Strategy

Disclaimer: Okay, perhaps "strategy" is a strong word. Basically, I've got a bit of advice here for new players who want to join our game, want to win, and don't really know what they're doing yet. The information here has been gathered through a combination of research, experience, and outright theft. I'm not a professional poker player, and even professional players don't agree on everything, so don't take this stuff as gospel. Of course, if you just want to have fun and don't care if you lose a few bucks, please don't read this page. You'll play a lot more hands if you don't. You still might still want to check out our House Rules and Casino Poker pages, though.

Specific Game Information: Texas Hold 'em, Omaha/8, and Other Games

 
General Advice

1. Fold early. Fold often. The single biggest mistake beginning players make is playing too many hands. 

2. In limit games, calling is usually a mistake, except on the river. Folding or raising is better. The fold can save you money. The raise can provide you with information, and sometimes even wins you the pot outright. Think of it this way: Betting and being called by an opponent costs just as much money as calling an opponent's bet and you're a lot more likely to scare someone off by betting than you are by calling.

3. Pay attention to your opponents. Every bet, raise, or call by them can give you information. Use it.

4. Understand the importance of position. The later in the round you act, the more information you have with which to make a decision.

5. If you've got a hand, bet it. Make sure people have to pay to see your hand, and pay through the nose to suck out on you. Slow-playing a set of aces won't look like a such good idea when your opponent hits his flush draw on the river.

6. If your opponents are dumb enough to give you free cards, take them. Never, ever fold to a check. It encourages your opponents to play more aggressively against you in the future.

7. In stud, be aware of the exposed cards. Your flush draw ain't worth so much if four of your suit are already dead.

8. Don't chase cards unless you've got proper pot odds. If you don't know what pot odds are, don't chase.

9. A big chance of winning a small pot is better than a small chance of winning a big pot.

10. When you know you're beat, fold. 

11. "If I had only..." Don't kick yourself for folding when your miracle cards turn up. 777 on the flop does not mean you should play 7-2 offsuit next time. Looking at the game objectively, most players regret staying in much more often than they regret folding.

12. It's not personal, it's just poker. Don't make it personal. 

13. Stay in control of your emotions. When someone bluffs you off of a big pot or catches perfect on the river to beat you, don't let it affect your play. If you think it will affect your play, get up and take a break.

Pot Odds and Outs

The concept of pot odds is a fairly simple one to understand, but it's not always an easy one to put into practice. Essentially, pot odds are about weighing how much you have to put into a pot versus the pot size and your chance of winning. Probably the most difficult thing for beginners to overcome when thinking about pot odds is the "potstuck" mentality. Once you put money into the pot, it's part of the pot and should be treated just like anyone else's money. Base your decisions on how much total money is in the pot, not how much of your money is in the pot.

Let's take a simple hold 'em example: You hold 5c 5h. The flop comes As, 9s, 5d. You bet, hoping to push your opponents off of a flush draw. You are called by a tight player you know wouldn't call unless he had a set or a good flush draw. The turn comes 3s, and your opponent bets $1.00 into you. You know by the look in his eyes your opponent has the K-x or Q-x of spades, and your trips are now no good. With one card to come, do you call?

You've got to count your outs. If the board pairs, you've got a boat. If a five comes, you've got quads. Any of the three remaining threes, aces, nines, or the case five will beat the flush. That's ten cards out of 46 you haven't seen. If the pot is bigger than $4.60, including your opponents bet, you'd be right in calling that dollar.

If we take the same situation for a Omaha/8 game, and assume your other two cards won't play, you'd want a pot of at least $9.20 to call that dollar, because there's a low out there and you're only playing for the high half of the pot.