The top poker tips to win games with lousy cards....
WINNING WITH AVERAGE HANDS Let’s face it, on those very rare occasions when you’re dealt Ace-King same suited or pocket rockets, you have to be fairly confident your chances of winning the pot are excellent. In other words, most reasonable players can win with a premium hand. So what separates average players from good players? Well, average players will win with good hands and good players can still win even with average hands.
SO WHAT’S THE TRICK? There are lots of them. I’ll probably deal with all the tricks during the course of the next twelve months but today let’s take a look at the most important factor you need to exploit: Position! The fact is a hand viewed from one position may be a definite fold but viewed from another position it may be a definite bet. Let’s look at a same hand-different-decision scenario. You’re in an eight handed no limit Hold’em game with the blinds at $1-$2! You’re “under the gun” (first to act). Your hole cards are Queen-Jack unsuited. This hand spells problems from earliest position. It’s likely one of the seven opponents you’re facing will come up with a pre-flop raise. It’s not a bad hand but you’re very vulnerable in this position. I’d fold. Now let’s say you’re at sixth position at the table, in other words fourth to act after the blinds.
BUY THE CHEAP TICKET It’s down to you to call the big blind. What’s your decision? At $2 it’s a cheap ticket to see the flop, so I’d limp in. You’re position isn’t perfect, but you have some visibility and you won’t be first to act after the flop has landed. You’ll have a breathing space to assess. This is using your position to proper advantage. Finally, let’s assume you are now on the button with the same cards and four players ahead of you have limped in. This is where you really play your positional advantage by staging a pre-flop raise. This will probably clean out the rubbish hands and considerably improve your odds of winning the pot. Clearing out average hands at this time is always a good tactical move just in case one of them has a stroke of luck and hits a premium card at the flop. Also your late position presents you with the added advantage of watching what your opponents do before you have to act.
LATE POSITION BONUS! Your opponents’ actions should also give you a read on their likely hands, making your final decision even more informed. And if that wasn’t reward enough, your enemies are completely denied the chance to get a read on your hand. The advantages are all yours. Effectively in this position, you are seated in control of the table.
