Knowing when to Fold

You’ve heard the expression “Some you win, some you lose”? This phrase is never more true than it is in poker. The only thing we really have control over in the game is when we bail out because once your money’s in it stays in. This may seem a simple rule but in fact it’s not a rule at all, it’s a skill. Knowing when to fold is about disciplining yourself to cut your losses and bail out. You’d be surprised how many advanced players don’t have this skill, and get by on pure luck or bluffing. However this luck always runs out. Even if you’re walking away from a huge pot it’s better to do that than end up getting sucked into betting more.

Pulling a Bluff

The majority of poker these days is now played online, this makes the need for bluffing less prominent. You never see someone playing poker online wearing dark glasses and a baseball cap either. It’s not all about facial expressions, the way you make your bets also play a big part in this (see next section). I once new a very successful poker player who, once he had been given his cards, would announce to the entire table what his cards were. And of course when he played his hand, he had the exact cards that he had told to everyone. This may seem silly at first, but it’s actually very clever. It creates an element of mistrust within the game, people began paying more attention to his cards than their own. Of course the good thing about this tactic is that he could lull other players into a false sense of security. And when most necessary he could go back on his word to successfully get the other players to fold, and win with a hand that would normally have lost. Thus successfully pulling off the bluff. I’m not suggesting this as a tactic that should be used, I’m merely using this as an example of the type of bluff that can sometimes work. When playing poker, act natural, if you’re going to use bluffing make sure to work on your poker face!

Place Your Bets Now

Regardless of whether you’re playing online or over the table you’re giving away clues all the time by the way you place your bets. For example let’s say you have an ace and a seven, both different suits, and the first three cards are useless to you. You decide to carry on with the round and make a small bet. The fourth card is an ace, so now you have the basis for a winning hand and you decide the bigger bet and raise the pot. Other players (especially experienced ones) will pick up on this, and know you have an ace. This is where “Reverse Bluffing” Comes in to play. In this type of situation you should keep your bets to a minimum, letting the other players raise the pot. Once all cards have been drawn (provided the round goes this far) you can make your final big bet. This means that there is now more money in the pot due to players not folding, but it also means you can make your final assessment of all five cards. Be aware that you are giving away signals all the time but be watchful of the way other players do this also. Knowing just one of another player’s cards can tip the balance in your favour.

Going “All-in”

Unless you’ve put a huge amount of your chips I would never recommend going All-in. If you do decide to do this then there are a few things you need to consider first. Make sure all five cards have been drawn, the game can change dramatically with just one card. Once all cards are out you can assess whether or not you have the best hand. Check the main cards to find out the best possible hand that can be made with them, because for all you know someone in the game has that hand. If it’s you, then no problem! Bet away. It’s all to easy to to say the words “All-in” but remember, avoid it at all costs.