Texas Holdem
Strategy Part 2
Take Control Of Your Table
When you decide you are in - try to take control of the betting. Make your bets
swiftly - and just single bets. If it's been checked around to you, bet. If
one of these loose players raises back at you - don't stop to ponder it - don't
re-raise - just call and get back to business, as if to say, "whatever,
let's just get to this damn showdown!". Try to avoid the "raising
wars" until the end - and when you have the nuts.
7. When Do You Raise?
In these low-limit loose games, I generally try to avoid instigating raise-wars
with other players until the showdown, and then only if I have the nuts or
am very confident I have a winner. Most of the time, I'll call or start the
betting, but won't start raising until I have the nuts. Now here are some
exceptions...
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Sometimes you just have to mix your play up, so sometimes I just raise for
no stinking reason at all. Doing this every so often will get you good
action on later hands. Now the flip-side to this - many of these loose
players are not even skilled enough to take note of your advertising.
Blind Stealing
While it is harder to get away with in low-limit games especially with loose
players, this is a move you should know for many reasons. Here's the scenario...
Both blinds are in the seats just to your left, and so far, everyone has
folded. It's just you and the blinds. If you just call - OF COURSE they
are going to call as their money is already in there. But remember, unlike
the other players, they are not in their by choice, so there is a very
likely chance they have weak hands. RAISE. Make them tell you if they have
a hand or not - do not let them see the flop for "free". More
times than not both players will fold. This is a good general Hold'em betting
strategy.
To go one step further.... If you are on the big
blind, and so far, no one has called, don't just
check and let the small blind make half a bet to
see the flop - raise him and make him put up half
a bet PLUS a whole bet to see the flop. Again this
will force someone to fold more often than not, but
worse case, it lets you know if the player is holding
a hand or not.
OK, one step further.... If you are on the small
blind, and everyone has folded, and the big blind
just checked, then raise. Make him post an unforced
bet to see the flop. Again, he may fold or worst
case, has at least indicated he's holding a potential
hand.
In low-limit games I see very few people who seem
to know this move. Look for it. Look for those who
have this scenario presented, but only check or place
a single bet. Take note as it should be an indicator
that this person is probably not a very skilled player.
How to defend from blind stealing? Re-Raise.
Knowing this move is not only great from an offensive perspective, it's always
nice to know when someone is trying to put it on you. You are in the blind
seat, everyone's folder and the person just to your right raised you...
How to tell if this was a "position raise" and not a raise based
on the cards he holds? Raise back. If he was trying to put a move on you,
then re-raising will get him wondering what you've been dealt.
Sometimes this defense is not going to be enough
in a single move, and the raiser will call. What
do you do? See the flop and keep betting with confidence.
If there is any decent card in the flop, like an
Ace or King the raiser will start to wonder if you
are holding a pair of Aces or Kings. Even if you
are holding crap - bet! In this situation, if the
initial raiser truly was bluffing you, it will probably
take until 4th or 5th street before he decides to
give up. If you get scared and start checking before
then, he'll sense the weakness and either force you
to fold or take you to showdown.
Be Nice To Other Players!
They say "nice guys make lousy poker players" but I believe if you
are aware of this rule you can defy it. In the low-limit games you are not
going to find too many "killers". Mostly just nice folks looking
for a friendly game. On the humanity side of things, just be nice. Don't call
other players names when they sting you on a hand, and more importantly don't
insult players who are losing. I sat at a table last night and one of the players
was probably a beginner player, too loose - and clearly had some things to
learn about hold'em. Another player, one who was actually taking a good bit
of his money, was just insulting the hell out of the guy. Even as poor as this
player's performance was, he was still facing better odds than say a slot machine
or a roulette table. You don't see the casino's having people walking around
to the games going, "you dumb asses, why are placing those stupid bets?" -
Besides just being a jerk and kicking a man when he's down, the stronger player
also eventually ran off his best customer for the night with his insults. Bad
move.
Be nice to the other players. Congratulate them when
they sting you on a good hand, and show gratitude when
they compliment your play. The nice guys at the low
limit tables would prefer to sting the jerks, not the
other nice people. :) I got stung on a good hand recently
and the player actually said, "sorry man, wish
that didn't have to be you. "
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