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Poker Articles |
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Betting Patterns
& Strategies |
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Winning at
poker is as
much skill as it is
luck. Some argue that
luck plays a big role
and others argue that
skill is the greater
factor. At the core of
this argument is betting
strategy, a quality of
the game entirely within
the control of a player.
Betting is at the heart
of the game and is often
overlooked, here is
where skill becomes a
key factor. Your bets,
your raises, good calls
and bad calls, all of
these moves are as
important as the cards
you're holding. A true
test is if you happen to
be holding nothing at
all. |
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Players often place too
much focus on their
cards, looking at
probabilities,
calculating odds and
putting emphasis on
whether or not to stay
in the hand. Consider
the case of pocket Aces.
Pocket rockets are hard
to fold. Some would
argue that you should
never fold it. In that
case, should you call
the A-A, or bet on it?
Should you raise
dramatically, or limp
in? |
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Typically you want to
raise a strong hand like
A-A preflop, which will
do a number of things.
Firstly, it won't arouse
quite as much suspicion
later, when you're
betting or raising hard.
The reason is you've
convinced the table
you're holding strong
cards. Secondly, it will
impress the table you're
holding a mid pair or
perhaps suited
connectors like Qs-Js.
You're obviously holding
something strong, but if
you bet hard enough
you're forcing the other
players to question
exactly how strong.
Perhaps to the point
they may feel you're
bluffing. In this
scenario, opponents will
often come in hard with
lesser hands. How hard
you bet or not betting
hard enough, is key to
playing a strong hand. |
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Weak hands are equally
susceptible to betting
patterns. With a strong
enough bet you can force
a player holding pocket
kings or cowboys to back
down holding only a low
pair like 4-4. Often
times these mid pairs or
mid level suited
connectors like 7h-8h
can pay off large, if
you hit on the flop or
the turn. Players will
often scan the flop for
high cards or flushes
and ignore the 4 of
clubs that give you your
trip fours. You need to
be careful playing these
types of hands, you can
easily find yourself pot
committed, anxious to
catch a flush or
straight on the river.
These types of players
often walk away busted.
Many new players call
too often. They want to
play often, and they'll
play extremely loose.
The first few hands will
reveal them for what
they are, after that
it's simply a question
of discerning their
betting pattern. |
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Check-raising is another
important tactic. If you
hold a strong hand, it's
a good way to improve
the pot and commit your
opponent. The premise is
this: You check, your
opponent bets and you
raise. At this point,
your opponent needs to
call otherwise they run
the risk of revealing a
weak hand. If they come
back and re-raise hard,
it becomes more of a
poker odds game with
aggressive betting.
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Betting strategically is
dependent on your
position at the table,
which revolves with each
hand. An early position,
where you are behind the
blinds, means you must
act early, you won't get
a chance to see the
actions of other players
at the table.
Alternately, a late
position, where you are
on or slightly in front
of the blinds, means you
get to witness all the
other players take their
actions first. With a
weaker hand, you may be
less inclined to call or
bet with a full table.
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Books have been written
on the topic of betting,
and pro players will all
give you varying inside
tips and tricks. Don't
be predictable try
different plays to see
what works best for you.
Avoid falling into a
pattern, consistently
betting hard on high
pairs or limping in with
low pairs. Keep your
game fluid and you will
be come out a winner.
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