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A Beginner’s Guide to Poker Strategy

When you’re new to poker it can be difficult to know what to do. Once you’ve learned the basics such as how poker hands rank and how to bet, it’s time to start thinking about your strategy.
Here are a few simple tips about poker strategy for beginners to the game:

To play or not to play?
The first thing you need to decide after receiving your two cards is whether or not to play. It can be tempting to play every hand as there is always a chance that the cards dealt on the table could give you a winning hand, but it’s advisable to be more selective. Some combinations of cards have a better chance of winning than others. A pair obviously has you at an advantage from the start, but statistically speaking the best hand is an ace and a king of the same suit. This gives you a chance at high pairs, a high straight, high flush or even a royal flush! On the other side, a two and a seven of different suits is the weakest combination as they are the lowest cards that give you no chance of getting a straight or a flush.

When in doubt, ‘check’ it out
Don’t be too quick to rush in and bet when you’re still getting used to the game. If you don’t know what other people have got or you’re unsure of your hand, ‘check’ instead of betting to see what the other players do. This will give you a better idea of who has a good hand and could also let you see another card without betting more money.

Hand to hand
Don’t just think about the hand that you have, look at the cards on the table to give you an idea of what other people could have and whether their hand is better than yours or not. For example, if there are four spades on the table and you have the two of spades, then you’ve got a flush. In a lot of situations this would be a winning hand, but in this case, if anyone else has a spade in their hands, they’re hand is stronger than yours since they’ll have a higher spade.

These are just a few basic tips to get you started. Keep practicing your strategy to develop your own style of playing.

Poker – When to Fold ‘em

Poker is all about risk and reward but good players know when the risks outweigh the rewards and when it’s time to cut their losses and fold. Thus, mastering when to fold is as important as any other skill a poker player needs to win.

Although the least spectacular play, folding will save you money when done at the correct times. Smart players are players who fold when the risks are too high and go on to bet intelligently when the risks are acceptable.

There are a few basic situations where you will want to consider folding:

1. You are sure you are holding the worst hand.
2. The chance of improving your hand is very low, compared to the pot odds.
3. You are unsure where you stand with your hand, but a big call would be necessary to remain in the game. Folding would be playing it safe.
4. You currently have good odds, but it is highly likely that someone later will make it too expensive to continue when betting returns to you.

It might be obvious, but there are basic situations where folding is not a good idea:

1. If you have the choice to check or fold, check.
2. You know your hand is the best.
3. You know you probably have the worst hand but you are getting good odds to improve.
4. If you are behind, but are pretty sure you can bluff your opponents.

The choice about whether to fold or not usually boils down to pot odds, that is, the odds of you winning the pot with your current cards and the cards showing. Pocket aces before the flop, for instance, are great odds until the river shows your opponent has a potential for a three of a kind or straight. The choice then, might be to try and bluff instead of fold. Of course, your opponent is doing the same analysis and is facing the same decisions. Ultimately the choice is yours. Faced with poor odds, folding shouldn’t be considered a cowardly option, but a smart one.

The Ultimate Guide to Successful Poker Bluffing

Have you got a good poker face? Do know when to hold’em and when to fold’em. Here are a few simple pointers on bluffing in poker.

Bluff Believably

Make sure your bluffs are believable. Remember your opponents are trying to determine your hand strength and your decipher your play; if your bluff doesn’t make sense you’ll likely get caught and lose the pot. If you check pre-flop and flop but the suddenly raise on the river, it will be obvious that you are either bluffing or a weak player. Bluffing is most believable when you could potentially have a winning hand and no one knows you don’t. For example if a pair of Ace’s is on the table and you bluff opponents may think you have an ace in your hand giving you an intimidating 3 Ace’s. However if the community card pool is JH 2D 7S 8S and you suddenly start to raise when you get 3C on the river, it will be obvious you are bluffing because the best you could likely have is a pair.

Bluff To Win Pots

Often the best time to bluff is to save a pot gone bad. Say you have a heart in your hand and two more come down on the flop, you raise hoping for a flush. Your opponents call. On the turn you get another heart..you still have a shot at your flush on the river so you bet again, your opponent calls. On the river you get a diamond. You didn’t get your flush but your opponents doesn’t know that. Since you’ve been betting consistently it will be believable for you to try and take the pot now. If you bet with a weak hand your opponent will likely think you have a flush and fold the pot to you. Be careful to watch your opponents play as well in case he was also looking for the flush.

Bluff in Moderation

Last but not least, don’t over bluff. Bluffing is a powerful poker tool and should be used when it is needed, but don’t over do it.

Poker Strategies for Beginners

Follow these tips to set you on your poker learning curve:

1. Be selective with your starting hands.

2. Bluffing is not essential – it’s better to play your cards to the best advantage.

3. Think about your opponent’s cards, and be prepared to fold if you think he/she has the better hand.

4. Choose your games – play against players who are worse than you!

5. Choose your table position – being last on the table is perfect as you then know what everyone else has done before your turn for the action.

6. Concentrate and pay attention to the game.

7. Bankroll management – don’t play too high as a beginner.

8. Don’t pay over the odds for draws.

9. Don’t over-value suited cards – flushes are rarer than you think.

10. Learn the rules and study strategies to take your game to the next level.