Poker Myths

Four Myths of Poker on TV Like everything else on television, the poker you see is not always what it seems. There are myths of the TV game that have become accepted as fact among the general populace. This is because we tend to believe whatever the big glowing box tells us. For example, most of the populations still think Lee Harvey Oswald killed Kennedy and that there is a large chunk of the viewing public who have let television convince them that Elvis is alive, well and working at a Burger King in Kalamazoo, MI. So, in the name of deprogramming our readers, here are some myths of the TV poker that seem to be taken way too seriously. Myth One First of all there is the myth that you need to bluff early and often so that your good hands will bring in the big bucks. This is a perversion of what bluffing is for. Folks bluff to win the pot. It doesn’t work all the time, but there should be a reasonable chance of success. People who bluff to advertise spend way to much time bluffing, especially in situations when the chances of success are not very good. You only need to bluff a little to get action on your strong hands. Advertising should be considered a side-effect of bluffing, not the primary goal. Myth Two Another myth has to do with confidence. First of all this is cards, not football. Nobody is trying to physically run you over and that extra little rush that comes from confidence is not a necessary commodity in a card game. In poker, confidence is a by-product of winning. Some people think that confidence is something necessary to win, but that is backwards thinking. Confidence is something you win along with the pot each and every time you are the last person standing in a hand. Just remember, confidence comes from winning. Winning does not happen because of confidence. Myth Three The myth that seems to be most pervasive through the sport of poker is the idea that the best players in the world are all hyper aggressive types. This is not true, they just look like world beaters because the camera loves them more than the boring, steady player who wins quietly. There is that rare person who can turn aggressive play into long lasting success, but that breed of player is about as rare as a unicorn. Despite what TV says, remember it is the tight player who usually wins the day. Myth Four Lastly, there is this idea floating about that you must pay your dues to become a good player. This may apply if you choose to cut your teeth playing high stakes games. There are plenty of low stakes games out there with enough sparring partners to bring your game to respectability without mortgaging the home for the privilege. This myth is perpetuated by a television culture which shuns low limits because they are not sexy enough.

Poker Tips Top 10

1.  Playing Too Many Hands

Most beginners play way too many starting hands, in fact top players typically play between 20-30% of their starting hands. Concentrate on higher value starting hands and help remove the luck element of the game.

2.  Know when to hold’em, and know when to fold’em  

Learn how to fold a hand, and don’t be a calling machine. Many beginners keep betting regardless of the board or what their opponent’s actions are suggesting. Top players frequently say it’s the hands you can lay down that are often the key to profitable play.

3.  Choose less skillful opponents

...if you want to win money. Sounds fairly obvious, but you should play at betting limits where you can beat the majority of players. Move down in limits if you are having difficulties winning money. In poker, always leave your ego at the door.

 4.  Watch your opponents habits

Especially when you aren’t in a hand. The best time to study is when you aren’t emotionally invested in the hand, and you can make more prudent observations. Watch how opponents bet, and how much they bet, in what position are they betting. Learning how your opponents play is key.

5.  Betting to gain knowledge

Betting is not always because you have the best hand. Top players use various betting techniques to try to gain information. For example, a defensive bet is one that you can use early on to avoid calling a bigger future bet. A re-raise may be used to probe the credibility of your opponent’s hand.

 6.    Learn to put your opponents on a hand

 Once you have mastered Tips #4 &5, it is time to put your knowledge to work. Try putting yourself in your opponents shoes, and learn to put them on a hand. Ask questions like “Why did he re-raise me that amount?”, and “Why did he only call in the previous betting round?”, “Maybe because he only called me, he has a kicker problem?”

7.  Learn how to bluff and semi-bluff

...at the right times against the right players, and at the right frequency. Bluffing is often a misunderstood concept, and much to many beginner’s dismay most pros use bluffs quite sparingly. A bluff can be very effective when used rarely, and where there is a seemingly low risk of being called by your opponent.

 8.  Changing Gears

Unpredictability can be good. Most pros can figure out a really loose player by waiting for the nuts and being patient. However, an even easier opponent is a tight player or “rock”, who plays only the Group 1 type hands. You need to change your game up, and let them see that you can run bluffs, and can play some lower value starting hands. These changes should be subtle and shouldn’t dramatically affect the flop rate we mentioned in Tip #1

9.  Understand player position

...and how it is critical. Not only is it important to play strong hands, it is even more important in what position you play them. For example, the ideal position is the Button (the Dealer), as you are last to act, and have the advantage of watching all of the betting action before you need to make a decision. eg. If the action before you consists of a bet, a raise, and a re-raise, and you hold a pair of Tens, you might think that folding is the right decision.

10.  Read books and take notes

Players can always learn more if they want to be a better poker player. Keep notes on what works and doesn’t work for you, and eventually you will come up with a style of play that works uniquely for you and improves your game. Please see our list of Top Poker Books if you want to see some good selections.