February 23, 2012

Big pots are key in poker

Big pots are what make and break our game, and there is only one way to play them and that is to bet big to win big. Strategies and tactics all go out the window as it comes down to a test of resolve, and who is brave enough to bet their hand to the end.

It goes without saying that the more big pots you win, the better placed you will be to win a tournament, or show a profit on online poker sites.

If first to act on these occasions, you should be dictating the betting. This will leave your opponent on the back foot. By betting big, you are signalling full confidence in your hand. The aim is get them out of there and the only way of doing this is if they think they are second best. By simply checking at this stage, you are telling your opponent that you are undecided about who is in front at this part of the game.

Once pots get to a substantial amount, you have to think about going all the way, even if it does mean pushing in with the remainder of your chips. Anyone who uses betfairpoker.com will know you have to be brave sometimes.

There is simply no value in trying to slow play a big pot. Both players are probably already committed at this stage, so any type of deception will not work; your opponent will know you have something decent, otherwise you would still not be around.

Betting during each street is important to maintain a slight edge mentally and to leave your opponent with the big decision on whether to call each bet.

How to avoid bad bluffing in poker

Choosing your moment to bluff is very important; it has to be done against the right opposition and at the right stage of a game.The art of bluffing is very easy. You bet big when you’re not very strong in your hand to deceive your opponent into thinking you are better placed than you are.If you fail with your bluff, not only are you set to lose a substantial amount of money or chips, you are exposing a massive weakness in your game and you will soon be marked by the rest of the online poker table.

Bad bluffs occur when you have failed to use them in the right position on the table. For example, if you are sat on a six-strong table and you are second to act. This would be a bad time to bluff because you have four players to your right and either one of them could call the bluff, leaving you needing a lot of luck from the community cards.

Picking your opponent to bluff can be just as crucial. Bluffing against bad players can be a recipe for disaster because they are likely to only consider their hand, therefore your actions have little significance to their decision. You are less likely to find this sort of player in WSOPE satellites though.

It is also worth bearing in mind what types of players are around the table. Aggressive players will not think twice about calling you, whereas if you can identify certain passive opponents, you may be able to make your bluffs count against them. Passive players will fear your bet, and unless they have hit the nuts, could even fold a hand that is far stronger than yours. If you can be patient and wait for these moments, bluffing can be an effective tool and not one that gets you into plenty of trouble.

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