open up about half a dozen poker room accounts during your first year of playing online. The reasons are as follows:

To get several big sign-up bonuses in order to get a big part of your rake back. To try out different platforms as the software and game selection often varies significantly. In order to get more promotions, such as money-added tournaments, re-load bonuses, frequent player free rolls, etc. To find sites where the skill level and playing styles of the players suits you best.

Sign-up bonus deals and re-load bonus offers are a great way to build your bankroll when you start out. The way to do this is to sign-up at multiple poker rooms, thus taking advantage of the typical $100-$200 sign-up bonus. Basically, you deposit money at one site and play at least until you receive whole bonus. At that point, you can either cash-out and move your money to a new site, or leave it there and deposit more money at a new site. If you do this at 5-10 different poker rooms, it can give you upwards of $1,000-$1,500 back as bonus dollars from the rake you have already paid. If you are playing at low-limits, such as $1-$2 or $2-$4 fixed limit, the bonus will, in effect, give you as much as 80-100% of the rake back at many rooms.

But do not abuse bonuses on the same site by opening multiple accounts, the sites will more than likely register multiple accounts coming from the same user and lock that player’s accounts, or even worse, confiscate the money as well.

Re-load bonuses are promotions created to ensure that existing customers play more and stay loyal. They are usually set-up in the same way as sign-up bonuses, with a set maximum bonus amount, a percentage deposit match on the re-load, and a raked hands requirement. A typical re-load bonus would be up to $100 at 20% deposit match, with 10 raked hands required per bonus dollar. As the competition heats up, more and more re-load bonuses are becoming available. If you have an unused bankroll, you should load up to the max at every chance because the extra bonus will serve as playing free of rake, more or less.

Several poker rooms have special value multi-table tournaments, where the prize pool ends up being higher than the buy-ins because of added money or a guaranteed prize pool. You will benefit greatly if you play at multiple rooms and are then able to take part in these events.

Playing Multiple Tables

2008-01-31T01:14:00.001Z

By PokerListings.com

When playing online it is possible to play at multiple tables as many sites will allow you to play numerous tables simultaneously, and of course you can also play on different sites at the same time. However, sometimes playing at multiple sites poses a problem because different software platforms interfere with one another. You will have to see which sites work best for you.

You can play multiple tables in various ways. For example, you can manually switch back and forth between the tables; you can just view a single table at a time and let the software tell you when it is your turn to act on the others; or you can adjust the screen size so that you can see all the tables at once. Again, try different playing options and decide what works best for you.

You will experience greater variation in the short run when playing at multiple tables. At times you will lose at all tables and at other times you will win. You must prepare yourself to handle these swings. However, because you can play more than one hand at once, your long-term variation should be less.

Only play at multiple tables if you are already a winning player, otherwise you will increase your hourly losing rate.

Disadvantages

Playing multiple tables concurrently increases your likelihood of making mistakes. This is because you will not know your opponents as well and will have less time to make your decisions. Also, there is a greater risk of hitting the wrong button because you are switching back and forth between tables. Sometimes you might hit the raise button when you meant to fold and vice versa. Such mistakes will decrease your earning rate.

Playing in this manner also requires a greater level of concentration, so you should only do it when you feel focused and refreshed. It is common to become less focused when playing this way because it is markedly more difficult to follow the play and evaluate the players. Consequently, you may lapse into a mechanical style of play, where you fail to adjust your strategy in accordance with the game. Your interest in the game and how much fun you get out of it can also be adversely affected.

Advantages

Playing multiple tables might make your game more solid. Playing more hands, you'll be less liable to become impatient with the pace of play. Conversely, though, if you experience bad beats on many tables at once, your risk of going on tilt is greater.

The greatest advantage to playing multiple tables is the possibility of increasing your overall hourly earning rate. If you are a player who normally makes one big bet an hour at one table, you could expect to win three big bets an hour by playing at three tables. This is true even if you were to only make one half of a big bet an hour because of the aforementioned disadvantages: Your hourly win rate would still have increased to 1.5 big bets an hour compared to one big bet an hour when playing a single table.

Hints

Try a poker odds calculator to speed up the calculation of poker odds. An odds calculator with its quick calculations is perfect while playing multiple tables. You'll get instant poker odds at your fingertips and thus be able to focus on playing the player instead of on working out odds.

Betting for Maximum Profit

2008-01-31T01:12:00.000Z

By PokerListings.com

Betting is one of the best advantages that No-Limit Hold'em offers. You can bet any amount at any given time, so it's important to develop a betting strategy that will help you win.

In my experience, there are two tactics used in successful betting:

Knowing how much a player is willing to call
Betting specific amounts to trigger a response in an opponent

How Much Will He Call?

Knowing how much a player will call is vital to successful betting. The key is figuring out what kind of player you're up against, as well as his mood in general. If you upset a player, he may call a bit more than usual, or if he's a very tight player, you may have to bet a little less to get more out of him.

You'll also want to pay attention to a player's betting patterns. If he's betting big you may need to bump up your bet size just a little. In addition, watch out for check-raises because you may not want to bet at all if you think you're beat.

Betting the Right Amounts

There's a certain strategy to betting the right amounts in order to get the best value from your hand. I love betting the right amounts in No-Limit Hold'em because it really pays off. Using a No-Limit short-handed cash game with a maximum buy-in of $600 and blinds at $3/$6, I'll show you some really cool betting tricks you may want to add to your arsenal.

$30 raise

I like to use this huge raise pre-flop to induce callers when I hold a premium hand. One advantage it holds is being an even number, which people will generally call with more ease. The exception to this is if you throw out a $100 chip because it will intimidate players rather than draw them in.

$24 raise

I like to raise this amount with high pocket pairs such as 10-10. Although it's smaller, it will appear scarier than $20 with the extra $4 added on. To make it scarier, bet $23. Odd numbers have the opposite effect of even ones and will most likely reduce callers.

$12 raise (raising double)

I almost never raise double, especially with pocket aces or kings. I hate people who do this with these hands because the idea is to create a heads-up situation with them. The only thing it's good for is raising with a crap hand to create a crazy table image.

Ascending bets

This is one of my favorite betting techniques. When I have aces or hit my hand on the flop and want callers, I'll keep betting a little more each round to get my opponent pot-committed. For example, with pocket aces I'll raise about $30 pre-flop, and then bet $48 on the flop, with another $64 on the turn. By that time, my opponent will hopefully be pot-committed and I can take him all-in on the river.

These are just examples and you don't have to precisely follow them to become a great bettor. Experiment with them and have fun; consider them useful little tricks that can amount to extra profit.

How to Evaluate Sign-Up Bonuses

2008-01-31T01:11:00.000Z

By PokerListings.com

Online poker is easily accessible to anyone, which means rooms have to compete vigorously for players. Large sign-up bonuses have become one of the most important tools in attracting new players. As a new player you should definitely take advantage of this.

The bonuses are usually set up in a way that you as a first-time depositor receive an extra bonus as a percentage of your deposit. For example, a maximum $250 bonus at 50% deposit match means that if you deposit $500 (50% of $500 being $250) you will receive $250 for free as an extra bonus in the account for a total balance of $750.

There are always restrictions on the bonus amount, though. Typically you have to play a certain number of "raked hands" in order to receive or cash out the bonus amount. This is to minimize the risk of abuse, as poker rooms want to ensure they get their bonus investment back in the form of rake before you can cash out the bonus money.

Be aware of the risk of going broke before you have played the amount of raked hands needed to qualify for the bonus. In this case you would need to make another deposit to reach the requirement. Luckily many poker rooms either give you the bonus amount to play for right away or pay out the bonus dollars in increments as you earn them in portions while playing.

To decide whether an offer is good or not, you first have to consider how much money you're willing to deposit. For example, if a site offers a $250 bonus with a 50% match-up and another one offers a $100 bonus with a 60% match-up, but you only plan to deposit $100, which one is the best for you?

Well, the first offer gives you an actual bonus of $50 (50% of $100) and the second one gives you an actual bonus of $60 (60% of $100), so the second offer would be most beneficial for you. However, the cash-out clauses can vary significantly so the 60% bonus might force you to play twice the amount of hands before cashing out. Maybe the 50% bonus offer also allows you to use the bonus to play for while fulfilling the raked hands requirement, giving you a better chance to reach it. So depending on whether your deposit is going to be small or large and how much you plan to play, the relative value of the offers varies.

A bonus offer on the weak end of the scale would be something in the line of $50-$100 bonus with a 20-25% deposit match where 10-15 raked hands per bonus dollar is required. Conversely, a good offer would be something like a $100-$200 bonus with a 40-60% deposit match where 10 raked hands per bonus dollar are required.

In order for a sign-up bonus to be great it should have a high deposit match (%) and a low raked hands requirement. If you are promised $500 bonus at 20% match requiring 25 raked hands per bonus dollar you are not getting a good deal. You would then need to deposit $2500 and play 12,500 raked hands to clear the bonus!!!

Click here to find the - remember that most of the top bonuses are exclusive to PokerListings and you need to click via our links to the poker room to be eligible for the special bonus. In some cases you also need a special bonus code, but mostly it's automatic when accessing these sites via our links.

Pure Bluffs: Floating and Probe Bets

2008-01-31T01:10:00.001Z

Of course, there are variations of each of these. Some are fairly routine and some far more subtle. The options available to you, as well as the techniques you can employ, will vary depending on whether you have position and on the number of opponents involved in the pot.

The amount of pressure you can apply with a bluff (of either variety) also depends, to a certain extent, on your position. Bluffs made in position tend to be more intimidating than their counterparts because your opponent knows he'll have to act first on the next street as well.

In today's article, we'll take a closer look at two examples of a pure bluff.

Floating

For most poker players, nothing feels better than executing a pure bluff - reading an opponent correctly, having the courage to act on that read and then dragging the pot as your opponent lays down his hand.

In today's game, the most common example of a pure bluff is the increasingly popular "float" maneuver. Essentially, "floating" involves calling your opponent with nothing, with the intention of taking the pot away from him if he shows weakness on a later street. Typically, this move is attempted when you have position against a single opponent who has raised pre-flop.

After raising pre-flop, most players make a standard continuation bet on the flop - whether they've improved their hand or not. However, comparatively few players are willing (or capable) of firing a second bullet (on the turn) without a real hand. Against opponents such as these, floating the flop can be very profitable.

To execute this move, simply call the continuation bet on the flop (independent of the strength of your hand - this is a pure bluff, remember!) and wait for your opponent to act on the turn.

Obrestad: Whatever you put me on here, - you're wrong.

The typical player tends to abandon the pot (checking and folding to a bet) if they've missed the flop, made a continuation bet and been called. They simply don't fire a second bullet often enough. This weakness is exploitable. Float the flop; then simply bet the turn if your opponent checks and fold (if you haven't got a hand) if he bets.

Clearly, as the above betting pattern illustrates, position is an important component of the typical float play. The basic idea is to force your opponent to reveal the true strength of his hand on the turn and then act accordingly based on this information. This is easier to do when you have position.

Of course, you can float from out of position too, but it's far less common and somewhat riskier to do so. When you're out of position, a typical float play involves calling the pre-flop raise, check-calling the flop, then either leading out on the turn or attempting a check-raise bluff.

Attempting a check-raise bluff on the turn requires a much larger commitment (in terms of chips) and is consequently a significantly riskier maneuver. Very few players have the ability to attempt this type of bluff.

Probe Bets

Another good example of a pure bluff is the probe bet. It's an underutilized tool in most players' repertoires. A probe bet is a bet by a player out of position, usually by the first player to act after the flop. Because, as a general rule, most flops miss most hands, probe bets are a means by which the player acting first (or the first player to bet in a three- or four-way pot) can capitalize on this fact and attempt to steal the pot.

Jacob: You are beginning to feel the effects of my probe bets.

Essentially, the basic concept behind the probe bet is to simply take a stab at the pot when you think the flop may have missed your opponents. This is done by making a small bet - usually around a quarter or a third the size of the pot. If you bet only a small percentage of the size of the pot, your probe bet doesn't have to be successful very often in order to show a profit.

A probe bet can be used in both raised and unraised pots and is a common tournament technique in both multi-tables and sit-and-gos. However, in cash games, you'll often need to bet slightly more - perhaps around half to two-thirds of the pot - in order to successfully steal the pot.

The key to profitably wielding the probe bet is to use it in the right situations. Knowing when a flop has likely missed an opponent is difficult, but careful observation can give some insights into the types of hands they're likely to raise (or limp) with. Often, flops with either all low cards or low cards and an ace are good opportunities to attempt a probe bluff.

In the next article in this series, we'll take a closer look at some other common bluffs.

Semi-Bluffs: Two Ways to Win

2008-01-31T01:08:00.000Z

In today's article, we'll take a closer look at the more conventional of the bluffs, the semi-bluff.

Semi-bluffs are basically bluffs with backup (outs). In contrast to a pure bluff, where you can only win the pot if your opponent folds, with a semi-bluff, you have two ways to win the hand. You win when your opponent folds or you can win if your hand improves.

Position Counts: In Is Better Than Out

As is the case in most contexts in poker, position is an important consideration when planning a semi-bluff. Semi-bluffs are often more successful when they are attempted from in position.

They're even more effective if you have significantly more money behind, as opposed to when you attempt a semi-bluff with an all-in bet. It's often fear of having to call another large bet rather than fear of the original bet itself that causes many players to fold to a semi-bluff.

Sebastian Ruthenberg: semi-bluff with flush and inside straight doesn't do the trick.

When you're out of position, your options are more limited. Essentially, you can choose to bet or not. If you're called, you'll have to act first on the next street and could potentially face a difficult decision - namely, whether to continue betting or abandon the bluff (assuming you haven't hit your hand).

Alternatively, when you're in position, additional options are at your disposal. Not only do you have the benefit of seeing how your opponent has acted before making your initial move, but if you bet (or raise) the flop and are called, most opponents will tend to check the turn, thus providing you with the option to check behind (if you so desire) and see a free river.

This is a major benefit. It allows you the opportunity to make your hand (by seeing the river) and potentially win a pot that you may not have been able to win if you were acting first (out of position).

Furthermore, the bet-check-bet pattern described above can also be employed with vulnerable hands such as top pair. Doing so tends to minimize your losses if you're behind, or maximize your profitability when you're ahead, as it puts doubt into the mind of your opponents, leading to more calls on the river.

(Overly) Common Uses and How to Maximize Their Value

The most common semi-bluff is betting with a flush draw. For most players, this is a routine, almost automatic play. The next-most-common example of a semi-bluff is betting with an open-ended straight draw.

While players still use these two examples frequently, with some success, there's nothing particularly deceptive about them and most good players are able to spot these types of bluffs fairly easily.

As a result, the effectiveness of these semi-bluffs is somewhat limited, both in terms of the number of pots you'll be able to steal and your ability to get paid off if you hit your hand.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't continue to semi-bluff in these situations, but you can make a potentially profitable adjustment when you do. Specifically, aggressively value-betting your big hands when the board has an obvious flush or straight draw possibility can be a very profitable play - especially if you are known to frequently semi-bluff.

In fact, overbetting the pot is often a good way to go, as this will make many opponents suspect you're betting on the come. Consider the case where a flush draw is present on the flop and an opponent leads out with top pair, top kicker or even an overpair. If you raise, your opponent will be forced to make a decision, often for all their chips.

Raising As Opposed to Betting (On Both Flop and Turn)

Another benefit to having position when contemplating a semi-bluff is that it allows you to add two additional weapons to your arsenal if your opponent bets into you - namely, the semi-bluff raise and the delayed semi-bluff raise (simply smooth-call the flop and then raise the turn whether you've made your hand or not).

Both of these moves, though not for the faint of heart, are good examples of power poker. All top players are familiar with both of these plays and are willing to use them in the right situation.

Chad Batista: Kc-J semi-bluff backfires.

Other Opportunities to Semi-Bluff

In my experience, two of the best (most profitable) times to semi-bluff are when you've flopped either a double gut-shot straight draw or a gut-shot straight draw. Of course, combining either of these draws with overcards or a back door flush draw makes them even more valuable.

The reason these draws are more valuable is simple. Your opponent is far less likely to be able to put you on the actual hand you have. Consequently, this added element of deception means you're far more likely to get paid off when you hit your draw than you would be if you had made a semi-bluff on a flush draw.

The Beauty of Semi-Bluffs

For the typical player, employing semi-bluffs with the correct frequency and in the proper situations will improve profitability dramatically. Semi-bluffs help to vary your play and keep your opponents guessing, both of which are important benefits. Having position when you attempt a semi-bluff affords you more options in the play of the hand in addition to allowing you to win more and larger pots.

By Peter Wessel

Bankroll Advice: Knowing When to Quit

2008-01-31T01:07:00.001Z

When you sit down at your favorite game you should really have only one thing on your mind - playing the best poker you can. If you're going to be successful you have to bring your A-game to the table every time. The question is, how long can you play at peak performance?

Becoming a winning poker player means knowing when to quit. You have to know your own limitations and recognize when you're on a bad streak so you can get out of a game before you break your bankroll.

My general rule is that as long as you're playing good poker, there's no need to quit the game. I absolutely hate it when players set limits on how much to win or lose and use that to determine when they should stop playing.

If you're on a rush in poker, the game is good and you're making good money, you should always continue playing. Poker has a lot to do with confidence, and if you're on a winning streak your confidence is definitely high. You'll tend to make more aggressive decisions and punish people for drawing. In a nutshell, you'll own the table.

It can also be a mistake to quit a losing game if you're playing well because it can easily turn into a winning one with time. I've played in games where I lost $3,000 before turning it around to win $20,000. If I had set a guideline for myself to get out after a $2,500 loss, I never would have made the money.

One of the only times I recommend leaving is if your bankroll can't handle any more hits. If your bankroll has taken a huge, once-in-a-blue-moon hit, then it's probably best to take a break.

Then there are those times when your bankroll can handle a losing streak but you can't. Although it's easier said than done, you should quit right away if you're emotionally affected in any way by a losing session.

A losing streak isn't the only thing that can affect your mental state and sabotage your game. If you're tired and need rest, you need to stop playing. Research has shown that when people take any type of test, they do much better when they're alert and have eaten. This relates to poker as well. I've noticed that when I'm tired, I tend to call more marginal hands and rush decisions.

If you want to play your best, you must always feel good physically and be mentally alert so you can focus on the game. Take breaks when you need to because the game will always be there when you're ready to come back to it.

See you at the tables.

source:pokerlistings.com

Common Beginner Mistakes

2008-01-31T01:05:00.000Z

Mistake #1: Playing too many hands

When people sit down in a game, they want to play. Often, this means they even will play hands like J 4. This is a cardinal mistake. Hopefully, the articles on this site will help improve your starting hand selection.

Mistake #2: Playing above your bankroll

This goes without saying. Sometimes the gambling and money aspect of poker gets to people too much. They become greedy and play in games they cannot afford or games where the competition is simply too stiff.

At first, stick to a consistent, low limit. Learn how to play and beat the game before you play in higher-stakes games.

Mistake #3: Becoming too emotional at the table

Bad beats will happen. Losing sessions will happen. Annoying opponents will happen. Live with it and do not let your emotions sway your judgment at the table.

Mistake #4: Not using pot odds

If your hand needs improvement, the concept of pot odds can help you determine if you should call to see the next card on the board. Few beginning players understand pot odds, and they often call too much. This site has an article about pot odds, as well as a pot odds calculator

Mistake #5: Using a two-color deck

When most people think of cards, they think of two colors, red and black. The suits are displayed like this:

Well, I have news for you. Some online poker rooms give you two display choices: the traditional two-color deck and a four-color deck. A four-color deck has a unique color for each suit, like this:

While this may seem unusual at first, it will make things much easier on you with time.

Believe me, if you use a two-color deck, there is a good chance that, at some point, you will misread your hand. You might think you have a flush when in fact you do not. Using a four-color deck is a simple way to prevent yourself from making stupid mistakes.

Mistake #6: Not following etiquette

This is a mistake that brick-and-mortar beginners make. When you want to make a raise, you should not say, "I call your bet and raise you $X." Your initial action is considered your final action. So if you say, "I call ..." it means you just want to call. If you want to raise, say "raise" and state the amount you want to raise, if it is a no-limit game (the amount of the raise is obvious in fixed-limit games).

Mistake #7: Imitating other players

A lot of people learn how to play poker by playing in a fashion similar to other people. They may just imitate others at the table, or they may try to play like a professional they saw on television. This is the wrong way to go about playing poker.

Many people who play poker are simply bad at it. Imitating a poor player means copying a lot of their bad habits. Furthermore, trying to imitate what one saw on television is also a recipe for disaster. What is shown on television is almost always a tournament, and their hands are highly situational. The reasons for the professional's decision probably has little applicability to your own game.

It is important to understand how to make decisions at poker. Succeeding at poker is not done through imitation; rather, it is done through understanding the complexities of the game.

Mistake #8: Superstitions

All gambling involves luck. While luck tends to even itself out over the long run, people naturally focus on the short run and on their fluctuations.

Because gambling involves randomness, people will often blame or chalk up their luck to some random event that coincided with how they fared at a certain gambling session. This may be as innocent as believing in a lucky shirt. However, some people take these superstitions too far. They start to believe that if they constantly move seats or change their socks that they will somehow become the next WSOP winner.

You cannot affect the "luck" factor of gambling. Luck evens itself out over the long run. The only thing you should concern yourself with at the poker table is playing well. If you play very well at poker, you will win over the long run. If you do not play well, you will lose. It's as simple as that.

Mistake #9: Overvaluing Suited Hands

Having a suited hand is a plus. However, you should not play a hand just because it is suited. The first two things to consider about a starting hand are the ranks of the cards and whether the cards are paired. These are by far the most important factors in the value of a hand. After this, you should consider if they are suited or connecting.

A hand like A K is much, much more valuable than a hand like 10 3. A K is a top starting hand, whereas 10 3 should be thrown in the muck.

This may sound obvious, but many beginners make the mistake of calling to see the flop with any two suited cards. The probability of flopping a flush or a flush draw with two suited cards is just under 12%. This is fairly low; you need other reasons to play a starting hand besides suitedness. to help you better understand this concept.

source:pokertips.org

Ego

2008-01-31T01:04:00.001Z

Poker can be an exciting game. Because it is played against other players and not against the house, it is also possible for a player to win at it in the long run.

However, always remember to keep your poker ego in check. First, the vast majority of people who play poker lose. For someone to win at poker, someone else has to lose. Also, the house takes a rake. If everyone at the table were of equal skill, everyone would expect to lose in the long run because of the amount of money paid in rake (of course, this doesn't apply to home games). So to win at poker, you need to be more skilled than your opponents, and you need to be skilled enough to beat the rake.

Furthermore, don't be naive and think you can be a guaranteed winner overnight. Poker is a tough game. Some people have played poker for years and still cannot become winning players. You are not going to just read a few articles and become a dominating poker player right off the bat. It takes skill, practice, and patience to become a good poker player.

Also, just because you do well at one type of poker does not necessarily mean you will do well at other forms of poker. For example: someone who dominates his home poker game may very well lose in a more competitive setting such as a casino or online. Another example: many good ring game players are horrible tournament players and vice versa. Keep track of your poker statistics so you can analyze which form of poker you play the best. If your statistics have shown that over a fair amount of time you have consistently lost at a certain poker game, you need to be cognizant of the fact that your poker skills are not good enough to beat that game over the long run.

Poker can be fun, exciting, and potentially even profitable. However, always have the right mindset when you are playing at the table.
source:pokertips.org

Think for yourself

2008-01-31T01:03:00.000Z

A disturbing trend I've noticed in the poker community is that people seem to want to follow strict guidelines when they play poker. Many want to treat poker like blackjack, where there is an optimal strategy in every situation.

This is simply not the case. Any and all advice are just some general hints that can never take the place of proper situational judgment skills. Poker is a game of people and a game of situations. It is not a game of optimal, pre-planned strategy. All of the best poker players vary their play and make decisions on the spot. Poker players that rely on a ready-made recipe are doomed to fail because they will play very predictably, and they won't take into account many important situational factors when making decisions.

There really is no way to teach someone situational judgment skills. The only advice on this topic that I can give is to practice and pay attention to your flaws. What are some situations that could be played differently? How often do you correctly place opponents on their hands?

Something that may be helpful is online poker hand histories. Some, but not all, poker rooms will display the hands of all the losing players who called a showdown (the screen will show mucks but the hand history will show the opponents' hands). Some poker rooms that do this are Party Poker and Poker Room. When you beat someone who called you to the river, or you turned a lucky draw, request the hand history and see what your opponent had. This will help give you an idea of how often you correctly judge your opponents.

If you are going to play poker, have confidence in yourself. Think for yourself. Don't worry if your play may be violating textbook guidelines. A winning poker player's arsenal combines general poker knowledge with situational judgment skills. Losing poker players don't think for themselves or simply don't think at all.

Keep it simple

2008-01-31T01:02:00.000Z

When you start to play poker, you will more than likely be playing low-limit games. Beating these games does not require you to become a masterful poker player, it primarily entails that you are able to outplay poor opponents. Beating good players at high limits can be incredibly difficult, entailing many complex moves. However, winning at low limits is pretty straightforward.

What do I mean? Basically, other players won't be paying attention to you. They only care about their own cards; they don't care about you or your cards. They will play their hand as they always play their hand, regardless of whether or not you are in the pot. You are basically a ghost to them... but hopefully you will be a ghost that's slowly taking their money! If you want to beat these types of players, you simply need to a play a straightforward game that will win in the long run. For example, play tight, don't do any fancy bluffs, bet aggressively when you probably have the best hand, and utilize pot odds for your drawing decisions.

When it comes to deception with these players, slowplaying can work. These players are easily fooled into thinking they have the best hand when they hit a pair on the turn, so giving them a free card when you hold the stone nuts can be to your advantage. However, bluffing is simply an exercise in futility. These guys want to see if they have the best hand. They'll pay to see your cards just so they can see them sometimes! Don't expect to scare any fish at lower limits with an extra $2 bet.

Master the art of choosing starting hands, employing pot odds, and aggressively betting your winning hands. However, psychological strategies are generally useless. Your opponents are not thinking too deeply, and attempting any fancy plays will only hurt you.

Play money

2008-01-31T01:00:00.000Z

source:pokertips.org
Games for "play money" are very popular on the internet. These are poker games where no real money is wagered, and players just play with fake, virtual chips. There are far more play-money players than real-money players on the internet because it is a form of free entertainment. Many people play these games to pass the time or to learn the basics of poker.

Play-money games can be entertaining. However, play-money games are very limited in their ability to help a player improve his skills. Play-money games are generally only useful to accomplish the following purposes:

• To help a player understand the rules of the game
• To help a player get used to online poker software

Play-money games are not helpful for a player to refine his or her poker skills. Learning to excel at play-money games will only help you beat play-money games. The "skills" you learn at play-money games may be helpful at real-money games, but there is also the chance that you will learn bad habits that will actually cause your real-money poker skills to deteriorate.

Play-money players tend to play almost any hand dealt to them. They will hardly ever fold because there is no consequence if they lose a lot of "play money." In this environment, winning is extremely easy. You can see the flop with a lot of hands and hope to hit a solid hand. Since you will definitely be paid off, it pays to play extremely loose preflop in a play-money game, provided you use some sense during your postflop play.

In a real-money game, people are not nearly as idiotic as they are in play-money games. If you go all-in on a board of A K 5, very rarely will someone call you with 3 2 in a real-money game. But in a play-money game, this sort of move would certainly not be out of the ordinary. In short, people in play-money games are more than happy to give their "virtual money" away. In a real-money game, players are not nearly as generous.

This important difference between the two games greatly affects the strategy of the games. Successful play-money strategy incorporates loose preflop play because one can expect a huge payoff if one flops a strong hand. Since people will not simply throw their money at you in real-money games, players need to play tighter preflop and only see the flop with certain hands.

Furthermore, winning at play-money will often give players false confidence. Winning at play-money games is absolutely no guarantee that one will win at real-money games. Often, winning play-money players lose at real-money games. These players frequently fail to realize what mistakes they are making at real-money games because the habits they have learned were successful in play-money games.

While play-money ring games have little in common with real-money ring games, there are certain types of play-money games that are somewhat similar to their real-money counterparts. The best example is large play-money MTTs vs. large freerolls. Freerolls are essentially play-money tournaments, except there is a cash prize for the top winners.

Generally, the smaller the prize, the more similar the freeroll is to a play-money tournament. After all, if first place only receives $50, people will not be as focused as they would be if first place received an entry into the World Series of Poker.

Play-money STTs are also somewhat similar to very low-buy-in ($5 or lower) STTs. The basic strategy in these two types of tournaments is similar. In both types of tournaments, it pays to be more cautious at the beginning of the tournament and more aggressive at the end of the tournament.

Nevertheless, even at low-buy-in tournaments, people will still try a lot harder than they would in a play-money tournament. The only thing at stake in a play-money sit-and-go is pride, and pride alone is not nearly as important as $10.