No Limit Holdem Poker Cash Game Strategy - How to Spot and Exploit Weakness In Poker Cash Games

Aggression in your betting is an important component of any winning Poker strategy. Being the aggressor means you have two ways of winning the pot - either showing down the best hand or having your opponent fold. The real key to developing a winning cash game Poker strategy is the use of selective aggression. Knowing when an opponent is weak will help you to get this right. This article looks at both obvious and disguised weakness from opponents.

Before we move on to the details there are two important factors to mention here. Firstly watch out for you very skilled opponents, they will be aware of how their actions are perceived and will try to mix up their play to deceive you. Secondly paying attention to the table, the betting patterns of all opponents and how different players react to different flops is important here. For example there is no point trying to push an opponent who always calls off of a 'weak' holding - he will call you anyway!!

Obvious weakness is the scenario where an opponent makes no attempt to show any strength. The first example of this is a pre-flop limp. Any opponent who limps from one of the later positions at the table when first to enter a pot is showing weakness. Re-raising from a later position will often take the pot down immediately. When called you will usually have position on the limper after the flop - when your opponent checks to you fire another bet to take the larger pot there. If called a second time you must slow down of course, however this works so many times that the rare scenario in which you are forced to fold will be more than made up for by the times you take down the pot without resistance.

Players who raise from stealing positions may also be weak. If your opponent raises the button when ever they are folded to you do not need to give them credit for a good hand. A healthy re-raise from the big blind will often take the pot pre flop. Remember to ensure that your opponent is capable of making the fold - no point bluffing a calling station here!

Many players who call raises pre flop will lead into the original raiser when the flop comes with a small bet. This is called the weak-lead and is usually a sign of a draw or vulnerable holding such as bottom pair. Firing a large raise will often take the pot down immediately in this situation. This is opponent specific - some players will make this same move when strong here so it pays to be aware of your opponents previous betting patterns.

Likewise some players bet very strongly from out of position after calling a pre-flop raise. Here the texture of the flop is a significant factor. If there are flushes or straights draws available then your opponent may be protecting a strong but vulnerable hand such as an over pair. If the flop is 'rags' the strong lead is more likely to be a weaker holding. How to react here will depend on your opponent, however a strong raise will usually take the pot in this scenario.

Finally, when attacking your opponents weakness it is important to have the discipline to give up when you encounter serious resistance. These plays will win enough pots when your opponents fold to make up for the times when they fail. Do not get tempted to follow up with a huge river bluff when called on the flop and turn!

GL at the tables,
Mark

Lottery Pick 4 Strategy Exposed!

The Lottery Pick 4 has been getting so much attention as there have been rumors that one can actually up his or her odds in winning this game. A great thing about rumors is that they have a certain grain of truth in them.

Thing is, one can actually increase his or her chances in playing the Lottery Pick 4 and there are a more than a handful strategies out there. Here is a condensed version of all the free Lottery Pick 4 tactics and advices that you may hear from friends and colleagues that are hooked in this kind of game.

1. Merely guessing and not having any strategy is as good as hoping against 10,000 odds that your one bet will miraculously pop up. The Lottery Pick 4 is a game of mathematical probability and statistics so if you have viable data, then it is advisable to use it than plainly relying on gut feel. If you use plain gut feel, might as well be throwing money straight to the dumpster.

2. As in all games, strategies may help you increase your chances of winning but there can be no way of getting 100% chances of winning every single time. So better think twice if a gaming shopping website offers you a promise or a guarantee that you will win the Lottery Pick 4 all the time. As they say, if it is too good to be true, then it is an internet scam. Although this may be the case, there are some paid strategies that do work, but they surely do not promise you the heavens and a seat next to the richest man in the world but they are very helpful and beneficial if you do plan to take your Lottery Pick 4 to the next level.

3. Be very observant. Tally the 30 day data of the Lottery Pick 4 results and see if there are numbers that seem to pop up in a relatively steady pace. This may take some time and it may be energy consuming but this extra effort can in fact, increase the chances of winning in Lottery Pick 4.

4. Do the box 25 method. All you need to do here is to think of a 4 digit combination. Let us say you chose to have your month and year of birth, 1278. Then you list down all the possible arrangements of this 4 digit combination. Make sure you do not repeat anything or else, the chance of winning once in 416 will be voided

5. Know that you would need to buy some books and magazines about Lottery Pick 4 to learn more and more about industry tactics. These magazines are fairly cheap so do not hesitate to fork out a few bucks for a higher potential return.

6. And most importantly, learn the ins and outs of the game. Talk to as much Lottery Pick 4 gamers in your community or in the office as they may know some "secret" tactics in Pick 4 playing.

I wish you the best of luck in winning the pick 4 lottery. It's no easy task but with the right strategy anyone can do it!

Texas Holdem Poker Tournament Strategy - Starting Hands

Welcome to the fifth in my Texas Holdem Poker Strategy Series, focusing on no limit Texas Holdem Poker tournament play and associated strategies. In this article, we'll examine starting hand decisions.

It may seem obvious, but deciding which starting hands to play, and which ones to skip playing, is one of the most important Texas Holdem poker decisions you'll make. Deciding which starting hands to play begins by accounting for several factors:

* Starting Hand "groups" (Sklansky made some good suggestions in his classic "Theory of Poker" book by David Sklansky)

* Your table position

* Number of players at the table

* Chip position

Sklansky originally proposed some Texas Holdem poker starting hand groups, which turned out to be very useful as general guidelines. Below you'll find a "modified" (enhanced) version of the Sklansky starting hands table. I adapted the original Sklansky tables, which were "too tight" and rigid for my liking, into a more playable approach that are used in the Poker Sidekick poker odds calculator. Here's the key to these starting hands:

Groups 1 to 8: These are essentially the same scale as Sklansky originally proposed, although some hands have been shifted around to improve playability and there is no group 9.

Group 30: These are now "questionable" hands, hands that should be played rarely, but can be reasonably played occasionally in order to mix things up and keep your opponents off balance. Loose players will play these a bit more often, tight players will rarely play them, experienced players will open with them only occasionally and randomly.

The table below is the exact set of starting hands that Poker Sidekick uses when it calculates starting poker hands. If you use Poker Sidekick, it will tell you which group each starting hand is in (if you can't remember them), along with estimating the "relative strength" of each starting hand. You can just print this article and use it as a starting hand reference.

Group 1: AA, KK, AKs

Group 2: QQ, JJ, AK, AQs, AJs, KQs

Group 3: TT, AQ, ATs, KJs, QJs, JTs

Group 4: 99, 88, AJ, AT, KQ, KTs, QTs, J9s, T9s, 98s

Group 5: 77, 66, A9s, A5s-A2s, K9s, KJ, KT, QJ, QT, Q9s, JT, QJ, T8s, 97s, 87s, 76s, 65s

Group 6: 55, 44, 33, 22, K9, J9, 86s

Group 7: T9, 98, 85s

Group 8: Q9, J8, T8, 87, 76, 65

Group 30: A9s-A6s, A8-A2, K8-K2, K8-K2s, J8s, J7s, T7, 96s, 75s, 74s, 64s, 54s, 53s, 43s, 42s, 32s, 32

All other hands not shown (virtually unplayable).

So, those are the enhanced Sklasky Texas Holdem poker starting hand tables.

The later your position at the table (dealer is latest position, small blind is earliest), the more starting hands you should play. If you're on the dealer button, with a full table, play groups 1 thru 6. If you're in middle position, reduce play to groups 1 thru 3 (tight) and 4 (loose). In early position, reduce play to groups 1 (tight) or 1 thru 2 (loose). Of course, in the big blind, you get what you get.

As the number of players drops into the 5 to 7 range, I recommend tightening up overall and playing far fewer, premium hands from the better positions (groups 1 - 2). This is a great time to forget about chasing flush and straight draws, which puts you at risk and wastes chips.

As the number of players drops to 4, it's time to open up and play far more hands (groups 1 - 5), but carefully. At this stage, you're close to being in the money in a Texas Holdem poker tournament, so be extra careful. I'll often just protect my blinds, steal occasionally, and try to let the smaller stacks get blinded or knocked out (putting me into the money). If I'm one of the small stacks, well, then I'm forced to pick the best hand I can get and go all-in and hope to double-up.

When the play is down to 3, it's time to avoid engaging with big stacks and hang on to see if we can land 2nd place, heads-up. I tend to tighten up a bit here, playing very similar to when there's just 3 players (avoiding confrontation unless I'm holding a pair or an Ace or a King, if possible).

Once you're heads-up, well, that's a topic for a completely different article, but in general, it's time to become extraordinarily aggressive, raise a lot, and become "pushy".

In tournaments, it's always important to keep track of your chips stack size relative to the blinds and everyone else's stacks. If you're short on chips, then play far fewer hands (tigher), and when you do get a good hand, extract as many chips as you can with it. If you're the big stack, well, you should avoid unnecessary confrontation, but use your big stack position to push everyone around and steal blinds occasionally as well - without risking too many chips in the process (the other players will be trying to use you to double-up, so be careful).

Well, that's a quick overview of an improved set of starting hands and some general rules for adjusting starting hand play based upon game conditions throughout the tournament.

Until next time, best of luck to you at the Texas Holdem poker tables!

Rick

Rush Poker Strategy - Profitable Tactics For Rush Poker

Rush Poker is an exciting new game format exclusive to Full Tilt Poker. It's been designed to make online poker faster paced and more fun, with loads of action which of course attracts recreational players and gamblers.

So far the game is available only as small stakes (up to $0.50/$1.00) no limit holdem. You can choose to play either 9 seated or 6 seated, and the game plays as normal except for a very important change. Once you're out of a hand (either at showdown, or if you fold) you're "rushed" off to another table and immediately dealt a fresh hand. You don't even have to wait for the action to come to you, you can simply hit the quick fold button, and even if it isn't your turn to cat you'll be reseated and dealt new cards.

This makes for an incredibly fast paced game. No longer will you have to wait 20 minutes for a good hand, if you don't like what you're dealt then fold and see a new hand right away. In fact, most players see an average of 300 hands per hour playing this game, and some players see over500 per hour!

Rush poker strategy differs quite a bit from normal ring games. Because it's so easy to fold you know that most players will be playing only premium hands, so after the flop you'll have a reasonable idea that they hold either 2 high cards, a pocket pair, or Ax. Be careful of the player in the big blind though, if you allow them to enter the hand by limping in you'll have no idea what they hold. Always raise pre-flop if you're going to play a hand, that will stop the big blind seeing the flop for free.

You should also be re-raising a lot. Players in rush poker love to fold with anything other than a premium hand, since they know they'll be dealt another good hand soon, so take advantage of that. Raise, and re-raise often and you'll find you can steal the pot more often than not.

Finally, you'll find that low cards can be your friend. Since most players will only be playing big cards, if you come in with low cards and hit trips on the flop you'll trap them and earn a big pot!

Rush poker strategy will certainly be refined over time as more and more top players study the game and figure out the best tactics, but by following the basic strategy outlined here you should be profitable in most games.

Winning Omaha Poker Playing Strategy

When you are playing an Omaha high-low game you must keep in mind that you have to win the whole pot by winning as well the high as the low. Some players play to win something and this way they don't get the whole bid, they split it with other players at the table and this should not be your goal because you might end up losing more money than you actually win. Winning both the high and the low will have to make you very selective with the hands you play firstly and with the cards you still keep playing after the flop.

Select the hands that you play and never start playing with a hand that is too risky and with low winning odds. If you however spot a hand that is likely to scoop the pot, they you should definitely play it no matter the risks. Also first you have to select the table you will play in. Play only tables that are loose, where one or more weak players are present or at least tables that rank below your average Poker table. Calculate the pot odds frequently and see if a call is necessary or not.

Raising before the flop should be done very rarely if not never. It is risky and this is not a game of risks. Remembering that you have to scoop the flop will keep you from doing this bet unless you are absolutely sure is will bring you the entire pot. If your flop is good however, then start an aggressive playing manner and give it everything you have (not money but Poker skills).

Once you find yourself on the flop you can see enough cards to realize whether you are going to win both the high and the low. You must be ready to fold here whenever necessary.

Bluffing in an Omaha high-low game should be done rarely and only sometimes on the river only if you don't see any low hands out.
You can play average starting hands when you are in late position and more players have already called.

Some things that are considered mistakes and you should never do in this game are the following:

- Too many hands played.

- Going through with it when the hand only has a potential for either the high or the low.

- Raising in flop with a good hand will make others fold and the pot won't be as big as expected.

- Raising the flop when you have a low or high hand and the cards drawn are the exact opposite of your hand.

Advanced Poker Strategy for Tournaments - How To Move Beyond Playing Only Your Cards

The beauty of Poker is that it is easy to learn but almost impossible to fully master. A player who has learned the basics of Poker strategy including starting hand selection, the various kinds of odds and table position looking at advanced poker strategy tips and information needs to cover many areas. This article suggests 5 advanced poker strategy areas that can improve any player's poker skills.

Advanced Poker Strategy Area #1 - Game Theory

Game theory is actually a branch of mathematics which looks at situations where 2 or more people have conflicting interests. It can be applied to poker in many ways. The most common example is 'Optimal Bluffing Strategy' in which you aim to randomize your bluffs in a way that is 'unexploitable' by opponents. This advanced poker strategy involves making your bluff frequency exactly the same as the odds your opponent receives to call the final bet.

Advanced Poker Strategy Area #2 - The Independent Chip Model (ICM)

ICM is a model which gives a tournament player's chip stack a dollar value based on prize pool distribution and the stacks of remaining players. It is then used to calculate your true risk - in terms of dollars not chips - when making a decision during play. This advanced poker strategy is commonly used in Sit and Go tournaments but can be equally useful in multi-table poker tournaments.

Advanced Poker Strategy Area #3 - Heads-Up Poker Play

There are actually 2 advanced poker strategies designed for heads-up play. Both are used at the end of tournaments and rely on math to ensure that an opponent has no numerical way to exploit you. The first is known as the SAGE system and the second 'Nash-Equilibrium'. Becoming an expert in these systems will help you reach that number one spot - where the big payout is!

Advanced Poker Strategy Area #4 - Stack Size Flexibility and Inflection Points

Made famous by Dan Harrington the concept of 'M', zones and inflection points is a must for players learning advanced poker strategy for tournaments. You can calculate your 'M' score at any point during a tournament by dividing your chips by the blinds and antes. This score is then used to assign a 'zone' which dictates your strategy as you travel through inflection points (changes between zones).

Advanced Poker Strategy Area #5 - Rail-Birding The Online Pros

Watching the professional online tournament players at work is a great way to pick up advanced poker strategy tips. Effective rail-birding involves analyzing the hand as a whole rather than just the cards in play. Stack-sizes and reads are just two of the many things to watch out for.

Poker Strategy Answers - Playing Ace Jack

In our continuation of Poker strategy answers today I will be addressing how to play Ace Jack correctly. Now to do so we're going to have to reclassify Ace Jack from a strong hand to a drawing hand. Why, you ask? Let's find out.

When you raise with Ace Jack at a tight table, regardless of position, you are only doing one thing: allowing your opponents to mask the strength of their hand. If the table is tight the only people who will be calling you will be holding a pocket pair, ace queen, ace king, ace ten, or in the best case scenario ace something suited. In the majority of these cases you're behind by quite a bit, with the exception of the ace with a lower kicker.

Let's say for instance you raise pre-flop with Ace Jack and spike a Jack on the flop. An opponent whose hand strength has now been masked could easily be holding Queens, Kings, or Aces and is way ahead of you in the hand now. If you spike an Ace on the flop your opponent could out kick you with a Queen or a King. For these reasons we must reclassify Ace Jack to a drawing hand, in the same realm as Ace something suited and Ace Ten.

Now with drawing hands you are typically looking for two pair, trips, straights or flushes. Ace Jack suited is a much stronger drawing hand than Ace Jack, but regardless Ace Jack can still be a decent drawing hand. Now you won't be pushing as hard with a pair of jacks or a pair of aces but rather waiting for two pair or better.

If you understand how to read an opponent correctly, you may be able to save yourself some chips when your opponent out-kicks you. But if you opponent does indeed out kick you it will cost you part of your stack to find out. These types of bets are known as value bets and are executed to see where you currently stand in a hand. Typically value bets are about half the size of the pot or lower in an effort to see who will call, fold, or re-raise. In the case of a re-raise you know you're way behind. In the case of a call you have to look at how your opponent played previous hands on whether or not you should continue.

If you're up against an opponent who loves to trap or slow-play than betting on the turn is not advisable. If you're up against an opponent who loves to draw at hands than by all means you should bet the turn. As with any hand the way you should play it will be defined by the opponents currently in the hand with you.

Now if you're lucky enough to spike two pair or a straight you should also execute the value bet strategy. An opponent holding Ace King or Ace Queen will, in most cases, not put you on two pair and will either call along to the river or attempt to push you off of your hand. If they try to push you off your hand, come back over the top of them with a strong re-raise. This is the time when Ace Jack will really pay off for you, is heads up against someone who has paired their Ace with a great kicker but hasn't put you on two pair.

When it comes to pre-flop it's totally acceptable to fold Ace Jack to a raise. You're either dominated or drawing, and you don't want to be in either scenario with your chips in the pot. By playing Ace Jack as though you would a drawing hand, from middle to late position against smaller sized raises or with a smaller sized raise you increase the likelihood of picking up the pot.

Free Online Poker Strategy Guide To How To Move All-In

Moving all-in is the most serious of all manoeuvres in Poker be it free online Poker or high stakes games. The accepted wisdom is that you should only move all-in with hands that have a chance to beat the most common all-in Big Hands like AK and AQ.