Poker Strategies 101

The game of poker, has been termed, the "Liar's Game". This is not because poker players consist of a group of liars, but because certain practices exist which are slightly deceptive in nature and are part and parcel of being a successful poker player. Poker is a game that calls for not only successful manipulation of the cards, but also successful manipulation of the minds and the actions of the other players. There are key skills that must be mastered, as well as several sub-sets of skills, if one is to become a "master poker player"!

However, since poker involves psychological assessments of other players, as well as assessments of situations as they occur, there are never any "hard and fast" laws that govern how to successfully play. Players that rely on a strict set of rules and behaviors about their own play will inevitably lose quite frequently, as they will become very "predictable" to the other players. Flexibility and quick wits are what make poker very appealing indeed to the fans of this game.

In the beginning, though, most poker players will play against others that are not masterful themselves, and therefore, a starter skill set will help immensely. Beginning poker players most often are simply paying attention to their own hands, and so are the other players at the table. Therefore, keeping it simply in the beginning is imperative, as "outthinking" yourself can occur if a beginner tries too hard to be too clever!

In general, there are four "key" strategic skills that a successful player must master. Of course, there are dozens of lesser skills that develop over time, but for a beginner, the key skills are the most important.

Mathematical Skills: General percentages need to be understood for successful play. General percentages are guidelines that are fairly consistent, e.g. there is a consistent 1 in 8 chance of hitting a set when holding a pocket pair and a 1 in 3 chance of completing a flush. Of course, literally dozens more percentages exist and a good poker player finds materials and studies these percentages before beginning to play! A player must also become familiar with "outs" (the number of cards that will improve a hand a player may be holding), and "pot odds" (the chance of winning and the size of the pot divided by the current pot plus the amount of money added through future bets). Calculated betting will increase earnings and limit losses!
Disciplinary Tactics: Poker has little to do with getting "lucky". With a good mathematical knowledge under his or her belt, a good poker player doesn't expect to get lucky; they simply hope others remain unlucky! A good player knows when to "fold" or "toss" a hand that may cause an unnecessarily large loss. A good player also possesses knowledge about bank rolls, and how much is necessary to remain solvent and most importantly, "when" to play and of course, "when not" to play. Disciplined players, therefore, walk a mental line between knowing when to stay in a game, when to quit, and of course, good players always learn from their mistakes. Mistakes are made by even the best players, and mistakes will inevitably happen. However, good players accept the losses, and learn from them, without shifting blame to the other players or the hand they were dealt. Good players also exhibit self-control, by not "chasing their losses" (playing relentlessly to make up for other losses), or by playing when their financial limit has been reached.
Psychological Tactics: A good player learns to develop empathy for the other players. When empathy for other players is present, a good player can basically "think like they think", therefore gaining insights into their play as the game progresses. Psychological tactics are more important in a no limit game, than a limited game, as limit games depend more upon the odds, while no limit games depend more upon the psychology of poker. Good psychological tactic poker players basically ask three questions throughout the play: "What cards does my opponent hold"? "What cards does my opponent think I hold"? "What cards does my opponent believe I THINK they hold"? All three questions need to be at the forefront of any good psychological tactic playing.
Reasoning Skills: These skills are commonly referred to as: Risk Versus Reward Skills. Good poker players are actually quite risk aversive, and seek of course, not to maximize their wins, but actually minimize their losses. Good poker players know instinctively throughout any game how much "bank" is needed to continue playing comfortably, without unnecessary worry. A good player learns early on to value every dollar in their bankroll equally, and to effectively judge how much to bet (or not bet) with each hand. Reasoning skills need to be practiced until they come naturally during play, as good players tend not to get "caught up" in the game, and keep their heads (and their money) much longer than bad poker players. In poker, unlike other card games, like Blackjack, there is not always an optimal strategy, and therefore the powers of reasoning while playing become ultimately important. Judgment can't be taught, so while playing, especially in the beginning, it is necessary for players to pay attention to their own flaws during play and rectify these as time goes on. Since poker is played "situation by situation", confidence in themselves and their playing is needed by poker players. Good players focus more on thinking for themselves, and less on the rules of the game.

Once a player becomes comfortable with the four general guidelines above, the poker playing can be further "honed" by the strategies listed below:

"Bluffing" is also considered a major strategy in a game of poker, and can aid a player in winning, despite the fact that a poor hand may be held. Bluffing however, has it's moments, and can be totally worthless in a low pot game, as most people in a low pot game will keep calling to a "showdown" (they honestly don't have much to lose in a low pot game). Bluffing overall, consists of keeping your emotions, facial expressions, and body language to a minimum, and in essence "hiding" your true feelings while playing (which can be difficult if your cards are not the greatest). Successful bluffing takes practice. Bluffing also calls for an understanding of other players' behaviors and habits. Again, only practice will hone this skill to the point where it becomes useful. Observing the behaviors and habits of other players can increase success in bluffing.

The opposite strategy of "bluffing" is what is called, "slow playing". While "bluffing", a player is trying to convince other players that their hand is better than it actually is. In "slow playing", a player is trying to get other players to believe that their hand is worse, or lower, than it actually is. This will cause other players to over bet and therefore lose more when the "slow playing" player eventually wins.

Another strategy developed by good players over time, is that of "fast playing". These players can effectively judge which of the other players are playing too many hands at once (strictly an online phenomenon), or which players are "raising" themselves into a huge loss. Once this type of judgment call can be made effectively, it raises the odds of a winning hand for the player that can do this.

Players that have been playing poker for a long time also develop a set of facial expressions called, "The Poker Face". Someone with a "poker face" has learned to keep a straight face at all times, and they are quite adept at keeping all their emotions from showing on their faces. Whether they have a "good hand" or a "bad hand" they find they can effectively keep any expression from crossing their face, and in this way, other players can't "read" them psychologically!

All in all, poker is not a game that can be learned successfully in an hour, or a day, or even a week. The best players have spent years honing their skills and it usually shows. Remember, though, nothing beats poker in thrills, chills, and strategy, so learning to play well and effectively is worth the effort!