| 1. Develop strong starting hand requirements. Choose | | | | 4. After making a pre-flop raise, if the action checks to |
| what hands you play and stick to them as best as | | | | you it is wise to make a bet around 1/2 the pot (make |
| possible. A tight player should only play mid-to-high | | | | sure to vary it just to keep opponents guessing) |
| pocket pairs, high suited connectors and high suited | | | | whether or not your hand hits, that way your |
| face cards. Loose players can play more hands but | | | | opponents can't think "He checks when he misses and |
| unless reckless play is your playing style (which in my | | | | only bets when he hits." This strategy is called making |
| experience isn't very profitable) you need to buckle | | | | a continuation bet. For example, you have A-K the flop |
| down on your starting hands. | | | | comes 2-5-9 you make a bet. Make a similar sized bet |
| 2. Take into account your position at the table relative | | | | even with a flop of A-2-7. That way opponents won't |
| to the dealer and the blinds. If you act within the first | | | | know when you have it and you are more likely to get |
| two to three positions after the big blind than you | | | | paid. |
| should play your tightest game here. Play the lowest | | | | 5. When you flop a monster hand like trips, straight or |
| number of hands in this area of the table because you | | | | flush its often a profitable strategy to check it to your |
| will be out of the position the rest of the hand and will | | | | opponents and let them bet then smooth call when |
| have to act with minimal information about your other | | | | action comes back to you. Repeat this on the turn and |
| opponents. Once you enter middle positon which are | | | | then if you think your monster held up you can either |
| the two to three spots after first position you can | | | | bet if you think your opponent will check the river or |
| loosen up a little bit but still keep it fairly tight. Once you | | | | check it one more time then put in a value raise over |
| reach late position which is the button and the one or | | | | the top to try to get a little bit more out of it. This |
| two spots to the right of the button, you can play your | | | | strategy is known as slow playing or trapping. Be |
| loosest game here to take advantage of your position. | | | | cautious though, if you flop trips or a straight and |
| In the blinds I suggest playing similar hand requirements | | | | theres better draws on the board like two hearts or |
| as late position but if it folds around and only the dealer | | | | even three hearts than you may want to speed up |
| calls or its just you and the big blind fold only the worst | | | | and price opponents out from getting a cheap card to |
| of hands. | | | | make their flush. |
| 3. When you make a raise pre-flop do not ever raise | | | | 6. When you think or know you're beat then fold. |
| based on the strength of your hands (ex. raising 5x the | | | | Unless you're being offered ridiculous pot odds to call |
| blind with aces but 2-3x with 10s). Your raises should | | | | than just discipline yourself and make the fold. Great |
| be based on table position and the amount of players | | | | players learn to lay down great hands. If you have |
| in the pot. If its a family pot, it is going to take a bigger | | | | trouble knowing when you're beat than perhaps you |
| raise to drive them out due to being offered pot odds. | | | | should play a very tight game until you improve so that |
| In earlier position you can safely raise less and as you | | | | way you are ahead of opponents most of the time. |
| get to later position your raises can get to the 5x the | | | | 7. Do NOT ever give a free cards when you make a |
| big blind range. I wouldn't suggest going higher than 5x | | | | hand on the flop. The only exception is if it is a very |
| the big blind unless its multiway and you have a | | | | safe flop for a monster hand that is unlikely to be |
| monster that you don't want a lot of players against. | | | | beaten on later streets. You don't want to give a free |
| Remember, you don't want aces or kings in a | | | | card that beats you when a bet might have gotten |
| multiway pot, try to get it down to at most 2-3 players. | | | | them off the draw. |