the BB and by
the time it gets to you, its all-in to call, after the last hands frustration,
you make a crying call and the flop comes JJ7 and is split by 2 players w/ A 2
and A 10. That is why the WSOP is decided on this Game. In Limit, you can play
your cards and do OK, in No Limit, you need to know your position Early, Middle,
or Late and who is left to act, are they aggressive, are they tight, are they on
tilt (steaming) and raising every pot, this is not only important for deciding
if to play but how to play, say you picked up AA in 1st position, easy. Raise!, no, slow down, object is to get as many chips in the pot w/ AA, and limit the
field, if you have 2 very aggressive players and a Steamer left to act, check,
the pot will probably have 2 raises before it gets back to you, then you can
either call, or try to limit the field by re-raising, the two aggressive players
may decide to fold if you have played very tight to that point, the Steamer is
calling no matter what you do. In limit Raise, it will be capped by the time it
gets back to you, in most case you are in this one to the river. This did not
cover all situations, but it is meant to make you see No Limit is game you need
to think about all the time, and preflop is just the start...
The Flop, in Limit, if you have 1 pair, 2 over cards, a 3 flush or a 3 strait,
you can probably stay a single bet maybe a single raise. In No limit, if you do
not have top pair w/ a strong kicker, a set, a 4 flush or a 4 STR, against all
but the smallest action, muck and wait for another hand, but what if he is
bluffing, so what, it is OK to get bluffed off a pot, leave the ego on the desk,
Poker is about who has the most chips at the end of the day. If he/she is a
habitual bluffer, you are better off waiting to call when you have the best of
it (a made hand). If you are on the Flush or Strait Draw and others are left to
act, how strong is it, is it the Nuts or is it possible you are drawing dead
against someone w/ a stronger draw odds are with a Nut Draw, you can also back
into Top Pair or still win w/ A or K high think about all of this BEFORE the
Flop comes, Know all the cards that help, if one of those misses, muck and wait.
The Turn, in Limit the smart play if on a draw, STR, FL Over Cards, or 2nd or
3rd pair muck against most action, if 4 to the FL or Strait, you can stay at
this point, Pot adds say you stay, you have X in the Pot and 1/10th X to call,
you are probably in to the river unless there is no way to win (remember we
started w/ strong cards). In No Limit, if we have not filled the FL or STR, we
fold against any action unless we are on the NUT Draw; NL is too expensive a
game to have the second best hand. Did the board pair, if so what and who came
out betting? If it was a 2 thru 7 and one of the blinds came alive your K with
an A kicker many not be worth pushing once again knowing who acted, on what
showed. and who is yet to act will determine your final decision more than you
hand, you have got to put your opponent on a hand and play against that. Do not
fall in love with your pair of Ks or As if the board is showing a STR, FL or PR
and there is heavy betting, once again it is OK to be bluffed out!
The River, OK, you missed everything on your draw, you have pair of 2s or A
High, In limit, if your are 1st to act BET, if checked to you BET, you would be
surprised how may will fold and you win then and there, if they raise, call, you
may still have the best hand, in No Limit I advocate the same approach, with
caution, by this time in NL, the pot is huge, it will take a substantial bet to
move even the bust draw hand out, once again, knowing your opponent will be your
guide, if re-raised, let it go, if bluffed out - its ok, No Ego. I spent the
last week re-learning Limit Holdem on real money tables and play real money NL
Tournaments, this works, but it is a guide, experience and confidence will round
out your game. More detailed strategies to come in the near future.
Thanks to TechMan Poker for contributing this article!
Poker Theory - Poker site for the
improvement of poker skills. Site reviews, articles, Blogs, Gambling and Sports
Betting - Special Member Only Freerolls. A great site for both new and
experienced poker players. Good LuckTechMan
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