Single biggest strategy tip you've heard/learned? (1 Viewer)

[trever]

Folding or raising are usually better than calling.

So before you call, ask yourself why you aren't raising and if your hand doesn't merit a raise, ask yourself if it is really worth calling.

 

[detroitdad]

When I was trying to get out of my funk a few years ago a friend simply said, "position, position, position, use it, and play it better".

 

[Ben]

You can't win if you fold.

 

[Wils]

I have several, I was actually going to put an e-book together...

Don't go all in, if you won't win.

Smiles on their faces means they've got aces.

Don't raise or fold, if a call should be told.

For obvious money-making reasons I'm keeping the rest to myself until I find a publisher.

 

[mummel]

When I was trying to get out of my funk a few years ago a friend simply said, "position, position, position, use it, and play it better".

+1

 

[T_Chan]

Never let yourself get blinded out in tournaments. If you're under a less than 10BB stack, switch gears to short stack play.

 

[Kain8]

Don't slowplay unless you flop quads, a boat, or top set on the driest of boards (Q 7 2 or K 7 2). You want a big pot with your flopped straight? Make your 1/2 - 3/4 pot bet if it's checked to you. Raise if you're bet into. Don't have the mindset that if you raise with the goods now that you won't get any action. Big flopped hands come around very seldom, so try to make hay while the sun shines. Players will find a reason to call if they have a piece. If everyone folds, there wasn't any money to be made in the first place.

 

[Gear]

Some good stuff in this thread so far.

One of my favorites is three words from Allen Cunningham: "Always fold junk."

 

[pltrgyst]

Oh yeah, like I'd tell you guys.

 

[fish72s]

"Play Parcheesi"

 

[fish72s]

You can't win if you fold.

Can't lose either

 

[k9dr]

Don't go broke in an un-raised pot.

 

[joepro]

If you're playing in a tournament which includes antes, be sure to get more aggressive when the antes come into play. At a minimum, take into account the amount that will be put into the pot before the cards are dealt, and adjust your betting accordingly. A lot of players tighten up when they get near the bubble, this is where a lot of the best loosen up because everyone is afraid to call. The greatest feeling is taking down a huge preflop pot late in a tourney when you are holding junk.

 

[bentax1978]

One of my favorites is three words from Allen Cunningham: "Always fold junk."

The greatest feeling is taking down a huge preflop pot late in a tourney when you are holding junk.

I'm conflicted.

 

[GoStumpy]

I'm conflicted.

Difference is junk in position

 

[bentax1978]

Difference is junk in position

I suppose in reality the two statements aren't actually mutually exclusive.

The sentiment that you should "always fold junk" (to maximize your win rate) doesn't actually conflict with the euphoric feeling you get when you take down a huge pot holding junk.

Much the same way you can still get a thrill from winning the lottery, even though you should never play the lottery.

 

[upNdown]

Much the same way you can still get a thrill from winning the lottery, even though you should never play the lottery.

I played some video poker last week, while waiting for a table, and felt much dumber for it. I felt shame sitting there, pushing those stupid buttons.

 

[Trihonda]

Difference is junk in position

If everyone limps around, and you're in position and make a decent raise pre, it's hard for folks to commit their tournament life on cards they limped in with. If they were worth taking to war, they probably would have raised...

 

[Trihonda]

Another nugget:

Don't be the one making tough decisions, be the one forcing tough decisions.

 

[AdamAAAA]

Raise more than you call. Fold more than you raise.

 

[MatB]

I just remembered the one i always forget...LOL>

When checked to, never bet on the river if the only hand calling will probably win. (applied loosely)

EDIT: more about value betting a mediocre hand, not about bluffing if thats the only way you'll win scenario.

 

[OklahomaBill]

1. Position
2. Play Tight.
3. Be known as a player who doesn't Bluff.

 

[colter ripton]

Money not lost is just as real as money won...........
Be ok with going home even or down....... you will not win every night, and if you are not playing well, or your tired, or its not a good game......just go home.......
Don't shove that last 100 in pre flop with ace jack just because you want to double up or go home........just fold it and go home with your 100 dollars...........
This is much easier said than done......I still tilt off my last hundred or two from time to time...... almost everyone does........but a truly disciplined player will just pick up and go home when they feel that conditions are unfavorable ....... someday maybe I'll be able to do this all the time....

 

[bergs]

- Top double whatever Courage tips if I want stronger drinks than his.

- Never sit downwind of Harley

- Either Guinness or I can be drunk at the table. Not both of us at the same table at the same time. Black hole singularities result.

- Position is uber important. Every foot closer to the fridge is 2 seconds faster to beer.

- The cable TV rap music station is fairly shitty at 3am.

- Tight is right, and loose is wrong, but flop an open ender and I'm a ding-dong

- Don't make oxygen tank jokes at O8 or stud casino tables

- If you're going to call clock on Trihonda do it quickly before he moves his card protector out of your reach

- Most dealers will let you palm the all-in button after taking a really bad beat - but you have to ask nicely

- Don't use polysyllabic words at the brush when checking in for a game. Most of these people don't even know they're in a casino.

- The stairs at DCS are very, very long and intimidating at 4am, but the walk to the hotels on Philips really isn't that bad.

- Never go to the grocery store with Harley. You miss the soft seats at first game and he takes forever and never actually buys anything.

- Always chop the blinds, never chop the tourney, and have fun.

 

[Adam Crowley]

Not 100% a strategy tip but the two that I keep in the back of my mind are

"Think about your opponents strategy and figure out the best response to it"

And

"You make money in poker by getting your opponent to fold equity when they shouldn't and by getting your opponent to put money in the pot when they shouldn't"

Both off doug polks YouTube channel and the simplification always helps me in not standard spots.

 

[nitzilla]

JCarver (Jason Somerville) said "You can't be on a heater if you fold" - Run It Up wisdom on Youtube.

He also mentioned: "You can't win a tournament on day one, but you can definitely lose it...." not his quote though.

 

[bergs]

1) Play every hand like if you lose, Chuck Norris is going to stand over you at the table and shit on your head.

2) Before you call a dealer "Dick", look at his name tag to ensure that your friend was serious when he said that was his name.

3) If you play at Trihondas, make backup plans for a local game that night, because you're prolly getting banned at some point.

4) Raise more than you call. Call more than you fold. Fold like every time you do you lose a kidney.

5) Never wear a Cowboys jersey in the poker room when the Cowboys are playing.

6) Never reveal your poker secrets on an Internet forum full of strange people.

 

[Trihonda]

3) If you play at Trihondas, make backup plans for a local game that night, because you're prolly getting banned at some point.

Only you... prolly. Everyone else is safe.

I haven't had a player create any negative drama since like... well, I can't recall.

I've Gotten better at spotting players who might be prone to kicking old people to the curb, and I just don't invite those folks.

6) Never reveal your poker secrets on an Internet forum full of strange people.

Or just copy your "secrets" straight from "Super System", sound like you know what you're talking about.

 

[lnlver]

Don't enter any pot unless you are willing to stand being raised.

 

[bergs]

Don't enter any pot unless you are willing to stand being raised.

Don't enter any kettle unless you are willing to stand being fined.