Poker This ...poker That !!

A month ago, I had no idea what Poker was all about, never even thought about gambling. Completely oblivious to this world called gambling. I perceived gambling as for those who enjoyed loosing hard earned money, really bored ones and those who had too much time on their hands.

However, my perception towards gambling has changed. I now know that there are more to it then sitting on a table and gambling away. There are many things involved in gambling, one must be focused, make sure one has a good strategy in winning that hand, be able to study their opponents habits, know when to fold and go all in, know ones limit and know when to stop if necessary, be able to keep their opponents on their toes and always refrain from being to greedy.

I have come to learn alot about poker. There are many different types of Poker. Just to name a few, there are 5 Card Draw, Seven Card Stud, Omaha and many more. The most played poker will most certainly be Texas Hold'em.

I have also come to learn that there are significant strategies in playing Poker. I would like to share some of these strategies. To what I know, playing poker is not pure chance or luck. Its about having the skills and having the knowledge about the game.
Without a good grasp of basic poker strategy one won't do well against experienced players.


I think one of the most important things to remember when playing poker is that ones strategy should be to win as much as possible and lose as little as possible on each hand and not to get the best hand. One is in the game to win money and not pots. Any player can win a pot. But one will lose a ton of money in the process. The best poker players play few hands and maximize their return when the odds are in their favor.

I think trying to stay with and initial bad hand is one of the worst strategies possible. If one don't have a winning combination in ones hand when the betting begins, it's often in ones best interest to fold. Stay in every now and then to confuse ones opponents but don't generally count on turning a bad thing into a good one. Always do remember, money saved is just as valuable as money won.

In one of my very 1st tournament of poker, I learned that the best basic poker strategy is to play selectively and aggressively. The odds will most certainly shift as cards are dealt across the table. One has to know what their odds are and play aggressively when they're in ones favor. But watch yourself, if you consistently play aggressive then your opponents will recognize your tendencies and wait till they have a better hand than you. Always remember not be predictable and always play unpredictably. If other player can see you are tight player or a loose player then they'll easily know how to go about taking your money.

Another handy tip will be, if one is able to switch gears if you get stuck in a losing streak. Don't just start playing aggressively trying to turn bad hands around. The best strategy is to do the opposite, gear down and play fewer hands. Wait out your streak of bad luck; I'm sure eventually it will pass.

Always be sure to study your opponents and learn to anticipate their actions. When hands are turned over at showdown, notice who's holding what. Try to recall betting patterns earlier in the hand. When possible make notes of players' patterns.

This is a dangerous tip but bluffing can be a powerful poker strategy but it should only be used sparingly. It's not a good idea to bluff a loose player. It's unlikely they will fold. Your best chance to successfully bluff is when you're up against a tight player with a relatively small pot.

Generally, I think these basic poker strategies apply to all forms of poker. Do bear in mind that each variation of poker is quite different and will have its own specific strategies and tactics. The best way to win at poker is to learn these strategies and practice, practice, practice. Like any skill it will take time and effort to become a proficient and dangerous poker player.


Good luck ....!!

Cheers...