Ideas behind good poker play
Poker is a popular card game that combines elements of
chance and strategy. There are various 3️⃣ styles of poker, all of which share an objective
of presenting the least probable or highest-scoring hand. A poker hand 3️⃣ is usually a
configuration of five cards depending on the variant, either held entirely by a player
or drawn partly 3️⃣ from a number of shared, community cards. Players bet on their hands in
a number of rounds as cards are 3️⃣ drawn, employing various mathematical and intuitive
strategies in an attempt to better opponents.
Given the game's many different forms and
various 3️⃣ dynamics, poker strategy becomes a complex subject. This article attempts to
introduce only the basic strategy concepts.
The fundamental theorem of 3️⃣ poker [ edit
]
The fundamental theorem of poker, introduced by David Sklansky, states: Every time
you play your hand the 3️⃣ way you would if you could see your opponents' cards, you gain,
and every time your opponents play their cards 3️⃣ differently from the way they would play
them if they could see your cards, you gain.[1] This theorem is the 3️⃣ foundation for many
poker strategy topics. For example, bluffing and slow-playing (explained below) are
examples of using deception to induce 3️⃣ your opponents to play differently from how they
would if they could see your cards. There are some exceptions to 3️⃣ the fundamental
theorem in certain multi-way pot situations, as described in Morton's theorem.
Pot
odds, implied odds and poker probabilities [ 3️⃣ edit ]
The relationship between pot odds
and odds of winning is one of the most important concepts in poker strategy. 3️⃣ Pot odds
are the ratio of the size of the pot to the size of the bet required to stay 3️⃣ in the
pot.[1] For example, if a player must callR$10 for a chance to win aR$40 pot (not
including theirR$10 3️⃣ call), their pot odds are 4-to-1. To have a positive expectation, a
player's odds of winning must be better than 3️⃣ their pot odds. If the player's odds of
winning are also 4-to-1 (20% chance of winning), their expected return is 3️⃣ to break even
(on average, losing four times and winning once for every five times they play such a
pot).
Implied 3️⃣ odds is a more complicated concept, though related to pot odds. The
implied odds on a hand are based not 3️⃣ on the money currently in the pot, but on the
expected size of the pot at the end of the 3️⃣ hand. When facing an even money situation
(like the one described in the previous paragraph) and holding a strong drawing 3️⃣ hand
(say a Four flush) a skilled player will consider calling a bet or even opening based
on their implied 3️⃣ odds. This is particularly true in multi-way pots, where it is likely
that one or more opponents will call all 3️⃣ the way to showdown.
Deception [ edit ]
By
employing deception, a poker player hopes to induce their opponent(s) to act
differently 3️⃣ from how they would if they could see their cards. David Sklansky has
argued that winning at poker is often 3️⃣ decided by how much one player can force another
to change their style while successfully maintaining their own strategy.[2] Bluffing 3️⃣ is
a form of deception where players bet strongly on a weak hand to induce opponents to
fold superior hands. 3️⃣ Related is the semi-bluff, in which a player who does not have a
strong hand, but has a chance to 3️⃣ improve it to a strong hand in later rounds, bets
strongly on the hand in the hopes of inducing other 3️⃣ players with weaker "made" hands to
fold.[3] Slow-playing is deceptive play in poker that is roughly the opposite of
bluffing: 3️⃣ checking or betting weakly with a strong holding, attempting to induce other
players with weaker hands to call or raise 3️⃣ the bet instead of folding, to increase the
payout.
Position [ edit ]
A standard Texas hold 'em game with blinds
Position refers 3️⃣ to
the order in which players are seated around the table and the strategic consequences
of this. Generally, players in 3️⃣ earlier position (who have to act first) need stronger
hands to bet/raise or call than players in later position. For 3️⃣ example, if there are
five opponents yet to act behind a player, there is a greater chance one of the 3️⃣ yet to
act opponents will have a better hand than if there were only one opponent yet to act.
Being 3️⃣ in late position is an advantage because a player gets to see how their opponents
in earlier position act (which 3️⃣ provides the player more information about their hands
than they have about his). This information, coupled with a low bet 3️⃣ to a late player,
may allow the player to "limp in" with a weaker hand when they would have folded 3️⃣ the
same hand if they'd had to act earlier. Position is one of the most vital elements to
understand in 3️⃣ order to be a long-term winning player. As a player's position improves,
so too does the range of cards with 3️⃣ which they can profitably enter a hand. Conversely
this commonly held knowledge can be used to an intelligent poker player's 3️⃣ advantage. If
playing against observant opponents, then a raise with any two cards can 'steal the
blinds,' if executed against 3️⃣ passive players at the right time.
Reasons to raise [ edit
]
Unlike calling, raising has an extra way to win: opponents 3️⃣ may fold. An opening bet
may be considered a raise from a strategy perspective. David Sklansky gives several
reasons for 3️⃣ raising, summarized below.[1]
To get more money in the pot when a player
has the best hand: If a player has 3️⃣ the best hand, raising for value enables them to win
a bigger pot.
If a player has the best hand, enables 3️⃣ them to win a bigger pot. To drive
out opponents when a player has the best hand: If a player 3️⃣ has a made hand, raising may
protect their hand by driving out opponents with drawing hands who may otherwise
improve 3️⃣ to a better hand.
If a player has a made hand, raising may protect their hand
by driving out opponents with 3️⃣ drawing hands who may otherwise improve to a better hand.
To bluff A player raises with an inferior or "trash" 3️⃣ hand attempts to deceive other
players about the strength of their hand, and hopefully induce a better hand to fold.
A
3️⃣ player raises with an inferior or "trash" hand attempts to deceive other players about
the strength of their hand, and 3️⃣ hopefully induce a better hand to fold. To semi-bluff A
player with a drawing hand may raise both to bluff 3️⃣ and for value. While technically
still a bluff, as the player may not end up with a made hand and 3️⃣ is primarily trying to
drive out players, the player still has the opportunity to make his or her hand and 3️⃣ win
the pot if the bluff is called.
A player with a drawing hand may raise both to bluff
and for 3️⃣ value. While technically still a bluff, as the player may not end up with a
made hand and is primarily 3️⃣ trying to drive out players, the player still has the
opportunity to make his or her hand and win the 3️⃣ pot if the bluff is called. To block
Players on drawing hands may put out a "blocking bet" against players 3️⃣ who are likely to
bet when checked to, but unlikely to raise when bet into. This is a small bet 3️⃣ made on a
drawing hand to lessen the likelihood of having to call a larger bet from a player in
3️⃣ late position.
Players on drawing hands may put out a "blocking bet" against players
who are likely to bet when checked 3️⃣ to, but unlikely to raise when bet into. This is a
small bet made on a drawing hand to lessen 3️⃣ the likelihood of having to call a larger
bet from a player in late position. To get a free card: 3️⃣ If a player raises with a
drawing hand, their opponent may call the bet and check to them on the 3️⃣ next betting
round, giving them a chance to get a free card to improve their hand.
If a player
raises with 3️⃣ a drawing hand, their opponent may call the bet and check to them on the
next betting round, giving them 3️⃣ a chance to get a free card to improve their hand. To
gain information: If a player raises with an 3️⃣ uncertain hand, they gain information
about the strength of their opponent's hand if they are called. Players may use an
3️⃣ opening bet on a later betting round ( probe or continuation bets) to gain information
by being called or raised 3️⃣ (or may win the pot immediately).
If a player raises with an
uncertain hand, they gain information about the strength of 3️⃣ their opponent's hand if
they are called. Players may use an opening bet on a later betting round ( or 3️⃣ bets) to
gain information by being called or raised (or may win the pot immediately). To drive
out worse hands 3️⃣ when a player's own hand may be second best: A combination protection
and probe raise, a player with a strong 3️⃣ hand but not the "nuts" (the hole cards that
make the best possible hand given the current face-up cards) may 3️⃣ raise, both to induce
drawing hands that may improve to the "nut hand" to fold, while also testing to see 3️⃣ if
another player has the "nuts".
A combination protection and probe raise, a player with
a strong hand but not the 3️⃣ "nuts" (the hole cards that make the best possible hand given
the current face-up cards) may raise, both to induce 3️⃣ drawing hands that may improve to
the "nut hand" to fold, while also testing to see if another player has 3️⃣ the "nuts". To
drive out better hands when a drawing hand bets: If an opponent with an apparent
drawing hand 3️⃣ has bet before the player to act, if the player raises, opponents behind
them who may have a better hand 3️⃣ may fold rather than call two bets "cold". This is a
form of isolation play, and has elements of blocking 3️⃣ and protection.
Reasons to call [
edit ]
There are several reasons for calling a bet or raise, summarized below.
To see
more 3️⃣ cards: With a drawing hand, a player may be receiving the correct pot odds with
the call to see more 3️⃣ cards.
With a drawing hand, a player may be receiving the correct
pot odds with the call to see more cards. 3️⃣ To limit loss in equity: Calling may be
appropriate when a player has adequate pot odds to call but will 3️⃣ lose equity on
additional money contributed to the pot with a raise.
Calling may be appropriate when a
player has adequate 3️⃣ pot odds to call but will lose equity on additional money
contributed to the pot with a raise. To avoid 3️⃣ a re-raise: Only calling (and not
raising) denies the original bettor the option of re-raising. However, this is only
completely 3️⃣ safe in case the player is last to act (i.e. "closing the action").
Only
calling (and not raising) denies the original 3️⃣ bettor the option of re-raising. However,
this is only completely safe in case the player is last to act (i.e. 3️⃣ "closing the
action"). To conceal the strength of a player's hand: If a player has a very strong
hand, they 3️⃣ might smooth call on an early betting round to avoid giving away the
strength of their hand on the hope 3️⃣ of getting more money into the pot in later betting
rounds.
If a player has a very strong hand, they might 3️⃣ smooth call on an early betting
round to avoid giving away the strength of their hand on the hope of 3️⃣ getting more money
into the pot in later betting rounds. To manipulate pot odds: By calling (not raising),
a player 3️⃣ offers any opponents yet to act behind them more favorable pot odds to also
call. For example, if a player 3️⃣ has a very strong hand, a smooth call may encourage
opponents behind them to overcall or even raise, building the 3️⃣ pot. Particularly in
limit games, building the pot in an earlier betting round may induce opponents to call
future bets 3️⃣ in later betting rounds because of the pot odds they will be receiving.
By
calling (not raising), a player offers any 3️⃣ opponents yet to act behind them more
favorable pot odds to also call. For example, if a player has a 3️⃣ very strong hand, a may
encourage opponents behind them to or even raise, building the pot. Particularly in
limit games, 3️⃣ building the pot in an earlier betting round may induce opponents to call
future bets in later betting rounds because 3️⃣ of the pot odds they will be receiving. To
set up a bluff on a later betting round: Sometimes referred 3️⃣ to as a long-ball bluff or
float, calling on an earlier betting round can set up a bluff (or semi-bluff) 3️⃣ on a
later betting round. For instance, a player with a strong initial hand may call instead
of raise to 3️⃣ see the flop cheaply. That flop may not benefit the player, but the player
may still have many "outs" (cards 3️⃣ left to deal that could make a strong hand), or even
if the odds are slim they can try to 3️⃣ bluff. By raising, this scenario may appear to an
opponent like a player who has "limped in" with a weak 3️⃣ initial hand, but after the flop
now has a strong made or drawing hand. A recent online term for "long-ball 3️⃣ bluffing" is
floating.[4]
Gap concept [ edit ]
The gap concept states that a player needs a better
hand to play against 3️⃣ someone who has already opened (or raised) the betting than he
would need to open himself.[5] The gap concept reflects 3️⃣ that players prefer to avoid
confrontations with other players who have already indicated strength, and that calling
only has one 3️⃣ way to win (by having the best hand), whereas opening may also win
immediately if your opponent(s) fold.
Sandwich effect [ 3️⃣ edit ]
Related to the gap
effect, the sandwich effect states that a player needs a stronger hand to stay in 3️⃣ a pot
when there are opponents yet to act behind him.[4] Because the player does not know how
many opponents 3️⃣ will be involved in the pot or whether he will have to call a re-raise,
he does not know what 3️⃣ his effective pot odds actually are. Therefore, a stronger hand
is desired as compensation for this uncertainty. A squeeze play 3️⃣ exploits this
principle.
Loose/tight play [ edit ]
Loose players play relatively more hands and tend
to continue with weaker hands; hence 3️⃣ they do not often fold. Tight players play
relatively fewer hands and tend not to continue with weaker hands; hence 3️⃣ they often
fold. The following concepts are applicable in loose games (and their inverse in tight
games):[1]
Bluffs and semi-bluffs are 3️⃣ less effective because loose opponents are less
likely to fold.
Requirements for continuing with made hands may be lower because loose
3️⃣ players may also be playing lower value hands.
Drawing to incomplete hands, like
flushes, tends to be more valuable as draws 3️⃣ will often get favorable pot odds and a
stronger hand (rather than merely one pair) is often required to win 3️⃣ in multi-way
pots.
Aggressive/passive play [ edit ]
Aggressive play refers to betting and raising.
Passive play refers to checking and calling. 3️⃣ Unless passive play is being used
deceptively as mentioned above, aggressive play is generally considered stronger than
passive play because 3️⃣ of the bluff value of bets and raises and because it offers more
opportunities for your opponents to make mistakes.[1]
Hand 3️⃣ reading, tells and leveling
[ edit ]
Hand reading is the process of making educated guesses about the possible
cards an 3️⃣ opponent may hold, based on the sequence of actions in the pot. The term 'hand
reading' is actually a misnomer, 3️⃣ as skilled players do not attempt to assign a player
to an exact hand. Rather they attempt to narrow the 3️⃣ possibilities down to a range of
probable hands based on the past actions of their opponent, during both the current
3️⃣ hand and previous hands played by this opponent.
Tells are detectable changes in
opponents' behavior or demeanor which provide clues about 3️⃣ their hands or their
intentions. Educated guesses about opponents' cards and intentions can help a player
avoid mistakes in his 3️⃣ own play, induce mistakes by the opponents, or influence the
opponents to take actions that they would not normally take 3️⃣ under the circumstances.
For example, a tell might suggest that an opponent has missed a draw, so a player
seeing 3️⃣ it may decide a bluff would be more effective than usual.
Leveling or multiple
level thinking is accounting for what the 3️⃣ other opponents think about the hands. This
information can then be used to the player's advantage. Some players might be 3️⃣ able to
make educated guesses about opponents' hands; this could be seen as the first level.
The second level could 3️⃣ be thought of as the combination of the first level and deducing
what the opponents think the player's hand may 3️⃣ be. Skilled players can adjust their
game play to be on a higher level than that of less skilled opponents.
Table 3️⃣ image and
opponent profiling [ edit ]
By observing the tendencies and patterns of one's
opponents, one can make more educated 3️⃣ guesses about others' potential holdings. For
example, if a player has been playing extremely tightly (playing very few hands), then
3️⃣ when he/she finally enters a pot, one may surmise that he/she has stronger than average
cards. One's table image is 3️⃣ the perception by one's opponents of one's own pattern of
play. A player can leverage their table image by playing 3️⃣ out of character, and thereby
inducing his/her opponents to misjudge his/her hand and make a mistake.
In live poker,
as opposed 3️⃣ to internet, stereotypes are often used for initial 'reads'. For instance,
people of retirement age are often witnessed to play 3️⃣ tight. Players will often project
this image on unknown people of retirement age. Young people wearing headphones and
hoodies are 3️⃣ often witnessed to play more aggressively and mathematically if they played
a lot of winning internet poker. These stereotypes can 3️⃣ often be good bases to start a
profile.
Often, there is a rather small pool of players in a given card 3️⃣ playing venue.
People will carry their history of playing with them in these environments.
Internet
poker players can use large databases 3️⃣ of hand histories to get a more precise player
profile. Statistical information about opponents is displayed on the tables in 3️⃣ the form
of a heads up display. The most commonly used software is PokerTracker and Hold'em
Manager.
Equity [ edit ]
Players' 3️⃣ equity in a pot is their expected share of the pot,
expressed either as a percentage (probability of winning) or 3️⃣ expected value (amount of
pot * probability of winning). Negative equity, or loss in equity, occurs when
contributing to a 3️⃣ pot with a probability of winning less than 1 / (number of opponents
matching the contribution+1).
Example Alice contributesR$12 to a 3️⃣ pot and is matched by
two other opponents. Alice'sR$12 contribution "bought" the chance to winR$36. If
Alice's probability of winning 3️⃣ is 50%, her equity in theR$36 pot isR$18 (a gain in
equity because herR$12 is now "worth"R$18). If her probability 3️⃣ of winning is only 10%,
Alice loses equity because herR$12 is now only "worth"R$3.60 (amount of pot *
probability of 3️⃣ winning).
Texas hold 'em example Alice holds J♦ 8♠. Bob holds K♥ 7♠.
After the flop, the board is 5♥6♥7♦ . 3️⃣ If both hands are played to a showdown, Alice has
a 45% chance to win (which she is unaware of, 3️⃣ because she does not know what hand Bob
holds), Bob has a 53% chance to win and there is a 3️⃣ 2% chance to split the pot. The pot
currently hasR$51. Alice goes all-in forR$45 reasoning that she can take the 3️⃣ pot
immediately if Bob folds or that Bob calls with a worse hand. Bob's simple pot odds for
the call 3️⃣ are also 32%; since his equity of 53% is greater than the pot odds he has to
call, Bob has 3️⃣ a positive expected value for the call (if he knew Alice's hole
cards).
Short-handed considerations [ edit ]
When playing short-handed (at 3️⃣ a table with
3-6 players), players must loosen up their play (play more hands) for several
reasons:[1]
There is less likelihood 3️⃣ of another player having a strong hand because
there are fewer players.
Each player's share of the forced bets increases because 3️⃣ there
are fewer players contributing to the forced bets, thus waiting for premium hands
becomes more expensive.
This type of situation 3️⃣ comes up most often in tournament style
play. In a cash game, the adjustments are very similar, but not quite 3️⃣ as drastic as the
table can ask for what is known as a 'rake break.' A rake break occurs when 3️⃣ the
floor-man, who represents the casino, agrees to take a smaller portion than usual for
the hand. For example, a 3️⃣ random casino might normally receive 10% of the pot up to 5
dollars for a 'rake.' In this case the 3️⃣ table would only owe 10% up to 3 dollars until
there are a sufficient number of players again. In online 3️⃣ poker rake breaks are
determined automatically.
Structure considerations [ edit ]
The blinds and antes and
limit structure of the game have 3️⃣ a significant influence on poker strategy. For
example, it is easier to manipulate pot odds in no-limit and pot-limit games 3️⃣ than in
limit games. In tournaments, as the size of the forced bets relative to the chip stacks
grows, pressure 3️⃣ is placed on players to play pots to avoid being anted/blinded
away.[6]
Mindset considerations [ edit ]
In 2014, Bwin conducted a 3️⃣ study to see what
makes a professional poker player. The brain activity of poker players, of varying
degrees, was monitored 3️⃣ using EEG headsets and visualised into brain maps.[7] Leading
sports psychologist, James Hazlett, then interpreted the findings:
More experienced
players showed 3️⃣ higher levels of focus and concentration throughout the game.
The
amateur players had less control over their emotions, and were prone 3️⃣ to allowing
negative emotions, such as frustration, to distract them.
Whilst opponents were taking
their turn, the expert players opened up 3️⃣ another table or watched replays of hands they
had played poorly to improve.
The brain maps showed that the professional players 3️⃣ were
led more by logic and intuition.
The conclusions of the study suggest that poker
players can improve their strategy by 3️⃣ considering their mindset. Mental training
techniques, commonly used by athletes, could therefore help to improve performance by
working on elements 3️⃣ such as self-control and concentration.
See also [ edit ]
Poker
plays [ edit ]
Specific games [ edit ]
