Posts Tagged ‘poker strategies’

Poker - Preparation methods for cash games

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

Texas holdem poker games in which each clay poker chip represents instant cash value are a different animal. I find that these are much more difficult to prepare for because there is no set changing format going in. Also, there is no beginning and end. One can usually pick up their poker chips at any time and exit the game. I personally have found sometimes in these situations preparation can be even detrimental. Players come and go from the table.

Why specific preparation can be detrimental is that the mood of the game can sharply change at any time. For example, you’ve been preparing for a cash game with the intention of taking off the gloves and playing aggressive cards at the poker table for the evening. You have your world tour poker chips stacked nicely. You bring two buy in’s for the game and in the first hand you have a huge bad beat for your entire first buy in. Now you are in a position where if you lose your stack again you are done for the night. You’ve spent so much time preparing to take risks that your game prep now does not match the context of the game you are in.

To get more on how to prepare for a game check out the article poker the game of preparation.

Consistent Early Play in Live Poker

Sunday, March 29th, 2009

There are many different techniques you can utilize when playing live poker to give yourself an edge. It’s up to each player to know what works best for him or her. One such technique involves making consistent plays early on in hands. Give the following technique a shot next time you are at the poker tables.

Early on in hands, it can be easy to give other players an idea of the strength of your hand based on a larger or smaller bet than you usually make. However, if you throw out the same token poker chip or three each time, you will not allow opponents to put you on any sort of hand. Of course, if you have garbage, you should throw it away.

However, if you are committed, at least initially, to the hand, consider a nominal bet that you can make most times. It will keep your opponents guessing and take away one more opportunity for them to get inside your head at the poker tables.. This tactic especially comes in handy when you have a very strong hand early on and want to lure people to stay in.

This is only one facet of your game which you can seek to maximize your chances while minimizing the possibility of giving away the sort of cards you hold. As with every other poker strategy, the main key is still to know when to hold them and when to fold them.

Heads up at the poker tables

Friday, March 6th, 2009

Solid techniques will be useful in heads up No Limit Texas hold em poker games. In general, skill and observational techniques will have more implication as the number of opponents you are against goes down. Don’t fall into a trap of thinking that since there is only one opponent you can pay less attention to get the poker chips! This is a faulty point of view to fall into. A better point of view to adopt is that since you are against one opponent instead of a full table of eight opponents, there is actually now opportunity to try to gain eight times more info!!

Well, this could be unrealistic due to there may literally not be that much info. But the theory of gaining more information is relevant. Against one player it should even be an exercise to make sure you are looking for something to use as a reference point on every single hand. Things like paying attention to your opponent’s reactions to flops compound in importance. If you can get that one player figured out the effects to their clay chip stack will be devastating.

For more insights into the game of poker take a look at seating at the poker table.

Increase your poker chip lead

Thursday, February 5th, 2009

Poker’s popularity has grown increasingly in the past few years. Combining both chance and skill it has easily won the hearts of young and old alike. The beauty of this addictive game is that, whether or not you have actually been dealt cards that will earn you the chip lead, you can still bluff your way to victory simply by knowing just how to do it.

Professional players will watch closely for a few rounds, studying your body language and habits. If they discover that every time you have a good hand, for instance, you flip a Texas holdem chip, this will be taken note of. This method is known as a “tell”. If another player is able to pick up on your tells, they are then able to “read” you thus giving them an upper hand in the game.

However, if you walk up to poker tables with this information at the forefront of your mind, you will be able to use their own method against them. Not only will you now be more aware of other player’s tells, but you can also consider faking signals and signs that others may perceive as a tell, only to find out later on that they have been mislead completely.

Body language in a poker game

Friday, January 30th, 2009

Poker is one of the most popular gambling games in the world. In this game, to win, many things such as experience, patience, common sense and the study of human psychology are a must. The body language of a player can win or cost him the game. The term “poker-face” thus originated since the facial expression gives the loads information to the other players about the type of hand a player might have. Hence a player who has an almost expressionless face is termed as a “poker-face”.

A player should be vigilant in observing others’ body language even the slightest changes at the table convey a certain amount of information. A player should always be observing the amount of poker chips in the pot and should also pay attention to the players who toy with their stack.

If a player is attentive, he can easily get to decipher his opponent’s mental make up on how they handle their Texas holdem chips. Closely watching the other players putting down their chips, while betting or folding the amount or quantum of the bets, also helps in getting inkling about the player’s hand. The eyes are another huge source of information, the involuntary expression of the eyes as soon as a player picks up his hand is priceless and a very crucial observation.

A player must be aware that other players may be giving off false body signs. It always takes some time to become an expert in understanding the body language of other players. If a beginner is excellent in understanding the body movements of his opponents, he can make remarkable entry even in Texas Hold’em poker.

Concentrate when playing poker in Casinos

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

Casinos are large establishments with hundreds of different gambling machines and games; alcohol overflows, women parade around, and people shuffle in and out in the thousands. To play a game of high stakes poker in an environment like this takes a major strength in concentration. As the stakes get higher, the pressure rises; and the casino environment brings forth a whole new world of distraction. Whether it be the lights, the noise, the people, or just the atmosphere, a player must keep focused on the game at all times.

In order to keep focused at the casino table there are a few key elements. One is to not have a drink. Drinking (especially at the casino) often does not involve just beer but harder liquors which will severely hurt your game. Second is to trust your judgment over reading characteristics on some of the players. Not all of the players are sober and thus their habits are or could be completely random. Lastly is to only play aggressive when you have someone cornered exactly where you need them; being too risky in a casino is not like losing to your buddies - it is often more like loosing an entire clay chip stack – rather than a twenty dollar game.

Playing with clay poker chips

Thursday, October 30th, 2008

Poker is a game of chance and luck where players play to win the game. The aim of each player is to win the bet and win huge amount of cash. There are strategies to be followed and rules to be adhered to for playing this game. Most important thing about poker is to be able to maintain a poker face i.e., not to give away any information about one’s hand whether it is good or bad. There has been an on going debate about whether or not poker is a game of chance or skill. The serious player that wants to know “how to win” at poker will want to become a participant of this debate to enhance their poker strategies.

People generally play poker at casinos and sometimes even at gatherings at someone’s place. Poker is generally played at casinos and players have their preferences about casinos. Important items to play poker are playing cards and poker chips. The history of poker says that poker was played with clay chips during the previous centuries. There are many people even today who prefer to play their game of poker with clay chips. There are various kinds of poker chips available in the market and online which can be easily purchased by anyone wishing to do so. Clay poker chips have old world charm making them irresistible for some people. There are many suppliers of professional full clay casino quality poker chips and poker chip sets and anyone who wishes to buy them can easily buy it online.