What it Takes to Play Poker Like a Pro
Posted on May 24, 2008
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Like anything else, practice makes perfect. Over the past several years as online poker has gained massive acceptance worldwide, players from all over the world have been able to do something that the old timers never got a chance to do which is play LOTS of hands over a short period of time. The learning curve has been immensely shortened and whether you play online for money or not, the more you play, the more hands you will see, the more analysis you will be able to make, and therefore you should end up making more educated decisions abouts hands and winning more money.
These days, I play lots of free poker at Full Tilt. They even have “freerolls” where you can win money for tournaments that don’t cost any money to play. Granted, you’ve got out play a lot of people to end up in the money, but where else can you get paid to improve your skills in the ultimate game?
Check out Full Tilt Poker for more info. You can register for FREE and start making money today!
Keep Your Eye on Your Opponents Chips
Posted on May 10, 2008
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Always be aware of two players; the one with the most chips (possibly a “bully”) and the one with the least chip (a.k.a. the short stack). The bully may just bet because she has the juice to do so and try to scare you off. The short stack can mess with your play by having to gamble ay his or her last hand. This theory is especially true in tournament play where it’s “do or die”.
My advice, always play your best hands - and only your best hands - especially when you have a bully or a short stacked player at the table. You will be thankful after folding those “this could turn into something” hands once you see the short stacked player to your left go all in after you fold.
Playing Good Poker is Boring
Posted on May 8, 2008
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Playing good poker means not playing every hand. That’s why it’s often referred to as “grinding” - it gets boring just sitting there are folding, but as long as your chip stack keeps growing it will seem like the prudent thing to do. This is why a lot of people just aren’t good poker players; they lack patience and want to just play every hand - good, bad, or marginal.
If you find yourself losing or see your chip stack dwindling down, I challenge you to try just sitting out the next several hands and only play if you get super strong hands like KK or AA.
The goal (if you remember the movie Rounders) is to win one big hand an hour. Shooting for anything else is gambling.
- BigSlick
Playing Agressive Poker - Go Hard or GO HOME!
Posted on May 7, 2008
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Like the song says “you’ve got a choice to make - you can go hard or go home!” When playing poker, you’ve got to be aggressive. If you’re weak, your opponents can smell it. Of course, there are times to back down, but for the most part, I favor aggressive play.
I was coaching my wife the other day as she played poker online and she thought I was too aggressive, but she soon saw how people would just fold to her. Bottom line is if no one is betting, you can either do nothing and take a chance on someone else stepping up, put out an “information bet” - a reasonable but no too strong bet to test the waters, or just be aggressive.
So when should you not be too aggressive?
1. If there is a pair on the board and you don’t have trips, and there are a lot of players, you might was to tread cautiously.
2. When you are bluffing. This should be pretty obvious, because if you get called, you may have to put the rest of your chips on the line on a gamble or fold and lost all of those chips.
Anyhow, I have adopted the motto of the NHRA (the only other worthy sports sanctioning body) which is “Go Hard or GO HOME”. With that, I leave you this video:
Blooper in the Blackjack Movie 21
Posted on May 6, 2008
Filed Under Vegas, blackjack, movies | Leave a Comment
I realize this is a poker blog, but perhaps some might be interested in all things Vegas - including Blackjack. I am a reasonable Blackjack player, but would never play for money. Unlike poker, it’s gambling - unless of course, you count cards like the MIT geniuses in the movie 21.
I enjoyed the movies, but what I really enjoyed was catching the card bloopers. When Kevin Spacey is training his team at one point the cards are all faced up. The next scene that shows the blackjack table, they are faced down, and then again, they are faced up. I am not sure if that was one of those intentional bloopers, but if so, send me my prize.
If you haven’t seen 21 yet, I ‘d recommend it.
Welcome to the Big Slick Blog
Posted on May 5, 2008
Filed Under poker blog | 1 Comment
Hey folks it’s Anthony (a.k.a. Big Slick) here with a new and hopefully exciting blog all about poker. I hope to bring you all news and insights on poker, and primarily that of Texas Hold ‘Em. Sorry if that disappoints some of you, but that’s my game of choice.
Please subscribe to this blog by either using the RSS link above or the email sign up to the right. If the email sign up isn’t there yet, just check back in a few. I am just getting started.
So what are we going to cover here?
1. The legality of Poker in the US. I don’t see what the deal is. I think it’s a joke that the government wants to step in and ruin a good thing.
2. Where to play - online or offline.
3. Making Money with poker.
4. Poker Strategies.
5. World Series of Poker (WSOP) - and my journey to get there and earn a bracelet.
6. Poker Players
7. EVERYTHING Poker!
Thanks and Stay tuned!
- Big Slick
