Poker Advice

Poker is a game of perception, even more than it is a game of luck or strategy. The best poker advice I’ve ever gotten was to focus on my table image. When I first sit down at a table, I make a conscious effort to observe the other players as much as possible. I like to get as much information about their playing styles and behaviors before I get involved in any serious pots. I play very tightly initially, focusing more on observing everyone else than my own game.

This is especially good poker advice if you are playing with people you do not know anything about. Strategies that work with your normal Friday night poker game may get you into a lot of trouble with a group of strangers. Sit back and play cautiously until you have a better idea of who is who. If you have a ‘calling station’ in your group, you’ll find out very soon, and it could save you from getting into a lot of trouble with a bluff. Pay particular attention to any tells your opponents are prone to give without realizing it. Did their hands shake when they had a good hand? Did they slam their chips down forcefully when bluffing? Do they act weak when strong, or strong when weak? Although these are all common tells, everyone is different and it is dangerous to assume that a tell is a tell until you’ve actually had some evidence for it.

Once you’ve developed a good sense of who the other players are, it’s a good idea to focus on your own image. If you’ve been playing tightly, you are off to a good start. People take notice when you fold often, and when you finally do decide to play a hand chances are people will be afraid of you. Try making an aggressive bluff, or ‘semi-bluff’ to get into the game after a long period of tight play. Then, when you win, show your cards. Let the other players know you’re not afraid to play strong with a bad hand. It’ll throw them off, and they won’t know what to think anymore.

Afterwards, switch back to tight play for a while and wait until you actually have a strong hand before getting involved in your next pot. Your opponents may just think you’re bluffing again and call you, and you could win a big pot.

The theme to this poker advice is the change your game around. Do what works for you, and what you’re comfortable with, but just make sure you vary it up. Poker is like a mental gunfight. Once someone knows where you are, it’s only a matter of time before they sneak around and flank you, but if you keep moving they won’t be able to do so.