Tag Archives: strategy

Poker – 4 Steps to Pull off a Successful Check-Raise

 

A check-raise refers to the process of checking a bet knowing full well that if another player raises you will re-raise. Check-raises are a common occurrence in poker matches as they can be very effective. Check-raises help to lure in other players, to throw them off the scent, and then get maximum value for your hand. We reveal four things that will help you to pull off a solid check-raise.

 

1. Right Frame of Mind

Start your hand off on the right foot by ensuring that you are in a good position to play. If you have recently lost a big bet and feel like you may be on tilt then you should avoid playing that hand and instead wait until you calm down. Also go easy on the alcohol; booze will make you miss vital hints during the game.

2. Read the Other Players

A check-raise works well if you are confident that the other players hold marginal hands that they can easily fold. Make sure that you study players when they look at their cards to see if you can spot any tells that they are actually holding a monster hand. If you suspect they may have a great hand then you might want to take another approach.

3. Small Pots

This is not always the case, but check-raises typically work best with small pots. This is because of the amount that your opponents must call after the re-raise will often give them terrible pot-odds making it not worth their while.

4. Make a Strong Re-Raise

Once you have checked and the action has come back round to you, if you want to force them to fold it is important that you make a very strong re-raise. Typically at least double the amount of your opponent’s bet. On the other hand if you have a strong hand you may want to play it cool in order to keep them interested to see another card.

Follow the above steps and you will be well on your way to using a check-raise effectively. Avoid overusing this move in a single game though as other players will cotton on and it will lose you some credibility. Good luck!

The Ins and Outs of Poker Tells

Poker is not just a game of chance; it is a game of skill and deception. When it comes to playing poker in a casino or at a tournament it all boils down to how well you can deceive your opponents. ‘Poker tells’ can give away your game completely, however well you think you may be bluffing.

It is completely natural to have signs that you may be lying, but what are the most common tells in poker? Unconscious tells are something that we do when we think we’re not being watched or that we don’t even realise we’re doing. This could be anything from yawning to scratching your head. A deliberate tell, on the other hand, is when we deliberately try to put the other player off; this could be a sly smile or an action passed off as an unconscious tell.

Your body language can tell a thousand stories when playing poker, so be careful of those sneaky giveaways and watch for your opponents’ too.

Helpful Crap Strategies

If you want to be a winning player at craps then you need to know the odds. The most favourable odds in Craps are the pass line bet and don’t pass line bet. With these bets the house has only a 1.41% advantage. To make these bets you must have already placed a minimum bet on the don’t pass line or pass line. Most casinos will also limit the amount that you can wager on these objects. Once you have an understanding of the different odds on offer, here are some specific strategies that you can use when playing craps:

The Classical Regression StrategyThis Craps strategy involves the following steps:Step one – First wait until the shooter has established a point before you make your bet.Step two – Once the point has been established you should place two units on both the 6 and the 8.

Step three – When a single hit occurs taken down the bet on the 6 and the 8 by one unit.

The Anything But 7 Strategy

The aim of the strategy is to win with anything other than a 7.

Step one – Wait until the shooter has established a point before you make your bet.

Step two – Once the point has been established you should place two units on the five, six and the eight.

Step three – Place a single unit on the field.

If none of this makes any sense to you we suggest reading our previous blog posts on the subject, which are much more broad and basic.

3 Card Poker – Strategy

Three Card Poker is a very popular game in many casinos and can provide relief from the intensity of playing Texas Holdem or Omaha poker. The game is quick and easy to play. Because Three Card Poker is a negative expectation game, it is very difficult to come up with a strategy that will beat the house. Here are some tips to give you a slight advantage.

When playing Three Card Poker you should always play when your hand contains at least a queen, a six and a four. Any smaller hand will give too big an advantage to the house. You can also raise with any queen or better but you’ll probably lose more money. Never raise with just anything, the house advantage is much too high.

The best strategy for Three Card Poker, however is to enjoy yourself. You’re never going to be a big winner at the game, so have fun instead.