Defensive poker is basically folding any hand whenever the board pairs, a possible straight or flush appears, and someone else bets AS IF they hold it.
And you don't.
Defensive poker is, I've found, the only way to play the game. Yet it opens me up to excessive bluffing. Anybody who knows that's how I play, if I check inthe face of a possible flush, they know all they have to do is raise and I'm outta there.
How can I defend against this?
One, I can occasionally slowplay when I have the possible flush or whatever.
Two, I can KNOW MY OPPONENTS and know which ones are likely to try this, based on the results of my slowplayed hands.
Three. I can call a hand now and then, fully expecting to lose, just to keep 'em honest.
Four, I can use my bluffing radar detector? Is the person who raised in late position? Obviously, they're later than I am. How big's their bet? Is it serious or a "hmm, I'll give this a try" bet. When they do it repeatedly, do they ever show their cards?
No answers, many questions.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Bluffing and Ego
Its easy to think of yourself as a good poker player when you're winning your share of hands and pulling off an occasional bluff.
In fact, you may be playing better poker when you struggle for 3 hours and manage not to lose every single penny. Every river goes against you, your opponent outranks you on every "tie" hand, and so on.
Don't try and use bluffing to boost your ego. Bluffing is strictly a way to raise your EV. It should be done when it's most likely to succeed.
Unfortunately, that's not when your'e on a downward spiral. It's almost "AS IF" other players can sense your desparation.
When you're struggling it's time to tighten up, tighten up some more, and turn OFF the bluff spigot.
Sure, if a compelling bluffing opportunity arises, you may not be able to resist.
But "I lost every hand except the one I bluffed" isn't a real compliment to your playing ability, is it?
Bluffing is an integral part of poker. Poker is a game. You're not a better player than the guy who sits there and grinds away and only plays nuts hands. At least not if his stack is bigger than yours.
Bluff or dont' bluff, but leave the ego somewhere else. Just like greed, it'll undo ya.
In fact, you may be playing better poker when you struggle for 3 hours and manage not to lose every single penny. Every river goes against you, your opponent outranks you on every "tie" hand, and so on.
Don't try and use bluffing to boost your ego. Bluffing is strictly a way to raise your EV. It should be done when it's most likely to succeed.
Unfortunately, that's not when your'e on a downward spiral. It's almost "AS IF" other players can sense your desparation.
When you're struggling it's time to tighten up, tighten up some more, and turn OFF the bluff spigot.
Sure, if a compelling bluffing opportunity arises, you may not be able to resist.
But "I lost every hand except the one I bluffed" isn't a real compliment to your playing ability, is it?
Bluffing is an integral part of poker. Poker is a game. You're not a better player than the guy who sits there and grinds away and only plays nuts hands. At least not if his stack is bigger than yours.
Bluff or dont' bluff, but leave the ego somewhere else. Just like greed, it'll undo ya.
Friday, February 1, 2008
There's Always One Who'll Call -- REPRINT
I couldn't have written it any better than this. This is why you bluff against one or two, and not an entire table. For some reason the author refers to it as "collusion," as in a collusion to keep the bluffer honest.
http://www.pokerdoctor.com/online-poker-resources/Poker-collusion.htm
Actually I can say it better, here's an edited version that's tighter.
http://www.pokerdoctor.com/online-poker-resources/Poker-collusion.htm
Actually I can say it better, here's an edited version that's tighter.
There's a powerful poker concept evident in only small stakes or low-limit games. It's the concept of implicit collusion.
I first became aware of this term from Lee Jones' book, Winning Low Limit Hold 'Em. Jones introduces us to a logic reserved for loose games.
The concept of implicit collusion is where stakes are so low or players are so loose that you can count on more players staying in the pot everytime, even when their hands are lousy. The importance of this is where bluffing is concerned, and it's two-fold.
Bluff less
A bluff that fails to fold every hand by showdown is a failed bluff and a waste of money. In your average home game, you'll be lucky to fold every player at the table. Your best bet is to be heads-up with one of the tight players at the table, and attempt to bluff him out. Up against two or more players and you're taking a huge chance.
The point is not to omit bluffing from your arsenal. If you never bluff, you'll never make money on your strong hands because everybody else will fold. The point is that you must limit your bluffing. When too many players stay in on too many hands, your odds are slim. Effectively, you're up against implicit collusion.
Be more inclined to fold to a potential bluff
Nobody likes to be in this spot. A tough player at the table throws a bet in. It could mean anything. He either has a strong hand and is betting for value, a mediocre hand and is semi-bluffing, or a weak hand and is pure-bluffing. You have to decide what's stronger: your pride or your bankroll. Here's a valuable piece of advice: if there are a few other players in the pot, be more inclined to fold a mediocre-to-trash hand.
This is what implicit collusion is all about. First of all, collusion means an agreement between players. Collusion of any other nature is cheating, such as exchanging signals, sandwiching, not betting into each other (see Pokercheat.com for much more information on collusion). But, implicit collusion is the great hidden agreement between players. It's the agreement that bluffers will be kept honest by at least one other player staying in the pot.
If the player to my immediate right bets first and bets big, I have a big decision to make with my mediocre hand. My hand is only strong enough to beat a bluff, and the other three players in the pot behind me have yet to act. What do I do? More times than not, I fold. Because of how loose the game is, I can count on one of these other players staying in the pot and keeping the potential bluffer honest. My mediocre hand would crumble to anything with strength, but I can count on one of my poker-playing brothers at the table to take this bettor to task.
Be aware though that it's not always as easy as that. If you are left in the pot with only tight players or few players, it's possible everybody will fold in which case the bluffer will have one of his stories to tell. The concept of implicit collusion is not foolproof. It's like check-raising; if nobody bets when you check, you can't raise and your plan failed.
Conclusion
It's in this way that the discussion comes full circle. You can count on somebody to keep the potential bluffer honest...therefore, when you are bluffing, you can count on at least one other player staying in the pot against you.
It's for this reason that you should bluff less. It's likely that you're throwing money away, barring those times where you get a miracle card to win the game. It's very easy to be tempted into bluffing more when you hear other players talk about their successful bluffing. Remember that these stories are like slot machine stories, and I can assure you that slot machines only make money for their owners.
This isn't to say that bluffing should be avoided, only minimized. The key is to ensure that other players know you are capable of bluffing. This is enough to keep them on the ropes. For what little bluffing I do, I'm usually sure to show the entire table that I was bluffing, whether it worked or not. It creates the perfect advertising that keeps my opponents curious the next time I bet out with a strong hand.
Anatomy of a Bad Bluff
I've made so many bad bluffs.
But here's one you can maybe learn something from.
I was on a flush draw. One or two opponents.
Missed the draw on the turn. It's a harmless "7," off suit.
Opponent#1 places a fairly good size (medium) sized bet.
That was the first CLUE I missed. I call.
Oppenent #2 folds. Hoping for a 1 out of 4 chance on the river, I call.
Missed the draw on the river. Rats. I immediately react, I shove a big stack of chips in, without really looking at the board. MISTAKE #2. There MIGHT have been a straight out there, otherwise, 2 pairs is best I could have been PRETENDING to have.
Opponent #1 calls and wins with a set. Pocket 7's.
So let's list all my mistakes. One, I didn't wait until opponents were all showing weakness. Two, I didn't wait till there were scare cards on the table. Three, when it was down to one-on-one, my opponent showed STRENGTH, not weakness. Number four, it was a gut reaction instead of a carefully planned bluff. Five. It was probably obvious I was on a flush draw since there wasn't much else out there to be had. Six, I didn't put my opponent on a hand, not even a strong two pairs, which would have only tied the strong two pairs I was pretending to have.
All in all, it was a bad bluff. Fortunately I learned from it.
But here's one you can maybe learn something from.
I was on a flush draw. One or two opponents.
Missed the draw on the turn. It's a harmless "7," off suit.
Opponent#1 places a fairly good size (medium) sized bet.
That was the first CLUE I missed. I call.
Oppenent #2 folds. Hoping for a 1 out of 4 chance on the river, I call.
Missed the draw on the river. Rats. I immediately react, I shove a big stack of chips in, without really looking at the board. MISTAKE #2. There MIGHT have been a straight out there, otherwise, 2 pairs is best I could have been PRETENDING to have.
Opponent #1 calls and wins with a set. Pocket 7's.
So let's list all my mistakes. One, I didn't wait until opponents were all showing weakness. Two, I didn't wait till there were scare cards on the table. Three, when it was down to one-on-one, my opponent showed STRENGTH, not weakness. Number four, it was a gut reaction instead of a carefully planned bluff. Five. It was probably obvious I was on a flush draw since there wasn't much else out there to be had. Six, I didn't put my opponent on a hand, not even a strong two pairs, which would have only tied the strong two pairs I was pretending to have.
All in all, it was a bad bluff. Fortunately I learned from it.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Suddenly He Bets HUGE -- Is it a Bluff?
Suddenly your opponent bets huge. Why?
It's a bluff. Not likely, but its possible.
His hand just improved. Like picking up trips (invisible) or 2 pair (invisible) or a flush or straight (generally pretty visible)
Aces or other royalty just hit the table, and out of a bunch of limpers, suddenly one suddenly speaks with a strong voice.
He had a strong hand all along (slowplaying) and decided now was the time to cash in or risk losing it.
Was he perhaps waiting until there was enough money in the pot to be ABLE to make a decent bet -- or bluff?
Why? Did a second heart or diamond suddenly hit the stack, or a 3rd card in a possible straight? See if you can figure out why he wants out NOW! This gives you a very good idea what hand he may hold.
More garbage hit the table. His hand became stronger by default. Does your opponent often do this, a predictable march from $1000 (flop) to $2000 (turn) to $4000 (river?)
He's bluffing. Well, was there a check around, more garbage, someone placing a very LOW bet and everyone else simply calling it? What else might "trigger" a bluff in this situation.
He's semi-bluffing. He's holding two pair and hoping, praying for a second ace to fall to turn it into a full house, and hoping to drive you out in the meantime.
He's stupid. He thinks this is a hand where the player with the higher two pair is going to win when in fact trips or a straight is going to win it.
So many questions, so few answers. But remember, bluffing paranoia WILL destroy ya. It's ok to lose a pot to a(nother) bluffer since you only contributed 20% of it, it's NOT ok to lose 100% your entire stack trying to bring one to justice.
And here's the other thing about trying to trap bluffers. Unless you have a pretty much unbeatable hand (straight, flush, trips.) you shouldn't have even still been IN that hand! Quit playing weak hands!
It's a bluff. Not likely, but its possible.
His hand just improved. Like picking up trips (invisible) or 2 pair (invisible) or a flush or straight (generally pretty visible)
Aces or other royalty just hit the table, and out of a bunch of limpers, suddenly one suddenly speaks with a strong voice.
He had a strong hand all along (slowplaying) and decided now was the time to cash in or risk losing it.
Was he perhaps waiting until there was enough money in the pot to be ABLE to make a decent bet -- or bluff?
Why? Did a second heart or diamond suddenly hit the stack, or a 3rd card in a possible straight? See if you can figure out why he wants out NOW! This gives you a very good idea what hand he may hold.
More garbage hit the table. His hand became stronger by default. Does your opponent often do this, a predictable march from $1000 (flop) to $2000 (turn) to $4000 (river?)
He's bluffing. Well, was there a check around, more garbage, someone placing a very LOW bet and everyone else simply calling it? What else might "trigger" a bluff in this situation.
He's semi-bluffing. He's holding two pair and hoping, praying for a second ace to fall to turn it into a full house, and hoping to drive you out in the meantime.
He's stupid. He thinks this is a hand where the player with the higher two pair is going to win when in fact trips or a straight is going to win it.
So many questions, so few answers. But remember, bluffing paranoia WILL destroy ya. It's ok to lose a pot to a(nother) bluffer since you only contributed 20% of it, it's NOT ok to lose 100% your entire stack trying to bring one to justice.
And here's the other thing about trying to trap bluffers. Unless you have a pretty much unbeatable hand (straight, flush, trips.) you shouldn't have even still been IN that hand! Quit playing weak hands!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
bluffing about your skill level -- reprint
You can bluff about being a poker newbie as well
http://www.positivearticles.com/Article/A-Guide-to-Better-Bluffing/39659
There is only 1 reason to want poker players to think you are a beginner and it is to take their money. Here are some ways to make them believe you are in a casino poker room for the very first time.
Looking impressed when being escorted to a texas holdem poker table in the casino's poker room would be a sign that you have not been in the casino. The closer you get t the table the harder the other players will be checking you out. When you get to the table make a stupid joke, it will make you seem stupid and will help you pull off the "I don’t know what I am doing" look on your face. This will make sure the other layers will not give you any respect and this is what you want. You want them checking you out and looking to see what are your tells and how good a poker face you have.
In an online poker game you do not have to worry about making faces or noises of pleasure when you get a good hand unless you are on webcam, but when you are playing texas holdem in a casinos poker room the other players are watching you to see your expressions during the deal and when the communal cards are being turned over. When you have a really bad hand and are going to fold make sure to let it show on your face. Then when you fold people will think they have a read on you and will always rely on your face to show what you have this can allow you to bluff them from time to time.
During the game, eventually you will get a good hand, when this occurs you should start betting big and keep raising the bet, then if someone challenges you try to raise the bet past the table limit. This will make it obvious that you have very little experience in a casino. The point is that you need to win this hand, so do not start raising the bet unless you are sure you have a good chance of winning. You should make sure to have at least a full house in your hand at the time, but if you do lose the hand it also lend credibility to the illusion that you o not know what you are doing in the poker room.
When you first sit down at the poker table you should just play bad. Stay in the hand with just a high card. Raise the bet when you only have a pair or are hoping that you will get a good hand after all the cards are turned over. This is a great way to make people think you are a first time or inexperienced player.
They way you dress can tell people how good a player you are. If you go into the casinos poker room and sit at a texas holdem poker table dressed like someone who is a professional player at the cheapest table in the house, with all the sponsors on your shirt, a hat pulled low over your eyes an a dark pair of sunglasses, everyone would not only assume you have never been in a real poker room before, but they will think you a fool and laugh at you. They will not suspect you to be a hustler, but make sure to play badly at first. If you dress like that and you start winning right off people will think you to be a professional player.
Always Remember you want people to think that you are a first time player, but you also want to win some money, so playing foolish the entire time will make them think that you obviously do not know how to play, but you are not going to win any of their money and they are going to go home with yours. This is not the kind of thing that you need to set up for the next time you are at that casino. It is also good to keep in mind that if you
http://www.positivearticles.com/Article/A-Guide-to-Better-Bluffing/39659
There is only 1 reason to want poker players to think you are a beginner and it is to take their money. Here are some ways to make them believe you are in a casino poker room for the very first time.
Looking impressed when being escorted to a texas holdem poker table in the casino's poker room would be a sign that you have not been in the casino. The closer you get t the table the harder the other players will be checking you out. When you get to the table make a stupid joke, it will make you seem stupid and will help you pull off the "I don’t know what I am doing" look on your face. This will make sure the other layers will not give you any respect and this is what you want. You want them checking you out and looking to see what are your tells and how good a poker face you have.
In an online poker game you do not have to worry about making faces or noises of pleasure when you get a good hand unless you are on webcam, but when you are playing texas holdem in a casinos poker room the other players are watching you to see your expressions during the deal and when the communal cards are being turned over. When you have a really bad hand and are going to fold make sure to let it show on your face. Then when you fold people will think they have a read on you and will always rely on your face to show what you have this can allow you to bluff them from time to time.
During the game, eventually you will get a good hand, when this occurs you should start betting big and keep raising the bet, then if someone challenges you try to raise the bet past the table limit. This will make it obvious that you have very little experience in a casino. The point is that you need to win this hand, so do not start raising the bet unless you are sure you have a good chance of winning. You should make sure to have at least a full house in your hand at the time, but if you do lose the hand it also lend credibility to the illusion that you o not know what you are doing in the poker room.
When you first sit down at the poker table you should just play bad. Stay in the hand with just a high card. Raise the bet when you only have a pair or are hoping that you will get a good hand after all the cards are turned over. This is a great way to make people think you are a first time or inexperienced player.
They way you dress can tell people how good a player you are. If you go into the casinos poker room and sit at a texas holdem poker table dressed like someone who is a professional player at the cheapest table in the house, with all the sponsors on your shirt, a hat pulled low over your eyes an a dark pair of sunglasses, everyone would not only assume you have never been in a real poker room before, but they will think you a fool and laugh at you. They will not suspect you to be a hustler, but make sure to play badly at first. If you dress like that and you start winning right off people will think you to be a professional player.
Always Remember you want people to think that you are a first time player, but you also want to win some money, so playing foolish the entire time will make them think that you obviously do not know how to play, but you are not going to win any of their money and they are going to go home with yours. This is not the kind of thing that you need to set up for the next time you are at that casino. It is also good to keep in mind that if you
Bummer of a Birthmark, Hal
Don't you hate getting bluffed? You've got a medium strong hand, you bet reasonably, and then ka-wham! The player next to you bets AS IF he's suddenly got Quadzilla.
Here's how to keep bluffers from thinking you're the easy "mark" at the table.
1) Paradoxical betting. Betting AS IF you're weak when your hand is strong, and strong if your hand is weak. In this situation, when a bluffer attacks, you're in position to torpoedo him.
2) Erratic betting. I probably go too far with this, but NOBODY is going to get much of an idea what's in my hand from my early betting. Sometimes I'm overbetting, sometimes underbetting, and sometimes right on. Folks might say I'm paranoid, but...
3) Wonderbra betting. It seldom hurts to bet 50% bigger than what you actually have. Sometimes a slightly larger bet turns into a successful bluff.
4) No pre-flop information giveaway. Soon as someone raises pre-fl0p I know they've got royalty in their hand. When the board shows 3-6-9 and I've got a 9, they're MINE.
Think about your own bluffing. You're probably not picking a mark as much as you are picking a hand to bluff, and the mark is simply whoever's left in the hand. Or maybe you are. Maybe you have this player on the run, you've beat them the last 3 head-to-heads, and you think you can scare them into beleiving you've done it a 4th time.
Here's how to keep bluffers from thinking you're the easy "mark" at the table.
1) Paradoxical betting. Betting AS IF you're weak when your hand is strong, and strong if your hand is weak. In this situation, when a bluffer attacks, you're in position to torpoedo him.
2) Erratic betting. I probably go too far with this, but NOBODY is going to get much of an idea what's in my hand from my early betting. Sometimes I'm overbetting, sometimes underbetting, and sometimes right on. Folks might say I'm paranoid, but...
3) Wonderbra betting. It seldom hurts to bet 50% bigger than what you actually have. Sometimes a slightly larger bet turns into a successful bluff.
4) No pre-flop information giveaway. Soon as someone raises pre-fl0p I know they've got royalty in their hand. When the board shows 3-6-9 and I've got a 9, they're MINE.
Think about your own bluffing. You're probably not picking a mark as much as you are picking a hand to bluff, and the mark is simply whoever's left in the hand. Or maybe you are. Maybe you have this player on the run, you've beat them the last 3 head-to-heads, and you think you can scare them into beleiving you've done it a 4th time.
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