Isura
04-16-2007, 11:53 PM
I'm in a writing mood these days. I think a big hurdle in improving past basic poker is developing your personal approach and intuition for the game. I’ve always been a proponent of playing no-limit based on feel and flow of the game. This is not to say that I ignore the math such as basic pot odds, determining hand ranges, or estimating bluff frequencies. What I mean is how I go about acquiring reads so that I can properly apply the math. My success is mostly due to developing strong reads and then having the discipline and courage to go through with my read. Here are some tips for developing that elusive intuition for the game:
Play less tables and try to watch every hand. You can play four tables for half of your sessions, and drop down to two tables the rest of the time. Consider the two-tabling sessions as your learning time. There is so much information that your opponents are just handing out to you for free. Absorb this information and use it to gain a bigger edge. Watch for who is willing to mix it up and play medium to big pots regularly. Which players like to see lots of flops, but play fit or fold on the flop? Try to find patterns in bet sizing. A common pattern is that players like to bet the pot or over bet with top pair or over pairs (The Isura Theorem?).
Pay attention to recent history. Most of your opponents are only playing one or two tables. Thus, they are able to recall recent hands more clearly than a six-tabling robot. One thing that recreational players do is put too much emphasis on recent hands. So if they have seen you take down a few big pots, they are going to overcompensate and give you less credit next time. They will remember your recent bluffs or strong hands. So consider slow playing (or taking an unorthodox line) when you have a monster if you have been showing the goods lately. Conversely, fast play a monster if you have been caught bluffing. Mixing up your play is good, as long as it is for the right reasons. Note that some players simply will not adjust. Some will keep calling you down, while others may keep waiting for a hand to bust you. Mixing up your game is a good thing, as long as it is for the right reasons.
Poker can be an emotional game. The game is played between real people with real emotions. Try to get inside the heads of your opponents and guess the mood that they are in. A player running well will be in a good mood and willing to gamble both with his draws and preflop. Charge this player for his draws and look to get maximum money in preflop with big pairs. The same player can become erratic and bluff happy if you have been getting the best of him. In this case, consider trying to induce bluffs with strong hands (don’t always worry about free cards, they are not that dangerous against bluffy players). Also, think twice before putting yourself in a position to make a big fold. Finally, determine who is looking to protect their winnings. This is my favorite type of opponent at mid stakes because it is so easy to take away all the pots when they don’t have a great hand. And great hands are few and far between in short-handed games! Good luck at the tables.
Play less tables and try to watch every hand. You can play four tables for half of your sessions, and drop down to two tables the rest of the time. Consider the two-tabling sessions as your learning time. There is so much information that your opponents are just handing out to you for free. Absorb this information and use it to gain a bigger edge. Watch for who is willing to mix it up and play medium to big pots regularly. Which players like to see lots of flops, but play fit or fold on the flop? Try to find patterns in bet sizing. A common pattern is that players like to bet the pot or over bet with top pair or over pairs (The Isura Theorem?).
Pay attention to recent history. Most of your opponents are only playing one or two tables. Thus, they are able to recall recent hands more clearly than a six-tabling robot. One thing that recreational players do is put too much emphasis on recent hands. So if they have seen you take down a few big pots, they are going to overcompensate and give you less credit next time. They will remember your recent bluffs or strong hands. So consider slow playing (or taking an unorthodox line) when you have a monster if you have been showing the goods lately. Conversely, fast play a monster if you have been caught bluffing. Mixing up your play is good, as long as it is for the right reasons. Note that some players simply will not adjust. Some will keep calling you down, while others may keep waiting for a hand to bust you. Mixing up your game is a good thing, as long as it is for the right reasons.
Poker can be an emotional game. The game is played between real people with real emotions. Try to get inside the heads of your opponents and guess the mood that they are in. A player running well will be in a good mood and willing to gamble both with his draws and preflop. Charge this player for his draws and look to get maximum money in preflop with big pairs. The same player can become erratic and bluff happy if you have been getting the best of him. In this case, consider trying to induce bluffs with strong hands (don’t always worry about free cards, they are not that dangerous against bluffy players). Also, think twice before putting yourself in a position to make a big fold. Finally, determine who is looking to protect their winnings. This is my favorite type of opponent at mid stakes because it is so easy to take away all the pots when they don’t have a great hand. And great hands are few and far between in short-handed games! Good luck at the tables.