Integral Keys to Success

Prior to playing high stakes poker games, a key to success is to know who your opponents are. This is key in playing any form of competitive poker. A player should have a general idea of the playing styles and trends of his or her opponents. By doing this, a player greatly increases his or her chances of playing well and winning money. Although it is not always possible for a player to know who his opponents are, as is the case in random tournaments, it is possible to know this information when playing amongst a group of friends or notable players.

Another key to success is to prioritize. What is your motive of playing in a tournament? Can you financially afford playing aggressive during the beginning stages, or would you rather play a little tighter to avoid losing money? By figuring out this, players can adapt to their own playing styles and can avoid giving off non-verbal cues. If opponents figure out that you are playing over-aggressive by over-betting, they could respond in a bold manner. As mentioned in previous posts, over-aggressive playing can be detrimental. Being over-aggressive can be easy for experienced players to catch.



An important thing to remember here is that one should never play poker when upset or frustrated. This puts the player at risk of getting carried away into playing for higher stakes than he or she intended to. Not all people can separate emotion from poker, and that's why it's important for players to be able to avoid the poker table when they are in an emotional state.
According to an article on pokermaster.net, "it’s not a good idea to play poker when you are upset or angry as you really do need a clear head for poker". In other words, players should avoid playing poker when they are upset at all costs because they are more susceptible to making bad decisions because of their feelings.

And finally, another vital key to success is to play poker with caution. Poker is one of the most addicting forms of entertainment in the entire world. As thrilling as it is, it can be dangerous for players who show no self-control. Despite of what people think, playing incessantly can have severe consequences. Real people get into bad situations in a hurry because of how addicting poker can be. Psychology plays a huge role in poker and must be taken into consideration when playing poker.

Sources:

http://www.pokermaster.net/poker_strategy_playing_poker.htm

http://pokerfastcash.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Multi-table-poker-tournamen.jpg

Flush Draws

Getting that fifth heart, club, spade, or diamond is by far one of the best feelings a player could experience when playing poker. In most instances, a flush will be the best possible hand. There are several exceptions: when the board pairs, a player could potentially have a full house. A player could also have a higher flush. As promising as a flush draw is, however, the percentages indicate that a player only has a thirty-five percent chance of catching the fifth suite.

This can be calculated by using simple mathematical probabilities. There are 13 of each suite in a deck: If a player has two hearts in his hand, and flops two hearts, four hearts in total are being used. Therefore, there are nine hearts left in the deck. In a standard table, nine people are dealt two cards each. Four cards are used on the flop and the burn card. Out of forty seven unknown cards, there is a thirty five percent chance of a player completing his flush. This number is reduced significantly if other players have the same suite or are also on a flush draw.

The numbers indicate that players should not proceed to call large bets when they are only on flush draws. 65 percent of the time, statistically, the player would miss his flush. Here, I would either encourage a player to lead out and semi-bluff the pot, or fold if another player is betting aggressively enough.



According to an article written by Jordy Pujol on pokerwants.com, "I would suggest that you always semi-bluff with a two down flush draw." In other words, Pujol is suggesting that it is in a player's best interests to lead out betting when on a draw, so other players perceive him to have a stronger hand than he raelly does. However, the player himself must figure out the pot odds. Calculating pot odds is the process of calculating whether or not a player is getting his money's worth by making a call.

There's a difference when the chip leader is leading out and betting on a flush draw, compared to when the short stack is betting. In terms of the chip leader, there's a chance the person chasing a flush could take a large portion of his stack if he hits his flush. The player chasing the flush, however, is not getting good odds because at most he'll just get the short stack. Flush draws can make or break a player's tournament and should be played with caution.

Sources:

http://pokerwants.com/strategy-tips/intermediate/semi-bluff-with-the-flush-draw/

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/how-to-play-texas-holdem-poker-10.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2230/2290668473_ddcc20b28e.jpg

Short Stacked Situations

There will always be days where a player simply has bad luck: other players will get lucky, bluffs will go bad, and simple pots will seem nearly impossible to win. It takes a great amount of mental strength and perseverance to break out of a short stacked situation. A lot of players would push "all-in" in anguish, representing that they officially give up. In short stacked situations, I advise players from simply going all in and leaving their tournament to be decided by luck. Unless players are short stacked to the point where there's simply no hope of competitively returning, a better strategy to utilize is to raise a lot pre-flop without pushing "all-in".

Unless somebody else raises before you, and you have a really good hand, I would not advise blindly pushing all in. It would be embarrassing to be called by somebody who has a monster of a hand. Although it wouldn't be wrong to push all-in, it's better to do so with caution. According to an article on thepokerbank.com, "with a short stack, most or all of the action will be taking place on the pre-flop and flop betting rounds". In other words, the majority of betting that a player does with a short stack should take place prior to the flop or post flop. The article advises against letting opponents see a turn card or a river.


If a short stack constantly raises and bets pre-flop, this puts pressure on the rest of his opponents. Although nobody likes being in a short stacked situation, it allows players to test their resiliency. After all, most competitive poker players are placed in that situation at one point or another. Again, the best way to approach that situation is to play tight-aggressive: play winnable hands and avoid hands that could potentially cause trouble. Any hand with an Ace is a serviceable hand, yet should still be played with caution. A pocket pair should be an automatic raise or all-in push. Marginal hands should be thrown away. Suited connector hands should be called or raised.

The best poker players of our era have built their instincts in these situations. Being short stacked taught them how to bet, when to bet, where to bet, and how to bet. It also teaches patience and to go slow and steady. The mark of a good poker player is his instinctual ability to know what hands to play and what hands should be mucked. Although it can be tempting to try to win back everything on one hand, that's not a plausible approach in trying to get back into the poker game.

Sources:

http://www.thepokerbank.com/strategy/general/short-stack/

http://thumb18.shutterstock.com.edgesuite.net/display_pic_with_logo/56478/56478,1170915592,1/stock-photo-poker-player-going-all-in-pushing-his-chips-forward-2640342.jpg

The Art of Raising

Too often in poker, players miss out on an opportunity to steal a pot because they don't throw out a bluff. At the very least, it's important for players to bluff t to mix up their style of play and avoid becoming predictable. On a more serious note, players who can win those little pots are the ones who build a strong enough stack to win tournaments.

As I mentioned in my last post, players who only play their cards usually fall woefully short in tournaments. By boldly throwing out a raise or a re-raise, a player could garner respect at the table amongst his peers. Phil Ivey, who is considered the greatest poker player of our decade, commands the respect of his opponents because of his aggressive method of playing. If a player is able to get respect from his opponents, he'll be able to push them around and intimidate them in a poker game. Ivey, for example, often times draws his opponents off of better hands because they fear his ability.



In order to deliver a proper bet, raise or re-raise, the most important component is to be confident. Believe in yourself and your ability. Whether or not your bet or raise works, it's important to know that there will always be another hand and another opportunity to win. Most players get carried away and put all their chips on a raise or a re-raise; however, try to avoid raising more than two to three times more than your opponent. Even if you have the nuts ( a poker term for the best possible hand), try drawing your opponent into the hand by betting slowly and steadily. If you have the better hand and come off as too aggressive, your opponent will likely fold. Therefore, as i also mentioned in a previous post, play to maximize your profits.

However, the biggest factor that separates amateurs from pros is the ability to fold good hands. Amateurs spend too much time contemplating decisions, giving their opponents non-verbal cues of their hand. Pros, on the other hand, raise and bet with no hesitation, yet know when they are beat. According to Camilla Goodman on pokerworks.com, "The ability to throw away a strong hand in certain situations is a sure sign of a skilled player". Goodman is basically pointing out that great players know how to fold hands.

Granted, it can be infuriating when a player hits a card on the river. However, the ability to look past this takes time to get accustomed to. In conclusion, the best way to get better at raising is through practice and experience, along with the ability to fold good hands when they aren't good enough.

Sources:
http://pokerworks.com/poker-strategy/beginner-poker-strategy/raising-in-poker.html

http://www.casino-article.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Better-Betting-Poker.jpg

Heads Up Poker

A form of poker that is becoming more popular by the day is "heads up" poker. Playing "heads up" includes only two players that clash head to head, one on one. This form of poker differentiates significantly from tournament style poker. When two players clash head to head, the chances of one of them having a "monster" hand is not likely.

On the other side, in tournament style poker, players often do have really good hands. Therefore, good pre-flop hands, like Ace five, Ace six, Ace seven, and Ace eight, normally aren't strong after the flop. Other players could not only have an Ace, but also a better kicker. In tournament style poker, middle pair also isn't usually too strong. In heads up, however, having an Ace is a significant advantage for one of the players.



Playing heads up takes years to master, especially for players who feel more comfortable playing in a tournament setting. According to an article on tightpoker.com, "The weak of heart get steam rolled with extreme prejudice in heads-up poker." In other words, inexperienced players and players who simply crumble to aggressive bets would have an extremely hard time keeping pace in a heads up poker game. The format of playing heads up requires a player to constantly be aggressive, while maintaining his or her composure.

In regards for players who don't normally play heads up frequently, it is easy to get carried away. Most players don't realize how big of a discrepancy exists between playing in a tournament and playing heads up. In a tournament, the entire table is your enemy. You are forced to outcompete every other player at the tournament through wit, aggression, strategy, and even intimidation. In tournaments, players can usually succeed by playing their cards right and maximizing profits. However, in heads up, every hand is a toss up: a game of heads up is usually player one versus player two, whereas in a tournament, players won't raise the pot with bad hands.



In tournament style, players hardly ever bet or raise a lot with middle pair. However, in heads up, catching middle pair could potentially be a huge advantage. In a recent tournament that I played, my opponent raised 3 times the big blind pre-flop. I look down at my hand and see a suited 7 and 8 of clubs. I put my chips in and called his bet, already expecting him to make a continuation bet regardless of the flop.

The flop comes: 8 J 3. My opponent raises about half of the pot, I call. The turn card is a 4. This time he checks, and in my haste I throw out a bet about three-fourths the pot in a semi-bluff. Although I know I hit my eight, there is that chance that he could have trapped me with a monster hand. My opponent, however, took one last glance at his hand and folded. In heads up, I often raise with suited connectors: seven-eight, five-six, etc. However, in tournaments, players usually don't play these hands with large raises.

Sources: http://www.tightpoker.com/articles/heads_up_poker.html

http://media.cardplayer.com/

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/07/06/poker_narrowweb__300x399,0.jpg

Pros and Cons of Tournament Style Hold'em

A lot of people world wide prefer playing heads up or even a 4 or 5 person table. However, the majority of people prefer playing a 9 person table because it provides a a greater variety. It also increases the money pool, as each player buys in a certain amount prior to sitting down at a tournament. Tournament style is the most sophisticated way of playing Texas Hold'em. It allows players to capture the true beauty of playing in tournaments and the joys that go along with it. Every player's tournament individually has a climax. Certain players begin tournaments better than others. However, a tournament truly is more about the journey than the finish line.

It's important for players to not get caught up in looking ahead to the prize of the rewards before they get through the tournament. In the World Series of Poker, for example, the majority of chip leaders on day one in the past few years failed to get to the Final Table. It's easy for a person to play more loosely when he or she has a lot of chips. A tournament is a game of stamina, and requires players to brace themselves for a long, grueling battle.



Most tournaments begin with a standard small blind and big blind. Blinds are expected to raise after pre-determined increments of time. In a lot of tournaments, the blinds raise every fifteen to twenty minutes. Therefore, players need to constantly be alert and active during tournaments. Tournament-style is not for faint hearted, conservative players; conservative players, or players who only play "good" hands, often times find themselves at a disadvantage. They won't often be dealt extremely good hands.

Conservative players are also highly predictable. Most tournament winners are players who are known to switch up the style if their play, manipulate their opponents, and play aggressively. According to Steve Badger from playingwinningpoker.com,"Your tournament actions should be dictated by one consistent goal -- maximizing your financial expectation". In other words, Badger is stating that the key goal to winning a poker tournament consisted of being efficient enough to maximize the amount of chips and money.

In order to do this, one must attempt to gain the most out of every winning hand. Joe Cada, who recently won the World Series of Poker Main Event, had less than one percent of the chips in play at one point during the tournament. However, he maximized his financial expectation, which enabled him to maximize his net gain in chips. Although tournament style poker takes some time to get used to, it's the most rewarding form of playing around the world.


Sources:
http://maltapokerevents.com/Portals/4/images/events/Monthly%20Tournaments%20-%20October/October%20Edition%20Main%20Event/aMRK_4755.jpg

http://www.playwinningpoker.com/poker/tournaments/winning/

The 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event

As those of you who watched the thrilling final episode of the 2009 World Series of Poker, Joe Cada became the youngest player ever to win the Main Event. At just 21 years of age, Cada took home 8.5 million dollars after defeating the over-aggressive Moon heads up. Leading up to the final table, both players had their shares of luck: Moon flopped a Queen against the dangerous Phil Ivey, when Ivey was heads up for his tournament life with A K. Ivey instinctively pushed his remaining 5 million all-in pre-flop with his A K, and Moon called with A Q. The flop: Q 6 6. From that point, Ivey's main event was all but over. Moon also caught a lot of good hands: He knocked out a player who was sure to make the final table with his Q J of diamonds, vs. the other player's 5 3 of diamonds. Both players hit a flush after the turn card, which was a golden opportunity for Moon to gain even more chips.

Cada also had his share of luck too: leading up to the thrilling heads up battle between Moon and Cada, Cada relied on the river more than one time against other opponents at the Final Table. However, Cada showed that he skillfully deserved to win the Main Event: He made the call of his life against Moon when Moon put him all-in with his straight draw. Cada took some time before making the call. He had a pair of nines with a jack kicker, with two tens on the board. With an unbelievable call, Joe Cada doubled up and took a commanding lead. Moon's over-aggression cost him an additional 4 million and a world series ring.
According to Phil Henderson of Pokerchanneleurope.com, "The turning point finally came when Cada had had enough of being bullied off every pot by Moon and decided to make a stand". Cada was visibly frustrated with Moon's over aggression, so frustrated in fact that he decided to risk his tournament life with a pair of 9s with a mediocre Jack kicker. However, Cada's instinctual read and play made him the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event winner, a title that is coveted by most of today's pros. Although I was personally rooting for Phil Ivey to take the bracelet, whom I believe to be by far the greatest Texas Hold'em player to ever play, it's still heartwarming and inspirational to see a player like Cada win the Main Event. Nobody anticipated the 21 year old from Michigan to come anywhere near the final table, yet he proved his adversaries wrong and did what thousands of others before him have failed to do: overcome criticism, stay steadfast, and remain committed.

sources: http://www.pokerchanneleurope.com/news/cada_over_moon_9.htm
http://www.lasvegasvegas.com/pokerblog/101809-25.jpg

Deceiving hands in poker and underrated hands

The most deceiving hand in poker is most definitely ace-king, ace-queen, or ace-jack off suite. Players get so realed into the possibilities of their face cards that they fail to realize that all they really have, in effect, is ace high. I've seen numerous players lose their stacks due to getting outflopped when they have ace queen or ace king. With ace-jack, there are so many hands that can beat that hand. Even if the player hits a 3 outer Ace, he still has to ponder the possibility that he's being outkicked ( ace-queen or ace king, maybe even pocket aces!).

Players often times don't take into consideration how weak these hands are in comparison to other hands. Players often push with these hands and see horrible results. Ace queen in my opinion should never see more than a pre-flop raise. If one were to raise pre-flop, he shouldn't become attached to the hand if he misses the flop completely. Ace high really doesn't have as much value in an actual game of 9 or 10 or so people. According to toppoker.org, ace queen has a very slim chance of winning against a lot of other better hands.



Hands that generally get overlooked, but are actually effective, are hands like 9 10 suited, 10 J suited, 10 8 suited, 5 6 suited, 4 5 suited, and 7 8 suited..obviously these are suited connectors. In my experience playing, these hands win overwhelmingly when played effectively. a 7 8 suited can overcome ace-king or ace-queen easier because it can catch much more cards. There are so many more outs associated with these hands. Think about it..if everybody raises with face cards, the flop would likely be cards 2-10. I usually raise with these hands to throw my opponents off. If my opponents believe I have ace-king suited when I really have a 7 8 or a 9 10 suited, and i hit the flop (these hands usually do hit the flop), I'm likely to be able to trap my opponent and put him in an uneasy situation. Poker is a game of manipulating your opponents, and the more often you do this, the more likely you will find success.

In conclusion, ace-queen and ace-king should be played with precaution. Although these hands do have value to an extent, they're value shouldn't be overstated. At the same time, marginal hands shouldn't be under-valued. Suited connectors are a poker player's best friend, and allow him or her a lot of flexibility when it comes to strategic betting and manipulating.



Sources: http://www.toppoker.org/poker-hands/starting-hand-analysis-aq-dm.html
http://www.truthbombers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Gin-Pic-4.PNG

the discrepancy between playing online poker and real-life poker. Also, is online poker safe?

A lot of questions have been asked whether or not players receive the full benefits of playing poker by playing online. Does getting accustomed to playing online affect real life poker? Does it make you worse or better?



Although some of the premier Texas Hold'em pros today are actually players who began a career in playing online poker,
most people generally lose money online and fail to reap the same benefits that go along with playing in real life. Playing online tends to have a faster game play, replacing general cues and tells, like a players facial expression and movement, with the click of a button. Playing online also requires players to play generally higher stakes and to put forth a substantially higher rake per game.

Not only do gambling addicts get suckered into paying higher to fulfill their addiction, but they also find it extremely difficult to draw the line and stop gambling. Therefore, playing online is risky business; it's dangerous to everybody involved, and allows for all kinds of technical contingencies that can be costly. According to an episode of 60 minutes, playing online poker is highly dangerous and risky. The actual card generators are located outside of the United States. Also, former World Series of Poker Main Event champion Greg Ramer was caught stealing tens of millions of dollars online from other players. His punishment: a slap on the wrist in exchange for information in how he did it. Playing online poker has been extremely costly for many people.



It's important to remember that for all the money that somebody makes, somebody else has to lose it. At the very least, playing in real-life discourages under age players from attempting to play. Also, playing in person also allows for a greater amount of talent, including facial reading, cues, instincts, and just overall good old poker. Playing online is basically the fast food industry of poker. It is convenient, quick, and is available to just about everyone.

According to an article techdirt.com titled "Online Poker Cheating Scam Unraveled", "Ultimate-bet.com has been fined 1.5 million dollars as part of an ongoing investigation into what appears to be a rather massive scheme to defraud online poker players by giving some insiders the ability to see all the cards other players held". The insider itself, as mentioned above, is allegedly former World Series of Poker Main Event winner Greg Ramer. In the episode of 60 minutes, investigators try to contact Mr. Ramer but he avoids any contact with anybody in regards to the allegations.

Overall, the cons of online poker outweigh the pros. Playing online offers little to no protection of gamers and is a monumental risk to all of those that play. I strongly recommend players to avoid becoming addicted to playing online, as I have personal experience in that regard.



Sources:

http://www.cardplayerbrasil.com/site/imagens/Tom_Dwan_Large_.JPG

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20081001/0309502425.shtml

http://www.aintluck.com/images/reviewpics/full-tilt-table.jpg

Factors to consider when going "ALL IN"

A common question in Texas Hold'em poker is when to raise ALL-IN and commit all of one's chips in a hand. Poker is a situational game: it's not easy to explain exactly when somebody should automatically go all in. There are a number of factors to consider before pushing all of your chips into the middle. Are there any obvious tells to consider? Are your opponent's hands shaking or quivering? Does he look intimidated or scared? What does the board look like? Is there an ace to trump your kings, a straight draw on the board to supersede your trips, or a possibility of trips trumping your high pair? It's important to look at all of the possibilities before making a decision.

Often times, you can better read your opponent's hand by examining his betting pattern. Is he confidently betting nearly half the pot? Does he slow down and check? Is he trying to trap you here or is he simply just throwing up a white flag? This all depends on your opponents. The pros tend to trap to maximize their benefits, while the amateurs often times over-bet the pot and leave no margin for error.



Going all in on a bluff is strongly ill-advised. If you get your bluff caught, as you so often will, you will look like an idiot and will be thought of as a reckless player. An important factor of poker that often times doesn't get considered is that playing is so much easier when you have the respect of your opponents. If your opponents consider you one of the best at the table, they will undoubtedly throw away better hands in order to avoid damage from a player they consider a threat.

Pocket Aces or Kings should always raise pre-flop. This avoids bad hands from getting involved in the hand. Amateurs tend to go all-in on hands like pocket aces or kings, but these hands can often be trumped. Obviously, if you look down and see pocket aces and somebody goes all in, you call with confidence because of your overwhelming lead on your opponent's hand.

Going all in in poker can be extremely exciting. But overly excited players are the ones that usually make the first exits. Play smart, play effective, and use your better judgment to lead you towards the right direction. According to Marius McLaughlin, you should go all in when "you are convinced you have the best hand and actually want to be called". Take a look at this video of Phil Ivey, who is considered the greatest poker player in the world, pushing all in when he was convinced he had the best hand.



Sources:

http://ezinearticles.com/?When-to-Go-All-In-in-Texas-Hold-Em&id=1378779

http://www.brandon-hopkins.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/poker-bluff.png

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSScICr78nfS_2IKjV9ikDqufleUOB4iBYjDyotWu3Uu8gn4wXjhYksl_H3iqNAFCevfb3M2Qh48INeHgnZhq5qlhtMKKDiTXGneEr30-JmkYlQeV6-AR9ayOWviODjjUBm8Hjy9BAuF1/s400/ivey_jackson_bluff_all_in.jpg

How to avoid tough beats

The most basic way to avoid tough beats is to control the betting and to know when to fold. If you think you're beat on a hand, don't throw a HUGE raise into the middle and gamble. If your opponent re-raises, you'll fold if you know your beat and you'll look like an idiot. Throw a value bet out-- roughly 1/3's - 1/4's the size of the pot-- this lets you see where you are in the hand. Unless you have the nuts (the best possible hand) don't throw out a bet that you know you can't back up. Don't bet a hand that you'd feel hesitant to call if faced with a re-raise.
The biggest problem with aggressive and conservative players alike nowadays is that when they become frustrated or agitated they tend to over-bet the pot and run into a wall. Great players know when to fold good hands, and mediocre players can't get away from a pre-flop made hand when it really isn't that good post-flop. What separates Phil Ivey, Tom Dwan, Phil Ivey, and other great pros is that they never let their hanger take control of them. They can make tough lay downs even against the most arrogant opponents. Here's an example of Phil Hellmuth being able to avoid a lot of damage when going against a made hand. Although emulating Phil's aggression isn't suggested, Phil simply called at the end instead of raising with a set because there was a possibility that he had the inferior hand.



Anyway, back to the topic. Tough beats can be avoided by miscellaneous cues also. Players tend to smile, flinch, jitter, and shake when they hit a desperation card. Players also tend to be overly aggressive and nervous. Often times, its better to fold a really good hand than risk losing nearly all of your chips on a hand that can be beaten. Although it's situational, it's important to remember that unless your playing with a donk, most players (who play for money) wouldn't risk all of their chips on a mediocre hand or a bluff. As the players you play against get better, the easier you'll realize exactly why going "all-in" isn't very smart at all unless you're completely sure you'll get a call and maximize your benefits.
According to Arthur S. Reber from pokerlistings.com, "controlling pot size has two obvious elements: keeping it small and making it grow. When you're on a draw you usually want to keep the pot small (adjusted, of course, for fold equity)."
This quotation perfectly sums up how you would play a draw. Don't commit too many chips because the percentages are against you in terms of hitting your draw. If your opponent has a a slightly better hand than you, chances are that he'll simply call and let you do all the betting. Once again, the key is to CONTROL the betting, which will lead to you being able to control the game.

Sources: http://www.pokerlistings.com/strategy/this-one-is-tricky-more-on-postflop-play
http://freeholdemset.com/images/TexasHoldemSet_logo.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK-u2PZDARw

How to play pocket Aces effectively

Many people quiver with excitement when they glance down and see the best starting hand in poker--two aces. This is an extremely deceiving hand: sure, it's the best starting hand in poker, but aces can be trumped in so many different ways. Players luck out in flopping trips, full houses, straights, flushes, etc. and in these instances it can be hard differentiating the better hand between a made hand, like pocket aces, and a chased hand like a flush, straight, etc. Pre-flop, the highest statistical hand that can overcome two aces is a 5 6 suited. This hand can hit a mixture of combinations: straights, flushes, two pair, trips, and full-houses. The percentages of a 5 6 suited vs. pocket aces is about 35 65 in favor of the aces.

Novice players often find themselves committing all of their chips pre-flop, or going "all-in" when they see the rockets in their hand. This is highly ineffective simply because doing this won't maximize that players profits, it will only lead to other players folding and giving up their meaningless blinds.

On the flip side, extremely conservative players find themselves playing pocket aces to the river with little to no betting. This is dangerous for obvious reasons: this allows mediocre pre-flop hands to see more cards, thus increasing their probability of catching a superior hand without having to commit the chips to do so.



So, what exactly is the best way to play pocket aces? There's no right way to answer this: every now and then, aces can be cracked by a mediocre hand. Personally, I play my aces aggressive enough to try to get callers, but conservative enough not to be overly aggressive. The number one thing to remember when having aces is to know how much and when to bet. When I play aces, I raise pre-flop to get the mediocre hands out of the way. Post-flop, I love to act flustered and annoyed by the "bad flop" (regardless of how good or bad it is) to deceive my opponents.

With this, I'm trying to bait my opponent into trying to steal the pot by bluffing. At this position, I would likely only call and see another card. At this point, usually if my opponent checks it's pretty much him giving me the green light to take down the hand. I wouldn't bet too large here, I'd throw a decent bet out (about 1/3 or 1/4 of the pot) to see where my position is in the hand. If I see a raise, I can conclude that my opponent might just have a better hand than I. If he calls, he might be chasing another card (for a straight, a flush, etc.). If he folds, take down the pot and muck your hand.



This is extremely situational, however. Even with your pocket aces, it's okay to approach the betting with caution if the flop is something along the lines of: , or K K Q, or 10 10 J, or any kind of intimidating flop where you can easily perceive your opponent playing the hand. A person 10 J suited or a K J or K Q would usually pay to see a flop with these marginal hands.

Having the ability to fold good hands is what separates average & good players from the greats. Sometimes, we get so riled up in our emotion that we fail to use common sense to make the right decision. The ability to read these situations define great players. Overall, it's best to play pocket aces with aggression, yet caution at the same time. As stated by Nicholas Morine, "all pre-flop aces deserve a pre-flop raise". Pocket aces that aren't raised up pre-flop have a chance of being crushed.


Sources:

http://card-games.suite101.com/article.cfm/hold_em_starting_hand_strategy_pocket_aces

http://www.caesarspalace.com/images/shared_images/gaming/Poker_PocketAces_300x225.jpg

http://engagingconflicts.com/wp-content/4-aces.jpg

http://www.pokerdiy.com/Portals/6/Users/pocket%20aces.jpg

How to play semi-aggressively

One of the biggest contingencies that goes along with hold' em strategy is when to be aggressive and when to be passive. So many players nowadays see their chips wither away from being either too conservative or too reckless. Being too conservative can lead to becoming predictable, which is a cue that most experienced players feed on. Being conservative can also be extremely mentally frustrating; sometimes, the cards just won't fall your way. One of the most fundamental basis behind poker is "you can't control the cards you get but its how you play your hand," but by being too conservative players fail to capitalize on many of the other aspects of poker: stealing blinds, bluffing, trapping, raising, check-raising, and even having a winning mentality.



In other words, being too conservative takes a lot of skill away from poker and makes players one dimensional in simply waiting for good cards. Being too aggressive has just as many implications. The majority of recklessly aggressive players in the World Series of Poker Main Event fail to ever get beyond the first or second day at the Rio. Gus Hansen, a professional poker player & leading promoter of Full Tilt Poker makes a career off of intimidating his opponents, known for raising like a madman pre-flop while simultaneously getting under the skin of his players. Sounds good, doesn't it? Well this doesn't always work out for Hansen. Why does Gus Hansen continue to fail year after year to make the main event final table? Being overly aggressive simply is not compatible to tournament style poker. Playing aggressively heads up has its own benefits, but thats a post for another time.



In my opinion, the best way to play is to play semi-aggressively. Playing semi-aggressively is playing hands that have the best percentages of winning aggressively. After you know you have a better hand than your opponent, play aggressively. Maximize your chip profits and play smart. If you hit a flush, conceal your hand completely and check; wait until your opponent raises, and then call and continue to let him shoot himself in the foot (this is called trapping). Again, playing semi-aggressively is a strategy to maximize one's profit and a great way to avoid bad situations. You don't want to be caught playing predictably or be labeled as a "donk" and lose all your poker credibility.

According to Rodney Joyce from pokerdiy.com, playing "tight-aggressive" is the way to go. Although this sounds like an oxymoron, it's the way to go: According to Rodney, "Playing tight-aggressive is when you play relatively few hands, but when you play, you play them strongly, betting and raising to put pressure on your opponents."
By doing this, a player is able to avoid playing predictably while also being able to garner respect from his peers by playing smart. Poker is an intricate game: it involves deceiving & manipulating your opponents; it intertwines luck & skill; it can make or break a player and his chip stack. Therefore, try playing semi-aggressively when playing Texas Hold'em poker.

Sources:

http://www.pokerdiy.com/poker-school/texas-holdem-strategy/articletype/articleview/articleid/79/winning-strategies-the-tight-aggressive-style.aspx

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Introduction: A Story of Success

Phil Ivey wasn't always the Phil Ivey, the Tiger Woods of Poker, the "No-Home Jerome". He was once a beginner, a student of the game, somebody who made his way to the top and proved his worth by playing the game that he loves. With his 8th bracelet in site, Ivey is leaping ahead of his hold 'em counterparts and effectively building his poker legacy with each subsequent achievement. What separates Ivey from his opponents? He didn't sharpen his poker abilities until he was old enough to get a job, where he'd play hold' em amongst his co-workers at a New Brunswick, New Jersey telemarketing firm. Ivey put in the dedication and the necessary commitment it took to rise above his opponents. There's a common misconception that Ivey's abnormally freakish eyes are his greatest asset because they intimidate his opponents; however, it is without a doubt his heart. Known as "the Tiger Woods of poker" by his colleagues, Ivey has proven his worth year after year and has a chance to cap off his legacy by winning the 10,000 dollar World Series of Poker Main Event, which will be aired in November.

I cannot and will not pretend to have anywhere near the amount of credibility Phil Ivey has; I cannot offer suggestions or tips to reach his level, because that is simply absurd. I'm just another ordinary poker loving college student who has about 5 years of solid hold' em experience to talk about. I consider myself to be pretty damn talented, and what I can do is offer suggestions and tips that I use to maximize my hold' em abilities when I play at charity tournaments, local events, simply with the guys, or even online (hello fulltilt). More specifically, I can offer unorthodox and unique strategies and tips that will leave even your most canny opponents guessing. Ideally, if I can achieve a network of players discussing their strategies, playing styles, and even their stories, I believe that will lead to all of us becoming better at the game we love. I cannot reiterate this enough, however; I will not pretend to be some sort of an expert at Texas Hold' em. I will merely convey suggestions, tips, and advice that I have gathered from my experiences playing. I hope to ultimately learn as much from you as you might hope to learn from me.

For more about Ivey's career, visit his website here.
sources: wikipedia, philivey.com,