House Poker-Online Poker Strategy

Poker Strategy

BASICS OF HOW TO PLAY POKER

Poker is a card-game based on probabilities. It is usually played with a standard 52 deck of cards. There are four suits of Spades, Clubs, Hearts and Diamonds. All games follow a basic ranking procedure in the order of ACE, KING, QUEEN, JACK, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.

The objective of the game is to get the highest-value hand. A hand is a set of 5 cards. These “hands” are ranked as under:

ROYAL FLUSH - Same suit; A-K-Q-J-10.
FIVE OF A KIND - Four cards of the same denomination plus a joker.
STRAIGHT FLUSH - Any five card suit in the same sequence.
FOUR OF A KIND - Four cards of the same index.
FULL HOUSE - Three of a kind combined with a pair.
FLUSH - Any five cards of same suit but not in sequence.
STRAIGHT - Five cards in sequence but not of same suit.
THREE OF A KIND - Three cards of the same index.
TWO PAIR - Two separate pairs.
ONE PAIR - Two cards of the same index.
HIGH CARD - Highest card in hand.

There are some basic norms or codes of conduct while a play is in progress that must be adhered to:

There must be no cheating.
A player must not be heard swearing.
No one is permitted to abuse.
A lot of people tend to damage the poker room / club that they play in whenever they begin losing. This is not welcome at all.
No drugs are permitted.
No player is allowed to be in possession of any kind of weapon.
Excessive noise is also looked upon as a deterrent to fair play. All players must play in turn.
No reading of another player's hand is permitted before it has been placed face-up on the table.
Before the betting is complete, players are expected never to reveal a live hand in a multi-handed pot
No messing with the chips is permitted.
Discarded cards are not allowed back into the game.
Chips are to be properly stacked. Basically they must not be stacked in any way that obstructs the dealing of cards.
Unfair course of play.

In any game, a player has choices to make in the first round of betting. If no one has made a bet, he can have two choices of “Open” and “Check.” To open means to start the pot. To check means that a player does not want to open the betting, but at the same time he does not want to quit either

Once someone opens the betting, you have three choices of See, Raise, and Fold.

“See” happens when you match another player’s bet. This means you want to stay in the game. But this means that you have to place the same amount into the kitty.

“Raise” calls for a player to first "see" the previous bet, and then increase the bet.

“Fold” happens when someone else opens and you cut your losses and fold your cards. You "fold" when you feel that the “hand” you hold is much too weak to do well against the other players.

Those players who have not folded their cards are permitted to get rid of three unwanted cards and take up to three new cards. Post this, the betting begins afresh and the options to see, raise or fold are there again. The game ends when everyone has folded except for the winner and there are no more raises. The player with the highest hand wins the pot.

POKER STRATEGY

1. Keep It Simple

A beginner mostly plays low-limit games and to manage to win here is not too difficult. It only calls for you to outplay poor opponents. On the contrary, beating good players at higher limits can be extremely difficult, entailing many complex moves.

Some players care about their own cards only, in this case slow playing can work better. These players can be fooled easily but bluffing is simply a futile exercise.

2. Be your own Thinker

A player must take advice but these cannot replace situational judgment skills. It is a game of people in certain situations and cannot be canned into any optimal, pre-planned strategic rulebook. Confidence in yourself is the name of the game. Think for yourself.

3. Ego

Poker is exciting but needs one to keep one’s poker ego in control. It is a game of skill – so you must aim for improving your game and learning continually. And though poker is great fun and a super way to relax and even profitable, it is important to have the right mindset when you play.

4. Common Mistakes made by Beginners

Too emotional while playing.
Playing too many hands.
Playing above one’s personal bank balance.
Not utilizing “pot odds”.
Breaking poker codes of conduct.
Trying to ape others without a firm understanding of why another player did some action.
Being superstitious.

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