fgh

Legal Statement © C o py rig ht 2 0 0 5 by P oker Reward s . A ll rights reserv e d . N o part o f this b o o k m a y be us ed or repro duced in a ny m a nne r without the ex p re s s writ te n perm ission of the a uthor.

Liability/Warranty:

The a uthor has m ade every a tte m pt to provi de the re ad e r with accurate information. T h is in fo rm ation is present e d for info rm ation purposes o n ly . T he a uthor m a k e s no c laims that u s in g th is information wi ll guara ntee the rea der personal or b us ine ss s uccess. The dis c u s sion of website s , law s, proc e dures a n d other infor m atio n con tained in t h is b o o k are c urrent as of the da te of public a tion. The author s hall not be liable for any lo s s or d a m a ge incurr e d in t he process of fol low ing a dvice pres e nte d in this book.

1

TABLE OF CONTENTS L e ga l St a te m e n t

__ _ 1

T a b l e o f C o nte n ts

__ _ 2

In t r o d uc tio n _

__ _ 3

A d v a n t a g e s of O n l i n e P o k e r _ _ _

__ _ 5

B a s ic P o k e r R u le s

__ _ 8

T e x a s H o ld ’e m P o k e r Rule s _ _ _

__ 1 0

B e tt ing Lim its a n d O t h e r F a c t s _

__ 1 4

T e x a s H o ld ’e x St rat e gie s

__ 1 8

Play a ble St a rtin g Ha n ds F o ld ’e m and B lu ff ’e m 10 Ess e nti a l Tips a nd Tactics __

__ 1 9 __ 2 1 __ 2 3

Helpful O n l in e Pok e r Strat e g y Tools _ _ _

__ 2 5

T h e O n li n e P o ker A p p ro a c h _ _ _

__ 3 0

P o ker P la y e r Pro files _

__ 3 5

Establi s hing Your Poker Pla y er Pr ofiles _ Pok e r G a m e Et ique t te

__ 3 7 __ 3 8

Conclusion _ _ _

__ 4 0

Glo s s a r y of P o ker Te r m s

__ 4 2

2

INTRODUCTION There a re m a n y di ffere nt styles o f p o k e r g a m e s you c a n p la y i n live casi nos and onli n e , but of all the sty l es played

t o d a y , none is m o re popu l ar than Texas

Ho l d’ e m. Texas H o ld’em has rece iv e d m u c h of its p o pular it y from ce rta i n hit TV s h o w s such as the Traveler’s C h a n n e l World Po k er To u r, a n d ES P N ’s World Series of Pok e r. Ho w e ver,

asi d e

from

t hese

e x ci ti ng

sh o w s , H ol d’ e m

h as

gai n e d

p o p ul a r ity

because it is one of t he e a s iest ga m es t o lea r n, t h e hands are fast, a n d the stakes are h i g h.

Th u s, many novice pl a yers have co m e to realize that a s long as o n e

m as t ers the skill of the g a m e, t he r e is a lot of m o ne y w a it i n g to b e w o n in t he w o r ld of Texas H o ld’em po k e r.

If y ou a re i nt e r e st e d i n s u ch m on e y m a k i ng o p p o rt u nit ies , or a c h a nc e t o i m p ro v e u p o n your Texas H o l d’em poker g a m e, this b o o k is e x actly w ha t y o u ne e d t o ge t started i n t he ri ght dir e ction.

N e v e rt h eless, u n d e r s t a n d that a l t h o u gh t h is b o ok

w ill provide you w ith th e basic rules, as w e ll as st r a teg i es for you t o k e e p i n m ind a nd a p p l y to your g a m e , pl ayi n g T e x as H old’em, or a ny poker g a m e for that m at t er, ta k e s m u c h m ore than luck – it takes d e d icat i on.

The skill y o u ne e d t o bec o m e a go o d poker pla y er c a n o nly be lear ne d t h r o u g h practice, patie nce a n d observation . Th erefo r e, if you ever hope to win at poker or bec o m e a c ha m p ion, y o u’re go i n g to n eed to learn how t o pla y like the pro s .

So w h a t ’s their s e cret? F o r st a rters, no t onl y h a v e t h e y deve l o p e d t h e ir own poker stra t e gi es, but th e y un d e r stand that a lt h o u g h k n owing h o w to play their cards is important,

the real ta le nt is pla y i n g the o t her pla y e r s .

Professio n a ls

study the ir f el lo w opponents, a n d c o m e t o k n o w h o w the other pla y e r s will react during g a m e p lay. T his g ives t h e m an a dv a nt a ge o v e r t h e o t he r pl ayer s , b e c a us e a pro w ill k now h o w t o weed conservative

players out of t he pot, or keep t he

juv e nile pl a y e r in t h e hand f or as long a s t he y can, so he can m ilk th e se hot heads f or a l l they’re worth. S i nce that is t he case, h o w y o u g a in t he a d v a n t a g e

o v er your fe ll o w opponents

will v a ry d e p e n d in g on if you are pl aying poker l iv e or onl i ne.

O n e of t he bi ggest

proble m s m a n y pla y ers w h o e ng a ge i n on li ne poker fa il t o re alize, is that w hile

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the g a m es fol l o w t he s a m e r ules a n d simi l ar strategies of l iv e pl a y , t he fact that you c a n not see t h e o t he r p layers m a k e s

gai n i n g t h e upper ha n d o v e r t h em

di ffi c ult, espec i a l ly if y ou don’t k n o w h o w to a p p ly the ri g ht ps y c h o l o gy . W h y?

Thi nk a b o ut it:

In a live poker g a me y o u c a n see the facial e x p re ssio n s,

and the r e ac t i ons o f t he other pla y e rs. Th i s a l lo w s y o u to ga i n a p re t ty good i de a of t he type of pl ayer t h ey are, as w e ll as how t h e y play the i r ca r ds by si mply observ i ng t he i r body l a ng u a g e .

H o w e v e r, w h e n pl a y i ng o nline, y o u do n o t h a v e

the l ux ury of re ly i n g on the react i o n s of y o u r o p p o n e nt s, w h i c h m e ans that in order to fi g ure out the type of p layers y o u a re up a g a i nst, y o u n e e d to m entally pay attent i o n to t he dec i si ons they m a k e in the g a m e, and observe h o w t h e y c o m m u n icate w hen you converse with t h e m onl ine.

F or the pur p ose of th i s g ui de, w e w ill b e focus i ng p ri marily on the t a cti c s re l a t e d to onl i ne Te x a s Ho l d’ e m g a m e play.

Th i s focus will help you gain a be t ter

unders t a n d in g o f h o w t o not on ly ef f ectively play a g a i n st other o nline players by lear ni n g t he o nlin e psychology of good g a m e p lay, but al s o h o w to use t h e se s k ills to w i n.

Taking

your online T e xas H o l d’em po k e r pla y in g abil iti es to the next le v el is

poss i bl e, and th i s b o o k i s here to s ho w y o u h o w y o u c a n m ak e t h is go al a re a lity. W ithin its pa g e s y o u will find th e ru les, strateg ies a n d fantast i c t i p s related to onl i n e poker a n d Texas H old ’e m .

Y o u w ill e v e n disco v er t he different types of

pl a yers y o u s h o uld w a t c h out for, as well as f a nt ast ic strategy tools t hat can h e lp you u n cover the odds, pr o v i ding y ou w ith a b et t er s hot at winni n g the pot.

So w it h o u t tak i ng up a n y m o re of your p r e cious t i m e , let’s get sta rted.

R e lax, get c o m f o r t a b l e a n d get re a dy, b e c a use it’s t i m e t o take your online T e x as Ho l d’ e m g a m e t o the ne x t lev e l .

Have fun, a nd go od Luck! ( but if you read this book you’ll realize luck really isn’t a major factor when it comes to being a killer poker player! )

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ADVANTAGES OF ONLINE POKER B e fore w e t urn o u r attent i on t o w a r ds T e xas H o l d’ e m a n d t h e strateg ies y o u can a p p ly t o y o u r onl i ne pok e r e x p er ie n c e s, it is important that y o u u n dersta nd t h e di ffe re n ces bet w e en o nline a n d liv e p o k e r, as well as th e a d v a n t a g e s

o f pla y i n g

onl i n e . N o w more t h a n e v er, people a r e choosing t o take part in on l i ne pok e r in stead of go i ng to a c a s i no.

O n e of the m a jor rea s ons is because visiting a n o n line po k er

sit e is far eas i er a n d handier t han go in g to a liv e c a s i no.

I m a g i ne, i nstead of

havi n g t o t ravel o ut side of y o u r ho m e t o a b u s y , noisy casino, y o u c an relax a n d e x perien ce ju st as m u c h poker e n j o y m e n t

i n the v irtual w orld with a simple

“c lick” of y o u r mouse.

H ere a r e just a few m a i n hi g h lig h t s o f t h e a d v a n t a ges o f onl i n e p oker:

You c a n pl a y at any t i m e of the day or nig ht fr o m the c o m fort of your o w n h o m e or pl a ce of c h o o sing at y o u r co n v e nience. You c a n pl a y against players fr o m all over the world. You c a n play for fu n . You c a n use s pe cial st r a t e gy tools t o ass i st y o u w h e n y o u play. You don’t have t o w o r r y about the o t h e r o p p o n e nt’s se e i ng y o ur e xpression or h e a ri ng y o ur c o m m e nts duri n g a h a nd .

T o f ur t he r apprec iate t he a dv a nt a ge s of pl a y i ng o n line, we’ll t a k e a closer l ook a t t he differ e n c es bet w e en liv e and o nli ne poker.

Fol lo w i n g

are s o m e

notable

di stinc t ions:

PHYSICAL Vs. VIRTUAL Per h aps t he sin gle m o st o b v io u s d if fere nc e be t w een liv e a n d onl in e po k e r i s t he fact that at a live poker t a b le, pl ayers a r e p h y s ically pre s e nt a n d c a n t herefore se e t h e m o ves of t h e ir o p p o ne nt s, t heir e m o t io n s, as w e l l as their re actions. m a k e s pl a y ing live poker

far m o re c h a lle n g in g than

This

onl i ne, b e c a u se players

always n e e d to be c o nscious of w h at t heir o pp o n e n t s a re do i n g, a n d if t h e y are bei ng w a t c hed.

Mo r eover p layers need t o h a v e c o nt r o l over the i r b o d y l a nguage,

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e m otions

and

expressions,

as

su dden

reactions

or

ner v o u s

gestures

or

m o v e m e n t s can often b e a d e a d giv e a w a y to an experienced player.

W h en pl ayi ng poker o nlin e , ho w e v e r , p laye rs do n ot n e e d to c o ncern t h e m se lves w ith phys i ca l c o ntro l . You c a n s cr e a m , yel l , la u gh a n d m a k e a n y express i on you want, be cause e v e n t h o u g h your f amily, p e ts or ne ig h bo r s m a y he ar or s e e you and poss i bly th i nk y ou ’r e cra zy , y o ur o p po nents can on ly j udge y ou by t h e w a y you co n v erse over a c hat di a logue, a n d by the m o v e s you m a k e i n t h e g a m e .

W h at ’ s m o re is w he n y o u pl ay o nli ne y ou do n ’t h a v e t o w o rr y a b o ut fo ll o w in g a dr e ss c o d e , w h ic h i s re q u ire d a t m a ny liv e cas i nos. in s pir e d to dress to t he n in e s , w e a r your

T herefore, w he t he r you feel

pa j a m a s or – h e a v e n

forb i d - your

birthday s uit, the point is y o u c a n w e a r w h a t e v e r y o u w a nt…just t ry not to freak out your ne i g h b o u rs too m u ch!

TABLE LIMITS G e ne ral l y there are l o w e r li mits in onl i ne poker r o o m s than i n li v e c a s i nos.

Of

course, there a r e cert a in internet c a s i nos t h at of fe r tables wi t h hi gh er li mits, b ut t here i s us u a l ly e n o u g h d iv e rsity i n tab l e li m it s , to su it t h e budget of any p layer. F ur t h e r m o r e, the lo w e r l im it t a b les m a k e s o n li ne poker an i deal e nvi r o n m e nt for pl ayers t o learn, d e v e lo p , a n d t ry o ut n e w strateg ie s w i t h o ut feeling as t hough they are t aking a h uge gambling

risk.

T h us, t h ere is no w o r r y

o f losing a

substantial a m o u n t of m o n e y w h en prac t i ci ng your skills o n line.

VARIETY W h en it co m e s to c h o o s in g poker g a m es a n d b e t t i ng lim its, no liv e cas i no can prov id e you w ith the var i ety you w i ll find on li ne.

C h o o s ing a desir e d poker table

is i mport an t for a ll pl a yers, be c a us e it is esse nt ia l t ha t you fe e l c o m fo rtab l e w hi le pl a y in g .

Onl i ne poker rooms a llo w you t he chanc e of sele ct ing a table with a

be t ting li mit that y o u d e e m m o st s uita b le fo r y o ur b u d ge t a n d e x pe rtise. Y o u w i ll also disco v er t hat fin ding a se a t at an o nli ne poker t a ble of y o u r c h oosing is f a r e asi e r a n d m o r e probable t h a n in a li ve casi n o. Ju st ch e c k out t h e h u n d r e ds of tables to choose from a t

P oker R e w a r d s . c o m

GAME CONDUCT It is not poss i ble for any pl a y e r s p a rtic i pat in g in onl i ne poker to bre a k t he r u les of condu ct that app l y to the g a m e .

D ue to compu t er t e ch n o lo g y a n d g a m i ng

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soft w a re, no player ha s t h e abi lity to see t heir o p p o n ent’s car d s, s h o w their cards to other pl a yers, pla ce st ri n g bets or act out of turn during a h a n d .

The softwa r e

w ill o nly p er m it t he c o n duct that his be en p r o g r a m m ed to occur, a nd for t he standard on l ine casino or poker sit e , th i s m e a n s that you are ent itl e d to see t he n u m b e r of play e rs takin g part in the h a nd, the m o n e y a m o u n t of e a ch p la y e r, and the t otal s u m of m o n e y that a c c u m u l at e s in t he pot.

O n the other ha nd, in a liv e

casino, p la y e rs c a n bre a k conduct rules, cause dis r uptions a n d st all t he hand.

PLAYER SUPPORT D ue to t he fact that o nline poker c a n b e pla y e d in t h e comfort a n d pri v acy of your o w n h o m e or place of choo s in g , you c a n use a var i ety of sp e ci a l tools and programs

s uch as ca lcula t ors, c h arts a n d tab l es w h e n pl ayi n g a g a m e .

T he

purpo se of t h ese de v ic es is t o assist you in find in g out the best o d d s in t he hand. A lt ho u gh t h ey are n ot co n si dered c heat i n g , a nd w h il e s o m e are e v e n pe r m itted in a liv e casi no, the beauty of us i n g these hel pf ul tools o n lin e is that n o o n e else c a n se e y o u , a n d t herefore no o ne c a n ju d g e y o u r act io n s or i nt i m i date y o u w h en you pl ay.

TIME CONTROL W h en it c o m es t o fast ha n ds, li v e p o k e r d o e sn ’t e v en c o m p a r e t o o n line pok e r. Online poker ga m e s are s u bstantial ly short e r t han t h ose pla y e d in a live c a s i no. The major reasons are due to the f act that inter ne t players c o n t i n u a lly h op fr o m table to tab l e, a n d ha n ds are m uch s h or t er as r o un d s are qui ck b e c a use of co m p ut er so ftware, and players c a n not see t heir o p p o ne nt s.

T hi s a llow s on l i ne

pl ayers t h e freed o m t o part i ci pate in g a m e s f or as long or as l itt l e as t h e y w is h . T heref or e, w h ile o n e pl a yer m a y onl y b e in teres t e d i n p la y in g a si n gle ga m e f o r a few m i n utes, a n o t he r m a y w i s h to s pend an h o ur or longer.

A l iv e poker g a m e , h o w e v er, m a y l ast for h ours, a n d th i s is b e c a use t he ave r a g e round d u ri n g a hand ca n last a n y w h e re from 1 0 -2 0 minutes d e p e n ding o n the n u m b e r of p layers in v o lv e d in t he h a n d. O v e r a ll, the e x p e rie nce s pr ovided b y both l iv e a n d online poker t a b les are equally soc i al, enjoyable

and re w a r d i ng for pl a y e r s.

requires

to adapt

players

to a di fferent

Furthermore,

style

of ga m e

each play

envi ro n m e nt that

is o ften

challe n gi n g a n d i nv o l ves skil l. H o w e v e r, w h e n it co m es d o w n t o it, nothing b e ats the a d v a n t a g e s

of c o mfort, c o n v e nience a n d c h o ice t h at y o u w i l l only find with

onl i n e poker.

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BASIC POKER RULES H a v e y o u ever caught y o urself ra c king y o u r b rain e v e ry n o w and a g ain trying t o r e m e m b er t he b a s ic r u les of poker hands, or forgetti n g w h a t poker hand b e ats what?

D o n’t worry; t h is is a c o m m o n concern a m o n g m a n y novice players and

even ef fe cts i nt e r m e d i a te pl ayers from time to tim e .

R e gardless of w h a t p la y er c a t e g o ry y o u f it i nto, l e t’s face it; y o u n e e d t o k n o w the basics of poker in order t o really di g y our h e e ls into the sp ort of T e x as Hold’ e m, or any o t her style of p o k er g a m e for t ha t mat t e r. T h u s, w he t he r this is your first time learning a b out t h e possib l e w i n ning poker hands, or y o u are s i mply in need of a litt l e re f res h e r c o urse, he re i s w h at you n eed t o k no w .

F irst a n d for most,

a standard

5 2 - card d e c k is us e d i n eve r y poker g a m e,

regardle ss of t h e n u m b e r of players, or the style of g a m e that i s b e in g pl ayed. T he st a n dard d e c k f e a t u r es t h e fol l o w i ng ca r ds st a rt in g w ith t he h ighest ra n k to the l owest as listed belo w :

*

Ace

*

King

*

Qu een

*

J a ck

*

10

*

9

*

8

*

7

*

6

*

5

*

4

*

3

*

2

*

Ace (an ace can c o u nt as both a lo w or h igh c a rd)

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Each rank is featured in the same 4 equal suits:

`

S pa de

f

Diamo n ds

e

H e a rt s

c

Clubs

The object is t o achieve the h ig h e s t hand b y o b t a i n in g o n e of t h e w inning card co m b in at i ons listed below in the t a ble.

Note, th e follo w ing l i st be g i ns w i th

t h e hig h e s t a n d e n ds with the l o w e s t p o s sible w i n n ing h and:

R o y a l Fl u s h A c e, K in g, Q ue e n, Ja c k a nd 1 0 of t h e s a m e s uit (A ` , K `, Q` , J`, 1 0` )

S t raig h t F lu s h 5 con se c ut i ve cards o f the s a m e suit (5 f, 6f, 7f, 8 f, 9f)

Four of a K ind 4 ca r ds wi t h the s a m e v a lu e (8 e, 8 c, 8f, 8`)

Full H o u s e 3 of a kind a nd a p a ir, w ith t he 3 of a ki n d val ue d first (7 f, 7c, 7e - 4` , 4 c)

Flu s h A n y 5 dif f e r e n t c a r d s o f t h e s a m e suit

(3 | , 5| , 7| , 9 | , J | )

S t raig h t 5 ca r ds of a n y su it i n consecut iv e or d e r (7 c, 8f, 9 c, 10 e , J` )

T h ree o f a Kin d 3 ca r ds wi t h the s a m e face v a l ue (10 `, 1 0e, 10 f) T wo Pair 2 se ts of p a i rs (2 c, 2e - 6e , 6f)

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O n e Pair 2 ca r ds w i t h the s a m e f ace va l ue (3 `, 3f)

HIGH CARD If n o ne of t he a b o v e h a n ds are a c hi eved w it hi n a game, t he pl ayer w ith t he hi g h e st ca rd w i ns.

A ddi t i o nally, In t he e v e nt that two players h a v e the same

h a n d, t he player wi th the hi gh est c a rd w in s. N o w t hat y o u h a v e familiarized yourself w ith the types of hands y ou a r e tryi n g to obtain t o win the pot, it’s t i m e to l earn o r “ref resh” your m e m o r y on h o w to pl ay Texas Ho l d’e m . Of all t h e g a m e s played in card r o o m s t o da y , Texas H o l d ’ e m is b y far the m ost p o p u lar g a m e, a nd o n e of t he e asi est to le arn, m aking it both fu n a n d re w a r d i n g to play.

The o bject of the g a m e is to m a k e the strong e st 5 card hand b y u sing a

co m b in at i on of y o u r 2 ho l e ca r ds a n d the 5 co m m u n ity cards on the tab l e. W h en pl a y i n g T e x as H o l d’ e m online, eve r y p layer will h a v e a turn at u sin g the dealer button, w h ic h e n a b l e s t h e m to act as t h e virt u a l dealer.

In a d d it i on each

pl ayer will be r e q u ir e d to post bli nds at one t i m e or a n o t h er.

T he r ul es o f H o l d ’ e m ta k e o nly a f e w m i n utes o f y o u r t i m e t o le a r n.

O nc e y o u

have t h e m down y o u ’ll n e ver forget them, a n d c a n begin f o c u si ng y o ur ene r gies on lear ni ng, us ing a n d developi n g your o w n strateg i e s .

BASIC TE XA S HOL D’E M GAM E R U LES TERMINOLOGY AND FACTS: N u m b er of Players - 2 – 1 0 If a H o ld’em g a m e consists on l y of two pl ayers it is re f e rred to as a “ he a d s up” m atc h . D e aler B u t t o n ( “ B u t t o n ” , “ B u c k ”, “ P u c k ”) - T hi s i s a de v i ce t ha t is u sed i n onl i n e poker r o o m s to mark the dealer a m o n g the players for each h a nd. The

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dealer button is a s m a ll d is k that is m a r k e d w ith the letter “D ”. The dealer button is not only es sent i al to the play ers so t h e y k n o w w h o is de aling, b ut also because t he t w o players to t h e le ft of t h e de a l er m us t post the two b linds i n t h e g a m e . A fter the c o m p l e t i on of each h a n d , the dea l er b utton m o v e s to the le ft. B li n ds - In g a m e s wi t h b lin ds, t here a r e two blin d s p o st e d – t he small bli nd (ha lf of t he m i n i m u m l evel bet) a n d the big bli n d (t h e f ull m i n i m u m b e t).

Be f ore the

g a m e b e g i ns, t he s m a ll bli n d is posted b y the fir st player cl osest t o the deale r s left, and t he b i g bl ind is posted by the pla y er to t h e left o f t he small b li n d pl ayer. T he p urpose of t he bli n d s is t o m a k e it so t hat t here is m o n e y in t he pot before the g a m e start s .

T hat w a y the bett i n g c a n be g i n, e n c o uraging p layers to t a ke

part in the hand.

It also m e a n s t h at no one will w a lk a w a y e m p t y - h a nded s h o u l d

t he ha n d end qui c k l y.

T h e si ze of the bli n ds is dete r m i n e d b y t h e lim its of each table.

T h e r e fo r e i f you

are p la y in g at a $ 4 /$8 t a b le, a n d the t y p ical s m a ll blind is half t h e m i n i m u m be t , the s m a l l bl ind wi ll be $2, a n d t he bi g blind will be the full m i ni m u m bet of $ 4.

B e t t ing S t ructure - Th e be t t i ng str u cture is t h e sa m e for e v ery t a b l e . T h e only aspect t h a t w i ll ch a n g e is t he a m o u nt o f m o n ey inv o lved, w h i ch w i ll co r res p o n d t o the li m its for the tab l e y ou c h o o s e to play a t .

For t h e p u r p ose of this chart w e

will use the $ 4 /$ 8 tab l e e x a m p l e:

S m a l l /B i g

1 st R ou nd

2nd Rou n d

3 rd R o u n d

Final R o u n d

$4

$4

$8

$8

B li n d s $4 /$8

N o t e: For each rou n d of b e tt i n g , t here is a li m i t of 1 bet and 3 ra i se s . T h ere f o r e , in t h e $4/ $ 8 exa mp l e, b e t ting w ould b e re s tri c t e d t o a t o t al of $ 1 6 i n ro u nds 1 a n d 2, a n d $ 32 i n ro unds 3 a n d 4.

Hole C a r d s - Also k n o w n as “ p o cket” cards, h o le cards are those dealt to each pl ayer a n d are f a c e do w n, s o that o n ly the p layer c a n see t he se c a r d s.

T h e F l o p - T hese are t h e first t hree c o m m uni t y cards is s u e d by t he dealer. T u rn - T he fourth c o m m u n ity card t h at is dealt

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R i ver - T he fifth a n d final c o m m u n ity card to b e dealt

TEXAS HOL D’EM IN ACT ION R O U N D O N E – T H E P RE F LO P A s s o o n as a de a l er h a s be en s e lec t e d a n d the blinds poste d, t h e g a m e b e g i ns with t he dealer dealing e ach player two ho l e cards cl o c kwi se r o u nd t h e tab le. O n c e th is is c o m p l e t e , the fi rst round of bett i ng starts a n d th in gs b e g i n to ge t int e r e sting!

RO U N D O N E – B E T T I N G At t his point of the g a m e, players m ust careful ly c o n s i der t h e ir hole ca rds and de t e r m in e if t hey ha ve pote nt ial .

B e tti n g co m m e n ces with t h e player to the

i m m ediate le ft of t he big blind pl a y er, a n d fo llo w s clockwi se ro u n d t h e tabl e .

In this bet t in g r o u n d, each pl a y e r , with t h e poss i bl e exc e pt ion of the p layer w h o posted t he bi g blind, m a y e it her c h oose t o fol d ( qu it the g a m e ) , call ( m e e t the bet) or rais e , in creasing the bi g blind to a full bet.

If pl ayers st ill left in the

round ch o o se t o only call t he big blind, then t he pl a yer w h o o r ig in a lly posted the bi g bli n d is the on l y player w h o has the opt ion t o c h e c k ( stay in the g a m e wit h out cal l in g or ra i sing) the ir o w n bl ind. Players w ager u si n g the s m a lle r l e vel of t h e stakes at t he t a b le (N o te: the sec t ion about betting structure

Refer t o

listed above to se e the e x a m pl e about t he

li m its and rules for t he be t ti n g round s ).

ROU N D 2 – THE F LO P By th i s po i nt of the g a m e , the e x cit e m e nt i ncrea s e s as the dea l er d e a ls t he first three co m m u n ity cards face up on t h e board (t he m i dd le of the tab l e) .

Now

pl ayers c a n us e t he se t h ree c o m m u n a l cards i n co m b i na t io n w ith t he ir t w o h o le cards to d e t e r m i ne the i r ha nd p o ss ib ilities.

ROU N D 2 – BE TTING For this ro und, betti ng c o m m e n c e s w ith the fi rst pl ayer closest to the dealers le ft (it does n ’t m at t er if the d e a ler fo l ds, betti n g a lw a y s c o m m ences w i t h the player cl osest to t he ir l eft) a n d co nt i n ues cl ock w i se ro u n d t h e table. Be t ti n g fol lo w s t he s a m e struct u re as i n the first round, w ith pl a yers a b le to f ol d, ca ll, a n d ra ise. The

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first p layer t o m a k e a w a g e r m a y check, a n d if no other r a is e s are made, t he other players m a y check also.

L ike the fir st ro u n d , pl ayers wager usi n g t h e s m a ller level of stakes at t he t a ble.

Ro u n d 3 – T H E T U R N O n c e the se c o n d be t ti n g ro u n d has c o m e to an end, t h e dea ler de a ls t h e f ou rth c o m m u n ity card on t he board.

N o w the g a m e

b e co m es e v en te n ser as t he

pl a yers left i n the g a m e n o w have 6 cards to w o rk w ith.

ROU N D 3 – BE TTING The thi r d betting r o u n d fol l o w s t h e s a m e as t h e s e c o n d be t ti n g ro und, w i t h the ex c e ption that n o w players must w a g er u si n g t h e hi gher level of t h e stak e s at t he table.

R O U N D 4 – THE R I V E R At this point of the g a m e, p a l m s real ly start t o sw e at as the fi fth and final community

card is dealt o n the board.

Pl a yers n o w h ave all 7 cards at t h eir

di s p o s a l, a n d m u s t m a k e t he b e st po s s i ble 5 -c a rd h a nd.

R O U N D 4 – THE F I N A L B E T Bett i ng c o m m e n c e s as it di d in the last r o u n d, w ith the higher level of st akes at the tab l e m aking up the w a g e r .

SHO W DOWN Here it i s, the m o m e nt every pla y e r w a it s for – w hen their blood runs co ld with defeat or p u m p s hot w ith t he v i ctory! Each pl ayer l e ft in t he ha n d s ho w t he ir ca rds, beg i nning w ith the la st p layer to bet and co nti nu i ng in that pa t t e r n. D u ring t he s h o w d o w n pl a yers m a y a lso c h oose t o “ m u c k ” (f ol d o ut o f t he ga m e, w i t h o ut s ho w i n g the ir ca r ds) their hand.

If in t he e v e nt, a player w in s by defa ult, w h ic h m e a n s t ha t every other player i n t he h an d fo l ded, no s ho w d o w n will o c cu r, a n d t he w i nner is gi v en t h e o p t ion to show t h e ir cards or not.

For t h e most part, players ch oose not to s h o w t he ir

w i n ning ha n d, as it adds to th e d r a m a o f the g a m e , and keeps

the ot he r

o p p o n e n t s guessing w h at t he great ha n d was.

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WINI NG TH E P O T 1. T he p layer wi th t he be st ha n d, i n a c c o r d a n ce w ith t h e poker hands li sted in t he “B a si c P o ker R u le s ” se ct i o n o f t hi s b o o k, is d e c la re d t he w i nn e r b y t he co m p uter so ft w a r e , and takes t he pot.

2. If it happ e ns that two play e rs h a v e ide ntical w i n ning hands, t h e y are both declared t h e w i n ners a n d t he pot is spl it e v e nl y bet w e en t h e m .

3. I f the 5 c o m m u nity cards m a k e t he best po s si bl e h a nd, t he pot w ill b e sp l it e v e n ly a m o n g a ll pla yers sti ll left wi t hin t he h a n d .

W h en th i s o c c ur s, it is

k n o w n as “the board pl a ys”.

BETTING LIM ITS AND OT HER FACT S T here a r e th ree d iff e r e nt types of lim it g a m e s y o u can play in Texas H ol d’ e m – 1. F i x e d -L im it 2. Pot -L i mit 3. N o - L i mi t

FIXED LIMIT A fixed lim it g a m e m e a ns that du ring each betti ng ro u n d, limits are placed on the bet s.

T h u s , a $ 4 / $ 8 fixed l i mit table m e ans that d uring t h e f irst t w o r o u n d s of

be t ting the m a x i m u m bet any p layer c a n m a k e is $ 4 , and in the la st two ro u n d s of bet t i ng t he m a x i m u m bet is $ 8 .

D uri n g e a c h r o u n d of betting, on ly three rais e s are all o w e d , a n d e a ch r a ise can not exceed t he bett i ng li m it for t hat r o u nd .

T he r efore, on the first ro u nd the

pl ayer entitled to the first bet m a y fold, ca ll or b e t $4.

T he s e c o n d player, after

the f irst bet h as b e e n m a d e , m a y fo ld, call t h e $4, or ra ise a n o t h e r $4, w h ic h w o u l d m a k e t h e b e t t otal to $ 1 2 .

If a n o t h e r player decid e s t o m a k e o n e m o re

raise, it w o u l d be the t h ird a n d f i nal ra is e for the r o u n d to t aling the bet t o $ 1 6 . A ft er th is r a i se, all the r e m a i n ing players in t he r o u n d may e ither fo l d, or ca ll. T h e s a m e m e t h o d w o r k s f or t he last t w o r o u n d s w ith t h e m a x b et of $ 8 , m a k ing the total bet fo r t hese r o u n ds n o m o r e than $32.

If you are a b e g i nn er pl ayer, or w o u ld li ke t o k e e p y o u r bu dget c a p pe d , playing Texas H o l d’em at a fixed limit t a ble is a g ood i dea, as it will he l p you t o stay in control o v er your l osses a n d i m p r o v e your g a m e before you start t o p lay with the

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bi g fi s h. ( N o te the fixed li mit s t yle ga m e was t he b et ting ex a mple used i n t h e ab o v e T e x a s H o l d’em ru l e s )

POT LIMIT A po t lim it T e xas H o l d’ e m g a m e b e gin s w ith a m i ni m u m b e t d e si g n a t e d by t h e table w hi c h is posted by the bi g bl in d.

H o w e v er, a s the g a m e g e t s u nder w a y ,

pl a y e r s w h o m a k e a r a i se can n o t m a k e o ne s m a ller t han d o u ble t h e a m o u nt of the prev i o us bet, or o ne lar ge r than t h e total m o n e y a m o u nt in t h e pot d u ring a n y time of t he g a m e .

T h u s, if t h ere is $ 1 0 0 in t he p o t a nd t h e pr e v iou s b e t

before yours is $20, t han the m in i m u m raise you co u ld m a k e is $ 4 0 , and the m a x i m u m rai se w o u l d b e $ 1 00.

T he onl y e x c e pt io n to t his pot lim it be tt in g ru l e is the a ll -in . A n all - in is w h e n a pl ayer ch ooses t o w a g e r all of hi s or her r e m a ini n g c hi ps.

F or e x a m p le, s h o uld a

pl ayer ch o o s e to w a g e r all t h e ir c hi p s as a rai se, b ut the to t a l a m o unt of t he ir ch i ps is s m aller t h a n t h e m i ni m u m b e t , t h e i r w a g e r will sti ll c ount, b e c a u se t h e pl a yer has no more c h i ps to o f fer.

As far as pot li m it g a m e g oes, t here is m u c h m o r e flex i bil it y w h e n it co m e s t o be t tin g , c o m p a re d to a fixed li mit g a m e .

Furt h e r m ore, pla y e r s have m o r e lib e rty

to use str a tegies t hat inv o lve blu f fin g, a n d m o r e reason,

pot

li mit

g a m es

a p p r e h e n sive players.

aren’t

a lw a y s

t he

best

risk y t e c hn i ques. cho ice

for

For

this

begi n ners

or

Ho w ever, i f you are d e t e r m in e d to giv e it a go, try to

e nt e r a pot li m it g a m e w h e r e t h e b uy -i n i s re a so n a bly l o w .

NO LIMIT L ike t he p ot lim it Te xas H o ld ’e m g a m e , t he o n ly t i m e a no lim it g a m e is des i gnated b y a w ager at the t a ble is t h e m i n i m u m b et w h ich is posted by the big bl in d .

After this i nit ia l bett ing tak es place, the m i n i m u m raise graduates

d o u b le the a m o u n t of t he prev i o us b e t . m a x i m u m r ai se is a ll t he c hi ps y o u ha v e .

to

Ho w e v e r, unlike pot li m it g a m e s , t h e T his m e an s t ha t i n a no l i mit g a m e ,

pl ayers c a n w a ger all of t h e ir chips a t a n y poi nt du ring t h e g a m e .

P layers c a n

raise as m u c h as t h e y like, as lo n g as it d o e s n ot e x c e e d t he ir total n u m b e r of chips, and it is d o u ble t h e a m o u n t of t he last bet.

If p layers choose t o go all -in, or if t h e y run o ut of chips t h ey c a n not be “b et o u t ” of a h a n d, ju st as in t h e pot limit g a m e .

H o w e v e r, if a play e r runs out o f t he ir

chi ps b e fore t h e g a m e i s f i nis h e d, a “s i d e p o t” is establ is hed if there is m o r e than one p l ayer w it h chips still r e m a in ing in t h e hand.

T he play e rs w h o h a v e no m o re

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chips, or w h o h a v e gone al l -in c a n not win a n y more than t h e a m o u nt that they are “ in ” for.

Th at is w h y t he si d e pot is created for t h e r e m a inin g pla y e rs w ith

ch i ps ( Note, this al s o a p p lies to p o t l im i t g ames ) . T here is n o q uest i on that t h e n o li m it g a m e is t he most e x c iting of all lim it games, however,

usually o n ly pro f e s si o nals par t ic i p a te i n no li m it g a m e s

b e c a us e the

stakes a r e so hi g h , a n d you need e x ce ptio nal sk i ll in order to w in t he pot. In fact it is the

no

li m it style

game

that

is us e d

in The

W o rl d Series

of Poker

c h a m p i o ns h ip t o ur na m e nt .

It is esse ntial that y o u choose t h e li m it g a m e that is m o s t s uita b le t o y o ur skills as a player.

A l w a y s k n o w the t y p e of g a m e you are playi n g as well as t h e sta k es

in v o lved at a table befo re jo in in g t he g a m e . t he better th e p layers you are u p agai n st.

U s u a lly the h ig h er t h e stakes are, Take it sl o w a n d stick t o f ix e d limit

g a m e s befo r e you de ci de to take bi g ri s k s .

THE RAKE Ju st like liv e cas i nos, the vast m a j or it y of o n line poker r o o m s in clude rakes with their g a m e s . A rake i s a pro f it the h ou se m a k e s fr o m a percentage of m o n e y t h at is taken from t he p o t .

In s o m e case s , the per c entage of the ra k e m a y b e a

pre d e t e r m in e d a m o un t, w h il e i n ot h e r cases it m a y d e pe n d on t he si ze of t he pot. T herefo r e, f i nd o ut if t h ere is a rake a n d h o w it w orks at t h e o n lin e c a s in o or poker site of your choos i n g .

ANTE A lt h o u g h

rare,

in

so m e

onli n e

Texas

H o l d’ e m

tournaments, players are requi re d to pl a c e an ante.

ga m es,

e spe cial ly

du r ing

A n ante is a s p e ci fi c a m ount

of m o n e y w h i c h each pl ayer must p ut into t h e pot before the st a rt of e v ery ga me. Unl ik e the bl inds however, the a nt e is no t recognized as a bet du r ing t he h a nd. H o w e v e r , regar d less if t here h a p p e ns to b e a n ante or not, bli nds are sti ll posted in H o l d ’ e m g a m e s.

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Alright, s o n o w t h a t y o u k n o w ho w t o play T e x a s H o ld’em, a n d a r e a w a re o f t h e d i ffere nt s ta k e s involved, it’s t im e to learn s t r a t e g ie s s o t h a t y o u c a n de v e lo p th e s k ills to be t h e last p la y e r s ta nd i ng a ft e r s h o w do w n

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TEXAS HOLD’EM STRATEGIES T h e r e are m a n y stra t e gies that y o u c a n le a rn w h en pl a y in g Texas H o l d’ e m , and d ue to t he fact t hat t he re are so m a n y , f o r t he pu rpose of t his g uide w h at y o u wi l l find are the es s e ntial t ips a n d tact i cs y o u s h o u ld k e e p i n m in d w h en pl a y in g . A fter all, b ec o ming a good H o ld ’e m player is about

using y o ur str a tegies

to

deter m ine w h e n you s h ould “ h o ld ’ e m ” or “fol d’e m ”.

Knowing

w he t h er you s h o u ld f o ld or stay in the h a n d is based on two v it al

factors: 1 . the 5 c o m m un it y cards 2 . the 2 ho le c ards

In other words, t h e strategies you use a r e li nk e d t o your t w o ho le cards, b e cause t he y de t e r m i ne t h e p o t e nt i a l of y o ur st art i ng h a nd, as well as the c o m m u n ity cards, b e c a u se t h e y a re apart of y o u r s a n d every other players poss i bl e v i cto ry. Thus, eval u ati n g your Hold ’e m g a m e t a kes pract ice, a n d t h e decisions you w ill m a k e du ri ng e ach h a n d w ill d e p e n d on d ifferent factors such a s:

’

Y o u r st ar t i n g hand

’

Th e n u mber of playe r s in t he g a m e

’

T he co m m u n it y cards

’

H o w high th e li mit g a m e is

’

Etc .

N e v e rt he le ss, d e sp ite th e n u m b e r of p la y e r s or h o w hi gh the stak e s are, it is y o ur starti ng ha nd w h i c h is t h e major k e y t o your s u rviva l.

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PLA YABLE ST ART ING HANDS In total t h ere are 1 6 9 po ss i ble start in g ha nd s , b ut f or t he p u rpos e o f thi s g u ide you will only find t h o s e st a rt i ng ha n d s w hi ch provide you with t h e be st c h a n c e of w in n ing. To g iv e you a better u n derstand i n g of the most ef fect i v e w a y to use the start i ng hands listed below, here are s o m e helpf u l g ui d elines for y o u to fo llow:

’

Starting

ha n d s that a re blue cons i st of the top t en sta rt i ng ha n ds, and

in dicate t h at these hands can be r a i sed a n d r e - ra is e d at a ny t ime d uring the ga me .

’

Starting ha n d s that a r e green i nd i cate t h at it is best to ca l l t h ese h a n d s early in t h e g a m e , a nd t hen p roce e d to rai s e m i d w a y a n d late in t h e h a n d .

’

Starting h a nds that a re o ra n g e in dicate that it is in y ou r best i nterest to ca ll in the m i ddle and late portion of the g a m e .

’

Starting ha n d s t h at a re pu r ple s h o ul d be called o nly w h e n y o u are in t he l a t e portion of t he g a m e .

’

A = A c e, K = King, Q= Queen, J = Jack a nd 10 - 2 = n u m er i cal card value a n d m = m a tching s uit.

STARTING HANDS: A n y p a ir - they p ro v i de you with t h e poss i bility of high p a ir, t w o pai r , t hr ee of a kin d, f u ll h o u s e a n d four of a k i nd.

N at u ra lly the hi g he r t he p a ir you

start with t he b e t t er off you are -

*

A - A, K - K, Q - Q, J - J

*

1 0 - 10 , 9 - 9 , 8 - 8

*

7 - 7 6 - 6, 5 -5, 4 - 4 , 3 - 3, 2 - 2

A n y hi g h card a c c o m p a n i e d b y a n other o f t h eir m a tching suit – Th ese starting h a n ds h ave the potenti a l o f ac h ie v i n g a high pa ir, t hree of a k in d, flush, a st raight or a straight flush.

Depending

on t heir a r r a n g e m e n t

a ny

su ited A , K, O r Q h a v e pot e ntial flush possib ilit ie s.

*

A - K m , A - Q m , A - J m, A - 1 0 m , A - 9 m , A - 8 m , A - 7 m , A - 6 m, A - 5 m , A 4 m , A-3 m , A-2 m

*

K-Qm, K-J m , K-10m, K-9 m , K-8 m , K-7m, K-6m, K-5 m , K-4 m , K-3m, K-2 m

*

Q -Jm, Q -10 m , Q -9m, Q -8 m , Q -7m, Q -6 m , Q -5m, Q -4 m , Q -3m, Q -2 m

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*

J - 1 0 m , J - 9 m, J -8 m , J - 7 m , J - 6 m , J - 5 m

*

1 0 - 9 m , 10 - 8 m , 1 0 - 7 m , 1 0 - 6 m

A n y hi g h ca r d with a n o t her u nsuited high c a r d – T h e se star t i ng hands ha ve t h e pot e nt i a l o f ach i e v in g a h igh p a i r o r st ra i g ht .

(N ote: it is a good

idea to on ly play the combinat ion of u n su ited ca rds if their val u e tota l s to 21 or m ore.)

*

A - K, A - Q, A - J , A - 1 0, A - 9

*

K-Q , K-J, K-10, K-9

*

Q -J, Q -10, Q -9

*

J - 10, J- 9

*

10 -9

L o w c a rd a c c o m p a n i ed by any other l o w card of ma t c h i n g s uit – T h e o nl y p o t e nt i a l t hese car d s have is t h e m a y

a c h ieve a po s s ible fl u sh or

stra i ght, b e c a use they are connected b y s uit.

*

9 - 8 m , 9 - 7 m, 9 -6 m

*

8 - 7 m , 8 - 6 m, 8 -5 m

*

7 -6m, 7 -5 m

*

6 -5m, 6 -4 m

*

5 -4m, 5 -3 m

*

4 -3m

You should fold if you have any starting hand that is not found in the above list. It is im portant t hat you rea lize w hen pla y in g T e xa s H old’ e m yo u will end up foldi ng prior to the flop m os t of the t im e . T his is becau s e y ou will like ly exper ie nce freq uen t , terri b le starting ha n ds on a re gu la r ba sis s uch as 2– 7 or 3-8. D on’t let this discou ra ge you. Y ou ne ed patie nce w h e n it c o m e s to p lay ing H old’e m , so don’t ex pect to w in e very ga m e y ou p a ly or you’ll on ly e nd up losi ng a ll of your chips. K e e p in m ind that although a strong starti ng hand is a good s ign, and inc reases your ch a nces of nabbi n g the po t, a lwa ys be pre pared to fold if your hand fails to im prove, becau s e m ore th a n likely anot he r p la yer alre a dy ha s the be tte r card s .

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FOLD’EM AND BLUFF ’EM Kno w ing w h e n a n d w h e n

not to fo l d or bl u ff d uri ng a H o l d’em g a me t a k e s

e x perience, a n d t he only w a y y o u are goi n g t o gain that is t o practice a n d play freq uently.

H o w e v e r , k n o w i n g h o w t o m i n i m i ze your lo ss e s a n d m a x i mize your

wi n n i ngs is all about kno w ing the right t i m e to be t , ca l l, rai s e , che c k or fo l d.

F or i nstan c e , if y o u w a nt t o cut your loss e s, fold d uring t he pr e flop if y o u d o not have a strong star t i ng h a n d . potentia l , the

l o nger

you

O n the o t he r h and, if y o u’re starti n g hand has

stay

in t he g a m e

a n d ra ise

the

bar,

th e

more

opportu nity you have to get the o ther pla y e rs to k e e p adding m oney to t he pot; thus m axi m i zi ng your possible vic t or y .

T h e a b o v e f old i n g tip so u n ds obvious a n d per h a ps y o u m a y e v e n t hi n k it t o be easy, b ut t he t ru th is , fo l di n g is s o m e t i m e s di ffi c ult f or p la y e r s , espec i al ly for those players w h o h a v e little p a t ience a n d a lot or pri d e.

To help y o u decide

w h e n t o fo ld a s k y o urs e l f t h e se qu es t i o n s:

1. Do I curren t ly have potentially one of the be st hands according to the number of players i n the g a m e ? 2. Do I have e n ough fai t h in m y hand t o take on t h e other pl a y e r s’ pers o nalities? 3. Is my hand w o r t h t he current w a g e r ?

A lt ho u gh y o u ’ll n ever kn o w t h e exact a n sw ers to t hese q uest i o n s, t h e w h o l e p o int of asking t he m is so t hat y ou w ill f ollow y o ur gut in st in ct and do w h a t y ou feel is best for t h e pre se nt g a m e , and y o u r bu d g e t .

B a sical ly, asking

y o u rself t hese

three q u e stions is li ke g iv i ng y o u r se lf a b it of a rea lity check. F urt h e r m o r e, t he re are t e chni cally t w o partic ul ar r o u n ds in H o l d’em w h ere fo l di n g ne e d s to be co n si dered ser i o u sly, t h e P r e f lop a n d the Turn.

The pre flop g ives you

an i ndica t i o n of y o ur potential vic t ory w ith y o ur starti n g hand, so if it d o e s n’t l o ok good, y ou c an fo ld q uick ly o ut o f t h e ga m e a n d cut your losses e a r ly.

T h e t ur n,

on t h e o t h e r hand, is y our last ch a n ce t o fold be fore y ou put your fi n al c hips in the pot for t h e last round.

Thus, if you re ach t he t u r n and all of your co nf i dence

in your hand has run dry, y o u can sti l l c ut y our losses by s k i pp i ng out on the s h o w d o w n.

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BLUFFING The w h o le po in t to b luffing is to t ri ck t he o t h e r player ( s ) int o bel ie v i n g you have the best ha n d. T h e reason y o u w a n t t o do t his is so that players w ill fold out of the g a m e a n d y o u c a n w i n t he po t.

S o u n ds pret t y strai ght f o r w a r d doesn’t it?

S u re it does, but li ke everythi n g e l se i n lif e , a n y t h i n g that s o u n d s easy r a r e ly e v er is. After all, do you actually t h in k t here w o u l d b e so m a n y strategies out t h e re if g a m b li ng w a s that si m ple? do y o u achie v e th is skill?

Of co urse not, a n d that’s w hy it takes skil l. A n d how

Exper i ence!

SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK If y ou are a ble to ch eck in the g a me, take a d v a nt a g e of t his op portunity.

Why?

W e ll, if it h a p p e n s that y o u are st ill in t he g a m e after the f lop, h a v e a n O . K. ha n d, a n d are t h e first pers o n t o bet, y o u ca n c h e c k a n d h o pe that the o t her players fol l o w s u it . If y o ur pl a n w o r ks, y o u w ill be a b le t o m a k e it t o the ne xt r o u nd a n d ge t a n o t h e r card w it h o ut ha v i ng to lose a ny m ore of y o ur chips.

Checki n g c a n a l so w o rk to your b l uff i ng advantage if y o u ha v e a stro n g ha n d. F o r in stanc e , if y o u h a v e a strong h a n d a n d y o u c h o o s e t o c h e ck instead of r a ising m id w a y th ro u gh t h e g a m e, t he other pl a y e rs m a y be t r icked in to t h in k i ng t hat your hand is w e a k e r than it actu a l ly is. In a d d it i o n, if y o u be li eve t h at your h a n d i s like l y t he b e st of a ll t h e players after t he fl op, a t t his time it i s usu a l ly a g o o d i dea t o c he c k /raise.

C he ck /ra i se m e a ns

t hat you check w h e n e v er you get t h e o p p o rtunity, a n d ra i se if you are b et i nto. O n t he flip side of the coi n, s h o u l d y o u fe e l t hat y o ur h a nd isn’t strong e n o u g h you c a n c heck/ f o ld, w hich m e a n s you check i f y o u get the c h a n ce, a n d f o ld if y o u are bet into.

A bove al l, y ou ne e d to re m e m be r tha t when it c o m e s down to it folding is often your best option as it allows y ou to co ntr o l your m one y, g iving y ou t he c ha nce to really nail yo ur go lden op p ortunity o nc e it f inally c om e s yo ur w a y. Hence, s pe nd less t ime obsessing o ver w in n ing e very ga m e , and use yo ur focus on a good ha n d to m a x im ize its p ote ntial and win the pot.

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10 ESSENTI A L TIPS A ND TACTICS : 1. I f y o u r t w o h o l e c a rd s a re a lo w pa i r, be c a u ti ous o f h o w yo u play . It is a good idea t o on l y stay in the hand if t he bett i ng is low.

As the g a m e

co ntinu e s, if y ou fi nd you do n ’t ha v e a 3 of a kind or two pairs, it is usu a lly in your best interest to fo l d.

2. D o n ’ t m a k e t h e m istake of fol d ing t o o q u ick l y. R E M E M B E R , if y ou find e v e r y o ne is c h eck in g, stay i n t he g a m e a nd c h o o s e t o c h e c k a lso; t h e refo re you can m ove on to the next ro u n d w ithout h a v i ng to put in a n y m ore m o ne y in t he p o t.

Af t e r al l, t h e ne xt ro u n d m a y p ro v i de y ou r h an d w it h t he ca r d

you’ve b e e n waiting fo r.

3. As e ar l y as t h e sec o n d r o u n d o f b e tti n g ( a fter t h e fl op) y o u w ill h a v e 5 c a r d s t o w o rk w it h, giving y ou a good id e a of ju st how stro ng y o ur fin a l ha n d w i l l l o o k l ik e , w it h o ut p utti ng y ou t o m u ch in t h e ho l e. ca r e ful ly c o n s ider your odds and d e c i de w h e t h e r

At t h is time,

it is best to stay in t he

g a m e, or qu it w h i le you’re ahead. 4. D o n ’ t pla y at tables t h a t y o u k n o w y o u c a n ’ t a ff o r d to lose. N ot o nl y will t his a f fect t he way you p lay, m a k i n g you m ore anxio u s and li a b le t o m a k e fo o l is h m istakes, but high -stakes tab l es ge n eral l y appeal t o s k illed pl ayers.

5. I f y o u h a v e a str o ng st a rti n g h a n d, pl a y a g g r e s sively

during

the

prefl o p a n d try to w e e d o u t a s m a n y pl a yers as yo u can w h o h a v e we ak h an ds.

T his w ill stop t he m from gett in g l u cky d u ri n g t he fl op. I n

additi o n it w i ll e n s u r e that players w h o t hin k t h e y h a v e a s h ot a t w i n n ing to p ut m o r e m o ney in t he pot. 6.

W a tch o u t for flops t hat a re i n consec u ti v e seq u e n c e such as 6 - 7 - 8, bec a u se even if y o u h a ve a hi g h pair t here is a h igh probability that another player w ill m a k e a straight.

7. S o m etim e s bei n g c a ug h t bluffing c a n w o rk o u t in y our favou r. W h ile ge t t in g c a u g ht m ay not b e your pri m a r y goal, it w ill m a k e it harder fo r your

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o p p o n e nts to g u e ss y o ur n ex t m o v e .

N on e t h e l e s s, y o u s ho u ldn’t a lways

bl uf f to try a n d fake o ut your player s, e v e n tu ally a really good player will catch on a n d e n d up t a ki n g a ll of your c hips. 8. C a refully s t u d y y our fe llow o p p one n t s. P a y a t tention to t he m o v e s t hey m a k e du r ing the g a m e . ra i se or bluff?

H o w a n d w h e n do t he y bet, ca l l, fo l d, call, c heck,

Do t h e y t a k e t h eir time w h e n it is their turn to m a k e a m o v e

or do they act qu i ckly?

E v e n though players t e n d t o ju m p a r o u nd fr o m table

to tab le onli n e, if y o u fr e q u e nt a certa i n table often, y o u will co m e to k n o w the t y pe of players that fi lter through.

N e v e r forget – y ou can alwa y s le arn

something fr o m others.

9.

Keep a wa t c hful eye o n t h e high s t a k e s t a b l es, as t h e y u s u a lly d r a w m ore e x p e rienc e d a n d p r o fess i o n al p l ayers.

By studying the actions of

the se pl ayers d u ri ng the g a m e , y o u w i l l g a i n a b e t t er i dea of w h a t s e p a ra t e s the pros from the a r m ature a n d m e diocre players.

T his is a n excelle nt

o p p ortunity so m ake sure y o u ta k e notes! 10 . I f y o u a re learning h o w to play Te x a s Hol d ’ e m a t t h e fun t a bles, don ’ t fa ll into t h e tr a p of s h rugg i ng o ff the g a m e s because

the

m o n e y is n ’t rea l. This care less att itude will only cause y ou t o d e v e lop bad ha b its. Ins t ead, p la y as if your c hi ps are t h e re al thi n g, y o u’ ll d e v e l op gr eat st ra t e g ies fr o m th is.

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HELPFUL ONLI NE POKER STRATEGY TOOLS D i d y o u k no w that y o u c o u l d b e mis s ing o ut on a ll the onl i ne H o l d’em excit e m en t , and a c h ance at w i nn i n g the pot simply bec a use y o u do n ’t k n o w w h e n t he o d ds are in your f a v o r?

C a n y ou honestly af f o rd t o let the other pla y ers o ut do y o u

just be c a u se th e y have t h is a d v a n t a g e ? O f co urse not, a nd that ’ s w h y you n e e d to level the p laying fie l d.

In s h o rt, w h at m a ny o nline play e rs have is a poker

odds cal cu lator, a n d t h at is exac tly w h a t y ou n e e d t o i m p r o v e y o ur online poker pl a y in g a bi lit ies .

W h e t her y o u like it o r no t, ma t he m a t i cs pla ys a la rg e ro l e in poker, be c a u se it is through ca lcula t ing the odds t hat you c a n m ak e i de al d e c is io ns o f fo ld in g, c a l ling or raisi n g d uri n g a H o ld ’ e m g a m e .

If math w a s n’t y o ur fav o rite s u bj e ct i n s c ho o l

and t he v e r y m ention o f it has m ade y o u w a n t t o r u n scre a ming, d o n’t w o r r y , you don’t h a v e to b e a m a t h e m a tician in o r d e r t o w in at p o k e r.

You will find th a t

there are m a ny helpful str a t e g y tools t ha t have b een d e s ig n e d t o w o r k o ut the odds for you. There are di ffe r e n t p r o g r a m s that y o u can ob t a i n w h ich will a l lo w y o u t o i m pr o v e u pon t he v a lu e of your o nlin e poker e x p e ri e nc e .

T h e v ast m a j ori t y w i ll r e q u ir e

you t o fork out s o m e of your ha rd e a r n e d ca s h but t hey are po w erful t o o ls if y o u use t h e m w e ll.

Here

at

Pok e r

Rewar d s

we

de cid e d

to

take

a

c lose

lo ok

at

t he

best

po k e r cal c ul ato r s on t he market a n d ex t e ns ive ly su rv e y e d o u r pl ayers to s e e exa ct l y what fea t u res they would lik e to see in a poker cal c ula t or.

T he re sp o n s e w a s s o ove r w h e l m in g w e d e c i ded t o bu il d o u r o w n ca l c ul ator based on o u r res e arch. After h u n d r e ds o f m a n hours a n d m a n m a ny t ho u s a n d s

of

do ll ars w e reckon w e e n d e d up w ith a g reat poker cal c u lator w ith s o m e rea lly powerful features to i m p r o v e you play. W h a t ’s m o re w e have d e c i ded to o f fer

it

to you for free! Yep that’s ri ght, 1 0 0 % free, wi t h no strin gs att a c h ed.

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PARAGON POKER PAL P a ra g o n P o k e r Pal is o ne of the o riginal onl i ne poker odds calcul ator s . ext r e m e l y p o p ular as it is c o m p at i ble w ith o v e r 1 0 0 o n li ne poker r o o m s .

It is

It works

with Texas H o l d ’ e m , 7 Card Stud, O m a h a a n d v arious other poker ga m e sty l e s . F urt h e r m o r e, t hi s e x c e ll e nt tool feat u res:

Personal se t tings – a llo w i n g the player to set up t h e ca l cu l ator so that it works with the i r st y l e of p laying as well as their accuracy. Storage S p a c e – all o ws t h e pla y er t o store hi story of t he past hands t h ey pl a y e d s o t h at t h ey c a n l ook b a c k a nd st u dy t he s e h a n ds t o s e e w he re t h ey w ent w ro ng a nd ho w the y can i m p rov e. O v e r 1,0 0 0, 0 0 0 card stat i st i c va r ia t ions. P r o v i des adv ice to the pla y er du ri ng t he g a m e based on the perce nt a ge accumulated of the ca lc ulated odds.

TEXAS CALCULATEM L ike P a r a g o n P o k e r Pal, th i s i s a strat e gy calculator that is ideal for on l ine T e x a s Hold’ e m play and is c o mpatible wi t h a l m o st a ll i nter n e t poker r o o m s .

It c o m e s

co m p let e w ith tab le a n d odds c harts and has m a y o t her c o n v e n ie nt features w h ic h i nc l ud e s :

R e v e a lin g the exact o d ds d u ri n g g a m e pla y A u t o m a t ica l ly watching y o ur g a m e Pr o v i din g you wi th h e l p f ul a dv ice o n w h e ther or no t it w o u ld be in y o u r best int e r e st to fo l d, c a l l o r rai s e .

Here is a bas i c idea of h o w the odds c a lc u lators w o r k w h e n used i n a g a m e of Ho l d’ e m .

To beg i n w it h , these d e v ices k n o w that b e fore the start o f e v e r y

hol d’ e m ga m e, e a c h pl aye r ha s a 1 in 5 (2 0 % ) cha n ce o f w i n n in g .

A ft e r t h e

pref l op, t h e tool w i ll then inform t he pla y e r of their possi bl e c h a n c e s of w i nning the pot. If the calculator reveals to the p la y er that he or s h e has less than a 2 0 % chance of w i n n ing, t his is a sign that t h e odds are strongly against t h e m , a n d is a good indica t i on t h at he or sh e s h o uld fo ld.

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Y o u s h o uld k e e p in mind, however, that a lt h o u gh the a d v i ce provided to y o u by Poker R e w a r ds Calcu l a tor , a n d the others, are as a ccurate as po ssible, d o n’t forget that these strate g y too ls a r e st ill calcu l ato rs, and they can not t e l l you w h e n or h o w to b l uff. F ur t h e r m o r e, a lw a y s re l y in g on y o u r ca lcu l a t or will eventual ly catch up wi t h you, and reveal to t h e other players your str a ig ht - pla y in g st ra t e g y .

Tha t b e in g t he

case, w h a t can e n d u p ha p peni n g is pl a y e r s w il l fo ld w h e n e v er t h ey s ee y o u m a k e a rai se. In other w o r d s , don’t always do w h a t the calc ul ator suggests, es p e cially once you g a i n a b et t e r gr a sp o n t he H o ld’ e m g a m e .

Yo u ne e d to k e e p the o t he r

pl ayers g u e s s i ng w h a t you will do next, b e c a u s e it not on ly g ives you the chance to d e v elop your o w n strategie s , bu t it m a k e s th e g a m e m o re e x c it i ng! A poker odds calc u la t or is a must for y o ur onli n e poker g a m e s that i nvolve real m o ne y . Without a doubt, t h e P o k er R e w a r ds C a lc ul a tor i s a v a l u a bl e t e a c hi n g tool for a ny o ne w h o w a n t s t o learn t h e fu n d a m e ntals of poker g a m e strate g y – a n d it’s 1 0 0 % free t o o u r players!

Furt h e r m ore, t h e on line poker envi ro n m e nt is

one t hat is fast m o v i ng , m a k i ng it e v e n m o r e e ssential for y o u to h a v e a poker odds calcu lator as y o ur ally.

A s ide from t he odds calc ulators, t here are o t her online poker programs, s uch a s pl ayer p r o fili ng a n d track i ng software, w h i c h s o m e p layers u s e to he l p t h e m w ith their g a m e .

O ne s u c h tr a ck in g pr o g r a m is P o k er Tr a cke r.

POKER TRACKER Th i s c o m p ut e r pr o g r a m i s d if fe r e nt th a n t he odds ca l cu l ator b e c a u s e it saves d ata on yours a nd your o p p o n e nt s’ h a n d h isto r y, and is compatible with a f e w of t he poker g a me styles i n cl ud in g Texas H o l d ’em.

S o m e of the Poker t ra c ker features

in cl u de:

You c a n tr a ck your g a m e s on m o re t h an one poker site.

This allows y o u to

keep an eye on ring g a m e s ( n o n-t o u r n a m ent g a m e s that can last for hours or d a y s a n d pl ayers c a n enter or leav e t h e g a m e at a ny t i m e t he y w i sh as l o ng a s t h ey st i ll ha v e m o n ey to b uy b a ck it) o r t ou r na m e nt g a m e .

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Track

the

st a rting

ha n ds you

o btain

and

look

at t he n u m b e r

of ha nd

c o m b inations y o u rece i ve to d iscover h o w m a ny t imes you are a bl e t o reach the fl op, fold, ra i se a n d w i n m o n e y .

Track each opponent

y ou p la y a gainst to discove r w h o you w o n t h e m ost

a m o u n t of m o ne y fr o m , as w e ll as w h o has w o n t h e most from you.

Y o u can

also k e e p detailed n o tes of each pl ayer, w hich will help you fi n d o ut how often a n d w h e n t h e y m a k e it past t he preflop a n d flop, as w e ll as w h en t hey fo l d, ca ll , ra i se, c h e c k /raise, c heck/ fold and reach t he s h o w do w n.

Rep l ay your ha n ds, t h e ent ire g a m in g sess ion, or the c o m p l e t e tou r n a m e nt gr a p h ic a lly .

A s you c a n se e , pok e r track e r is a nifty progr a m that can r e ally h e lp y o u g a in a good u nde r s t a n d ing of the w a y you a n d your other o p p o nents play H old ’em. W h en u se d to y o ur advantage, y o u can l e a r n m a ny th i ngs from this e x c e ll ent tea c hi ng too l .

Are any of these programs considered cheating? It may sound su r pr is i ng, bu t the se pr o g r a m s are not cons i dered ch e at i ng too l s. In r e s p e ct to the odds ca l cu l ator softwar e , us ing these de v i ces is no di ffe rent then relying on a c a lc ul a t or to add, s u btract, m u ltiply a n d d ivide f o r y o u on a m ath te st.

A lt h o u g h t h ese strate gy calc u lato r s do provide y o u w i t h infor m ation o n t he

best pr o b abi l it i es b a s e d o n your h a nd a n d y o u r other opponents’

(depending

on

the tool y o u us e ) , they do n ot pr o v id e y o u w ith e xtra t urns, cards, or the ability to se e a n o t he r play e r’s hand.

In short, odds c a lc ul ators r a ndomly w o r k out the

probabilities of your ca r ds, nothing m ore. That

bei n g sai d , in r egar d s t o ce rt a i n pl ayer

pro f il ing

prog ra m s

(with

t he

e x c e ption o f poker tracker, as its purpo s e is t o t r a c k every o p p o n e nt you h a ve pl a y e d as y o u’ve p la y e d t he m ) , t here a r e in creasi n g de b a tes on w he t h e r or n ot s o m e of th e se p r o g r a m s should b e allowed in o nline poker r o o m s. The reason

is because

some

programs

allow

t he tracker

to study

t he other

o p p o n e nt t h rough the u se of a p r o gr a m t h a t fol lo w s the pl a y e r be in g t racked f rom

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table to t a ble.

T h e s e programs re co r d the players pl aying sty l e, a n d the tracker

g a i ns all of t h is info r m at ion w it h out ever having t o p la y that p a rtic u lar pl a yer repe a tedly in order t o c o m e t o this c o n cl us i on on t heir o w n . T h us, s o m e b e lieve that the pl a yers w h o a r e being constantly tr a ck e d are given an unf a ir advantage w h e n fa c e d against the player w h o has t racked them, as the tracker already has a good idea when the other pl a y e r will fo l d, call, raise or b l uf f.

Current l y player profiling so ftware is not illega l , but t here is n o q ue st i on that the use of s u ch programs is sne aky, and tak e s t he fun a nd e x c it e m e n t out of the jo y of t ruly ou t w itt in g your fellow o p p o n e nts a n d winn i ng the pot.

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THE ONLINE POKE R APPROA C H Pla y in g po k e r o n line is vast l y diff e re nt t ha n playing it live.

P l a y e r s are constantly

j u m p i n g a ro u nd from t able t o tabl e , w h i c h m e a n s y o u ha v e t o learn ho w t o k eep u p with the f ast p a c e o nline poker env i ronment, for cing y o u to a d o p t a different approach t h an y ou w o u ld if y o u w e r e playing p oker live.

Pok e r , re g a rd l e s s w here y o u pla y it, i s u ltimately a b out psycho l ogy a n d how you use it to gain the advantage

ove r your o p p o n e nt s .

F o r i n stance,

during H o l d’em the winner rarely has an i m pressive hand. a low pai r , such as a pair of 8 ’s.

m a n y ti m es

Oft e n a pl a y e r w i n s b y

The po i nt is it d o e s n ’t m at t er if you don’t have

an e x c e l le nt h a n d, all that mat t er is t h at it is better t han eve ry o ne e ls e ’s!

So h o w do y o u ach i eve t he ideal o n lin e poker a p p r o a ch t h at p uts y o u a step above t he a v e r a ge Jo e ?

A si de fro m p r a ct ice, here are s o m e a s pec t s y o u s h ould

keep i n m i n d a n d a p p l y to your g a m e s :

AVOID DISTRACTIONS It m ay not have o c c urred to you but many players a re dist r act e d w he n they pl ay poker onl i ne. For i nstance, while p laying, m a n y players o ften:

*

play two t a bles at once

*

read or wri t e e m ails

*

watch T V

*

ta lk on the p h one

*

work

*

or busy th e m se l ves w ith other matters

H a v e you e v er found y ourself mul t itasking while pl a ying p oker o nl ine?

It’s e asy

to do is n’t it? H o w e v e r, w h e t h e r y o u’ ve rea liz e d it or no t t h e s e dist ra ctions h a v e a n e ga t ive e ff e ct on y o ur g a m e , be ca us e y o u r mi n d is bu sy try in g t o fo c u s o n t o o m any thin gs at once.

R e m e m be r, if you are pl a nning o n i m p r o v ing your game

and w i nnin g , you n eed to ta k e po ke r s e ri o usl y , and to do that your f ull at t e nt i o n is required. In addi t i o n, k e e p on t h e look out for pl ayers w ho m a y appear d istracte d, you can use th e ir scatt e re d m i nd t o your a dvantag e . Pr e ss ur e th e m to fo ld e ar l y , or d r a g them f u rther into t he ha n d so t h e y w ill a d d m o r e m o ney t o the pot.

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NAMES WITHOUT FACES A lt ho u gh you have the freed o m t o m a k e a n y fac i al e x p r e s s ion you w o uld like w h en pl ayi ng onli n e p o k e r , as n o o n e e l se c a n see y o u, t his i s both to y o ur advantage freed o m.

a nd

di sad v a n t a g e

b e cause

y o ur

other

o p p o nents

also

ha v e this

S i nce no pl ayer can see their o p p o n e nt, s o m e pl ayers b e co m e ca re le ss

and will bl uff to t h e point of fool is h n es s, b e c a u se t h ey do n ’t h ave a n y o n e to stare them down. H o w e v e r , just b e c a u s e pl ayers f re q uent ly b l uff o n lin e, y o u ca n’t a lw a y s a ss u me eve ry o p p o n e n t y o u a re up again st i s pulli n g a fast o n e on you.

That b e in g sa i d ,

there will b e t i m e s w e r e y o u will h a v e to call or raise more often t h a n y o u p r e fer, es pecially w h e n f a ced against those p layers w h o are d e s pera t e to w in t he pot e v e ry h and.

In t h e lo ng run, if y o u find pla y e r s freq ue n t ly bl u ff ing a nd y ou have

a rela t ively decent hand, its best to call, as m a ny online poker players find this a far m o re r e w a r d i n g ta ck then c o n stant ly m a k i n g a rai s e .

STATE OF MIND (MENTAL CONTROL) Your state o f m i nd is k e y to your success w h e n pla y ing o nl i ne poker. control you h a v e influences

the way y o u play.

The mental

W h en you a re foc u sed on the

g a m e at ha n d, you will l e a r n about the other players, l ik e ly hand probab i lit i e s , and qui c k ly d is co v er opport u nit i es t h at all o w you to ga in t he u pper ha n d over your f ell o w opponents.

A p layer w i t h a c o ntr o lled s ta te o f m i n d is o n e w h o:

*

K e e ps t h eir foc u s, a n d co ntro l s t h e ir e m o t ion s w hen faced with defeat.

*

Does not b e c o m e defe ns ive w h en t he y c o m p e t e.

*

H as confide nce in t heir a bilities a n d le ts t he o t her pl a y e rs k n o w th i s when they play.

*

D o e s not l e t oth e r pla y e rs gain t h e u p p e r h a nd b y let t i ng th e ir o p po n e nts ps y c he them out.

*

Remains

p o sitive.

R egardless

how

u n f a v orable

y o u r ha nd

may

be,

Getting fru strated a b o u t constant b a d h a nds isn ’t g o ing to m a k e your odds

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any bet t er, it’s on ly go in g to m a k e y o u frust r a t e d , which c a n cause bad j u d g m e nt once y o u do get a h a n d you c a n w o r k wit h .

*

Does not l e t the i r m i nds w o n d e r or st a rt d a y d re a mi n g d uri n g a g a m e . It is i mperati v e that your m i n d is c o n st a nt l y fo c u s e d on pl ayi ng t h e g a m e . T ha t m eans k n o w i n g t h e probabilit ies of yours a n d your o pp o nents’ h a nd.

*

Stays patient.

If you are too an x i o us to w in the pot you can m ake fool ish

m ista k es, m a k i n g it e asy for m ore e x perie n ce d p layers t o eat y o u ali ve.

A good poker pla y e r is in c o ntrol of t h eir every act i o n . T h e y are n ot o nl y a w are of their o w n state of m i n d, b ut the m i nds of t h e ir o t he r players as wel l .

T he y a re

rel axed, a n d easi ly a d j us t t o the diffe re nt players that enter t h e g a m e , ready and wai t ing t o d efeat t h e m as soon as they get t he c h a n c e to t ake a d v a n t a g e of t he way th e y play.

POSITIVE ATTITUDE If you a d o pt a posi t i v e o utlook on l if e, it m a k e s all t he d iff e r e nce in t h e w or l d, because

it a f fects the w a y

you f e e l , thi n k a n d

e n vir o n m e nt a r o un d you for t he bet t er.

respond

t o the

people

an d

Th at’s w hy it is in y o ur best i nterest to

m a i nta i n a p o s itive attit u de w h e n y o u play poker.

*

Look on t h e up si de of things – if your g a m e i sn’t going the w a y you would lik e it to, put a ll your c o n c e nt ration in t o t h e o t h e r players a n d thi n k about h o w y o u will gain t h e u p p e r h a nd o v e r t he m once the strong h a n d co m e s your way.

*

B e lieve in your abil i ties as a poker pla y er – e v er y o ne ha s different styles

of playing,

find the one you are c o m f o rt a b le wi th, stick to it,

i mprove it, and s e tt le for n o t hi n g b ut the b es t .

*

C a re a b o u t the g a me – If you e v er e x pe ct to b e c o m e good at winni n g, you have to take the ga m e se riou sly.

A c are free att itude won’t fl y in

poker.

*

Tru st y o u r ins tinc t s – w h e n you are fee l ing po s it i ve a bo ut your g a m e, you will feel m o r e in tu n e w it h y o u r i ntuit i o n, a n d w o n’t s econd guess your

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de ci sion s .

Yo u r

intu it i o n

is

a pow e r f ul a lly

t ha t

is

link e d

to yo ur

su b c o n s c ious, a n d m o r e o ft e n than not it acts in your be st interest.

R e m e m ber, e ven t h e best po k e r p layers w e re beg inn e rs o n ce, a n d e v e r y o n e h a s their days that a r e n’t so lu cky.

But that doesn’t m e a n y o u give up or care less

about the g a m e . You n e e d t o w o r k for s u cces s, a n d w ith a p o sit i v e att it u d e you will g a i n the dete r m i nation and d ri v e to win.

CLASSIFY YOUR POKER PLAYERS If t h e re is o ne t hin g freq u e nt p o ker p la y in g will teach you, it is that e v e r y player th in ks di ffe re ntly.

Not on ly that, but th e re is an

in cred i bl e diff ere n ce bet w een

t he w ay

•

the poker pl a y e r on the le ft thinks to t he o ne on y o ur ri g ht. never

assume

bets.

You s ho u ld

that all players

After t h e s h o w d o w n p a y a t t e n tion

•

a ct

the sa m e , or that you w ill be a b le

to t h e h a n d s e a c h p l a y e r h a d . •

I d e n ti f y if a p l a y e r is p a s s i v e or a g g r e s s i v e .

to fi g ure out their strateg ies o n ly after a f e w g a m e s .

K e e p t r a c k o f t h e w a y e a c h p l a y er

Ex p e r ienced

pl ayers won’t p lay w ith stra ight e d g e stra t e gy , the r efore the on l y w a y you w ill learn t h e ir secr e t is t o s t u dy t h e m . For e x a m pl e:

*

Ke e p t ra c k of the way e a ch pl ay er bet s .

You can a c h i eve th i s b y

taking note of w ho fol ds, a n d w h o does n ’t. This w i ll gi v e y o u an i n d ica t i on on wh e t h er t h e pl ayers m a k e stro n g or w e a k bets.

*

A ft e r t h e s h o w d o w n p a y at te n ti o n t o the h a n d s e a c h p l a y e r had . Di d t he player wi th the w e ak h a n d pl ace stro ng be t s ?

Did t h e res u ltin g

w e a k hand have pot e nti a l (for insta n ce, w e re t h e y m i ss i ng o n e ca r d t h at co uld have p r o v i d e d t h e m wi t h a f lush, e tc.)

*

Identify

if a player

is

passi v e or

agg re s s i v e .

D o they constantly

ra i se and stay in t he hand fo r a lo ng t i m e w ith a w e a k hand, or do t h e y fold or ca l l o ft e n , rare l y m a k i ng a ra i se.

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Ev e r y pl a yer h a s a cert ai n st y l e, st ra t e gy an d m eth o d o f p la y in g t h e ir cards . W h ile s o m e w ill b e easy to cl assify, the m ore exper i en c ed pl ayers will be m o re spontaneous,

and use m o re than o n e a p p r o a ch w h e n p la yi n g i n ord e r to t hr o w o ff

o thers

are

who

t ryi n g to t rack

and

fig ur e out

their

prof il e.

More

a b o ut

di stingu i s hing pl ayer c ha ract e r istics w ill b e di sc u s s e d in t h e next sect io n “P l a yer Profili n g ”. W h en you m a i ntain a pos itive attitude, and h ave c o nt rol o ver y o ur state of m i n d y o u w i ll be m o re op e n to i m pro v e m e nt a n d won’t li mit y o u r self to a one t r a ck m i nd.

Online poker p s y c hology is an art t ha t r e quir e s you to b e fl e x i b le a n d

focu se d at t he sa m e t i m e. This a rt is n o t o ne that is e a s y t o c o m e by a n d t a k e s hours o f pr actice.

H o w e v e r , t h e r e w a r d s y o u w i l l r e a p after taking t h e t i m e to

d e v e lop your o w n online pok e r ps y c h o lo gy, and learn H o l d ’ e m in s id e a n d out, wi l l be w o r t h all your b l o o d, s w e a t and tea r s.

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POKER PLAYER PROF ILES S t u dying y o ur o p p o nents is ho w you will fi n d out ho w they play, r e s p o n d a n d reac t duri ng a hand.

Even if y o u f o ld o ut of t h e g a m e , y o u c a n st ill w a t c h the

r e m a i ni ng p layers to se e w hat d e ci si ons t h e y m a k e . Dis c over if t h ey:

Fold more o ft e n than c a ll or r a ise F r e qu e ntly bl u ff C h e c k / raise or check/ f o ld often

The more y o u watch y o u r o p p o n e n t s

the be tter y ou w i ll be at pla y er profili n g,

w h ich is a t ale nt that t a k e s t i me t o a chieve, es p e c ia lly on l ine, du e to t h e fact t h at you w il l rar e l y pl a y the s a m e players over a n d over agai n . O n c e y o u a r e able t o di stingu i s h t h e t y pe of g a m e y o ur o p p o n e n t s lik e t o play, y ou c a n t h e n s lot t h e m int o o ne of t he se pla y e r profile categor i e s:

1. The Aggr e ss i ve P l a y er 2. The Tigh t / C o n s ervative Player 3. The Loose Player 4. The St rai g h t Pl a y er 5. The I m m a t u r e Pl a y e r

To gain a be t t er un d e r stand i ng for the w a y t h e s e playe r s f u nct ion, here is w h a t you can expect fr o m e a ch –

THE AGGRESSIVE PLAYER Players w h o are aggress iv e w ill t ry to do all t h ey c a n to ps y c he you o ut a n d ge t you to do w hat they w ant.

T h e y w il l b e the p layer w ho c h o o s e s to raise over

fol d ing, putti n g pressure on the other play e r s to e ither fold or m u c k t h eir h a n d a t s h o w d o w n.

R e a lly t a l ented a g g res si v e players ha v e a lot of co n fi d e n c e a n d it shows.

Th ey

m a k e t h e o t h e r pl a y e r s feel u ne a s y , o ft e n c a usi n g t he m t o s e co n d g u ess t he ir pos it i o n in t he g a m e w h e n t h e s t a k e s a r e high.

If y o u d o n ’t s e e t h e m c o m i n g, a

good a g g re s s iv e player will take control over t h e way y o u pl ay, a n d con y o u out of t h e pot a n d y o u r m o ne y .

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If you w a nt to stand up to the a g g r ess i ve player y o u n e e d to sh o w t he m y o u h a v e a backbone, a n d t hat t h eir b ullying strategy i sn’t goi n g t o w o rk on you.

Know

your ca rds a n d have t he c o u r a g e to give the overly aggress iv e player a t a ste of th eir o w n m e dicin e .

THE TIGHT/CONSERVATIVE PLAYER A t i ght, or c onse r v at i ve p layer, is o n e w ho does not like to t a k e r isks unless t h ey are necess a ry.

H e o r s h e w i ll not have t he c o n f i dence t o bet if t h e y don’t feel

t heir c a r d s are stro n g e n o u g h.

M ore o ften t h an not, the ti gh t pl a y er k n o w s the

rules of t h e g a m e inside a n d out, h as an e x ce lle nt m e m o ry , a s w e l l a s a t al e nt f o r anal y z ing t he ski l ls o f other pl a yers.

T herefore, w h en t he y do a c h ieve a stro n g

starti ng hand, they’ l l surpr ise all t he other players and s n a tch the pot. A talented conservat iv e pl ayer is an extr e m e ly tactical o p ponent.

W h e n faced

with him or her, y o u w ill fi nd t h at t h e y g e nerally f o ld or ca ll, ins t ead of t a king risks.

T h u s, b e w a r y of this t y pe of p layer, for altho ug h y o u m a y think they a re

pass iv e at first, they c o u ld very well be wai t i n g for t he opportune m o m e nt to t a k e the w i n.

B e on the l o okout if this player is st i ll in t he hand in the later r o u n ds,

this u s ua lly i s a si g n that they have a stro n g h a nd.

THE LOOSE PLAYER The lo o se player is o n e w ho is care f ree, a n d is m o r e likely to fo l d or call m ore often than ra ise or bl u ff . They rarely w in frequent pots, a nd trea t poker m o re as a f u n pass t i me t h a n as a serious m o n e y - m a k i ng s p o rt . If y o u di scover the loose pl ayer,

you

can

gain

t h e u pper

hand

over t h e m

by p la y ing

a litt le m o re

aggress iv e ly, a n d i nt i m i date t he m int o fo l ding early, so t h e y do n’t get t h e chance to obtain a stronger h a nd.

THE STRAIGHT PLAYER The stra ight pl ayer is one w h o is r o b o t ic. th e y h a v e a r e a lly stro n g hand.

He or s he rare ly t akes risks, unless

Oft e n t hese pl ayers are b e g i n ners a n d are o n ly

foll o w i n g t he advice of a pr o g r a m s uch as the o d ds ca lculator.

Y o u will discover

that t h e m o re y o u w a t c h a stra i ght pl a y e r, t h e m or e you will b e a w a r e w h en t h ey have a strong hand be cause th e y will play m o re a gg r essive ly a n d r a ise, whi c h i s a good in d ic at i on that y ou s ho u ld fold, b e c ause they o nly pl ay aggressi v e w h e n t heir h e l per p r o g r a m s ho w s t h e odds are in t h eir favor.

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THE IMMATURE PLAYER The i m m a t ur e p lay er i s on e w h o is g e n era lly the eas i est t o r e c o g n i ze. The i r poker style is often cocky, rude, ca r e l ess a n d t h o u g ht less.

Rarely do t he se players w i n

bi g pots as they ta k e fooli s h risks and a r e the first to lo se all of t he ir m o n e y .

I m m a t u r e players are not respec t e d b y oth e r p la y e r s, b e cause t h e y don’t take the g a m e ser i o u s ly. It is e a s y t o take a d v a ntage of t hese pl ayer s , so use t he m t o put m o r e m o n e y in the pot ear l y on in t he g a m e . Th e f aster t he s e pla ye rs are o ut of the g a m e ,

t h e qu i cker you will inc r ease y o ur w i nni n gs , and ha v e m o r e of a

budget to play w it h .

R e m e m ber, e v e n if y o u h a v e pr of iled t h e pl a yers y o u a r e u p again st, y o u s h ould never underest i mate a n y pl ayer at a n y t i me.

L e tt i ng y o u r guard d o w n cold b e

t he e n d of y o u r g a m e .

Play t h e pl ayers – don’t let t h e m p la y y o u!

ESTAB LISHING Y OUR POKER PLAYER PROFILE W h en it c o m es t o es tabli s hin g y ou r o w n p oker pl a y e r pro fi le it is b e st t o b e adaptable.

The m o r e you c h a n g e your t a ctic s a n d strategies w h e n p laying, the

harder time the ot h er pl ayers w il l have at f iguring out w h a t y o u r n e xt m o v e will be.

A p layer w h o is a da pt a b le is e x c e pt io n a l, as h e or s he c a n ou t w it a ll o f their

o p p o n e nts w h e n the stakes a r e high. Of c o u r se , b e c o m ing a m a s t er of prof ile c h a n g i ng is n’t so m eth i ng that c o m e s na t u ra l ly, a n d like e v e r y t hin g else,

ta k e s pract i ce a n d p le nty of e xpe r ie nc e

pl a ying a g a inst, a n d st u dying o t he rs.

To he l p you w ith th is t a s k here are s o m e t i ps t o k e e p i n m i n d on your quest to bec o m e a gr e at pl ayer: Don’t be afraid t o fold - The b e st poker players in the world fo ld w hen t h e y k n o w t h e ir h a n d just w on’t cut it. F ol di n g do e s n ’t m a k e y o u l e ss o f a pla y e r , on the c o nt rary it s h o w s that you k n o w h o w to k e e p you r ch i ps.

D o n ’ t s t ud y a n d t ry t o o u t w i t o n l y o n e p l a y e r - I n o nl i ne pok e r, m ost o f t he p eople y o u pl ay a g a in st at a tab le w o n ’t b e t here for lo n g. Therefo r e , t his

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strate g y ca n pr o v e to be a waste of y o ur t i m e if y ou constant l y have to face ne w play e rs.

Ke e p y our e m o t i o ns i n check - If you are feel in g upset or f r ustrated it w o u l d b e b e st if y o u c alled it a day a n d calm d o w n be f o r e a t t e m p t i ng t o p lay aga i n.

N e g a t iv e e m ot i ons cause you t o beco m e di stracted, a n d di stract ions

cause your m i nd to w o nd e r , allo w ing t he o t h e r play e rs to walk all o v e r you.

D on’t fall i n to a ro u ti n e – Y o u m a y fi n d t h at you are ex t r e m e ly co m fo rt a b le w ith o ne strateg y , b ut f a ll ing into a r o uti n e of us ing only o n e t e c h ni q ue w i l l turn you i nto a stra i ght p la y e r , allowing others t o g a i n a g o o d idea of w h a t your next m o v e s w i ll be.

Don’t b e c o m e too c o m fortab l e – If you find t h at you are co m fortable wi t h the w a y y o u pl ay, it’s t i m e f or y o u to i m pr ove your s k il l a n d try s o m e t h in g new.

C o m f ort is a si g n o f la zi n e ss, w h i c h c a n c a use y o u t o r e m a i n a t o ne

leve l , li m iti n g y o u r po t e nt ia l a s a pl a y e r an d w i nn e r .

Ke e p yo u r m ind o p e n fo r n e w id e a s – Adv i ce a n d a f e w poi nt e r s n e ver hu rts anyone, as it could b e the o n e tip y o u ne e d to progr e ss your a bi l iti e s. Y o u c a n alw a y s le a r n s o m e thing.

Th e re for e , w h e th e r y o u g e t a tip f ro m a

pro f ession a l, a book, a friend or e ven a ki d, s h o w y o u r gr a t it ud e a nd do n ’t fo r get to re t urn t h e favor w h e n e v e r t he o p p o r t u nit y presents itse lf.

B e ing a go o d po k e r player is knowing h o w to t hink and act for y o ursel f. S o trust your in stinc t s, learn to be fl exi b le, a n d gi ve it all you’ve got !

POKER GAME ETIQUET TE R e g ard l e ss if you play poker live or o n lin e, etiq u e t t e m a t t e rs . m any

onli n e players

think

they

can

g et away

with

U nf ortu n ate l y

an o b n oxious

or cr a ss

p e r s o n a lit y, s i m p ly b e c a use they don’t ha ve t o look o t h er play e r s in the face. T here is no e x cus e for ru d e ne ss.

H a v i ng respect for yourself a n d o t h er players is

es s e nti a l w hen y ou pl a y o nlin e . H o w y o u a re perceived

as a p o ker player

something you should br u s h a side.

s h o uld m atter to you, a n d is n o t

If y o u expect other players to res pect you,

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y o u have t o s h o w t h e m the s a m e courtesy.

Th erefo re , m a k e y o u r m other proud

and k e e p t h e s e t i ps in m i nd w he n e ng a g i ng in onl i ne conver s a t i on with the fellow m e m b e r s of t he site:

M i nd yo u r P’s a n d Q ’ s – W atch your l a n g ua ge w h e n y o u’re o nli ne .

Don ’t

use profani t y or v u lgar language t h at o t her pl a yers m a y fi n d o ffen s ive. on ly is t hi s e x t r e m e ly i m m atu re , but y o u ’ ll s o o n b e c o m e

Not

u n p o p u lar and

di sliked b y other s .

Co n t rol y o u r pr i de – No o n e w a nts t o hear a nother pl a yer boast about their w i n nings, or w h i n e a b o ut t h e ir los s.

K e e p your c o m m e n ts t o your s e l f - D o n’t m a k e s ni d e r e m a r k s abou t other players or m a k e fun o f h o w they play.

Arg u ing ge ts y o u n o w h er e – There is no po int in arguing w it h another pl ayer.

It will on l y frustrate you, a n d won’t change w h a t has h a p p e n e d . L et

it go, m o v e on a n d keep y o u r focus on t h e g a m e.

Use your c o m m o n s e n s e – Stay level h e a d e d at all t i m e s, a n d a d a pt to the players a n d the t able y o u are p laying at.

Avoid a r g u m e nt s , a n d do y o u r part

to m a k e the g a m e run s m oot h ly. D on’t b e c o m e a problem.

Re l a x and h a v e Fun – Don’t forget that as m uc h as y o u w a n t to w i n , it is i m p o rt a nt t ha t y o u a l so ha v e fun w he n y o u pl ay.

So relax, en jo y y ou r sel f,

m a k e frien d s a n d respect t h e other players.

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CON C LUSION In t he e n d it doesn’t m atter h o w m a n y tec h ni q ues you learn, a ll th at m atters is h o w y o u th i nk a n d use th e se strat e gi e s for y o u r self w h e n play in g. poker player is a b o ut k n owing h o w to play it s m art.

B e i n g a good

D o n’t forget, that d espite a ll

of t h e strategies y o u learn, and h o w w e ll you study the players, the si n gl e m os t important a s p e ct of your poker g a me is you.

REMEMBER: K E EP Y O UR E M O TIONS pl ayers and the g a m e. your goal.

IN C H E C K – St a y fo c u sed on y o ur car d s, the

Y ou n e e d to think stra i ght and k e e p y o u r m i nd on

D o n ’t s u c c u m b

to your p ri d e s h o uld other players try to ru ffle

your feather s . KNOW

YOUR

you will good

LIMIT – Keep in mi n d that y o u w i ll h a v e m o r e bad ha n ds than o n es, so don’t

get suc k e d in to b e c o m i ng obsessed

w ith

w i n ning, or le t the other play e rs int i m i date y o u into con t inu a l play w he n you k n o w y ou sh ould call it q u its. Ma k e su re you: *

Set a b u dget lim it for y o u r self a n d don’t go past it.

*

K no w w hen y o u s h o ul d a n d sh ou l d n ’t ga m b le

*

O n l y pl ay w ith t he m o n e y you k n o w you c a n a fford to l ose

*

K n o w w hen to w a lk a w a y

S T AY R E A L I S T I C – Don’t fool y o urself int o believi n g t h at you are ready for t he big t i m e s li ke t he profes si o nal players on TV.

Poker f or t h ese pros is n ’t

onl y a g a m e , it’s a liv e li h o o d w hi c h t he y t ake seriously, a n d is one t h at they have played f or years in order to m aster. PRACTICE

– the o n ly way you wi ll prog r ess as a player,

develop

new

strateg ies, learn to r ead o t her pla y ers, a n d win more pots is to prac t i ce.

You

can’t rely on luck to bec o m e a good po k er pl a yer, or read all the strategy books

in t he world

and

e x p e ct fo r it to ha p p e n

over ni g ht.

It ta k es

ded i cat ion, d e t e r m i nation a n d the dr iv e to w i n.

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Fin all y , remember instinct.

th a t win n ing is rarely about luck, it’s ab out kil ler poker

T h ink in g lik e a win n e r is what sets you apart from the av erage pok e r

pl a yer, and to b e a w in n er , y ou have to th ink and a c t like o ne. And th e only w ay you’ll a chie ve such s ta tus as a pl ay er is to ha v e patie nce an d se lf-co n trol to know w h en to h o ld’em or fold’em.

Don’t forget to enjoy Your-self, and have a great time playing poker online!

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GLOSSA RY OF POKER TERMS W h il e you will fi nd that s o m e of t he foll o w in g te r m s ha v e a p pe a r e d in t his g ui d e , the others are popular terms you m a y co m e ac ro ss w h e n play in g Texas Hold’e m .

A c ti o n – another te r m for bett i ng

A ll - i n – w hen a pl ayer bets a ll of the ir c hi p s A n t e – A buy in a m o u nt p a i d to t he pot by a ll p layers before the ga m e beg i ns and i s not re c o g n iz e d as part of the g a m e .

B li n d – A forced a n t e i n T e x as H o l d ’ e m m a d e by t w o p la y e rs. Th e b ig bl in d i s the fu ll m i ni m u m b e t, a n d t he s mall b lin d i s h alf of the m i n i m u m bet. T h e s e fi rst two bets co u nt in t he game. B l uff – w h e n a player b e ts a g g r e s sive l y w ith a bad h a n d

B o a rd – another te r m for t h e 5 c o m m u nity ca rds on the ta b le

B u y - i n – t he cost of e nt e ring a t o u r n a m e nt. For a ri ng ga m e it is t he m i nimum starti ng stack. B o ts – on l ine poker ch eating m e t hod that in volves robot so ft w a re w h ic h h a s b e en crea t e d to run 2 4 /7 di s gui s e d as a p layer.

Call – te r m us e d w h e n a player wishes to m e et the bet of a n o t h e r player C a p t t h e be t t ing – T he fin a l r a ise du r ing the four t h b et ting ro u nd, a nd fr o m this point on a pl ayer can o n ly c a ll or fo ld, a n d ca n no l o nger m a k e a rai se.

Check – T h is i s an op t ion d u ri ng the bet t in g r o u n d s that p e r mits players t o stay in the hand wi t ho ut m a k i ng a bet, call or raise.

Check can be used o nly by the

bi g blind in the f irst r o u nd (as l o n g as no o t h e r p la y er m a k e s a ra is e ) a n d b y t he first pla y er to m ake a w a g e r in t he f o llow i ng r o u n ds, a n d can th e n be us e d by t he other players i n the ro u n d u ntil so m e o n e m a k e s a be t .

Check F old – check w h e n a b le, fo ld w hen bet i nto

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C h e c k R ai s e – C heck w h en a b l e, rai s e w h en bet in t o

Collus i o n – P o p u l ar c heating

t e c h n i q ue that i nvo l ves two

consp ir i ng t ogether to cheat the other pl a y e rs out of t he pot.

or m o r e

players

It c o u l d a lso only

in v o lve o n e pers o n w h o is acting as two players b y u se of a bot or a n o t h e r co m p ut er.

C o m m u n i t y cards – cards that a re dealt f ace up o n the board a n d a re s hared by a ll players.

C o n c e a l ed Pair – A pair that is fa c e d o w n Co n n e c t o rs – two ca r ds that fol lo w i n c o n s e c ut i ve s e qu ence

C o w b o y s – Tw o k i n g s

D e a d Card – C a r ds w h ich have al re a dy b e e n p la y e d a n d are not lo n g r e c o g n iz ed as part of t he g a m e . D e aler B u t t o n – Butt o n that s h o w s w h i ch player is d e a ling d u ri ng t he g a m e .

D e uce / D u c k – a sin gle two

Dr a wing H a n d – a player’s hand that requ ires more cards in order to im pr o v e a w i n ning h an d, for insta n ce a str a ight or flush.

Fast Pl a y – A p la y i ng st r a t e gy t hat res u lts i n a pl ayer betti n g, raising a n d re raisi n g in o r der t o int im i date the ot h e r players o ut o f the hand as fast as possible.

Fish H o o k s – T w o Jacks Flop – T h e second r o u n d w h e r e the f irst 3 co m m u ni t y cards are d e a lt

Fold - O ption used d u ri ng any betting ro u n d in which a pl a yer can q u it the game.

Hole cards / P o c k e t c a rds – The two cards that are dea lt face d o w n to each pl ayer during the pre flo p .

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K i c k er – the s i de card t hat is not apart of a pa ir a n d has t h e h ighest value

Ladies – Tw o q u e e n s

Lay - d o w n – f o lding a strong h a nd M u c k – W h e n a pla y er f olds out of t he ga m e ins t ead of expos i ng t h e ir h and during s h o w d o w n , so t he other p layers can n o t see t h eir hand.

Nuts – T h e best poss i bl e hand i n regards to the c a r ds on t h e board. O p e n e r – t he fi rst player w h o volunteers to b e t.

Over - c ard – the highest card in p la y on the b o a r d .

Over - p a i r - a con c ealed p a ir that has hi gher val ue than any other card on the board. Payout – the a m o u n t of m o n e y a pl a yer lea v es with from a r i ng g a m e , or w in s in a tou r na m e nt.

R ai s e – W h e n a pl a y e r i ncreases the pr e v io u s be t .

R a k e – p e rc e n t a ge of pot m o n e y that i s giv e n to t he poker site, or liv e ca sino w h ich hosts the g a m e . R e - b uys –

The

sec o nd

t im e a pla y er m u st pay

in o rder

to re m a i n in a

t o u r n a m e n t or ring g a m e in the e v e nt that they l ose all of the ir c h ip s .

R i ng G a m e – A n o ng o i ng g a m e w he re a pla y e r buys - in a nd can le a v e at a ny time. R i ver – L a st card dealt in the g a m e , a n d is a l so k n o w as 5 th stre e t i n H o l d’e m

R o c k e t s / P o c k e t R o c k e t s – Pair of aces

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Sl o w Pl a y – a p layi n g st r a tegy that results

i n a player c h e c k i ng or call i n g

w h e n e v e r t h e y can, in order t o k e e p as m a n y players in t h e g a m e as po ss ib le s o that t h e y ca n m a x i m i ze the pot w i nnings. Spl i t P a i r – W h e n o ne card is o ne t he b o a r d a n d t h e matc h i n g ca r d i s co n cea led.

T ri ps – Te r m for three of a k in d

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