Read a good article today... (micro online NL content)

[KKbluff]

I get emails like this about every week, but this one seemed a little better than the usual so I figured I'd post it for you all to read if you want...

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Techniques For Winning At Online Poker

*** QUESTION FROM A READER ***

Roy,

Great article.

I had one question to you. Wouldn't you advise
calling with all pairs even with when facing a
raise?

I play 25 NL on Party and I will call a raise
with any pair as long as the raise is less than
10% of the opposing players stack. My thinking,
with a monster hand like AA or KK that he is
raising; when I do hit my set I am taking his
whole stack.

So I hit my set statistically 1 in 8 times and
call any raise with any pair as long as its 10% or
less of a players stack. I make most of my money
on the no limit tables doing this.

My basic strategy is to raise the same with every
hand as to not giveaway my hand.

AA, KK - raise 8 times the big blind (which is $2
on a 25NL table) and if someone has raised before
me I usually put them to the test and reraise 3
times the amount they have put in or go all in.

AK, AQ - I raise 8 times the big blind if no one
has raised in front of me. If someone has limped
or no one has entered the pot I will raise 8 times
the big blind. If the pot has been raised before
me, I will only call if I have a decent read on
the player.

QQ, JJ - I raise 8 times the big blind if no one
has raised in front of me. If someone has limped
or no one has entered the pot I will raise 8 times
the big blind. If the pot has been raised before
me, I will call and play cautiously post flop if
I don't flop trips or my pocket pair is not the
higher than the board.

AJ - This hand has gotten me in trouble. I usually
limp in or call the big blind. I throw away to any
raise before me and usually fold it if a raise
comes behind me.

1010, 99, 88, 77, 66, 55, 44, 33, 22 - call the
big blind. maybe raise 1010 and 99 in late
position if no one has entered the pot. I will
call a raise up 10% of the raising players stack.
Post flop I know where I stand if I hit my set or
not, or my pocket pair is above what the board
shows.

I usually move tables quickly after I double my
stack up, because most players will learn how you
play and its hard to get action on raises after
they learn you play real hands and push with them.

- S.


>>> MY COMMENTS:

Wow. What great insights.

You've hit on some KILLER strategies here that can
be instantly implemented to win more money at
online poker.

First of all, I noticed that you said, "My basic
strategy is to raise the same with every hand as
to not giveaway my hand."

This is brilliant. I often employ this technique
myself, because it keeps your opponents COMPLETELY
off-balance... guessing at what you're holding.

You also brought up a great point about the value
of hitting trips when you wrote, "When I do hit my
set I am taking his whole stack."

This concept can be taken FURTHER...

In online poker, IMPLIED ODDS are a more important
consideration than in offline poker. The reason is
because of the dominate LOOSE-AGGRESSIVE style of
play...

When you make a significant bet, your chances of
getting action are much higher than in your
average home game or casino.

That's why I like to limp-in with suited
connectors... because if I hit my flush or
straight I'm CONFIDENT that I'm going to win a
huge pot from someone.

The key is to NOT "chase" your outs. Don't stay in
a hand and call all way down to the river with
your draws... it's not worth it. Bet the draw
upfront, and if you get raised just muck it.

As for your question regarding pairs...

It sounds to me like you're playing RING GAMES and
not Sit and Go's. When I play a low-stakes ring
game, my strategy is about the same as yours.

The biggest difference for me is that I hate
getting up and moving tables so frequently. I've
found that when players begin losing money to you,
they often WON'T STOP. They'll just keep losing
money... DETERMINED to beat you.

And of course, that's when you get the WINDFALL of
profits from them... since they're on tilt and
OUTRAGED that they can't seem to break you.

What I'll do is show an occasional bluff... or
even get busted on a bluff... that way they remain
confused about my style of play.

Remember: No limit Texas Holdem is PSYCHOLOGICAL
WARFARE. As soon as you find a "fish" you can
consistently beat, don't leave! Just keep playing
until THEY decide enough is enough.

OK, back to pairs. When I'm in a ring game, I will
call small raises with pocket pairs, in hopes of
busting my opponents.

But in Sit and Go's I'm more cautious. And the
reason is simple...

In RING GAMES, I'll often play the "odds". Yes,
there's a 1 in 8 chance that I'll make my trips.
And so I'll play my pairs and take down huge pots
when I hit.

But in SIT And GO'S I can't always afford to put
my chips into the middle. Remember, there's only
ONE MAIN STRATEGY for Sit and Go's...

SURVIVAL.

If you don't make it to the top three players in a
10-man Sit and Go, you're not in the money, which
means you've FAILED.

And in your average Sit and Go, you'll probably
only get a pocket pair once or twice (or maybe a
few times if you're lucky) before the field gets
down to three players.

So what I've found is that it's often better for
me to LIMP-IN with my pocket pair and hope for
trips. If someone makes a decent raise, I'll
usually muck it unless I'm the chip leader.

Thanks for your comments man... and keep up the
good work.

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