TEXAS
HOLD'EM TIPS
FOR ONLINE POKER PLAYERS
tons
o' tips!
|
DID YOU KNOW? The first World Series of Poker had the following entrants who each put up $10,000 A champion was elected by popular vote of the players: Amarillo
Slim Preston This was a winner take all tournament. Johnny Moss was elected champion and later went on to win two more World Series, a feat which has yet to be duplicated. |
Rock, Paper, Scissors:
How to Qualify Your Opponents Online
One of the most valuable tools for online Texas Hold'em poker players is the ability to track other players using the "player notes" option provided by many online poker rooms. If you haven't been taking advantage of this option, it's easy to do. Simply click on the player you want to make a note on and make a quick note in the box provided. When you encounter this player in a hand you check the notes to help with your playing decision.
Tip One: Qualify the Players: I use a simple Rock, Paper, Scissors designation to qualify players and make a note of it. I also watch the table for a couple of rounds before sitting down and note any information I get on what hole cards a player is willing to call with, and from what position, before the flop. For instance If I see a player who goes to the river with with a 7,9 suited and called before the flop with it from early position I will select the player, and note "7,9 OS E" which obviously translates to: "7,9 Off-suit from Early position." I will also note any unusual aggressive plays I catch and how often they call pre-flop. After 20 or so hands you will know a lot about the players at the table and can begin to classify them as:
Tip Two: The Rock is a tight/passive player meaning he will seldom call before the flop without a good hand and will yield quickly after the flop if he doesn't improve it to a very good hand or a monster draw. You can count on a rock to fold to a bet if the flop comes rags, and he seldom ever raises even with a good hand. These players are easy to run over and you should definitely know when your dealing with one so you can bet or raise accordingly. If a rock re-raises... Run for your life.
Tip Two: Paper: I designate a player as Paper if he's loose/passive. This is a player who will call nearly every hand before the flop and call all the way to the river with any possible chance of making a hand yet will seldom raise without the nuts or something close to the nuts. You must be careful with a player like this when the flop is bad. They may have the 6,8 it takes to complete a straight on a ragged board of 5,7,9. I often raise these players on the flop with top pair or a similar hand to find out if they've hit the oddball straight, flush, or three of a kind. If they call a raise you can be sure they have a huge draw or a made hand.
Tip Three: The Scissors: I give the Scissors nickname to a player who is tight/ aggressive. This a tough player who will cut your stack to shreds if you don't defend properly. Hopefully you're this type of player. The attributes of a scissors player include tight starting standards adjusted to the table, and smart aggressive play with good hands. This is a player who pays close attention to the game and has the card sense to adjust his play on each round depending on who's in the hand, how large the pot is, and what his odds of winning are. A tough player, but you may be able to sneak in an occassional bluff with these players when the pot is small.
I use a fourth classification for the loose/aggressive player... The Maniac. This is a player who calls nearly every hand and raises very often before the flop in an attempt to intimidate the table. They love the feeling of winning a pot with a junk hand. You should usually adjust your game by tightening up on the hands you'll bet out with if you act before him since he will usually raise. Also, If you have a good hand he will gladly bet it for you all the way to the river, and you should let him and then put in a check raise at the river if you feel you have him beat. On the other hand loosen up a bit if you play after him. When you have a decent pair or any good playable hand you should call him down and make him pay for bullying. These players are usually not in the game for long, which makes it obvious that this is a losing playing style in low limit ring games. If you get some hands while he's at the table you'll earn a chunk of his chips. If you don't you'll just have to ride him out and be very stingy with your chips. You must have the guts to call a maniac with pairs and other marginal hands if you do enter a pot with one. If you don't have the stomach to do it, you should leave the table or just wait for premium pairs. You should definitely leave the table if the maniac is making you steam. You'll often see an angry player calling maniac bets and raises with no hand whatsoever. A big mistake.
Tip Three: Make a Fish List: Many online poker rooms give you the option to add a player to a "buddy list" which allows you to check at any time to see if the player is currently online and in a game. When you run into a player who's especially profitable for you, add them to your list. When you come back to play a session at a later date, you can check your "fish-finder", and if you get any hits, browse the tables, locate your favorite target, and have a seat. Life couldn't be sweeter!
Poker Sharpener
Online Poker Odds Calculator and Hand Tracking Tool Now Available Free
