Poker strategies

[Effington]

I know the title may be a little deceiving since this is a pick-up website, but I actually mean the card game.

I play online and am usually at free websites (what can I say, I'm too cheap to gamble my own money, but it's fun), but here's my frustration: I feel myself getting way to "streaky". Meaning, I'll get 4 good/great hands in a row and win big, but then I can play for an hour / 30 hands and get nothing. I once had a streak where I didn't get a face card dealt to me in over an hour.

How do you deal with this? Just keep folding until you get something? Does switching tables help? Today I went like 90 minutes without winning a hand and got really pissed off and bet everything the first time I got an ace. I got really lucky and actually doubled up (making me almost even for the day), but it would have been ugly otherwise.

 

[MacAvoy]

You need to learn to play alot more tight, you should only be seeing 25-40% of flops depending on how much lucky cards your getting, the best way to improve is to read some books, the best I've found is Harrington on Holdem, there are 2 volumes and a workbook in his series, its considered one of the best books out there.

 

[kickureface]

play 2 tables

 

[Effington]

Really...25% of your flops? I've won a lot of chips by "paying to play" and at least seeing the flop, I probably play closer to 60% of my hands. I really hate when I fold an 8-6 and have two sixes come up on the flop.

 

[MacAvoy]

However what you have to keep in mind how often that happens vs how often you put chips in the middle to hit nothing. You need premium cards to win, suppose 2's 6's come on the flop, how much are you going to win, the guy with AK will fold likely anyway.

The guys who play 40% & up are giving away there money, just watch the pros and you'll see.

 

[AgonyUncle]

It depends on the game though. Cash games and online are different. I prefer to play online tournaments.

Sometimes, betting suited connectors if you have gone through a dry spell is not a bad tactic, esspecially if you are not on the blind. By raising the blind, people automatically assume you are carrying a decent hand. Suited connectors give you quite a few outs, allowing you to play to the river. You will be surprised how often you hit a two pair or three of a kind using this.

People rarely raise you if you raised the blind and some big cards come up on the flop. Also, by raising on the blind and seeing the flop, if people are checking the ace or K, you can raise to represent it.

I agree that playing tight is the way to go, but depedning on the size of the blinds and the length of time its been since your last bet? You can turn weak cards into real winners.

 

[Tyron]

There's no one strategy, you must constantly adjust, especially in short handed games. Playing tight is a good tactic, especially for beginners, but as soon as you are categorized you will only win little and can lose big. Don't be a one trick pony.

As for bad streaks, they happen a lot. "Good cards" should hit you like every sixth hand. Bad card streaks offers a good place to change tempo, try wild plays, or showing loose image. Patience is a virtue. Good players will net around 2xBBx(5-10)$ / h per table. Winning anything more, you are probably on upswing, less downswing.

 

[Phyzzle]

However what you have to keep in mind how often that happens vs how often you put chips in the middle to hit nothing. You need premium cards to win, suppose 2's 6's come on the flop, how much are you going to win, the guy with AK will fold likely anyway.

The guys who play 40% & up are giving away there money, just watch the pros and you'll see.

Good point, considering how many people watch WSP. Those broadcasts don't show the massive # of instant folds, since they naturally focus on the exciting parts.