|
Written by Tanja Carruthers
|
|
Thursday, 09 April 2009 00:00 |
Everyone wants to play better poker, and being a game of skill there is always something to learn. I played cash last weekend at Monte, and apart from being one of the 'most' fun tables ever, it was an opportunity to discuss reading players better and making the correct moves.
With the rise of poker in SA, there are so many players taking their home games into the casino to make some extra cash. They might not have the supporting bankrolls to enter a tournament, but these are the players we all need to look after as they feed the growing phenomenon that is poker. They're the livelihood of the sport, and ensure that card rooms are sustained and have a multitude of players.
The most noticeable thing is that these guys play their hands, and not always their opponents hands. They are solid players, easy to read and mostly great to play with. And it furthers everybody's game to learn from simple mistakes. My table was donkey free, which was a relief as it shows that card rooms are bringing up the standards of overall play. Firstly, being a novice player doesn't mean that you're a donkey. It just means that there are a lot of aspects of the game that you still don't consider. And that only comes with experience, because you have to pay “school fees†at your table. Pride is one thing that has no place on the felt, trying to defend your ego will cost you a lot of chips.
So, thanks to my table for the Jagermeisters, the inspiration and the chips. My stack grew a little – at least more than doubling your money is still a good night, and it also brought the fun back into the game. For the most part, poker is about the money, but it's no fun spending hours at a table without cracking a smile.
Some tips to playing better poker, placing your opponent to the decision and being the aggressor:
Who should expose their cards 1st.
The player that should expose their cards 1st is the player who made the bet on the river (the last card). If you called a bet by your opponent, they need to expose their cards 1st to see if they have the stronger hand. If there was no bet on the river then it's left to the 1st payer to act to expose their cards – that would be the player who has been acting in 1st position throughout the game.
If your opponent exposes their cards 1st and it's a hand that beats yours, it's not necessary to expose yours, and you can choose to muck (throw away) the hand without exposing it. If you show to show down a hand, note that you and your opponent are required to show both cards. You can't only expose 1 card to take the pot.
Why players muck cards
Some novice players assume that if they have called a bet – they are required to expose their cards. This is where “mucking†comes in. To muck your cards are to simply toss them / fold them without exposing them. If the player exposed his cards and has a superior hand to you, why still turn up your cards if it is the losing hand? By exposing your cards you give the entire table more information about how you play certain hand combinations.
The only reasons for you to expose your cards should be because:
a.) You have the winning hand and need to show in order to take the pot
b.) If you have the losing hand, you still might want to give the other players information about what hands you play, in order to set up future bluff strategies. If you lost a hand with a great card combination to your opponent having the nuts, you can choose to show your cards to make players believe that you play solidly and tight. This will create a table image for your play, allowing you to make more moves of stealing and bluffing pots when you sense weakness in others.
Read players for tight or loose
By playing your opponents, after one button rotation you should be able to see who plays tightly, and who's loose. If one of the players plays virtually every pot, you can see that he/she's into action and will prove a good opportunity to make money from when you have a premium hand. Also look out for physical appearance. Neat precise people are almost always tight solid players. Have a look at how they stack their chips. All in neat denominations with the little stripes lined up – this player will hardly EVER bluff. You can trust and respect a player's bet (mostly). Then, also ensure that you look at your own image. What are the other players thinking about you...? I know I am a messy chip stacker, and I know that says a lot about my play. I know players are going to read me for loose, or someone who will play marginal hands. This is maybe the image I want them to perceive. It allows me to pick up pots with premium hands, as well as make guys hesitate to bet when small cards appear on the flop.
You have to be a solid player to profit, but you have to be able to play cleverly. You don't always need picture cards to win. Your hand becomes irrelevant. You need to be able to plan the play that is still ahead. If a tight player raises, and you call with low suited connectors, on the flop you will know where you stand. You have a great chance of hitting, and even if you don't hit, you will be able to tell if your opponent did.
See you on the felt! Go and have fun... |
|
Last Updated on Tuesday, 14 April 2009 17:10 |
