How can I improve my Poker strategy?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around strategies for improving poker skills, particularly in Texas Hold 'Em. Participants share their experiences, thoughts on gameplay, and various approaches to learning the game, emphasizing both the recreational and competitive aspects of poker.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that practice and playing against different opponents can enhance skills, while others emphasize the importance of understanding betting strategies and odds.
  • A participant mentions the significance of reading opponents' behaviors and "tells" to improve decision-making during hands.
  • There are contrasting views on the necessity of playing for money, with some arguing that it changes player behavior significantly, while others believe that playing for fun can still be beneficial.
  • Several participants express frustration with poor players, suggesting that adjusting one's strategy against less skilled opponents is crucial.
  • One participant shares a humorous anecdote about a misunderstanding regarding buy-ins, highlighting the variability in poker environments.
  • There is mention of resources like "The Little Green Book" for beginners, although opinions on the value of such guides vary.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best strategies for improving poker skills, with multiple competing views on the importance of money in gameplay and the effectiveness of different learning methods.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express limitations in their experiences, noting that the quality of play can vary widely based on the opponents and the stakes involved. There is also a recognition that personal experiences and preferences influence opinions on strategy and gameplay.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in improving their poker skills, those looking for recreational gaming strategies, and players seeking to understand the dynamics of Texas Hold 'Em may find this discussion valuable.

_Mayday_
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Hey General Discussioners!

Anyone play Poker? I play for fun on the web and with mates, nothing big or anything but I really enjoy it! My question is, I know the rules of Texas Hold 'Em and I'm alright overall, but what strategy is there to learn? How do I get better? I'm sure its not JUST luck.

Mayday
 
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I love poker! And no, it's not just luck. I'm not sure what strategies there are though (at least not what the names of strategies are).. I would say to improve just to practice, and play against different people. Since the new gambling laws have come into play you'll find a lot more games advertised in pubs. Where my parents live there is this free pub poker league, which is quite good fun to go back and play every now and then.
 


I should learn poker, I just like Blackjack better, way easier.
 


A guy I work with uses an online Texas Hold 'em site (I don't know which one, but there are several). He played online until he was pretty good, then started playing in local tournaments where he's done surprisingly well. He loses more than he wins, but it's just a hobby that he enjoys.
 


Like Johnny Cash said. "you got to know hold em and know when to fold em". Now how do you know? since you say you play online you won't be able to attempt to read their body language so you basically have to go off how they are betting and your odds of winning the hand.

A lot of people make the mistake of chasing hands without even considering the odds of getting the card they need. let's say you have an inside straight draw on the flop. There is $50 in the pot total. your opponent bets $20. now if you want to play you have to bet $20 more for a chance to win $70. you are getting 3.5 to 1 odds on your bet. now you have to consider your chance to actually get the card you need. on the flop there are 47 cards you can't see. 4 of the card you need for the straight so 4/47 or about 1/12 chance you will get the card you need on the turn. another 1/12 that you will get it on the river. so you have about 1/6 chance of getting the card you need. would you bet 3.5 to 1 on your money with a 1/6 chance of winning? I wouldn't and it's usually considered a bad call. You also have to consider what is the chance a straight would even win that hand? if there is a flush draw or pair on the table you could get beat with a flush or full house.

The statistics are an important factor, but there are many important factors. learning how to bet is important. Knowing when to slow play your hand and raise or reraise can be the difference between winning $10 or winning $100(or even losing). In the end it's going to take a lot of practice. no guide can tell you what you should do to win the hand every time in any situation because each player will react differently and that's what makes Hold'Em such a fun game.
 


All you need are deep pockets to play with the donkies.

Dont waste your time or money on poker. Most people play like crap and it makes you want to go across the table and punch them in the face for playing some off-hand garabge against your big slick.
 


Cyrus said:
Dont waste your time or money on poker. Most people play like crap and it makes you want to go across the table and punch them in the face for playing some off-hand garabge against your big slick.

Bad players can't hit all the time though.. you just got to adjust your playing style when you play against poor players, and then you can rake it in!
 


The best way to learn is to play. I just do it for fun, no money most the time. It is quite nice though when you get about 8/10 people in a game with a buy-in of £10. It means the winner can go away with quite a bit of dosh.
 


cristo said:
Bad players can't hit all the time though.. you just got to adjust your playing style when you play against poor players, and then you can rake it in!

...no. You get sucked out.
 
  • #10


_Mayday_ said:
The best way to learn is to play. I just do it for fun, no money most the time. It is quite nice though when you get about 8/10 people in a game with a buy-in of £10. It means the winner can go away with quite a bit of dosh.

You can't play poker without money. People play WAY different when money is on the table. They play less garbage, but still garbage.
 
  • #11


i heard the Little Green Book is really good for beginners
 
  • #12


Cyrus said:
You can't play poker without money.
Playing poker without money is like doing physics without mathematics.
 
  • #13


D H said:
Playing poker without money is like doing physics without mathematics.

so in other words, poker involves a lot of money, but the amount it actually involves is overrated by most people?
 
  • #14


proton said:
so in other words, poker involves a lot of money, but the amount it actually involves is overrated by most people?

Put it this way, if you can't bare to part with a few hundred dollars in one night, don't play poker.
 
  • #15


Cyrus said:
Put it this way, if you can't bare to part with a few hundred dollars in one night, don't play poker.

Well... It depends... There was a fellow who told me this story:

He was in a old folk's club where there were several tables playing poker. He decided to join in on the fun and asked how much was the buy in. One of the players said 10. So the fellow telling the story said he pulled a 10 dollar bill out of his wallet and threw it down on the table. The old men and women at the table stared at the bill in silent shock for a long awkward moment until one of them said, "10 cents...".
 
  • #16


wildman said:
Well... It depends... There was a fellow who told me this story:

He was in a old folk's club where there were several tables playing poker. He decided to join in on the fun and asked how much was the buy in. One of the players said 10. So the fellow telling the story said he pulled a 10 dollar bill out of his wallet and threw it down on the table. The old men and women at the table stared at the bill in silent shock for a long awkward moment until one of them said, "10 cents...".

If you want to play any poker, then you want at least a $1/2 blind with a min buy in of $200.00


I don't play poker anymore because I can't take the bad beats against idiots playing stupid cards and getting lucky, sucking out all your money. I don't mind losing a large pot to pocket aces, but not to off-suited CRAP against something like Ace Jack or Ace Queen.
 
  • #17


_Mayday_ said:
Hey General Discussioners!

Anyone play Poker? I play for fun on the web and with mates, nothing big or anything but I really enjoy it! My question is, I know the rules of Texas Hold 'Em and I'm alright overall, but what strategy is there to learn? How do I get better? I'm sure its not JUST luck.

Mayday
You learn by playing and by paying attention. When another player ends up taking a pot with a solid hand or tries bluffing with crap, think back on his behavior during that hand. Most people have "tells" when they get really hot or really cold hands. Learning how to calculate your odds of getting the cards you need vs the cost of staying in is the key to playing smart, but if you want to win consistently, you also have to learn to read the other players. Anybody can be dealt aces in the hole - it's your job to detect someone with a hot hand early enough to avoid throwing your money his way.
 
  • #18


Cyrus said:
All you need are deep pockets to play with the donkies.

Dont waste your time or money on poker. Most people play like crap and it makes you want to go across the table and punch them in the face for playing some off-hand garabge against your big slick.

This is why you don't play with random people if it's for a low money amount.
 
  • #19


moose said:
This is why you don't play with random people if it's for a low money amount.

I know people that play at tables where the pot can build up to almost 1k, and they say the same thing.
 
  • #20


Cyrus said:
All you need are deep pockets to play with the donkies.

Dont waste your time or money on poker. Most people play like crap and it makes you want to go across the table and punch them in the face for playing some off-hand garabge against your big slick.

I don't get the terminology, but are you saying that people play a bad hand, i.e. a pair of 4s, against something good like a four of a kind? Wouldn't that be good for you? Or am I just confused?
 
  • #21


WarPhalange said:
I don't get the terminology, but are you saying that people play a bad hand, i.e. a pair of 4s, against something good like a four of a kind? Wouldn't that be good for you? Or am I just confused?

No, I am saying you have something like A-K and raise big. Then you flop out two pair, and the donkey keeps calling all your raises and runner-runners a straight on your top two pair.
 

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