Archive for January, 2008
by Simon Dexter Thursday, January 31st, 2008
Hi guys.
I consider myself a reasonably good online player who is interested in techniques and strategies, but I wonder is there a need to be aggressive every single time you play? I appreciate that it’s difficult to win if you’re a naturally passive player, but so many of my opponents appear blindly aggressive and are easily beaten. Am I missing a vital element here?
JD
Dear JD,
Aggressive play is not just about making a statement – raising at every opportunity or stealing the blinds – it can actually prove a very subtle strategy: raising for value or to snaffle a free card, for example.
Good players probably tend to be more aggressive, but you’ll see few of them raising and re-raising without a purpose; these guys do not like throwing money away, so their aggression is channelled into bluffing opponents off a hand or into grabbing a free card.
Take one example. You’re playing in a $2 / $5 limit game and are dealt 3-4; the flop is 2-5-7. The small blind bets, after which a player in mid-position calls, leaving you act; you bluff aggression (in anticipation of seeing a free card) and make it $10 to go. Your opponents both call and the turn comes as a 10. As you’re the aggressor, it’s checked to you, but your aggressive approach has produced the desired result – you got to see your free card, although you check because there’s no chance of picking up the pot. Nevertheless, you aggressive strategy worked – you got to see the free card.
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by Simon Dexter Thursday, January 31st, 2008
Book review - Ghosts at the Table
By Des Wilson
Given an almost unquestioned belief in the bluff’s strategic clout and a deep admiration for those players who frequently exercise it to good effect, poker, by its very nature, is a game around which any number of myths have grown.
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by Simon Dexter Thursday, January 31st, 2008
If you’ve ever felt that you could benefit from some proper poker tuition but considered coaching manuals to be a tad too dry, then the launch of Phil Gordon’s poker tuition video in a downloadable format may be the answer to all your prayers.
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by Simon Dexter Thursday, January 31st, 2008
In a move likely to be welcomed by poker players everywhere, Littlewoods Poker has launched the world’s first podcast freeroll tournament. The prize? A fantastic home poker night for the winner and up to nine friends; the successful player will also feature on Littlewoods’ next “poker-cast”.
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by Simon Dexter Thursday, January 31st, 2008
In another example of art imitating life, it’s finally been announced that the poker player’s must-see movie of 2008, The Grand, based upon a fictional poker tournament will be released on 21st March.
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by Simon Dexter Thursday, January 31st, 2008
It’s never much fun losing on the bubble. It’s a frustrating experience: you’ve probably played for a few hours, mixed your strategies and style with the express intention of making the final table only to fall at the final hurdle. Nevertheless, matters can feel so much better if you receive a bubble refund.
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by Simon Dexter Wednesday, January 30th, 2008
The new monthly Poker Podcast is here! Every month we’ll bring you the latest poker news, event previews, player interviews, tactical tips and much more! Listen to this month’s podcast and you’ll hear:
- - An on location report from the GUKPT in Brighton
- - Tactical tips from our sponsored pro Tony Cascarino
- - A look at what’s happening in the Littlewoods Poker room
- - All the latest poker news from Europe and the US
- - An interview with Littlewoods Poker player ClintonO
Plus! An exclusive competition with a fantastic prize up for grabs!
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by Simon Dexter Tuesday, January 29th, 2008
He may appear a little eccentric but Harold Lee is currently my poker hero as he looks set to take the right to play poker to the US courts.
The 60-year-old former judge has been holding poker tournaments at various premises since 2001 in disregard of state law and now he may face his day in court.
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by Simon Dexter Thursday, January 24th, 2008
Hi guys
While I appreciate that the flop is the game’s fulcrum, where does the saying ‘fit or fold’ come from and does it relate directly to the flop?
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by Simon Dexter Thursday, January 24th, 2008
By Matthew Hilger
www.4sportsbooks.co.uk price: £10.94, saving 10% on rrp
An understanding of basic maths is an essential prerequisite for poker players mindful of improving their game. Many may have jettisoned maths at school as soon as differential equations arrived on the agenda, but regrettably, that’s probably not going to do you any favours when you’re heads-up with a large pot at stake.
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