site oficial sportingbet-rapant-mcelroy.com

Ideas behind good poker play

Poker is a popular card game that combines elements of

chance and strategy. There are various 💋 styles of poker, all of which share an objective

of presenting the least probable or highest-scoring hand. A poker hand 💋 is usually a

configuration of five cards depending on the variant, either held entirely by a player

or drawn partly 💋 from a number of shared, community cards. Players bet on their hands in

a number of rounds as cards are 💋 drawn, employing various mathematical and intuitive

strategies in an attempt to better opponents.

Given the game's many different forms and

various 💋 dynamics, poker strategy becomes a complex subject. This article attempts to

introduce only the basic strategy concepts.

The fundamental theorem of 💋 poker [ edit

]

The fundamental theorem of poker, introduced by David Sklansky, states: Every time

you play your hand the 💋 way you would if you could see your opponents' cards, you gain,

and every time your opponents play their cards 💋 differently from the way they would play

them if they could see your cards, you gain.[1] This theorem is the 💋 foundation for many

poker strategy topics. For example, bluffing and slow-playing (explained below) are

examples of using deception to induce 💋 your opponents to play differently from how they

would if they could see your cards. There are some exceptions to 💋 the fundamental

theorem in certain multi-way pot situations, as described in Morton's theorem.

Pot

odds, implied odds and poker probabilities [ 💋 edit ]

The relationship between pot odds

and odds of winning is one of the most important concepts in poker strategy. 💋 Pot odds

are the ratio of the size of the pot to the size of the bet required to stay 💋 in the

pot.[1] For example, if a player must callR$10 for a chance to win aR$40 pot (not

including theirR$10 💋 call), their pot odds are 4-to-1. To have a positive expectation, a

player's odds of winning must be better than 💋 their pot odds. If the player's odds of

winning are also 4-to-1 (20% chance of winning), their expected return is 💋 to break even

(on average, losing four times and winning once for every five times they play such a

pot).

Implied 💋 odds is a more complicated concept, though related to pot odds. The

implied odds on a hand are based not 💋 on the money currently in the pot, but on the

expected size of the pot at the end of the 💋 hand. When facing an even money situation

(like the one described in the previous paragraph) and holding a strong drawing 💋 hand

(say a Four flush) a skilled player will consider calling a bet or even opening based

on their implied 💋 odds. This is particularly true in multi-way pots, where it is likely

that one or more opponents will call all 💋 the way to showdown.

Deception [ edit ]

employing deception, a poker player hopes to induce their opponent(s) to act

differently 💋 from how they would if they could see their cards. David Sklansky has

argued that winning at poker is often 💋 decided by how much one player can force another

to change their style while successfully maintaining their own strategy.[2] Bluffing 💋 is

a form of deception where players bet strongly on a weak hand to induce opponents to

fold superior hands. 💋 Related is the semi-bluff, in which a player who does not have a

strong hand, but has a chance to 💋 improve it to a strong hand in later rounds, bets

strongly on the hand in the hopes of inducing other 💋 players with weaker "made" hands to

fold.[3] Slow-playing is deceptive play in poker that is roughly the opposite of

bluffing: 💋 checking or betting weakly with a strong holding, attempting to induce other

players with weaker hands to call or raise 💋 the bet instead of folding, to increase the

payout.

Position [ edit ]

A standard Texas hold 'em game with blinds

Position refers 💋 to

the order in which players are seated around the table and the strategic consequences

of this. Generally, players in 💋 earlier position (who have to act first) need stronger

hands to bet/raise or call than players in later position. For 💋 example, if there are

five opponents yet to act behind a player, there is a greater chance one of the 💋 yet to

act opponents will have a better hand than if there were only one opponent yet to act.

Being 💋 in late position is an advantage because a player gets to see how their opponents

in earlier position act (which 💋 provides the player more information about their hands

than they have about his). This information, coupled with a low bet 💋 to a late player,

may allow the player to "limp in" with a weaker hand when they would have folded 💋 the

same hand if they'd had to act earlier. Position is one of the most vital elements to

understand in 💋 order to be a long-term winning player. As a player's position improves,

so too does the range of cards with 💋 which they can profitably enter a hand. Conversely

this commonly held knowledge can be used to an intelligent poker player's 💋 advantage. If

playing against observant opponents, then a raise with any two cards can 'steal the

blinds,' if executed against 💋 passive players at the right time.

Reasons to raise [ edit

]

Unlike calling, raising has an extra way to win: opponents 💋 may fold. An opening bet

may be considered a raise from a strategy perspective. David Sklansky gives several

reasons for 💋 raising, summarized below.[1]

To get more money in the pot when a player

has the best hand: If a player has 💋 the best hand, raising for value enables them to win

a bigger pot.

If a player has the best hand, enables 💋 them to win a bigger pot. To drive

out opponents when a player has the best hand: If a player 💋 has a made hand, raising may

protect their hand by driving out opponents with drawing hands who may otherwise

improve 💋 to a better hand.

If a player has a made hand, raising may protect their hand

by driving out opponents with 💋 drawing hands who may otherwise improve to a better hand.

To bluff A player raises with an inferior or "trash" 💋 hand attempts to deceive other

players about the strength of their hand, and hopefully induce a better hand to fold.

💋 player raises with an inferior or "trash" hand attempts to deceive other players about

the strength of their hand, and 💋 hopefully induce a better hand to fold. To semi-bluff A

player with a drawing hand may raise both to bluff 💋 and for value. While technically

still a bluff, as the player may not end up with a made hand and 💋 is primarily trying to

drive out players, the player still has the opportunity to make his or her hand and 💋 win

the pot if the bluff is called.

A player with a drawing hand may raise both to bluff

and for 💋 value. While technically still a bluff, as the player may not end up with a

made hand and is primarily 💋 trying to drive out players, the player still has the

opportunity to make his or her hand and win the 💋 pot if the bluff is called. To block

Players on drawing hands may put out a "blocking bet" against players 💋 who are likely to

bet when checked to, but unlikely to raise when bet into. This is a small bet 💋 made on a

drawing hand to lessen the likelihood of having to call a larger bet from a player in

💋 late position.

Players on drawing hands may put out a "blocking bet" against players

who are likely to bet when checked 💋 to, but unlikely to raise when bet into. This is a

small bet made on a drawing hand to lessen 💋 the likelihood of having to call a larger

bet from a player in late position. To get a free card: 💋 If a player raises with a

drawing hand, their opponent may call the bet and check to them on the 💋 next betting

round, giving them a chance to get a free card to improve their hand.

If a player

raises with 💋 a drawing hand, their opponent may call the bet and check to them on the

next betting round, giving them 💋 a chance to get a free card to improve their hand. To

gain information: If a player raises with an 💋 uncertain hand, they gain information

about the strength of their opponent's hand if they are called. Players may use an

💋 opening bet on a later betting round ( probe or continuation bets) to gain information

by being called or raised 💋 (or may win the pot immediately).

If a player raises with an

uncertain hand, they gain information about the strength of 💋 their opponent's hand if

they are called. Players may use an opening bet on a later betting round ( or 💋 bets) to

gain information by being called or raised (or may win the pot immediately). To drive

out worse hands 💋 when a player's own hand may be second best: A combination protection

and probe raise, a player with a strong 💋 hand but not the "nuts" (the hole cards that

make the best possible hand given the current face-up cards) may 💋 raise, both to induce

drawing hands that may improve to the "nut hand" to fold, while also testing to see 💋 if

another player has the "nuts".

A combination protection and probe raise, a player with

a strong hand but not the 💋 "nuts" (the hole cards that make the best possible hand given

the current face-up cards) may raise, both to induce 💋 drawing hands that may improve to

the "nut hand" to fold, while also testing to see if another player has 💋 the "nuts". To

drive out better hands when a drawing hand bets: If an opponent with an apparent

drawing hand 💋 has bet before the player to act, if the player raises, opponents behind

them who may have a better hand 💋 may fold rather than call two bets "cold". This is a

form of isolation play, and has elements of blocking 💋 and protection.

Reasons to call [

edit ]

There are several reasons for calling a bet or raise, summarized below.

To see

more 💋 cards: With a drawing hand, a player may be receiving the correct pot odds with

the call to see more 💋 cards.

With a drawing hand, a player may be receiving the correct

pot odds with the call to see more cards. 💋 To limit loss in equity: Calling may be

appropriate when a player has adequate pot odds to call but will 💋 lose equity on

additional money contributed to the pot with a raise.

Calling may be appropriate when a

player has adequate 💋 pot odds to call but will lose equity on additional money

contributed to the pot with a raise. To avoid 💋 a re-raise: Only calling (and not

raising) denies the original bettor the option of re-raising. However, this is only

completely 💋 safe in case the player is last to act (i.e. "closing the action").

Only

calling (and not raising) denies the original 💋 bettor the option of re-raising. However,

this is only completely safe in case the player is last to act (i.e. 💋 "closing the

action"). To conceal the strength of a player's hand: If a player has a very strong

hand, they 💋 might smooth call on an early betting round to avoid giving away the

strength of their hand on the hope 💋 of getting more money into the pot in later betting

rounds.

If a player has a very strong hand, they might 💋 smooth call on an early betting

round to avoid giving away the strength of their hand on the hope of 💋 getting more money

into the pot in later betting rounds. To manipulate pot odds: By calling (not raising),

a player 💋 offers any opponents yet to act behind them more favorable pot odds to also

call. For example, if a player 💋 has a very strong hand, a smooth call may encourage

opponents behind them to overcall or even raise, building the 💋 pot. Particularly in

limit games, building the pot in an earlier betting round may induce opponents to call

future bets 💋 in later betting rounds because of the pot odds they will be receiving.

calling (not raising), a player offers any 💋 opponents yet to act behind them more

favorable pot odds to also call. For example, if a player has a 💋 very strong hand, a may

encourage opponents behind them to or even raise, building the pot. Particularly in

limit games, 💋 building the pot in an earlier betting round may induce opponents to call

future bets in later betting rounds because 💋 of the pot odds they will be receiving. To

set up a bluff on a later betting round: Sometimes referred 💋 to as a long-ball bluff or

float, calling on an earlier betting round can set up a bluff (or semi-bluff) 💋 on a

later betting round. For instance, a player with a strong initial hand may call instead

of raise to 💋 see the flop cheaply. That flop may not benefit the player, but the player

may still have many "outs" (cards 💋 left to deal that could make a strong hand), or even

if the odds are slim they can try to 💋 bluff. By raising, this scenario may appear to an

opponent like a player who has "limped in" with a weak 💋 initial hand, but after the flop

now has a strong made or drawing hand. A recent online term for "long-ball 💋 bluffing" is

floating.[4]

Gap concept [ edit ]

The gap concept states that a player needs a better

hand to play against 💋 someone who has already opened (or raised) the betting than he

would need to open himself.[5] The gap concept reflects 💋 that players prefer to avoid

confrontations with other players who have already indicated strength, and that calling

only has one 💋 way to win (by having the best hand), whereas opening may also win

immediately if your opponent(s) fold.

Sandwich effect [ 💋 edit ]

Related to the gap

effect, the sandwich effect states that a player needs a stronger hand to stay in 💋 a pot

when there are opponents yet to act behind him.[4] Because the player does not know how

many opponents 💋 will be involved in the pot or whether he will have to call a re-raise,

he does not know what 💋 his effective pot odds actually are. Therefore, a stronger hand

is desired as compensation for this uncertainty. A squeeze play 💋 exploits this

principle.

Loose/tight play [ edit ]

Loose players play relatively more hands and tend

to continue with weaker hands; hence 💋 they do not often fold. Tight players play

relatively fewer hands and tend not to continue with weaker hands; hence 💋 they often

fold. The following concepts are applicable in loose games (and their inverse in tight

games):[1]

Bluffs and semi-bluffs are 💋 less effective because loose opponents are less

likely to fold.

Requirements for continuing with made hands may be lower because loose

💋 players may also be playing lower value hands.

Drawing to incomplete hands, like

flushes, tends to be more valuable as draws 💋 will often get favorable pot odds and a

stronger hand (rather than merely one pair) is often required to win 💋 in multi-way

pots.

Aggressive/passive play [ edit ]

Aggressive play refers to betting and raising.

Passive play refers to checking and calling. 💋 Unless passive play is being used

deceptively as mentioned above, aggressive play is generally considered stronger than

passive play because 💋 of the bluff value of bets and raises and because it offers more

opportunities for your opponents to make mistakes.[1]

Hand 💋 reading, tells and leveling

[ edit ]

Hand reading is the process of making educated guesses about the possible

cards an 💋 opponent may hold, based on the sequence of actions in the pot. The term 'hand

reading' is actually a misnomer, 💋 as skilled players do not attempt to assign a player

to an exact hand. Rather they attempt to narrow the 💋 possibilities down to a range of

probable hands based on the past actions of their opponent, during both the current

💋 hand and previous hands played by this opponent.

Tells are detectable changes in

opponents' behavior or demeanor which provide clues about 💋 their hands or their

intentions. Educated guesses about opponents' cards and intentions can help a player

avoid mistakes in his 💋 own play, induce mistakes by the opponents, or influence the

opponents to take actions that they would not normally take 💋 under the circumstances.

For example, a tell might suggest that an opponent has missed a draw, so a player

seeing 💋 it may decide a bluff would be more effective than usual.

Leveling or multiple

level thinking is accounting for what the 💋 other opponents think about the hands. This

information can then be used to the player's advantage. Some players might be 💋 able to

make educated guesses about opponents' hands; this could be seen as the first level.

The second level could 💋 be thought of as the combination of the first level and deducing

what the opponents think the player's hand may 💋 be. Skilled players can adjust their

game play to be on a higher level than that of less skilled opponents.

Table 💋 image and

opponent profiling [ edit ]

By observing the tendencies and patterns of one's

opponents, one can make more educated 💋 guesses about others' potential holdings. For

example, if a player has been playing extremely tightly (playing very few hands), then

💋 when he/she finally enters a pot, one may surmise that he/she has stronger than average

cards. One's table image is 💋 the perception by one's opponents of one's own pattern of

play. A player can leverage their table image by playing 💋 out of character, and thereby

inducing his/her opponents to misjudge his/her hand and make a mistake.

In live poker,

as opposed 💋 to internet, stereotypes are often used for initial 'reads'. For instance,

people of retirement age are often witnessed to play 💋 tight. Players will often project

this image on unknown people of retirement age. Young people wearing headphones and

hoodies are 💋 often witnessed to play more aggressively and mathematically if they played

a lot of winning internet poker. These stereotypes can 💋 often be good bases to start a

profile.

Often, there is a rather small pool of players in a given card 💋 playing venue.

People will carry their history of playing with them in these environments.

Internet

poker players can use large databases 💋 of hand histories to get a more precise player

profile. Statistical information about opponents is displayed on the tables in 💋 the form

of a heads up display. The most commonly used software is PokerTracker and Hold'em

Manager.

Equity [ edit ]

Players' 💋 equity in a pot is their expected share of the pot,

expressed either as a percentage (probability of winning) or 💋 expected value (amount of

pot * probability of winning). Negative equity, or loss in equity, occurs when

contributing to a 💋 pot with a probability of winning less than 1 / (number of opponents

matching the contribution+1).

Example Alice contributesR$12 to a 💋 pot and is matched by

two other opponents. Alice'sR$12 contribution "bought" the chance to winR$36. If

Alice's probability of winning 💋 is 50%, her equity in theR$36 pot isR$18 (a gain in

equity because herR$12 is now "worth"R$18). If her probability 💋 of winning is only 10%,

Alice loses equity because herR$12 is now only "worth"R$3.60 (amount of pot *

probability of 💋 winning).

Texas hold 'em example Alice holds J♦ 8♠. Bob holds K♥ 7♠.

After the flop, the board is 5♥6♥7♦ . 💋 If both hands are played to a showdown, Alice has

a 45% chance to win (which she is unaware of, 💋 because she does not know what hand Bob

holds), Bob has a 53% chance to win and there is a 💋 2% chance to split the pot. The pot

currently hasR$51. Alice goes all-in forR$45 reasoning that she can take the 💋 pot

immediately if Bob folds or that Bob calls with a worse hand. Bob's simple pot odds for

the call 💋 are also 32%; since his equity of 53% is greater than the pot odds he has to

call, Bob has 💋 a positive expected value for the call (if he knew Alice's hole

cards).

Short-handed considerations [ edit ]

When playing short-handed (at 💋 a table with

3-6 players), players must loosen up their play (play more hands) for several

reasons:[1]

There is less likelihood 💋 of another player having a strong hand because

there are fewer players.

Each player's share of the forced bets increases because 💋 there

are fewer players contributing to the forced bets, thus waiting for premium hands

becomes more expensive.

This type of situation 💋 comes up most often in tournament style

play. In a cash game, the adjustments are very similar, but not quite 💋 as drastic as the

table can ask for what is known as a 'rake break.' A rake break occurs when 💋 the

floor-man, who represents the casino, agrees to take a smaller portion than usual for

the hand. For example, a 💋 random casino might normally receive 10% of the pot up to 5

dollars for a 'rake.' In this case the 💋 table would only owe 10% up to 3 dollars until

there are a sufficient number of players again. In online 💋 poker rake breaks are

determined automatically.

Structure considerations [ edit ]

The blinds and antes and

limit structure of the game have 💋 a significant influence on poker strategy. For

example, it is easier to manipulate pot odds in no-limit and pot-limit games 💋 than in

limit games. In tournaments, as the size of the forced bets relative to the chip stacks

grows, pressure 💋 is placed on players to play pots to avoid being anted/blinded

away.[6]

Mindset considerations [ edit ]

In 2014, Bwin conducted a 💋 study to see what

makes a professional poker player. The brain activity of poker players, of varying

degrees, was monitored 💋 using EEG headsets and visualised into brain maps.[7] Leading

sports psychologist, James Hazlett, then interpreted the findings:

More experienced

players showed 💋 higher levels of focus and concentration throughout the game.

The

amateur players had less control over their emotions, and were prone 💋 to allowing

negative emotions, such as frustration, to distract them.

Whilst opponents were taking

their turn, the expert players opened up 💋 another table or watched replays of hands they

had played poorly to improve.

The brain maps showed that the professional players 💋 were

led more by logic and intuition.

The conclusions of the study suggest that poker

players can improve their strategy by 💋 considering their mindset. Mental training

techniques, commonly used by athletes, could therefore help to improve performance by

working on elements 💋 such as self-control and concentration.