The style of a play refers to a pattern of actions made by a player. There are two basic style dimensions: passive aggressive and loose tight. These two dimensions create 4 general styles.
If we scale the dimensions in a square where 1 is very loose and 9 is very tight as well as 1 for very passive and 9 for very aggressive, the corners of the square represent the most extreme types of players, very loose/tight and very passive/aggressive. Of course, most of the players are located somewhere in the middle of the square. First, I’ll explain how to recognize the style and in my next post I’ll explain how to play against these extremes. You should adjust your game according to the type of player you’re playing with.
The player types:
The Calling Station – the loose passive player. We call a player a ‘calling station’ if he tends to check and call a lot and rarely bets or raises. This is the worst possible strategy in Texas Holdem. In Texas Holdem you should be patient and fold many of your starting hands, and you should play aggressively when actually playing a hand. Otherwise, by checking and calling you are in a constant chase for your cards and when they come and you bet no one is paying you.
The Maniac – the loose aggressive player. The maniac tends to play many hands and plays them aggressively. He takes many risks, bluffing even when chances are he’ll get called. Sometimes he over-bets, and usually it takes less than a minute to spot this kind of player.
The Rock – the tight passive player. He doesn’t play many hands but when he does, you should know he has a very strong hand and should usually fold. These players have a lot of patience, hate risk, and can sometimes sit without playing for an hour.
The Winner – the tight aggressive player. This is the best style for playing Texas Holdem. It’s difficult to adopt, but once you do, you will start winning. The tight aggressive player picks his hands selectively, but when playing those hands he plays aggressively. Betting and raising are usually the best actions to take. By doing so, you increase your chances of winning the number of pots, and when you do, the pots are larger. On the other hand, some of your losses would be higher; therefore you mustn’t be in many pots when playing aggressively and should especially be careful of hands that tend to be second best, like AJ for example.
Feb 26, 2007
Feb 23, 2007
Probability and Statistics – Pot Odds
You must know some of the simple mathematical calculations before deciding whether to call a bet or fold. When you need an extra card to get your hand, one of the most important abilities is to figure out the pot odds. In other words, how much is the pot offering, compared to the amount you have to pay.
Some basic terms first:
Outs – the number of cards left in the deck that will improve your hand. For example: if you hold Ah, 5h and the flop is Kh, 4h, 3c. It seems that you have 13 outs - 9 hearts that will make you a flush and another 4 two’s that will give you a straight. But pay careful attention not to count the 2 of hearts twice. Therefore you have only 12 outs.
Odds – calculating the odds of getting one of the outs is quite simple. You divide the number of outs by the number of cards you haven’t seen yet. If we take the previous example, the odds of getting the winning hand in the turn is 12/47 = 25%. Because there are 52 cards in the deck and you’ve seen 5 of them, it leaves 47 cards you haven’t seen yet. Phil Gordon developed a simple rule of “four and two”: he calculated the approximate odds of getting the winning card on the turn, by multiplying the number of outs by two. And for getting it on the turn or on the river, he multiplied the number of outs by four. This is not the exact percentage, but it’s almost always good enough because rarely do you need the specific calculation.
Pot odds – the final calculation you’ll need is checking if the pot is big enough for you to call with a hand that needs to be improved in order to win. If the pot is $100 and your opponent bets $50 after the turn, this means you have to pay $50 in order to get the chance of winning $150. This means you get 3 to 1 odds on your call. If you win one time for every 3 times you lose, you’re even. So you must win at least one out of every 4 games in order to make the call the right decision. The final calculation you’ll need to make is to see if your odds of getting the winning card are above 25% (1 out of 4). You should call if they are higher than 25%, and fold if lower.
Example: you hold 8d, 7c and the board is Ad, Qs, 6h, 5h. You have 8 outs to make a straight. If the pot is $300 and a player bets $100, you have to bet $100 to win $400, and your pot odds are 20%. Since you have 8 outs, by the rule of 2, you have approximately 16% of making your straight. Therefore you are not getting enough pot odds and should fold.
Some basic terms first:
Outs – the number of cards left in the deck that will improve your hand. For example: if you hold Ah, 5h and the flop is Kh, 4h, 3c. It seems that you have 13 outs - 9 hearts that will make you a flush and another 4 two’s that will give you a straight. But pay careful attention not to count the 2 of hearts twice. Therefore you have only 12 outs.
Odds – calculating the odds of getting one of the outs is quite simple. You divide the number of outs by the number of cards you haven’t seen yet. If we take the previous example, the odds of getting the winning hand in the turn is 12/47 = 25%. Because there are 52 cards in the deck and you’ve seen 5 of them, it leaves 47 cards you haven’t seen yet. Phil Gordon developed a simple rule of “four and two”: he calculated the approximate odds of getting the winning card on the turn, by multiplying the number of outs by two. And for getting it on the turn or on the river, he multiplied the number of outs by four. This is not the exact percentage, but it’s almost always good enough because rarely do you need the specific calculation.
Pot odds – the final calculation you’ll need is checking if the pot is big enough for you to call with a hand that needs to be improved in order to win. If the pot is $100 and your opponent bets $50 after the turn, this means you have to pay $50 in order to get the chance of winning $150. This means you get 3 to 1 odds on your call. If you win one time for every 3 times you lose, you’re even. So you must win at least one out of every 4 games in order to make the call the right decision. The final calculation you’ll need to make is to see if your odds of getting the winning card are above 25% (1 out of 4). You should call if they are higher than 25%, and fold if lower.
Example: you hold 8d, 7c and the board is Ad, Qs, 6h, 5h. You have 8 outs to make a straight. If the pot is $300 and a player bets $100, you have to bet $100 to win $400, and your pot odds are 20%. Since you have 8 outs, by the rule of 2, you have approximately 16% of making your straight. Therefore you are not getting enough pot odds and should fold.
Feb 21, 2007
Probability and Statistics - Introduction
Even though poker is a game of deception and intuition, math has a very important role in Texas Holdem, since there are cards that are common to everyone’s hands.
In many situations you almost certainly know your opponent’s hand, and you need to check if you should fold or call his bet.
This decision is made by calculating the pot odds, as you will see in the next article.
First, here are some numbers and percentages:
Chances of your two pocket cards
* The chances of getting a pocket pair are… 5.8% or one out of every 17 hands
* The chances of getting a pair of AA are… o.45% or one out of every 222 hands
* The chances of getting two suited cards are… 24% or one out of every 4 hands
* The chances of getting any AK suited are… 0.3% or one out of every 333 hands
Chances on the flop
* The chances of getting a pair are 29% or one out of 3.5 hands
* The chances of getting two pairs are 2% or one out of 50 hands
* The chances of getting trips are 1.35% or one out of 74 hands
* The chances of getting a set when you have a pair are 10.8% or one out of 9 hands
* The chances of getting a set or better when you have a pocket pair are 11.8% or one out of 8 hands
* The chances of getting a flush when you’re suited are 0.84% or one out of 119 hands
* The chances of getting a flush draw when you’re suited are 10.9% or one out of 9 hands
Chances on the turn
* The chances of getting a straight when you have an open ended straight draw are 17% or one out of 6 hands
* The chances of getting a flush when you have a flush draw are 19% or one out of 5 hands
* The chances of getting a full house when you have two pairs are 9% or one out of 11 hands
* The chances of getting a full house if you have a set are 15% or one out of 6.6 hands
Chances on the river
* The chances of getting a straight when you have open ended straight draw are 17% or one out of 6 hands
* The chances of getting a flush when you have a flush draw are 20% or one out of 5 hands
* The chances of getting a full house or better if you have a set are 23% or one out of 4 hands
In many situations you almost certainly know your opponent’s hand, and you need to check if you should fold or call his bet.
This decision is made by calculating the pot odds, as you will see in the next article.
First, here are some numbers and percentages:
Chances of your two pocket cards
* The chances of getting a pocket pair are… 5.8% or one out of every 17 hands
* The chances of getting a pair of AA are… o.45% or one out of every 222 hands
* The chances of getting two suited cards are… 24% or one out of every 4 hands
* The chances of getting any AK suited are… 0.3% or one out of every 333 hands
Chances on the flop
* The chances of getting a pair are 29% or one out of 3.5 hands
* The chances of getting two pairs are 2% or one out of 50 hands
* The chances of getting trips are 1.35% or one out of 74 hands
* The chances of getting a set when you have a pair are 10.8% or one out of 9 hands
* The chances of getting a set or better when you have a pocket pair are 11.8% or one out of 8 hands
* The chances of getting a flush when you’re suited are 0.84% or one out of 119 hands
* The chances of getting a flush draw when you’re suited are 10.9% or one out of 9 hands
Chances on the turn
* The chances of getting a straight when you have an open ended straight draw are 17% or one out of 6 hands
* The chances of getting a flush when you have a flush draw are 19% or one out of 5 hands
* The chances of getting a full house when you have two pairs are 9% or one out of 11 hands
* The chances of getting a full house if you have a set are 15% or one out of 6.6 hands
Chances on the river
* The chances of getting a straight when you have open ended straight draw are 17% or one out of 6 hands
* The chances of getting a flush when you have a flush draw are 20% or one out of 5 hands
* The chances of getting a full house or better if you have a set are 23% or one out of 4 hands
Feb 14, 2007
Advanced Strategy – the Free Card
First of all, what is a free card? If the player in the last position bets or raises and everyone checks to him on the next round of betting, this gives him an opportunity to check also, and thus get to see another card for free.
I’ll divide this advice into two - getting a free card and giving one:
1. Getting a free card – Raising before and after the flop may allow you a free card on the next round of betting, especially if you are playing with weak players. This maneuver should be used whenever possible. For example if you raised the pot preflop with AQ suited from the latest position and the flop comes with 9, 5, 2 you should probably check and get a free card since 6 outs can give you an overpair. If you bet instead of checking, anyone that will call your bet is probably better than you and you’re taking a risk that someone has checked with the intention of raising. Understanding the advantage of getting a free card is nine-tenths of understanding the danger of giving one.
2. Giving a free card – A common mistake among beginners is to immediately check to a player who bet or raised in the previous round of betting, thus giving him a free card if he wants one. If you think you have the best hand, go out and bet no matter what happened on the previous round. If you think he has a better hand than yours, consider folding - unless the pot odds justify calling. Giving a free card is a big mistake if you have a good hand and there are many players in the pot. Giving them another card could give them the best hand – one that they didn't even have to pay for (a gutshot straight, for example). Give a free card only when you have a drawable hand that needs to be improved in order to win, or when you are very strong and slow-playing, thus wanting other players to make second best hand.
Examples of when and when not to give a free card:
A. If you hold JT diamond and the flop is J62 rainbow, you should probably bet even if the player in the last position raised before the Flop. You don’t want to give someone holding AK or AQ a free card. If you think you can 'read' the raiser and that he has an overpair, you shouldn’t bet, and if he bets again, you should fold.
B. If you hold AT and the flop comes with ATT, you should slow-play by checking, thus letting others catch something so that later on in the game, they will either call your bet or even raise on later rounds. If you are holding most of the valuable cards, it is unlikely that someone else will be holding a good hand. By giving a free card, you might be allowing someone to make a straight, and pay you all the way to the river.
C. If you have a top pair with a low kicker, it’s probably okay to feel out the other players by checking. If they checked as well, and the next card isn’t likely to improve their hand, you probably hold the best hand and should bet.
I’ll divide this advice into two - getting a free card and giving one:
1. Getting a free card – Raising before and after the flop may allow you a free card on the next round of betting, especially if you are playing with weak players. This maneuver should be used whenever possible. For example if you raised the pot preflop with AQ suited from the latest position and the flop comes with 9, 5, 2 you should probably check and get a free card since 6 outs can give you an overpair. If you bet instead of checking, anyone that will call your bet is probably better than you and you’re taking a risk that someone has checked with the intention of raising. Understanding the advantage of getting a free card is nine-tenths of understanding the danger of giving one.
2. Giving a free card – A common mistake among beginners is to immediately check to a player who bet or raised in the previous round of betting, thus giving him a free card if he wants one. If you think you have the best hand, go out and bet no matter what happened on the previous round. If you think he has a better hand than yours, consider folding - unless the pot odds justify calling. Giving a free card is a big mistake if you have a good hand and there are many players in the pot. Giving them another card could give them the best hand – one that they didn't even have to pay for (a gutshot straight, for example). Give a free card only when you have a drawable hand that needs to be improved in order to win, or when you are very strong and slow-playing, thus wanting other players to make second best hand.
Examples of when and when not to give a free card:
A. If you hold JT diamond and the flop is J62 rainbow, you should probably bet even if the player in the last position raised before the Flop. You don’t want to give someone holding AK or AQ a free card. If you think you can 'read' the raiser and that he has an overpair, you shouldn’t bet, and if he bets again, you should fold.
B. If you hold AT and the flop comes with ATT, you should slow-play by checking, thus letting others catch something so that later on in the game, they will either call your bet or even raise on later rounds. If you are holding most of the valuable cards, it is unlikely that someone else will be holding a good hand. By giving a free card, you might be allowing someone to make a straight, and pay you all the way to the river.
C. If you have a top pair with a low kicker, it’s probably okay to feel out the other players by checking. If they checked as well, and the next card isn’t likely to improve their hand, you probably hold the best hand and should bet.
Feb 7, 2007
Beginners – Betting in Poker
Betting in poker works like this:
When it’s your turn, if no one has placed a bet, you have two options: check or bet.
1. Check – you don't put any chips in the pot; you wait to see what the other players will do.
2. Bet – you put chips into the pot.
If someone has already placed a bet, and now it's your turn, you have three options: fold, call or raise.
1. Fold – you decide to leave the hand, meaning that you put your cards down and don't bet on this hand anymore.
2. Call – you put into the pot the same amount as the original bet.
3. Raise – you make the bet bigger than the original bet. The amount raised should be at least double the original bet, and should be placed on the table.
When it’s your turn, if no one has placed a bet, you have two options: check or bet.
1. Check – you don't put any chips in the pot; you wait to see what the other players will do.
2. Bet – you put chips into the pot.
If someone has already placed a bet, and now it's your turn, you have three options: fold, call or raise.
1. Fold – you decide to leave the hand, meaning that you put your cards down and don't bet on this hand anymore.
2. Call – you put into the pot the same amount as the original bet.
3. Raise – you make the bet bigger than the original bet. The amount raised should be at least double the original bet, and should be placed on the table.
Feb 4, 2007
Advanced Strategy -Semi Bluffing in Texas Holdem
The semi-bluff move means that you bet with a marginal hand with ‘outs’ that can improve your hand. For example: if you hold As, 5s and the flop is Ks, 5h and 2s your current pair of fives will most likely not be the best hand on the table, but any spade, 5, or an Ace that comes along will probably turn your hand into the best.
Semi-bluffing is a very effective technique used by professionals.
It provides two ways of winning:
1. Everyone folds and you take the pot immediately.
2. You hit your card and make a great hand.
The semi-bluff move provides additional advantages:
· If the last card is a ‘scary card’, lets say that the biggest card on the board is paired, if no one raised your semi-bluff on the previous round of betting, it is less likely that anyone holds that card, and now you have a good opportunity to bluff.
· Another advantage is that when you do hit your card, it will be hard for your opponents to know what you have. For example: lets say you hold Ah, 4h and the board is Kh, 5c, 2h if any heart, a 3 or an Ace will come you have a good chance to have the best hand and get paid by someone when you bet.
· The semi-bluff will sometimes give you a free card if you don’t hit your card immediately. If you bet after the flop from late position, the turn didn’t improve your hand and everyone checked, you can get the river for free by checking.
Semi-bluffing is a very effective technique used by professionals.
It provides two ways of winning:
1. Everyone folds and you take the pot immediately.
2. You hit your card and make a great hand.
The semi-bluff move provides additional advantages:
· If the last card is a ‘scary card’, lets say that the biggest card on the board is paired, if no one raised your semi-bluff on the previous round of betting, it is less likely that anyone holds that card, and now you have a good opportunity to bluff.
· Another advantage is that when you do hit your card, it will be hard for your opponents to know what you have. For example: lets say you hold Ah, 4h and the board is Kh, 5c, 2h if any heart, a 3 or an Ace will come you have a good chance to have the best hand and get paid by someone when you bet.
· The semi-bluff will sometimes give you a free card if you don’t hit your card immediately. If you bet after the flop from late position, the turn didn’t improve your hand and everyone checked, you can get the river for free by checking.
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