Friday, February 14, 2014
When To Shift Gears In Poker
Doyle Brunson, the twice world champion of poker and Hall of Fame
member, talks a lot about "shifting gears." Of course, now that
almost everybody drives a car with an automatic transmission, the
concept of shifting gears may not have the impact it once did. So,
pretend you're driving a big old truck or a small sports car without
automatic. You need to shift to match driving conditions.
In poker, you can shift gears by changing from a very aggressive
style of play to a more defensive one, from tight to loose, from
bluff mode to non-bluff mode and back again. The object of shifting
gears is to keep opponents off guard.
The nice thing about shifting gears in poker is that you always know
right away that you've shifted, but your opponents may throw
thousands of dollars your way before they figure it out. But, what
if your opponents aren't paying any attention to you? Then, shifting
gears is silly. You might as well just make your most profitable
long-range decision on every play. There's no reason to sacrifice
the top choice in an effort to throw your opponents off-guard,
because they simply aren't reacting to you.
But that last type of opponent is more theoretical than actual. All
opponents react to what you do to some extent, whether they realize
it or not. Still, changing gears just for the sake of it doesn't
accomplish much. You need to use the right gear at the right time.
No sense cruising along the highway, making good time toward your
destination, with no traffic, thinking, "Hey, I haven't shifted
gears for a while, maybe I'll shift down to first gear and gradually
rebuild my speed from there."
talking about here , Poker, and Life Strategy.
Shifting Gears for the Right Reasons
Shifting gears is simply the act of changing tactics suddenly
between tight and loose, between aggressive and passive, and back
again.
There is no word-class player who stays in the same gear all the
time. You can't maximize your profit without shifting gears, but
shifting gears for the wrong reason can just cost you money. Sure,
if your opponents are playing strict game theory without making any
adjustments in accordance with how you play, you can only lose money
by shifting gears. There's simply no reason to do it.
Shifting gears should only be done to confuse opponents or to
enhance your image. There is no other reason whatsoever to shift.
However, this does not mean that you shouldn't "randomize" your
decisions, even against some opponents who may not be paying
attention when you change tactics. If you're playing against an
excellent opponent who is using game theory to his benefit (whether
perfectly or imperfectly, whether consciously or unconsciously), you
need to vary your decisions. Bet sometimes, but not always, with
given hands. Bluff at random, but at the right frequency.
But shifting gears is different from this kind of sudden
randomization. Shifting gears means you've changed your basic mode
of aggression or deception and intend to stay in that new mode for
many hands, many minutes, or maybe for hours.
There are only four good reasons to shift gears.
To be less predictable and more confusing;
To attack their money;
To defend your money;
To let opponents self-destruct.
Shifting to appear less predictable only matters against certain
players.
They are ones who otherwise (consciously or unconsciously) would
understand how you're playing and who would and could take advantage
if you stayed in the same gear.
Don't shift unless you need to.
Stay in your most profitable gear as much as possible. If you don't
need to shift, don't!
Which gears work best?
Consider a low gear (conservative and unaggressive) against tight,
sensible opponents in rake games, because a fast strategy will eat
up your profits in rakes. Also use a low gear when you've been seen
losing or otherwise haven't been able to establish a dynamic image -
but have tried. This is very important, because normally borderline
bets and raises are unprofitable against opponents who are inspired
by your bad luck and may play better and become more deceptive as a
result.
Middle gears (sometimes aggressive, but also sometimes defensive)
work best against aggressive and sensible opponents, but you should
often shift up or down from middle gears. Middle gears should also
be used against opponents who bluff often. In that case, middle gear
often can mean calling, but not raising.
High (fast) gears should be used against opponents who are
intimidated by your image. Also use high gears while you are
building your image. When you're winning against weak opponents
whose main fault is that they call too much with bad hands and don't
raise enough with valuable hands, go into high gear and stay there
unless conditions change.
The simple truth about shifting gears.
Your primary goal should be to get into medium-high gear and stay
there as much as possible. But -- except in rare games where
opponents call too much, raise too little, and don't adapt -- you
will lose money if you stay locked in the highest gear.
When you suddenly shift gears, you have the advantage!
Even the most observant opponent has no way to tell that you shifted
right away. This advantage of "acting first" in shifting your
strategy before your opponents shift in response is available to all
players. Make sure you use it often and hope that your strongest
opponents don't use it as much.
Even unobservant opponents can be confused by gear shifting.
Unconsciously they sense volatility and become more timid and play
worse against you.
BIG MISTAKE:
When you're in high gear and controlling the game You should almost
never shift down to play a big hand deceptively. Just keep betting
and raising. Take advantage of your aggressive and deceptive image
as long as it's working.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
HOW TO PLAY POKER ONLINE WITH OUT A DEPOSIT OF YOUR OWN MONEY
If I were to sell the reader a barrel of molasses, and he, instead of sweetening his substantial dinner with the same at judicious intervals, should eat the entire barrel at one sitting, and then abuse me for making him sick, I would say that he deserved to be made sick for not knowing any better how to utilize the blessings this world affords. And if I sell to the reader this volume of nonsense, and he, instead of seasoning his graver reading with a chapter of it now and then, when his mind demands such relaxation, unwisely overdoses himself with several chapters of it at a single sitting, he will deserve to be nauseated, and he will have nobody to blame but himself if he is. There is no more sin in publishing an entire volume of nonsense than there is in keeping a candy-store with no hardware in it. It lies wholly with the customer whether he will injure himself by means of either, or will derive from them the benefits which they will afford him if he uses their possibilities judiciously. Respectfully submitted,
Hello i told some people on myspace that people can win at poker with out money. They said i was nuts so i thought i would write it down and post it here. This is a plan that works but you have to stick to it. There are high limit players that have done this and ill name one GREENPLASTIC. There are more also but thats one. I started playing on line in 1985 and there was not to many poker sites but i did find some and won with out money in them. i started my Bank roll Building right from the start for fun but now do it as a liveing to pay my bills. here is how it can be done.
FREERLLS
Playing in free rolls is the best way to get started when playing Online Poker. Texas Hold'em, No Limit to Omaha High/Low (8s or better), Pot Limit to Seven Card Stud Limit. Do not find an Online Table and deposit money immediately, you have got to see how the Internet Site plays before investing into it. And there is only one way - playing in freeroll poker tournaments, the most popular is Texas Hold em - No Limit Tournaments or Pot Limit Tournaments, next is Omaha High and High/low (8s or better), Pot Limit Tournaments, but there are Stud games available as well. Some may say just play at the free money tables - fun tables and see how you do, well that's okay if you are looking for a bit of online fun, but you will learn nothing from this. Online Free Money Players will bet on anything or nothing at fun tables - free money tables just to be in the action. Push and Pray Poker Players. If you play the freeroll multi-table tournaments then you will learn and your game will improve. Look for Sites that offer top places, a win only online tournament is hard and time consuming, some internet tournament offer cash prizes for finishing in the top 18 places. I think the best is absolutepoker they give you real cash not bonus money. If you get in top 5 you move on to the sunday turny that pays more if you win but there are alot better players in there too.
Once you have built up your cash in the Texas Holdem or Omaha Poker freeroll tournaments, do not be tempted to sit at the real money tables straight away, get used to the tables and if you are tempted use the small micro buy in tables, Limit Micro Table / Micro games are usually $.05/.10 to the $.10/.20 blind tables. Building a Bankroll based on the principals of free online poker encompasses many aspects, the mechanics of Texas hold em are listed here, but online poker bankroll building takes much more then getting $10.00 free money from a freeroll tournament or " no deposit required " and playing well enough to turn the 10 free dollars into $200.00 or more.
I would say hold off for now and keep playing some freerolls after a win and if you make it to the sunday turny and do good in that you have what it takes to play real money .05/.010 limit . If you dont win thats ok too. Its not easy and even pros lose in freerolls. YES i said pros. they too can be found in a freeroll and ill give you some names, MARK SEIF, PHILL HELLMUTH, DOYLE BRUNSON AND ALOT MORE TOO BUT THESE THREE SHOULD SHOW YOU THERE ARE PROS THAT PLAY IN THE FREERLLS. So you never know whos playing next to you. Even these pros get knocked out of these freerolls so dont feel bad if you do. Most that play in the freerolls are not pros and seem to think the allin on 7 3 off is a good move. Its not easy to play with such players and thats why pros get took out alot of times when someone gos all in with 3 7 off and they hold AA preflop and call and flop comes 337 thats a bad beat and they happan alot in the start of a freeroll. but if you play tight and wait you find your self at the finle table more then they will.
Surviving in a Freeroll
Object in a freeroll is to get into the money - Period. Unfortunately or fortunately TV has convince many players that ALL-IN is something that is done every 3 or 4 hands and as a consequence, they are bluffing all-in w/ 7 2 off suit against our AK suite - they are a dog - but will win - they are 10-1 pre flop but could win. But why are we calling at all - frustration because he as done it 3 or 4 time?? What if he as AA this time?? If you are early in a tournament you should not be short stacked - why risk the possibility of getting put out to prove a point? Object in a freeroll is to get into the money - Period. Keep that in mind - you will make it to a reasonable table or pickup AA - worthy of that all-in call - yes you may still lose - but do not change you play out of frustration - this animal will fall eventually - its not your job as a good player to take him/her out!! Laugh maybe - eventually he/she will limp in and bluff at a pot where your or someone had the nuts and they will be gone - that is smart poker.
All-in play is an over used approach to the game used by a player that watch 2 hours of Poker on TV and forget it condensed from the 10-14 hours of actual play that is rather boring as a whole...don't you fall into this trap - use all-in if you have the nuts AND think you will get called or if you are short stacked and NEED to make a stand to double up or take a pot.
Object in a freeroll is to get into the money - Period. keep this in mind and you will find yourself finishing in the money more and more!!
Picking and Playing a Table
Ok, so you won a few freerolls and now want to play a Ring/Round game. Do not just sit down and start playing, find the poker table that fits your style of play, do a little research, gather some intelligence.
Internet Poker Rooms (Online Poker Rooms), Holdem, give you the opportunity to learn a lot about a table before you ever put a chip at risk. Look at the table stats, how many players see the flop, what is the average pot size, how many hands are played an hour (1 slow connected player that plays every hand can slow this way down). These statistics will start clueing you into the Personality of the poker table, is it a tight game - few see the flop 40% or less, or a loose game, 70% or more see the flop. Is there heavy betting with lots of calls (large pots) light betting with few calls (small pots),.
Ok you found one you think is good for you, wait, I know you want to get into the action, but watch the table for a round of Blinds or two. Gather more intelligence, note each poker player, who is aggressive, who is passive, who check raised, what each player had at a show down, who mucked cards in the small blind with no raise (sign of an experienced or at least educated player) Now that you have valuable intelligence on the players, its time to sit down but keep taking notes, do not assume your 1st impressions were correct, adjust these as you play. Initially play very tight, only premium poker hands, if not sure of your hand, muck and wait, if they bluffed you out, they will try again, in fact having folded to a bluff with a better hand only encourages them to try you again and again. In a No Limit or Pot Limit game, it only takes 1 hand to get all those chips back and then some. After an hour or, the table should see you as a tight solid player (Your Table Image) - if you followed the tips latter on in this page. Time to start opening up the game, take advantage of your image and your notes, who is susceptible to a bluff, who is supper aggressive, susceptible to a check raise, Take notes on your own play, the process of writing down a mistake and the corrective action will improve your play faster then just thinking, Darn, that was stupid, forgetting and doing it again 40 minutes later. Some sites have places to take notes on players, use them and pen and paper work good with them also!!
Texas Holdem, is a thinking game of War and intelligence is the most valuable resource in any form of War.
You can turn $10.00 to well over $200.00 - bank roll build. Patience is key. Its slow and boring , but it will get you enough cash and confidence that when you open up your game you have enough to sustain a few bad beats and rebuild the bankroll back It works!!
You must play Limit tables. No Limit and Pot Limit table are out! You can play those when you reached your first levels of success. This is not glamour! Its a bankroll building period. The site needs to have $.05/$.10 tables or lower. Absolute,or ub is a excellent choices. and you could win your first 10 in a free roll at Absolute.com.
Starting Hands and Positions:
Early Positions - The 3 seats left of the Button play the following:
Monster Hands, AA, KK, QQ, JJ and AK Suited
Very Strong Hands, AQ, AJ, KQ, KJ, K10, QJ, Q10, (all suited), and pocket 10s and 9s.
Only Raise and Re-Raise AA, KK and AK Suited.
Do not Re-Raise with QQ and JJ. You can raise or call only.
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
Note this includes the blinds!! Do not call from the Small Blind just because you have money in the pot! Youre in the worst position after the flop. You must act first with no knowledge about what whether the other players have improved.
Middle Positions - The 4th, 5th and 6th seats after the button play the following:
Monster Hands, Very Strong Hands and now add what I call
Strong Hands to your arsenal.
Strong Hands are suited connectors J10, 10 9, and pocket 8s.
When played, you can still raise Monster and Very Strong Hands all the way down to pocket 10s.
You can Re-raise Monster Hands and Very Strong Hands down to suited AJ because you have pretty good position on the board.
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
***Watch for strong players bluffing.
Late Positions The 7th seat through the Button, play the following:
Monster Hands, Very Strong Hands, Strong Hands
Now you add, Good Hands
Good Hands are suited A-any suited, K9, Q9, 9 8, 8 7 and unsuited AK, AQ, AJ, A10, KQ, KJ, K 10, K9, QJ, Q10, Q9, and J10.
"OK Hands" worth a flop against a tight table with few raises - Unsuited KJ, K 10, K9, QJ, Q10, Q9, and J10, Q 8, J 9 - you do not want to call a raise with these hands.
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
One in 10 or so late position plays, add the following play: Pocket 2s through Pocket 6s, suited connectors 7 6, 6 5, 5 4. Thats it, now you want to raise all the way down to 10 9 suited, but still only re-raise through A J suited. You are in the best position if the bet is checked to you even if you have nothing, bet out once in a while you will win a pot or two.
Playing the flop, if you do not have Top Pair, Two Pair, a Set (3 of a kind), 4 to the Flush, or 4 to the straight we are folding to any bet. If we have Top Pair we are betting or folding if there is a made and hand on the board (3 suited cards or 3 consecutive cards or there is a pair on the board) you will fold 67% or more of your hands at the flop. If we have a set we bet and raise, if we are 4 to the flush we are betting and raising, if we are 4 to the straight, we bet and call.
The Turn, we are still betting, but WATCHING for a call station to come alive if the board pairs, or to suddenly start betting when an odd rag card hits someone made a hand time to fold, if everyone is calling thats fine for you if they are raising top pair time to call, if raising you with 2 pair or a set we are re-raising, if we are on a draw, if it is the nut draw we are calling, if its a flush and the betting is heavy, if you do not have the A or K as part of the flush consider folding here, nothing worse than absorbing all the bets only to lose to a better flush..
The River, no matter what, if the bet is checked to you bet. Even if you missed your draw, if there is a bet and you believe you have the hand raise, if not sure call this is limit Holdem one bet will not kill your bankroll.
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
Bank Roll Management /Table Selection:
We will use the following as law of playNEVER bring more than 20% of your bank roll to a table. For example, $10.00 is in your bank to start, bring $2.00 to the table as your stake on a $.05/$.10 game. Bump up your stakes to that level if you get down to $1.00 at the table. These tables are fast and loose this is great for you! You will be playing very strong starting hands ONLY, so you will have plenty of time to observe the action there will be a lot!!
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
Take notes. Pay attention. Know what poker players check to the river or checks until they hit a hand. This will save you lots of cash. If there is another player at the table folding most hands like the Small Blinds, preflop, or post flop small bets, get out and watch the action. Beware; if this player is in, unless you have the nutz or the nut draw, chances are you have a lower hand. Also, know who bets and raises to the river lets say a 9 6 suited in his hand and no match on the board. This is the guy that will build your pots for you only cap the betting at the Turn!!
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
The table you want to select should be full you need to be on a waiting list to get in (Observe), the pots are large, and 70% or more of the players are seeing the flop, this gives you a big edge it means the hands you enter and win will be large ones Always keep in mind You are playing to win cash period. Every hand is an investment to that goal patience is vital. Being on the waiting list gives you an opportunity to gather insight on how the players play. This is very important. You can learn from others mistakes and review how they played them. You can find players weaknesses. You should keep mentally in the game at all times in and out of hands. Always try to figure what others have. Then compare to what they actually had. This will be valuable when you invest and get involved in a hand! If you are in a hand, what position am I in, who is still in, what possibilities does the board present that could beat me every move you make, Raise, Fold, Call, Re-Raise all done because you DECIDED it was the correct move.Take notes all the time too.
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
LEAVING if for ok
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
Moving Up:
Two factors will make you be able to move to play the next level on most online poker sites to $0.10/0.25 tables. One, you need to have at least $40.00 to $50.00. Thats your goal. The second is your confidence level and comfort playing with real money. For this reason you need to play at least 400 raked hands regardless of how much is in the bankroll! The $0.10/$0.25 Limit room is where we start seeing a few better players, and the skills and play habits we nurtured at $0.05/$0.10 room start to really pay off. Skipping the small blind with out Monster cards is even more important; it is saving you 2/3 of a bet and is still the worst position to be in Post Flop.
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
Table Play: This is where you have the opportunity to make rapid moves up. The table selection requirements have not changed and there are still a lot of loose and bad poker players. Be cautious, there will be a few playing like you respect them and their bets. Ego has killed many bankrolls, if you know you are beat FOLD, if in doubt, its is ok to fold, if the idiot shows you a bluff its ok, that is FREE intelligence that you can use to punish him/her later when you have the nuts. Pay attention to this. Its better than checking to a bluffer, re-raising and having the fool re-raise back!! At this level it will happen!! By the same token if you have a King high flush and are re-raised, its ok to call.
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
You control the tempo of the poker table never let a good hand (Top Two Pair) blind you to what else is on the board, even the bluffer gets luck play smart at all times and keep the pace slow. Your good play here is critical. This is where the foundation for the confidence youre developing comes from. You must KNOW you are a good player at this level. KNOW that it took one bad beat to take you down; it only takes one good hand to bring you back. You need to stay here at least 600 or more hands if you are not confident about your play, or have any self doubts, stay at this level, there is money to be made, and if this is your comfort zone stay.
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
The next mile mark is the bankroll have a set goal you must reach. The next step is $0.25/$0.50, you need at least $130.00, I recommend $150.00 here you have two branches to take Limit, or NL/Pot Limit (Fix Table Buy-in). The first time out take the limit road, players at this level start making moves - most you can predict - but one mistake or bad beat in the Pot Limit or No Limit rooms and nearly 20% of you bankroll is gone Poof, remember how long it takes to win $25.00 at the lower limits. Remember the rules at these levels, you can win or lose $50.00 or more in a single session (Thats Limit, more in Pot and NL) if you lose down to $75.00, drop back and play $0.10/$0.25 (remember, you have no Ego here) if you feel like you are off balance move back. You must set limits If I lose $3500.00, ill wait till the bb gets to me and I will take a break or move down a level stick to it!! Write it down; tell your roommate, what ever it takes do it. Start with $25.00, get to $65.00 Leave the table, and take a break. You Earned It!!
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
When you get to $200.00, its time to move to a low blind $0.10/0.25 NL or Pot Limit table. Here in a good 2 hour session, you can make $100.00 or more in one or two hands, but the choices will be hard, and patience harder. You need to be confident in your read of other online players. Watch this table three or four rounds before you sit down to play. Keep notes on all players and watch new ones that pop in on you .
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
Set Backs and Tilt:
These are two very distinctly different animals, a set back happens because you took bad beats and had bad cards. You will recover. No run of luck good or bad lasts long, so long as you know you started with good cards from the correct position and got your money in with the best hand If you played K 4 suited in early position, flopped two pair, and were beat by a when a J hit at the river thats not a bad beat thats the laws of probability catching up w/ you!! K J beat K 4 82% of the time what were you thinking? You could be on tilt.
Tilt (for me) is triggered by a few genuine bad beats, you start thinking I got my KK beat by 9 6 off suit, now i have K 4 the K 4 is better then 9 6 off, and it progresses from there.
No Tournaments??
Tournaments are what you play with your bankroll, taking a reasonable risk with a small portion of your bankroll, never more than 10%. This is how the pros do it. They do not live off tournament money that is their shot at fame and glory! The Ring Games pay the bills. I play tournaments. They are great fun and fantastic way to play against players at a level you could not afford to play ring games with. When you have $300.00 stashed, play a $30 + 10 buy-in tournament it is not a freeroll, you get to the final table and these are all very good players guess what?? So are you!!
Summary:
If you follow this guide, you should be able to reach $200.00 in 3 to 4 weeks or longer, and when you get there have the confidence to move up one level at a time until you reach your final goal. If its to get to $500, then cash out $300 great! If its to win enough to play the WSOP or WPT Enent - you can do that as well it will just take time, but the basics never change Good solid starting hands, strength of position, taking reasonable risks with your bankroll and there is no limit to how far you can go.
Play Tight Aggressive - win Huge!!
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
Bank roll Building $200 and UP
No Limit and Pot Limit Tables:
So you have $200.00 and want to play with the big boys and girls, time to move to No Limit and Pot Limit tables. These are the big money makers and bankroll killers for nearly all players. These look like limit, smell like limit but are not!! Here is where the strict adherence to starting hands and position become critical and if you have been a bit lax, Picking starting hands or playing K9 suited in early position or limping in all will kill you.
Knowledge of players as betting habits is also a critical skill and if you are predictable someone will notice and you will pay a price in smaller pots or taking a bad beat..
Here is the key difference between these games in limit with blinds at $.50/$1.00, ($1/$2 Table) average pots will be $5 to $10, with Pot Limit and No Limit, ($40 to $50 Buy-in Tables) The average pot will be from $18 to $30 or more. This should tell you a few things, first you will have to be in and win more pots on a limit table or the blinds will eat you alive, the risks associated with Pot Limit and No Limit are much higher the Pots is not getting that big unless there is heavy betting/costs associate with playing a hand. Limit you will need to win 3 or more hands an hour to stay ahead of the Blinds, in No Limit and Pot Limit one big hand every hour and a half is enough to not only stay ahead of the blinds, but win some big money. All further examples will be a Pot Limit $50.00 Buy-In Table this is where the boys and girls are separated from the men and women.
Key mistakes that are made for those that just came from the limit world passive play and chasing pots both of which are dangerous in any poker game devastating at this level of play. Dont do either of these or you will be back at the limit games rebuilding very soon.
Be prepared to take a loss they will happen just like in limit, but the loss will be huge. Take this example . I Picked up AJ suited in late position at a $500 Buy-in Table, one player in early position call ($20) I made it $60.00 the small blind folded the BB called, and the early position player called -190 in the Pot. Flop 7 J 2 rainbow, it was checked to me, I bet $80.00 the BB hesitated then called the other player folded out $350 in the pot figure I am against a smaller Pair, 2 Pair or a J weak kicker. The turn is a 2, giving me Js over 2s w/ and A kicker, I bet out w/ $100.00 long pause, then a call at this point I put him on a Jack Q or lower Kicker -$550 in the pot, the river is an 8 rag, he checks, I bet out $200, he calls and Flops over J 8!! Beating my Js over 2s w/ Js over 8s it cost me $$$ even though I made the correct read I did a re-buy and capped off, 30 minutes later got JJ, flopped a set, he chased to the river again, picking up what he though was a winning set of 3s, but giving me a Full House and got all my chips back plus a few more from him. He chased and we dont or we will be back at the limit games rebuilding very soon.
Pre-flop Play:
Bet aggressively in late position, call raises cautiously in early positions, bet consistently throughout a session.
This is a game where a bet truly does 2 things limits the players against you and builds the pot, you have got to get marginal hands out, you are playing few hands as it is and a suck out here will be very expensive, follow starting hands and position play closely if in late position and playing a hand w/ what looks like you and the blinds raise raise raise..
Only call or re-raise raise w/ AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AK, AQ or AJ suited follow the section about what to do with each. It will be frustrating you will wait for 30 minutes and finally pickup K Q suited and here comes a raise from the same guy that showed down w/ 10 9 off suit 2 hands ago after raising pre-flop but dont call!! You job is to win money, not call his likely bluff he may have been setting you up! That is what we call the Gap Principal What in mean is you need to have much stronger cards to call a bet that to make one. Lets use the K Q Suited hand, in middle position against a tight table you should raise the pot to 3 times the blinds and force the blinds to make a decision. Same cards, same position, a strong player (any player) raises to 3 times the blinds, you should fold he/she is representing a A X or High Pocket Pair, more over, any one calling will need to have the same, so even if you K or Q hit it is likely you are out kicked by someone with AK or AQ or someone w/ a set and even if the flush hits someone calling or making the raise is likely to have that A. At this level it will be an expensive lesson. Dont get mixed up in a Pot that will cost you everything you brought to the table save the bullets for another pot where you have position and made the initial raise let them worry about what you have.
Make you raise consistent, do not vary it with the strength of you hand pick a number you are comfortable with and bet that number every time you raise AA or 6 7 suited are raised the same amount. This makes you much harder to read, if you go to the showdown and win several times and stop getting calls, from late position raise w/ 5 6 off-suit, when they fold show your cards, then get back to normal tight play, someone will call the next time you have A A and raise..Hope this helps good luck and be safe. ...
Play Tight Aggressive - win Huge!!
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
YOU MUST HAVE YOUR HEAD INTO THE GAME
Think about your mindset for play
Is there background noise?
Is the TV on?
Are you talking on the phone?
Do things in your life trouble you?
Are you mentally alert and focused?
Is chat distracting you?
Are you sick or have a headache?
Suggestion, eliminate all you can that can be considered distracting. Then we go to the next step.
Start with your first hand. Get it in your head that this hand played right will make the difference whether you make it to the money or not. Always pretend youre on the bubble and if you win this hand, youll make it to the money. Each and every hand! Dont play it if you have a doubt.
Dont keep flipping back to the tournament lobby to check how many more people have to go out before you get in the money, it takes you from your mental game. Its a distraction.
Each and every single hand, focus and always think, I need to play this hand smartly. The tournament is not going to be won one one hand thats only the last hand at the finle table and you are not there yet.
Look at my notes on the people in the hand. (If I have any)
Remember their past plays. Are they catching cards? Are they aggressive? Do they chase a lot and what? Are they loose and bet to stay in the hand? I try to make it a practice to make at least one little note on a player each hand whether I am in the hand or not. This keeps my brain in the hand by watching closely.
Pay attention to performance by other players. Pay attention to chip stacks. I cant push around someone with 20K in chips if I only have 2K. Also, watch the change in the way people play once their chip stacks change. Note the changes in their behavior. You will be surprised at what you see especially when you play them again another day and realize you have notes on them. You'll click on the notes and know in advance on their table personalities and play. Talk about getting the upper hand in advance! That will do it.
What position am I in? How many people are in the hand? These are things you always have to consider and think about so you must have your head in the game at all times or dont play wait till you can.
If I'm in early position and I raise strong or go all in pre-flop with say, Pocket Aces and I get numerous callers or re-raises, chances of winning that hand are less than if there were fewer people in the hand. The more people in the hand, the less chances you have to win and yes even with rockets.
Remember as an example, a Q/J suited can be a powerful hand if your in late position and nobody raised or re-raised before you and again I repeat your in late position. You have the ability to make a bet and make the players in the hand think you got a monster. Also take into account how many people called the blinds before it came to you. Remember again what I said, The fewer people in the hand the stronger it is.
When I enter a hand, Im usually willing to sacrifice the game, thats how sure I am. I also know that I can change my mind if I get a surprise. I still have the option to fold.
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good always keep YOUR HEAD INTO THE GAME
There it is. This works but you must stick to it. Good luck and patience is the name of the game. Pick you spots to make a move but monster hands are what we want.
?... JT ...?
Hello i told some people on myspace that people can win at poker with out money. They said i was nuts so i thought i would write it down and post it here. This is a plan that works but you have to stick to it. There are high limit players that have done this and ill name one GREENPLASTIC. There are more also but thats one. I started playing on line in 1985 and there was not to many poker sites but i did find some and won with out money in them. i started my Bank roll Building right from the start for fun but now do it as a liveing to pay my bills. here is how it can be done.
FREERLLS
Playing in free rolls is the best way to get started when playing Online Poker. Texas Hold'em, No Limit to Omaha High/Low (8s or better), Pot Limit to Seven Card Stud Limit. Do not find an Online Table and deposit money immediately, you have got to see how the Internet Site plays before investing into it. And there is only one way - playing in freeroll poker tournaments, the most popular is Texas Hold em - No Limit Tournaments or Pot Limit Tournaments, next is Omaha High and High/low (8s or better), Pot Limit Tournaments, but there are Stud games available as well. Some may say just play at the free money tables - fun tables and see how you do, well that's okay if you are looking for a bit of online fun, but you will learn nothing from this. Online Free Money Players will bet on anything or nothing at fun tables - free money tables just to be in the action. Push and Pray Poker Players. If you play the freeroll multi-table tournaments then you will learn and your game will improve. Look for Sites that offer top places, a win only online tournament is hard and time consuming, some internet tournament offer cash prizes for finishing in the top 18 places. I think the best is absolutepoker they give you real cash not bonus money. If you get in top 5 you move on to the sunday turny that pays more if you win but there are alot better players in there too.
Once you have built up your cash in the Texas Holdem or Omaha Poker freeroll tournaments, do not be tempted to sit at the real money tables straight away, get used to the tables and if you are tempted use the small micro buy in tables, Limit Micro Table / Micro games are usually $.05/.10 to the $.10/.20 blind tables. Building a Bankroll based on the principals of free online poker encompasses many aspects, the mechanics of Texas hold em are listed here, but online poker bankroll building takes much more then getting $10.00 free money from a freeroll tournament or " no deposit required " and playing well enough to turn the 10 free dollars into $200.00 or more.
I would say hold off for now and keep playing some freerolls after a win and if you make it to the sunday turny and do good in that you have what it takes to play real money .05/.010 limit . If you dont win thats ok too. Its not easy and even pros lose in freerolls. YES i said pros. they too can be found in a freeroll and ill give you some names, MARK SEIF, PHILL HELLMUTH, DOYLE BRUNSON AND ALOT MORE TOO BUT THESE THREE SHOULD SHOW YOU THERE ARE PROS THAT PLAY IN THE FREERLLS. So you never know whos playing next to you. Even these pros get knocked out of these freerolls so dont feel bad if you do. Most that play in the freerolls are not pros and seem to think the allin on 7 3 off is a good move. Its not easy to play with such players and thats why pros get took out alot of times when someone gos all in with 3 7 off and they hold AA preflop and call and flop comes 337 thats a bad beat and they happan alot in the start of a freeroll. but if you play tight and wait you find your self at the finle table more then they will.
Surviving in a Freeroll
Object in a freeroll is to get into the money - Period. Unfortunately or fortunately TV has convince many players that ALL-IN is something that is done every 3 or 4 hands and as a consequence, they are bluffing all-in w/ 7 2 off suit against our AK suite - they are a dog - but will win - they are 10-1 pre flop but could win. But why are we calling at all - frustration because he as done it 3 or 4 time?? What if he as AA this time?? If you are early in a tournament you should not be short stacked - why risk the possibility of getting put out to prove a point? Object in a freeroll is to get into the money - Period. Keep that in mind - you will make it to a reasonable table or pickup AA - worthy of that all-in call - yes you may still lose - but do not change you play out of frustration - this animal will fall eventually - its not your job as a good player to take him/her out!! Laugh maybe - eventually he/she will limp in and bluff at a pot where your or someone had the nuts and they will be gone - that is smart poker.
All-in play is an over used approach to the game used by a player that watch 2 hours of Poker on TV and forget it condensed from the 10-14 hours of actual play that is rather boring as a whole...don't you fall into this trap - use all-in if you have the nuts AND think you will get called or if you are short stacked and NEED to make a stand to double up or take a pot.
Object in a freeroll is to get into the money - Period. keep this in mind and you will find yourself finishing in the money more and more!!
Picking and Playing a Table
Ok, so you won a few freerolls and now want to play a Ring/Round game. Do not just sit down and start playing, find the poker table that fits your style of play, do a little research, gather some intelligence.
Internet Poker Rooms (Online Poker Rooms), Holdem, give you the opportunity to learn a lot about a table before you ever put a chip at risk. Look at the table stats, how many players see the flop, what is the average pot size, how many hands are played an hour (1 slow connected player that plays every hand can slow this way down). These statistics will start clueing you into the Personality of the poker table, is it a tight game - few see the flop 40% or less, or a loose game, 70% or more see the flop. Is there heavy betting with lots of calls (large pots) light betting with few calls (small pots),.
Ok you found one you think is good for you, wait, I know you want to get into the action, but watch the table for a round of Blinds or two. Gather more intelligence, note each poker player, who is aggressive, who is passive, who check raised, what each player had at a show down, who mucked cards in the small blind with no raise (sign of an experienced or at least educated player) Now that you have valuable intelligence on the players, its time to sit down but keep taking notes, do not assume your 1st impressions were correct, adjust these as you play. Initially play very tight, only premium poker hands, if not sure of your hand, muck and wait, if they bluffed you out, they will try again, in fact having folded to a bluff with a better hand only encourages them to try you again and again. In a No Limit or Pot Limit game, it only takes 1 hand to get all those chips back and then some. After an hour or, the table should see you as a tight solid player (Your Table Image) - if you followed the tips latter on in this page. Time to start opening up the game, take advantage of your image and your notes, who is susceptible to a bluff, who is supper aggressive, susceptible to a check raise, Take notes on your own play, the process of writing down a mistake and the corrective action will improve your play faster then just thinking, Darn, that was stupid, forgetting and doing it again 40 minutes later. Some sites have places to take notes on players, use them and pen and paper work good with them also!!
Texas Holdem, is a thinking game of War and intelligence is the most valuable resource in any form of War.
You can turn $10.00 to well over $200.00 - bank roll build. Patience is key. Its slow and boring , but it will get you enough cash and confidence that when you open up your game you have enough to sustain a few bad beats and rebuild the bankroll back It works!!
You must play Limit tables. No Limit and Pot Limit table are out! You can play those when you reached your first levels of success. This is not glamour! Its a bankroll building period. The site needs to have $.05/$.10 tables or lower. Absolute,or ub is a excellent choices. and you could win your first 10 in a free roll at Absolute.com.
Starting Hands and Positions:
Early Positions - The 3 seats left of the Button play the following:
Monster Hands, AA, KK, QQ, JJ and AK Suited
Very Strong Hands, AQ, AJ, KQ, KJ, K10, QJ, Q10, (all suited), and pocket 10s and 9s.
Only Raise and Re-Raise AA, KK and AK Suited.
Do not Re-Raise with QQ and JJ. You can raise or call only.
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
Note this includes the blinds!! Do not call from the Small Blind just because you have money in the pot! Youre in the worst position after the flop. You must act first with no knowledge about what whether the other players have improved.
Middle Positions - The 4th, 5th and 6th seats after the button play the following:
Monster Hands, Very Strong Hands and now add what I call
Strong Hands to your arsenal.
Strong Hands are suited connectors J10, 10 9, and pocket 8s.
When played, you can still raise Monster and Very Strong Hands all the way down to pocket 10s.
You can Re-raise Monster Hands and Very Strong Hands down to suited AJ because you have pretty good position on the board.
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
***Watch for strong players bluffing.
Late Positions The 7th seat through the Button, play the following:
Monster Hands, Very Strong Hands, Strong Hands
Now you add, Good Hands
Good Hands are suited A-any suited, K9, Q9, 9 8, 8 7 and unsuited AK, AQ, AJ, A10, KQ, KJ, K 10, K9, QJ, Q10, Q9, and J10.
"OK Hands" worth a flop against a tight table with few raises - Unsuited KJ, K 10, K9, QJ, Q10, Q9, and J10, Q 8, J 9 - you do not want to call a raise with these hands.
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
One in 10 or so late position plays, add the following play: Pocket 2s through Pocket 6s, suited connectors 7 6, 6 5, 5 4. Thats it, now you want to raise all the way down to 10 9 suited, but still only re-raise through A J suited. You are in the best position if the bet is checked to you even if you have nothing, bet out once in a while you will win a pot or two.
Playing the flop, if you do not have Top Pair, Two Pair, a Set (3 of a kind), 4 to the Flush, or 4 to the straight we are folding to any bet. If we have Top Pair we are betting or folding if there is a made and hand on the board (3 suited cards or 3 consecutive cards or there is a pair on the board) you will fold 67% or more of your hands at the flop. If we have a set we bet and raise, if we are 4 to the flush we are betting and raising, if we are 4 to the straight, we bet and call.
The Turn, we are still betting, but WATCHING for a call station to come alive if the board pairs, or to suddenly start betting when an odd rag card hits someone made a hand time to fold, if everyone is calling thats fine for you if they are raising top pair time to call, if raising you with 2 pair or a set we are re-raising, if we are on a draw, if it is the nut draw we are calling, if its a flush and the betting is heavy, if you do not have the A or K as part of the flush consider folding here, nothing worse than absorbing all the bets only to lose to a better flush..
The River, no matter what, if the bet is checked to you bet. Even if you missed your draw, if there is a bet and you believe you have the hand raise, if not sure call this is limit Holdem one bet will not kill your bankroll.
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
Bank Roll Management /Table Selection:
We will use the following as law of playNEVER bring more than 20% of your bank roll to a table. For example, $10.00 is in your bank to start, bring $2.00 to the table as your stake on a $.05/$.10 game. Bump up your stakes to that level if you get down to $1.00 at the table. These tables are fast and loose this is great for you! You will be playing very strong starting hands ONLY, so you will have plenty of time to observe the action there will be a lot!!
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
Take notes. Pay attention. Know what poker players check to the river or checks until they hit a hand. This will save you lots of cash. If there is another player at the table folding most hands like the Small Blinds, preflop, or post flop small bets, get out and watch the action. Beware; if this player is in, unless you have the nutz or the nut draw, chances are you have a lower hand. Also, know who bets and raises to the river lets say a 9 6 suited in his hand and no match on the board. This is the guy that will build your pots for you only cap the betting at the Turn!!
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
The table you want to select should be full you need to be on a waiting list to get in (Observe), the pots are large, and 70% or more of the players are seeing the flop, this gives you a big edge it means the hands you enter and win will be large ones Always keep in mind You are playing to win cash period. Every hand is an investment to that goal patience is vital. Being on the waiting list gives you an opportunity to gather insight on how the players play. This is very important. You can learn from others mistakes and review how they played them. You can find players weaknesses. You should keep mentally in the game at all times in and out of hands. Always try to figure what others have. Then compare to what they actually had. This will be valuable when you invest and get involved in a hand! If you are in a hand, what position am I in, who is still in, what possibilities does the board present that could beat me every move you make, Raise, Fold, Call, Re-Raise all done because you DECIDED it was the correct move.Take notes all the time too.
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
LEAVING if for ok
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
Moving Up:
Two factors will make you be able to move to play the next level on most online poker sites to $0.10/0.25 tables. One, you need to have at least $40.00 to $50.00. Thats your goal. The second is your confidence level and comfort playing with real money. For this reason you need to play at least 400 raked hands regardless of how much is in the bankroll! The $0.10/$0.25 Limit room is where we start seeing a few better players, and the skills and play habits we nurtured at $0.05/$0.10 room start to really pay off. Skipping the small blind with out Monster cards is even more important; it is saving you 2/3 of a bet and is still the worst position to be in Post Flop.
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
Table Play: This is where you have the opportunity to make rapid moves up. The table selection requirements have not changed and there are still a lot of loose and bad poker players. Be cautious, there will be a few playing like you respect them and their bets. Ego has killed many bankrolls, if you know you are beat FOLD, if in doubt, its is ok to fold, if the idiot shows you a bluff its ok, that is FREE intelligence that you can use to punish him/her later when you have the nuts. Pay attention to this. Its better than checking to a bluffer, re-raising and having the fool re-raise back!! At this level it will happen!! By the same token if you have a King high flush and are re-raised, its ok to call.
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
You control the tempo of the poker table never let a good hand (Top Two Pair) blind you to what else is on the board, even the bluffer gets luck play smart at all times and keep the pace slow. Your good play here is critical. This is where the foundation for the confidence youre developing comes from. You must KNOW you are a good player at this level. KNOW that it took one bad beat to take you down; it only takes one good hand to bring you back. You need to stay here at least 600 or more hands if you are not confident about your play, or have any self doubts, stay at this level, there is money to be made, and if this is your comfort zone stay.
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
The next mile mark is the bankroll have a set goal you must reach. The next step is $0.25/$0.50, you need at least $130.00, I recommend $150.00 here you have two branches to take Limit, or NL/Pot Limit (Fix Table Buy-in). The first time out take the limit road, players at this level start making moves - most you can predict - but one mistake or bad beat in the Pot Limit or No Limit rooms and nearly 20% of you bankroll is gone Poof, remember how long it takes to win $25.00 at the lower limits. Remember the rules at these levels, you can win or lose $50.00 or more in a single session (Thats Limit, more in Pot and NL) if you lose down to $75.00, drop back and play $0.10/$0.25 (remember, you have no Ego here) if you feel like you are off balance move back. You must set limits If I lose $3500.00, ill wait till the bb gets to me and I will take a break or move down a level stick to it!! Write it down; tell your roommate, what ever it takes do it. Start with $25.00, get to $65.00 Leave the table, and take a break. You Earned It!!
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
When you get to $200.00, its time to move to a low blind $0.10/0.25 NL or Pot Limit table. Here in a good 2 hour session, you can make $100.00 or more in one or two hands, but the choices will be hard, and patience harder. You need to be confident in your read of other online players. Watch this table three or four rounds before you sit down to play. Keep notes on all players and watch new ones that pop in on you .
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
Set Backs and Tilt:
These are two very distinctly different animals, a set back happens because you took bad beats and had bad cards. You will recover. No run of luck good or bad lasts long, so long as you know you started with good cards from the correct position and got your money in with the best hand If you played K 4 suited in early position, flopped two pair, and were beat by a when a J hit at the river thats not a bad beat thats the laws of probability catching up w/ you!! K J beat K 4 82% of the time what were you thinking? You could be on tilt.
Tilt (for me) is triggered by a few genuine bad beats, you start thinking I got my KK beat by 9 6 off suit, now i have K 4 the K 4 is better then 9 6 off, and it progresses from there.
No Tournaments??
Tournaments are what you play with your bankroll, taking a reasonable risk with a small portion of your bankroll, never more than 10%. This is how the pros do it. They do not live off tournament money that is their shot at fame and glory! The Ring Games pay the bills. I play tournaments. They are great fun and fantastic way to play against players at a level you could not afford to play ring games with. When you have $300.00 stashed, play a $30 + 10 buy-in tournament it is not a freeroll, you get to the final table and these are all very good players guess what?? So are you!!
Summary:
If you follow this guide, you should be able to reach $200.00 in 3 to 4 weeks or longer, and when you get there have the confidence to move up one level at a time until you reach your final goal. If its to get to $500, then cash out $300 great! If its to win enough to play the WSOP or WPT Enent - you can do that as well it will just take time, but the basics never change Good solid starting hands, strength of position, taking reasonable risks with your bankroll and there is no limit to how far you can go.
Play Tight Aggressive - win Huge!!
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
Bank roll Building $200 and UP
No Limit and Pot Limit Tables:
So you have $200.00 and want to play with the big boys and girls, time to move to No Limit and Pot Limit tables. These are the big money makers and bankroll killers for nearly all players. These look like limit, smell like limit but are not!! Here is where the strict adherence to starting hands and position become critical and if you have been a bit lax, Picking starting hands or playing K9 suited in early position or limping in all will kill you.
Knowledge of players as betting habits is also a critical skill and if you are predictable someone will notice and you will pay a price in smaller pots or taking a bad beat..
Here is the key difference between these games in limit with blinds at $.50/$1.00, ($1/$2 Table) average pots will be $5 to $10, with Pot Limit and No Limit, ($40 to $50 Buy-in Tables) The average pot will be from $18 to $30 or more. This should tell you a few things, first you will have to be in and win more pots on a limit table or the blinds will eat you alive, the risks associated with Pot Limit and No Limit are much higher the Pots is not getting that big unless there is heavy betting/costs associate with playing a hand. Limit you will need to win 3 or more hands an hour to stay ahead of the Blinds, in No Limit and Pot Limit one big hand every hour and a half is enough to not only stay ahead of the blinds, but win some big money. All further examples will be a Pot Limit $50.00 Buy-In Table this is where the boys and girls are separated from the men and women.
Key mistakes that are made for those that just came from the limit world passive play and chasing pots both of which are dangerous in any poker game devastating at this level of play. Dont do either of these or you will be back at the limit games rebuilding very soon.
Be prepared to take a loss they will happen just like in limit, but the loss will be huge. Take this example . I Picked up AJ suited in late position at a $500 Buy-in Table, one player in early position call ($20) I made it $60.00 the small blind folded the BB called, and the early position player called -190 in the Pot. Flop 7 J 2 rainbow, it was checked to me, I bet $80.00 the BB hesitated then called the other player folded out $350 in the pot figure I am against a smaller Pair, 2 Pair or a J weak kicker. The turn is a 2, giving me Js over 2s w/ and A kicker, I bet out w/ $100.00 long pause, then a call at this point I put him on a Jack Q or lower Kicker -$550 in the pot, the river is an 8 rag, he checks, I bet out $200, he calls and Flops over J 8!! Beating my Js over 2s w/ Js over 8s it cost me $$$ even though I made the correct read I did a re-buy and capped off, 30 minutes later got JJ, flopped a set, he chased to the river again, picking up what he though was a winning set of 3s, but giving me a Full House and got all my chips back plus a few more from him. He chased and we dont or we will be back at the limit games rebuilding very soon.
Pre-flop Play:
Bet aggressively in late position, call raises cautiously in early positions, bet consistently throughout a session.
This is a game where a bet truly does 2 things limits the players against you and builds the pot, you have got to get marginal hands out, you are playing few hands as it is and a suck out here will be very expensive, follow starting hands and position play closely if in late position and playing a hand w/ what looks like you and the blinds raise raise raise..
Only call or re-raise raise w/ AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AK, AQ or AJ suited follow the section about what to do with each. It will be frustrating you will wait for 30 minutes and finally pickup K Q suited and here comes a raise from the same guy that showed down w/ 10 9 off suit 2 hands ago after raising pre-flop but dont call!! You job is to win money, not call his likely bluff he may have been setting you up! That is what we call the Gap Principal What in mean is you need to have much stronger cards to call a bet that to make one. Lets use the K Q Suited hand, in middle position against a tight table you should raise the pot to 3 times the blinds and force the blinds to make a decision. Same cards, same position, a strong player (any player) raises to 3 times the blinds, you should fold he/she is representing a A X or High Pocket Pair, more over, any one calling will need to have the same, so even if you K or Q hit it is likely you are out kicked by someone with AK or AQ or someone w/ a set and even if the flush hits someone calling or making the raise is likely to have that A. At this level it will be an expensive lesson. Dont get mixed up in a Pot that will cost you everything you brought to the table save the bullets for another pot where you have position and made the initial raise let them worry about what you have.
Make you raise consistent, do not vary it with the strength of you hand pick a number you are comfortable with and bet that number every time you raise AA or 6 7 suited are raised the same amount. This makes you much harder to read, if you go to the showdown and win several times and stop getting calls, from late position raise w/ 5 6 off-suit, when they fold show your cards, then get back to normal tight play, someone will call the next time you have A A and raise..Hope this helps good luck and be safe. ...
Play Tight Aggressive - win Huge!!
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good
YOU MUST HAVE YOUR HEAD INTO THE GAME
Think about your mindset for play
Is there background noise?
Is the TV on?
Are you talking on the phone?
Do things in your life trouble you?
Are you mentally alert and focused?
Is chat distracting you?
Are you sick or have a headache?
Suggestion, eliminate all you can that can be considered distracting. Then we go to the next step.
Start with your first hand. Get it in your head that this hand played right will make the difference whether you make it to the money or not. Always pretend youre on the bubble and if you win this hand, youll make it to the money. Each and every hand! Dont play it if you have a doubt.
Dont keep flipping back to the tournament lobby to check how many more people have to go out before you get in the money, it takes you from your mental game. Its a distraction.
Each and every single hand, focus and always think, I need to play this hand smartly. The tournament is not going to be won one one hand thats only the last hand at the finle table and you are not there yet.
Look at my notes on the people in the hand. (If I have any)
Remember their past plays. Are they catching cards? Are they aggressive? Do they chase a lot and what? Are they loose and bet to stay in the hand? I try to make it a practice to make at least one little note on a player each hand whether I am in the hand or not. This keeps my brain in the hand by watching closely.
Pay attention to performance by other players. Pay attention to chip stacks. I cant push around someone with 20K in chips if I only have 2K. Also, watch the change in the way people play once their chip stacks change. Note the changes in their behavior. You will be surprised at what you see especially when you play them again another day and realize you have notes on them. You'll click on the notes and know in advance on their table personalities and play. Talk about getting the upper hand in advance! That will do it.
What position am I in? How many people are in the hand? These are things you always have to consider and think about so you must have your head in the game at all times or dont play wait till you can.
If I'm in early position and I raise strong or go all in pre-flop with say, Pocket Aces and I get numerous callers or re-raises, chances of winning that hand are less than if there were fewer people in the hand. The more people in the hand, the less chances you have to win and yes even with rockets.
Remember as an example, a Q/J suited can be a powerful hand if your in late position and nobody raised or re-raised before you and again I repeat your in late position. You have the ability to make a bet and make the players in the hand think you got a monster. Also take into account how many people called the blinds before it came to you. Remember again what I said, The fewer people in the hand the stronger it is.
When I enter a hand, Im usually willing to sacrifice the game, thats how sure I am. I also know that I can change my mind if I get a surprise. I still have the option to fold.
Did i say Patience is key. and Its slow and boring ;-) ok good always keep YOUR HEAD INTO THE GAME
There it is. This works but you must stick to it. Good luck and patience is the name of the game. Pick you spots to make a move but monster hands are what we want.
?... JT ...?
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