Monday, June 28, 2004
Poker Tips from Poker Chip
Okay--so like I keep saying, I'm new to online poker, but I'm learning. Some of the lessons have been tough. I'm going to share a little bit of what I've learned so far.
1- Holdem is a fast game. Slow down and pay attention. Fold a lot before the flop.
2- Position is critical. You have more information about your opponents' hands when you're in later position, so you have an advantage. So you can play more hands in late position than you can play in early position.
3- Fold a lot.
4- Learn to figure out what the nuts are. The nuts is the best possible hand that can be made using the cards on the table. You have to be able to identify what the nuts are so you'll know whether or not you're holding them.
5- Fold a lot.
6- Play good cards. High pairs (10 or higher) are almost always good to play. Small pairs are sometimes good to play. Suited connectors are sometimes good to play. Big pairs prefer fewer players, and drawing hands, like small pairs and suited connectors, prefer more players.
7- You really are going to have to fold a lot. Pretend that every time you fold before the flop you're hitting your opponents over the head with a huge club, because in a way, that's exactly what you're doing.
8- The saying "Any two cards can win" is for suckers. Stick with good cards and good hands.
9- If you don't fold before the flop, a LOT of times you'll have to fold on the flop. It's just part of the game.
10- Get your emotions under control.
These are all things I wish I'd learned before I'd started playing instead of after.
1- Holdem is a fast game. Slow down and pay attention. Fold a lot before the flop.
2- Position is critical. You have more information about your opponents' hands when you're in later position, so you have an advantage. So you can play more hands in late position than you can play in early position.
3- Fold a lot.
4- Learn to figure out what the nuts are. The nuts is the best possible hand that can be made using the cards on the table. You have to be able to identify what the nuts are so you'll know whether or not you're holding them.
5- Fold a lot.
6- Play good cards. High pairs (10 or higher) are almost always good to play. Small pairs are sometimes good to play. Suited connectors are sometimes good to play. Big pairs prefer fewer players, and drawing hands, like small pairs and suited connectors, prefer more players.
7- You really are going to have to fold a lot. Pretend that every time you fold before the flop you're hitting your opponents over the head with a huge club, because in a way, that's exactly what you're doing.
8- The saying "Any two cards can win" is for suckers. Stick with good cards and good hands.
9- If you don't fold before the flop, a LOT of times you'll have to fold on the flop. It's just part of the game.
10- Get your emotions under control.
These are all things I wish I'd learned before I'd started playing instead of after.
Texas Holdem
Texas Holdem is a new website published by a good friend of mine. Please have a look. Texas Holdem is an information source about Texas Holdem online, and it includes online texas holdem tournament information, low stakes texas holdem game recommendations, and a complete texas holdem strategy section.
The gentleman who runs this site is a good friend of mine and is one heckuva good poker player too. We play online together almost every Wednesday night, and he pretty much helped me learn how to play. So check his site out.
The gentleman who runs this site is a good friend of mine and is one heckuva good poker player too. We play online together almost every Wednesday night, and he pretty much helped me learn how to play. So check his site out.
Saturday, June 12, 2004
Real Poker in a Real Cardroom
I was invited to play poker Monday night at a real cardroom for the first time. The first game was a NL Holdem Freeroll tourney with 20 players. 1st place got $75 and 2nd got $25. I placed 9th or so.
After that was the real money game. It was NL Holdem at $1/$2. I bought in for $100 and cashed out with $143, so I was pretty happy with booking a winning session. Especially since it was my first time to play in a real cardroom, as opposed to playing online.
At one point I had $350 or so in chips. This was after going all-in with AJo and flopping another AJ. The other two players had AQo and AKo and called me.
I lost all of that and more with a 2nd best flush with a Q high. The other player had the K. The ace was on the board.
All in all, very exciting time playing cards. Definitely going to try to play more face to face poker.
After that was the real money game. It was NL Holdem at $1/$2. I bought in for $100 and cashed out with $143, so I was pretty happy with booking a winning session. Especially since it was my first time to play in a real cardroom, as opposed to playing online.
At one point I had $350 or so in chips. This was after going all-in with AJo and flopping another AJ. The other two players had AQo and AKo and called me.
I lost all of that and more with a 2nd best flush with a Q high. The other player had the K. The ace was on the board.
All in all, very exciting time playing cards. Definitely going to try to play more face to face poker.
