Gus Hansen Tips
Playing in Australia
- Mark VosDec 15, 2006
For a serious poker player, the Aussie Millions offers one of best structures of any tournament anywhere.
Betting out of Position
- Gus HansenNov 20, 2006
...by checking, you give control to the late-position player.
Playing the Main Event
- Gus HansenJuly 31, 2006
When playing against weak opponents while holding lots chips, you should try to see more flops as cheaply as you can.
Small-Pot Poker
- Gavin SmithJanuary 30, 2006
I'm looking to pick up a lot of small pots by applying a constant level of pressure to my opponents.
Keep Your Toolbox Well Stocked
- Chris FergusonMay 2, 2005
One essential element of playing winning poker is forcing your opponents to make difficult decisions.
Tips from the Pros
Ferguson Goes From Zero to Hero
- Chris FergusonApril 27th, 2007
I had a losing streak there and had to go down to $5/$10. That was tough.
Playing Low
- Karina JettApril 16th, 2007
There's no shame playing for lower stakes than you think you can afford.
How Much Luck? How Much Skill?
- Ben RobertsMarch 30th, 2007
The fact is, these kinds of events should have less of an impact on your overall results the more you play.
The Weak Lead
- Lee WatkinsonMarch 23rd, 2007
And if you check-call, the pro will probably check the turn and then fold to a bet on the river.
Satellite Savviness
- Team Full TiltMarch 1st, 2007
The fact is, satellites provide much more than the chance to save some money on a $10K buy-in.
The Pain Barrier - Manipulating Your Opponent
- Joe BeeversFeb 9, 2007
If you're hungry, tired or even a little drunk, you're not likely to play your best.
Finding the Low Cards in Omaha Hi/Lo
- Mike MatusowJan 15, 2007
You really can't do these sorts of things in Hold 'em.
Looking at the Long-Term
- Erik SeidelJan 6, 2007
Many refuse to admit mistakes and insist that a bad run is due to bad luck alone.
Playing Small and Medium Pairs in Seven-Card Stud
- Perry FriedmanDec 29, 2006
Small and medium pairs are among the trickiest hands you'll encounter in Seven-Card Stud.
Playing Aces in PLO
- Andrew BlackDec 21, 2006
Omaha is a game where what you catch with the community cards is usually more important than what you start with.
Playing Mixed Games
- Jennifer HarmanDec 7, 2006
It's tough to go back to any one game once you start playing mixed games.
Pot-Size Manipulation
- Gavin SmithNov 30, 2006
keeping the pot small will get you pretty good value when you're ahead and help you avoid disaster when you're behind.
How a Pro Thinks Through a Hand
- Team Full TiltNov 13, 2006
I was half hoping for a King on the river and half not, because it could bust me.
Cash Equity at the Final Table
- Rafe FurstNov 6, 2006
I needed to win the pot only about 27 percent of the time to justify a call.
Getting Beyond Your Cards
- Perry FriedmanOct 30, 2006
Moving beyond your own cards is a key step in coming to think like a winning player.
The Mindset of a Winner
- Kristy GazesOct 23, 2006
It's impossible to overstate the importance of money management to your poker career.
Balancing Poker and Life
- Clonie GowenOct 16, 2006
Don't even consider going pro until you can cover all of your bills for at least six months in advance.
Play More Pots
- Erick LindgrenOct 9, 2006
My overall goal is to pick up a lot of small pots without a lot of resistance.
Heads-Up vs Multi-Way Hands in Omaha Hi/Lo
- Andy BlochOct 3, 2006
If you're playing a multi-way pot, you need a very strong hand going one way or the other.
Playing Big Slick in Deep Stack Tournaments
- Paul WolfeSept 25, 2006
Top-pair/top-kicker is probably no good if another player is willing to risk all of his chips.
Breaking Out of Your Comfort Zone
- Ben RobertsSept 18, 2006
If you take a shot and lose, you shouldn't have to worry about rebuilding your bankroll from scratch.
Playing Cap Games
- Howard LedererSept 11, 2006
You'll be able to take some shots at pots that you probably wouldn't take in deep-stack games.
From No-Limit to Limit
- Richard BrodieSept 4, 2006
By the river in Limit Hold 'em, you're often getting odds of 9, 10, or 11 to 1 to make a call.
Check-Raising on Draws
- Steve BrecherAugust 28, 2006
Rather than check-call, I often like to check-raise when I flop a draw out of position.
Betting the River with Marginal Hands
- Andy BlochAugust 21, 2006
In spots where your opponent might hold a busted draw and bluff, it's often more profitable to check and then pick off the bluff with a call.
Learning from Allen Cunningham
- Jay GreenspanAugust 14, 2006
The pros often say they're not going to play big pots without big hands.
Acknowledging Mistakes
- Team Full TiltAugust 7, 2006
The best players have the ability to acknowledge and learn from their mistakes.
Managing the Short Stack
- Mark VosJuly 24, 2006
In No-Limit tournaments, it's very important to do your stealing when you have at least eight to 10 big blinds.
Playing Pot-Limit Tournaments
- Rafe FurstJuly 17, 2006
In Pot-Limit tournaments, I prefer to be the player re-raising the open-raise.
Red for a Day
- Brian KoppelmanJuly 10, 2006
I felt like every raise, weak call or foolish bluff I made was magnified.
A Big Stack Mistake at the 2006 WSOP*
- Phil GordonJuly 3, 2006
Given the table dynamics, there was no need for me to risk one-third of my chips on this hand.
Winning Poker - It's About More Than Money
- Ben RobertsJune 26, 2006
There are a couple of common mistakes new players make that lead them to draw faulty conclusions about the strength of their play.
Seventh Street Decisions in Seven-Stud
- Keith SextonJune 19, 2006
Some of the tougher decisions on seventh street arise when you're holding one pair.
Big Blind Play in Limit Hold 'em
- Jennifer HarmanJune 12, 2006
Even if the check-raise doesn't win the pot, this move helps keep a tough, aggressive player off balance.
Firing the Second Bullet
- Greg "FBT" MuellerJune 5, 2006
If you're up against an opponent who is unwilling to play without a very big hand, firing the second bullet can force them to make some bad lay downs.
Fourth Street Decisions in Seven Stud
- Keith SextonMay 29, 2006
If fourth street builds straight or flush possibilities for my opponent, I'm likely to muck a lot of hands; if it appears to be a complete blank, I'll usually continue.
Finding Your Inner Maniac
- Greg "FBT" MuellerMay 22, 2006
I had convinced him that there was no difference between a $25 raise and a $4,000 raise.
Beware the Min Raise
- Phil GordonMay 15, 2006
Every time I've been faced with a minimum re-raise, I've been up against a monster - pocket Kings or Aces.
Playing Bottom Two Pair
- Rafe FurstMay 8, 2006
Many players overplay top pair and over-pairs, and will either call or re-raise all-in.
The Other Danger in Slow Playing
- Howard LedererMay 1, 2006
If he bets on the turn and you raise, you're signaling that the turn card helped you.
Why I Prefer Cash Games to Tournaments
- Huckleberry SeedApril 24, 2006
If you're attuned to your opponent's moods, you'll find opportunities to profit from their weakened states.
Early Tournament Play
- David GreyApril 17, 2006
I'd rather gamble early and bust than cling to a short stack for hours on end.
Bad Position, Decent Cards
- Howard LedererApril 3, 2006
In spots like this, your best move is to press an edge while you have it - before the flop.
Inducing a Bluff
- Layne FlackMarch 27, 2006
It's hard to bluff on three consecutive streets, and most players won't launch that third bullet.
Back to Basics
- David GreyMarch 20, 2006
As players improve, they inevitably see more opportunities for profit, and thus, see potential in a greater number of hands.
Representing a Bluff
- Huckleberry SeedMarch 13, 2006
If you had the nuts, he'd reason, you'd bet smaller, trying to get some value.
Viewer Beware
- Howard LedererMarch 6, 2006
In the last couple of years, I've noticed that some of the less experienced players who have entered $10,000 buy-in tournaments don't fully appreciate what they've seen on TV.
When Passive Plays
- Chris FergusonFebruary 27, 2006
Ideally I want to get one decent sized bet in over the course of this hand and by checking, I prevent my opponent from giving me more action than my hand can handle.
Book Smarts vs. Table Smarts
- Erik SeidelFebruary 20, 2006
Just as there is no right way to write a song or paint a picture, there is no right way to play poker.
Playing with John D'Agostino
- Jay GreenspanFebruary 13, 2006
After such a difficult opening, it's not uncommon to see even very good players overwhelmed with resignation.
On Cavemen and Poker Players
- Ben RobertsFebruary 6, 2006
Endeavor to leave each session in the same emotional state.
Tips From Tunica
- Andy BlochJanuary 23, 2006
When he check-raised, he failed to ask himself a critical question: What hand can I call with that he could beat?
How Big a Bankroll?
- Team Full TiltJanuary 16, 2006
If you're nervous about what you stand to lose in a given pot, you're probably playing too high for your bankroll.
Thoughts on Omaha-8
- Jennifer HarmanJanuary 09, 2006
Whenever possible, you need to position yourself to take every chip from a big pot.
In Defense of the Call
- Gavin SmithJanuary 02, 2006
A strategic call might keep me from going broke in a hand where I hold a good, but second-best hand.
Stepping Up, Stepping Down
- Kristy GazesDecember 26, 2005
Early in my poker career I set a simple rule for myself: I would never move to a higher limit until I won three consecutive sessions. If I lost three consecutive sessions at a given limit, I would move down to a lower limit.
Playing a Big Draw in Limit Hold 'em
- Chris "Jesus" FergusonDecember 19, 2005
Playing big draws aggressively against multiple opponents can create very profitable situations.
Know Your (Table) Limits
- Paul WolfeDecember 12, 2005
As I play, I take note of the loose players and tight players, and then use that information to decide which seat will be most profitable.
Getting Started in Stud-8
- Jennifer HarmanDecember 05, 2005
The major mistake that new Stud-8 players make is that they play aggressively with hands that might serve them well in a regular game of 7-Card Stud.
What's Your Starting Hand Really Worth?
- Steve BrecherNovember 28, 2005
There is no universal definition of what "better" means when comparing hold 'em starting hands.
Big Slick: A Slippery Hand
- Rafe FurstNovember 21, 2005
Many people fall in love with A-K pre-flop in No-Limit Hold 'em because they know that they can rarely be much worse than 50-50 to win the hand if they get all of their money in heads up.
Bad Cards or Bad Plays?
- Team Full TiltNovember 14, 2005
I know that some days, even if I play perfectly, I'm going to lose.
Strategies for Short-Handed Limit Hold 'em
- John D'AgostinoNovember 7, 2005
The position raise puts me in control of the hand and, even if I'm holding total trash, the pressure puts the blinds in a spot where they need to catch a piece of the flop.
Taking on a Short-Handed No-Limit Game
- John D'AgostinoOctober 31, 2005
Three- or four-handed games are usually very aggressive, and I will never limp in.
What I learned at the WSOP*
- Jay GreenspanOctober 24, 2005
When playing, keep your mouth shut and don't do your opposition any favors.
Back to the Drawing Board
- Perry FriedmanOctober 17, 2005
If you're against a player who likes to slow play or a player who will bluff you out with a big bet, a small bet gives you the best chance of seeing the turn.
It's Not Easy Being Green. Or Is It?
- Team Full TiltOctober 10, 2005
Everyone agreed that one of the best ways to improve your game is to play against better players.
Texture Isn't Just For Fabric
- Phil GordonOctober 3, 2005
If my hand is unlikely to improve, I tend to bet more than 2/3 of the pot. I want to take this pot now.
Know Your Opponent; Own Your Opponent
- Paul WolfeSeptember 26, 2005
Poker is often not so much about the cards you have, but knowing the way your opponent plays.
How Bad are the Beats?
- Steve BrecherSeptember 19, 2005
After my bet and the opponent's all in-raise, I was getting pot odds of 3.7 to 1 to call, so the call is clearly correct.
Third Street in Seven Stud
- Perry FriedmanSeptember 12, 2005
You should almost never bring in for a completion in Stud Hi, except in very rare tournament situations.
Flopping a Monster
- Richard BrodieSeptember 6, 2005
Big hands can mean big pots. But, with a big hand, it's even more important to strategize and figure out how strong your opponent is.
Our Favorite Poker Books
- Team Full TiltAugust 30, 2005
Chris Ferguson believes David Sklansky's Hold 'em for the Advanced Player and Theory of Poker are perhaps the two best books out there.
Holding On To Your Winnings
- Aaron "GambleAB" BartleyAugust 22, 2005
One slip-up can spell disaster for a bankroll, and watching six months of hard work disappear in six hours of foolish play is enough to crush anyone's spirits.
No-limit by the Numbers
- Andy BlochAugust 15, 2005
In poker, it's the long run that matters, so he should only call if his probability of winning is greater than 40%.
Chip Sandwich
- Phil GordonAugust 8, 2005
If my raise gets the initial raiser to fold, the meat of the chips will very often be coming my way.
Sizing Up Your Opening Bet
- Chris FergusonAugust 1, 2005
Poker is like real estate. The three most important factors in deciding how much to raise are: Location, location, location.
So You Wanna Go Pro
- Rafe FurstJuly 25, 2005
Poker is a great game; it's tons of fun, and has never been as potentially profitable as it is today. But try to keep it in perspective.
Dealer, Leave the Bets in Front of the Players.
- Greg MascioJuly 18, 2005
The first and most important thing, especially in Omaha/8, is knowing where you're at on every street.
Not Playing By The Book
- Phil GordonJuly 11, 2005
Poker is not a game that is best played by the numbers. Poker is a game of situations.
Playing Two or More Tables at Once
- Erick LindgrenJuly 4, 2005
...the best way to keep up with the action is to look for hands you can fold automatically.
How To Win At Tournament Poker, Part 2
- Chris FergusonJune 27, 2005
Most people would be better off making no changes at all, rather than the changes that they do make
How To Win At Tournament Poker, Part 1
- Chris FergusonJune 20, 2005
How much of a difference is there between ring game strategy and tournament strategy? The answer: Not as much as you think.
Specialize At Your Peril
- Howard LedererJune 13, 2005
Playing the other games will develop skills that will simply make you a better poker player.
Common Mistakes
- Phil GordonJune 6, 2005
I will very rarely bluff against a "calling station".
Don't Play a Big Pot Unless You Have a Big Hand
- John JuandaMay 30, 2005
All of a sudden, I don't like my hand -- so much.
Ask And Ye Shall Receive Part II
- Erick LindgrenMay 23, 2005
Wouldn't Casey have been more than happy to raise with his A-A, knowing the older gentleman would reraise him?
Ask And Ye Shall Receive Part 1
- Erick LindgrenMay 16, 2005
I want him to view me as a young hot-shot, with the hopes that he'll bully me later when I have the goods.
Should I Stay Or Should I Go
- Jennifer HarmanMay 9, 2005
Usually a losing player is scared to get involved with a winning player, so it's easier for you to pick up pots.
Why I Leave My Sunglasses And iPod At Home
- Howard LedererApril 25, 2005
I am confident that the information I take in with my eyes far exceeds what I give away.
In Pot Limit...
- Clonie GowenApril 11, 2005
What many beginning pot limit Omaha players do not understand is that Omaha is really a game of redraws.
The Script
- Phil GordonApril 4, 2005
After a careful analysis, if I'm not sure if I should raise and I'm not sure I should fold, I feel confident that calling a bet (or checking) is correct.
Just A Few Things When Playing Razz
- Jennifer HarmanMarch 28, 2005
If your opponent catches a baby and you catch big, you should let it go.
A Way To Approximate The Odds
- Clonie GowenMarch 21, 2005
Knowing the approximate likelihood of making your hand is a good beginning step on the road to better poker.
Sit N Goes Made Easy
- Howard LedererMarch 14, 2005
The Sit N Go is the flight simulator of Final Table play, and mastering it should be considered mandatory homework for the serious student.
