Capitalizing On The Check-Raise – Poker Pro Series

2010 Feb 23

Capitalizing On The Check-Raise

Poker Pro Series

The check-raise is one of the stronger moves a player can make in poker game.

The play sends an instant message to an opponent that you either have a strong hand or that you’re putting them to the test, and are forcing the action in an attempt to take the pot from them.

Properly utilized, the check-raise will be dependent on the situation in which you find yourself.

Sometimes it’s a play to steal the pot, while other times it will be used to defend a lead you may have.

On rare occasions you can even use the play to build the pot when you have a monster hand.

Check-raising to steal the pot is best attempted against an opponent who can easly be forced off a medium-to-weak-strength hand.

Check-raising novice or loose players when you have nothing will often get you in trouble because those players are much less likely to fold their hands.

They don’t give you credit for a hand, and you’ll be in a tough situation out of position after the next street.

Save the check-raise moves for players whom you expect to take a stab at the pot with weak holdings if no one has raised the action before them.

When you check-raise an opponent who is trying to make a move for the pot, you’ll almost always pick it up right there.

If you do get called, you can either fire another barrel at the pot or you can get off the hand and hopefully you’ll get a free card from your opponent if they also decide to check.

The type of opponent you’re in the hand with should help you determine whether or not to make another bet into your opponent after they called the first one.

Flopping the lead in a hand, when you’re out of position, is usually a situation where you should consider the check-raise.

Unless you have the nut hand, your hand will be vulnerable somehow.

To bet into your opponent or opponents will rarely be to your advantage.

Betting your hand for value in this situation creates a lot of question marks if you get called.

But a check-raise will tell you where you’re going to get your action from, and after your check-raise you’ll most likely win more than you would have if you decided to bet out your big hand right away.

This type of situation usually requires that you have a big lead, and that you make a big raise so that any drawing opponents will have to make a bad play to stay in the hand against you.

Make sure that possible straight and flush draws pay at least the size of the pot to draw another card.

Get your chips in there when you have the best of it, and don’t wait until they draw out to a bigger hand before you make your move.

When you are in an aggressive situation, like heads up or shorthanded games with aggressive players, check-raising to build a pot can be a tricky way to get an opponent to play when they normally may not have.

If the action has been going back and forth between you and another player, check-rasing would look more like a weak move than a strong one.

It looks like you’re just trying a re-steal, and players with big cards will give you action because they feel you’re just trying to push them around.

You’ll be able to value bet all the way to the river, getting called by an opponent who doesn’t believe that you would have check-raised with a big hand in that situation.

by Dean Stone

So don’t forget to apply what you learn, and win big time at Odds Maker Poker Room…

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Posted by mOrrI in Poker Online

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Poker Tournament Strategy – Short Stack

2009 Oct 15

Most true poker rookies seem to end up in the same place in most poker tournaments – as the short stack.
If you’re constantly ending up with fewer chips you’ve got to learn to dig yourself out of that hole or you’ll never make the big money.

The first thing to remember when your chip stack is running low is to be patient.
If you’ve just had a big hand nearly bankrupt you, don’t simply go all-in on the next hand because you think your chances of winning are gone.
To truly have a shot at getting back among the chip leaders you need some patience, and a little luck.

Since you have so few chips the hands you can play before and after the flop are limited.
You’ll want to get into a mindset of either all-in or fold.
You’re going to need to think like this to have a chance at rebuilding your stack.
If you still have enough chips to survive a few rounds of blinds, wait for real premium hands and go all-in.
This is your best chance of doubling up, or if you’re playing at the right table, possibly tripling up or more.

If the blinds haven’t reached monumental heights yet and you still have enough chips to see a couple flops, do it with medium to premium hands.
If you hit anything on the flop be aggrevisse and come out betting.
Even if you only end up with what’s already in the pot at least your stack is going growing again. If you’ve got a read on any of your opponents now is the time to use it.
If you come up against a tight player, try to steal the pot when you think they might be weak even if you’ve got nothing yourself.
If you’re up against a loose player, try to wait for a big hand and bet big since you can almost be assured they will call.

If you’re down to your last chip and will be forced all-in the next time the blinds come your way, your next play should be determined by position.
In an early position you should go all-in with any medium hand or higher.
You’re basically hoping to get lucky here with the blinds coming right behind you.
If you get a junk hand fold it and hope for something better in the blinds position.

In a middle position tighten up a bit and play any ace, any pocket pair or any two face cards.
If you end up hitting on the flop with one of these hands, you should have a good chance at winning or even doubling up.

In late position you’ve got more time before the blinds get you so don’t bet anything unless it’s a great starting hand.
Don’t be affraid to let go of mediocre cards if a player ahead of you goes all-in, especially if this player generally plays tight.
by David Harrison

I hope you found this poker article useful and interesting, also I would like to recomend OddsMaker Poker as one of the best places online to play online poker…
Well since I got nothing else to say today… I will leave you to your poker playing…. See ya at the poker table… who knows… peace…

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Posted by mOrrI in Poker News, Poker Online, Poker Tournaments

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Poker Tournament Strategy – Beware The Bluster

2009 Aug 24

Today I bring you a great article about Poker Tournaments, this article gives you great tips and tricks about playing either live or online poker tournaments…

Checkout out these wise poker words

Beware The Bluster

When you first start playing poker it’s usually in a home-game setting where you can make mistakes with only your friends around to see.
Or you play online and never see the players that you’re playing against.

It doesn’t matter so much that you’re inexperienced because you don’t have to sit there embarrassed when you make a mistake or played a hand terribly.
But in live poker tournaments things are diferent. You can see your opponents, and often those opponents display habits that can be intimidating.
If you’re familiar with these behaviors before you play your first tournament, you’ll feel more at ease and everyone else won’t seem more experienced than you.

For some reason many players like to hone their chip-trick skills. They practive shuffling and flipping chips so it looks like they’re professional player that’s been playing for decades.
Most of these players don’t have anything special about their game, they just thought that chip tricks were cool and they dedicated some time to getting good at them.

Another common factor that many new players find intimidating at their first live poker tournament is the dealers.
Many dealers will use poker lingo that you may not have heard before.
To question what they said would make you look like a real rookie, and it’s not something you want to do in front of the entire table.
If you don’t know what the dealer means, just discreetly ask one of the players sitting next to you as if you didn’t hear the dealer. At worst, only they will know that your’re a rookie.

The most common intimidation factor you’ll encounter at the table is an opponent who is playing very aggressively.
This player seems like they raise everyone almost every time it’s their turn to act.
These players are willing to put the pressure on you, and you’ll have to eventually stand up to them.
Just wait until the river to raise them back, and you’ll get as much as possible from them.

When you enter a live poker tournament you need to be thinking about intimidating you opponents, not being intimidated by them.
You need to concentrate on not giving away any tells as you play.
Play without emotions and don’t be afraid to make a bet or raise when it looks like you opponents may be weak.
If you’re scared you’ll neve play well, you’ll only get pushed around until you make a mistake that knocks you out of the tournament.

You have to belive that even if you’re a novice, luck can play a big enough role in the poker tournament to provide you with some success.
Winning players belive that they can win, even if they’re new to poker and have a lot to learn.

by Dean Stone