I learned how to play about three months ago and started playing with my friends about six weeks ago. We play on Wednesday and Sundays and we usually have about eight players and each person pays twenty dollars and gets twenty dollars in chips.
I’ve won twice since I started playing and the most I’ve won is one hundred and ninety dollars with three persons re-buying at ten dollars each. Anyways, what strategies do you guys use? For instance, are you an aggressive or conservative player. In my case, I tend to be conservative in the beginning and then more aggressive when there are about four players left. Do you guys calculate pot odds and if so, how do you do it. What about cards, which ones do you play and in what position in the table. Has anyone purchased any books and if so, which ones would you recommend.
I have one titled Winners Guide to Texas Hold’em Poker by Ken Warren and it has help so far. Alright, lets discuss some poker strategies.
I grew up with poker. My friends and I started holding “poker nights” in high school, a couple years before the Texas Hold’em explosion. We played a lot of seven card stud variations and of course five card draw. The whole poker fad killed the appeal, honestly. Now I play pinochle. =)
We only have a Waldenbooks in my area and that is why I bought that book, since there is also a limited selection. I have won twice since I started playing with my friends who have been playing longer than I have, so I think I have an understanding of the game.
I am not an advance or expert player, but to assume I know nothing is incorrect. The book by Harrington does look good and I think I might purchase it in the near future.
Yup. Played at Binion’s in Vegas (where the WSOP is held) a few years back and held my own, and have played at Harrah’s a handful of times too. Walking in and seeing their Wall of Champions was something else!
Super System by Doyle Brunson is a must-read. Caro’s Book of Tells is also good.
[quote]wfifer wrote:
I grew up with poker. My friends and I started holding “poker nights” in high school, a couple years before the Texas Hold’em explosion. We played a lot of seven card stud variations and of course five card draw. The whole poker fad killed the appeal, honestly. Now I play pinochle. =)[/quote]
co-sign.
the “explosion” really turned me and crew off to it. i stopped playing poker for backgammon.
as for the op pick up the classic book by doyle bronson(sp?) super system. and other books by mike caro.
I agree the poker explosion sucks for those of us that have been playing for a while. But, there is just too much easy money out there not to play. Brunson’s and Caro’s books are great as well as Slansky on Poker.
Also ‘The Tao of Poker’ is great and a very easy read unlike some of the others.
Best advice I can give you is read 2-3 books about the theory, then spend a few long sessions at a table.
Fold every hand to learn some discipline at the table, yes, it is not easy to fold AA or AK suited but learn how to lay down a hand early in your careermakes you not go fishing later. Good luck.
I agree with previous members, Doyle’s Super System and Harrington on Hold Em are the best books, written by former world champs.
As for strategy, just keep em guessing. Play some hands good, and bluff some. Never let your opponent predict your hand and figure out your style of play. You win some, you lose some, but that is the nature of the game. But as one member said, it’s hard to fold AA or AK, but it’s discipline.
Listen to Kenny Rogers song, The Gambler. It tells you everything you need to know about playing poker, in a musical version.
[quote]BrwnbellyYankee wrote:
co-sign.
the “explosion” really turned me and crew off to it. i stopped playing poker for backgammon.[/quote]
Same here, but subsititute spades and blackjack. When I was in like 10th grade, just as poker was starting to become something, it was badass going to a night game with a bunch of union workers and playing poker til 3 in the morning. Now everybody does that shit.
Besides, if somebody tells me ONE MORE bad beat story…
Played up at Foxwoods regularly (every 2 weeks) over the past 2 years, made it to the WPT Finals at Foxwoods last year, finished out of the $$$.
Last time I went up I played in a sit-n-go. I was taken out by somebody who called my all in with A/3 off suit with 3/7/J on the board. I’m holding KK. Mid you she called a high bet pre-flop. She took me out. I got up and when I got into the elevator I gave the game up. Yes she hit her 3rd 3 on the turn.
There are too many people that dont have a clue how to play the game now. They watch ESPN and think they are pro’s and make the most ridiculous moves imaginable, as the one I just described. Just watch this years Main Event. Its laughable.
I may venture up there again during the winter break, but that will be a one time thing.
You’re a beginner. Play by the book for a WHILE. Very rarely should you try to bluff at this stage as if you were playing against anybody that has an ounce of talent you’re be giving more tells than Marcel Marcou.
Phil Gordon’s Little Green Book
Harrington on Hold’em
those are the only books you need at this point and read them in that order.
Pot odds are meaningless in this day and age, especially if you’re playing tournament style. Too many people call with complete disregard for their odds.
Yeah, I agree pga that playing by the book for a while with minor adjustments will win me more pots in the long run since I just started playing. Seeing that third three on the turn must’ve been devastating. Its true how some people have turned this into a game of luck instead of strategy with preflop raising with cards that have low chances of winning.
One thing I’ve noticed is that the low limit games (2/4, 3/6, 4/8 etc) seem to be easier to do well consistently if you play tight. Of all the times I’ve played in Omaha, KC and once in LV, so many people play almost every hand it’s ridiculous.
I guess it’s called “No Fold Em Hold Em” for a reason…
[quote]vroom wrote:
I’ve been fooling around a bit playing hold’em online.
I’ve seen a lot of the nonsense talked about above, people throwing their money on the table all the time and pulling things off through blind luck.
Anyhow, I’m working on the discipline part, looking for excuses to fold…
Any online resources worth looking at since I’m not willing to throw money at a book just yet?[/quote]
What I’ve done is googled “calculating pot odds” and the articles that come up also have other sections that are useful. Try typing in “poker strategies” in google and you’ll also find many useful articles for example this one http://www.pokertips.org/strategy/strategy.php
I am also looking into buying a good book and checking out book reviews from the books that were mentioned here.
Because I still play, I almost wish I wasn’t suggesting this, but www.twoplustwo.com is where you need to be. Books are good, and need to be bought, studied, meticulusly scrutenized, but the forum on that site is where you will owe all your winnings to.