1) There is a lot of truth to the line “know when to hold them, know when to fold them. Know when to walk away, know when to run”….
2) What you think you see, or is, is not necessarily true.
3) People are as varied as the cards they play and in how they play the game.
4) Women are more methodical and just glad to be playing the game. Men are typically more aggressive in their bets and more likely to go “all in” early and often. (and sulk off when beaten without “gg” – Good Game – or “nh”. (Nice Hand)
5) There is always a possibility of something better, no matter what a great hand you have, unless of course it is a Royal Flush. Sometimes it is just the “kicker” card that will still best you and it only takes “one number up” to be beaten.
6) Too many people give up too soon when their chips are down. I’ve come back and won after being down to three points/chips. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever give up and you will end up winning more often than not. A winning attitude and expectation of winning will go a very long way in beating those who do not believe they can.
7) Sometimes I’ve folded with a low hand only to realize afterwards that I could have taken the hand with two pair, or even sometimes a full house, if I had just hung in there and played a few chips. So play smart, but also refer to #1 above when in doubt.
Don’t go overboard betting on just a pair with a pocket Ace. People have a tendency to over bet with false sense of security too early on when they see that Ace in their pocket. Make sure you have at least two pair as a rule and you’ll win more than you lose. Having one pair is usually a sucker bet and risky. A pair on the board and a face card sometimes can help you pull it out; two face cards in your pocket, for the kicker, sure helps.
9) When playing a foursome, let the first few players fight it out on high bids. Then take the last player with a few strong hands to get your chip count up.
10) Bluffing works best when you really do have (a little) SOMETHING to bet on… even if it is a pair of two’s.
Life is a lot like poker. Study it; study people. You can learn a lot from the experience. Often you know better than to bet on up but you do it anyway because you get emotional or angry at the way the other person is betting. Keep your cool. Slow and methodical beats bluster and blow. Patience and care always wins out, even from behind.
Bottom line, 99% of poker is in the luck of the draw. If you don’t get the cards, it doesn’t matter how good a poker player you are, you cannot win. Only a small percentage of winning is strategy – it’s taking what you’re given and when you have a strong hand, playing it full tilt when called for. You cannot be fearful even in light of rare odds. Pay attention to what’s possible, pay attention to the odds, be smart about your moves, believe and bet on a strong hand and most importantly, remember to be a good sport, encourage others and enjoy the game.
To A Winning Hand,
Tracy
Related posts:
- 10 more things I learned while playing online Texas Hold’em…
- Phelps at the finish line
- Practice what you preach?
- Life is like Chess
