Top Pro Strategies to Improve Your Poker Game
1. Practice. Playing poker is a skillset like anything else. Most non-dabbler online players have hundreds of hours under their belt. Most low-level pros thousands. A great way to get some games under your belt is to play right here on ClubWPT.
2. Play cash games or real-money tournaments. There are tons of options for free poker online, ranging from Play Money games at online card rooms to social game sites. But when you're not playing for money, you don't care as much about pot odds or making the right calls. Playing for cash will force you to tighten up your game.
3. Read poker books. Pros and theorists have put hundreds of thousands of hours into the game and spell out their thoughts on what you should do. This is the best way to get a grasp on starting hands, basic odds, probability, and strategy. There are books for every level of player - from a beginner's tome like Antonio Esfandiari's In the Money to advanced books like those by Doyle Brunson and David Sklansky.
4. Watch the pros. Just like reading poker books, watching the pros can help give you valuable insights into how they manage to make cards profitable. If you can't make it to a live tournament (World Poker Tour events are always good), check out the World Poker Tour on GSN or catch up with your favorite episodes streaming online now.
5. Play consistently. Set a goal for yourself in each session - either playing for a certain number of hours or until you win or lose a set amount of money. When you reach that goal, stop. This will help you develop discipline.
6. Track your progress. Bring a small notebook with you to the card room or have it next to you while you play online. Track the time you start, your buy-in, the time you finish, your win or loss for the session, and your hourly rate. This will give you a benchmark to compare how you're developing as a player.
7. Play outside your comfort zone. If you're a ring game player, try a cheap tournament. If you like sit-n-gos, try a multi-table tournament or a ring game. If you only play Hold'em, give Omaha/8 or Seven-Stud a try. The unfamiliar setting will force you to pay closer attention to your cards and strategy. And you can learn valuable lessons you can take back to your preferred game.
8. Face off against better players. Newer players have a tendency to find their game - say $1/$2 Hold'em - and stick with it until they crush it, taking down pot after pot and winning the majority of the time. While this can be enjoyable - and profitable - it doesn't stretch your poker muscles or advance your skills. Step up a level - to higher blinds or a bigger buy-in for a no-limit game; you'll find the players are better. And you'll become better playing against them.
9. When you're not in a hand, pay attention. Figure out what the pot odds are. What the nuts are at each street. What your strategy would be against the other players. What hands you'd stay in with, which you'd fold. It's tempting to tune out, looking around the room if you're in a casino or catching up on email if you're playing online. But don't. Treat each hand as if you're in it.
10. Don't overdo it. If you start to feel like playing poker is becoming a chore, switch up your game or stop playing. Unless you're a professional gambler, playing poker should be fun.
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Thursday, August 25, 2011
Let it Ride Poker: Easy and Fun to Play
In Let it Ride Poker You are not playing against the Dealer or the other Players. You are simply trying to get the best possible poker hand by using your three cards and the two community cards, which the Dealer
will expose.
The winners are paid according to the payout schedule (pair of tens or better, two pair, etc.). After looking at their first three (3) cards, the Players may ask for their first bet back or they may Let it Ride.
The Dealer, after burning his or her bottom card, turns up one community card. The Player may then ask for
their second bet back or Let It Ride.
The Dealer then turns up the second community
card and in a counterclockwise direction, turns the
three (3) cards of each player face up.
After all losing wagers have been collected, the Dealer pays all winning hands according to the payout schedule.
Each Player will be required to keep the three (3) cards in full view of the Dealer at all times. After each Player has made a decision regarding bet number 2, each Player’s cards shall be placed face down on
the designated area of the layout, and they may not touch the cards again.
Regardless of the decision made regarding the first or second bet, the Player may not take back the third bet
(Players cannot show their hands to other Players).
After placing three equal bets, a Player may add a dollar to “light up” the bonus spot. That Player is now automatically entered into a chance for BONUS payments for a hand of “3 of a Kind” or better.
will expose.
The winners are paid according to the payout schedule (pair of tens or better, two pair, etc.). After looking at their first three (3) cards, the Players may ask for their first bet back or they may Let it Ride.
The Dealer, after burning his or her bottom card, turns up one community card. The Player may then ask for
their second bet back or Let It Ride.
The Dealer then turns up the second community
card and in a counterclockwise direction, turns the
three (3) cards of each player face up.
After all losing wagers have been collected, the Dealer pays all winning hands according to the payout schedule.
Each Player will be required to keep the three (3) cards in full view of the Dealer at all times. After each Player has made a decision regarding bet number 2, each Player’s cards shall be placed face down on
the designated area of the layout, and they may not touch the cards again.
Regardless of the decision made regarding the first or second bet, the Player may not take back the third bet
(Players cannot show their hands to other Players).
After placing three equal bets, a Player may add a dollar to “light up” the bonus spot. That Player is now automatically entered into a chance for BONUS payments for a hand of “3 of a Kind” or better.
Texas Hold'em Table Game
Texas Hold’em is one of the most popular traditional poker games today…
one of the reasons is that “any two cards can win.” The same holds true for
the new Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker. The best “hole cards” (2-card starting
hand) sometimes will not win… and the worst starting hand (hole cards)
sometimes becomes the winning poker hand after all of the community cards
are exposed.
How To Play Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker:
Two cards are dealt to each player; Two cards to the dealer and Five
Community Cards are dealt face-up in the center for both Players and Dealer
to use in any combination (3, 4 or all of the 5 Community Cards may be used)
to make the highest ranked poker hand.
How the Betting works:
Each player uses his/her 2-card hand along with 3, 4, or all of the
5-Community cards to make the best poker hand!
Any two cards can win!
* No Player to Player competition.
* Each Player plays against the Dealer.
* Best Poker-ranking hand wins.
* Optional side-bet Bonus wager plays against a posted pay table (not the
dealer hand).
When a Player wins, the Player retains his/her Ante and is paid even money
on the Flop + Turn + River wagers.
When a Player’s winning hand is a “Flush” or greater, the Ante + Flop + Turn +
River wagers are paid even money.
All poker-ranked hands of equal value between the Player and the Dealer will
be considered a “tie” or “push” whereas no money will be collected or paid.
Players who have made an Ante Wager have the option to make a Bonus
Jackpot wager. Bonus Jackpot wagers are paid no matter who wins the hand
(Player or Dealer).
Bonus P ayout Odds:
RANKING OF HANDS
Royal Flush
Straight Flush
Four of a Kind
Full House
Flush
Straight
Three of a Kind
Two Pair
One Pair
High Card
Ante
Bonus
2-cards
Flop or Fold
3-cards
Turn
River
Each Player makes an Ante wager to receive 2 cards.
Players also have the option to place a Bonus Jackpot wager.
A 2-card hand is dealt to each Player and the Dealer.
Players wishing to continue to play must wager twice the amount
of the Ante wager on the Flop wager; Players not wishing to
continue may hand-in their 2-cards and forfeit the Ante wager.
3-Community cards are now placed “face-up” on the table.
Players now have the option to not bet or bet equal to the Ante
A 4th Community Card is turned face-up on the table.
Players now have the option to not bet or bet equal to the Ante
A 5th Community Card is turned face-up on the table.
Payout odds
30 to 1
25 to 1
20 to 1
15 to 1
10 to 1
5 to 1
3 to 1
Player’s Hand / Hole Cards
A-A
A-K (Suited)
A-Q or A-J (Suited)
A-K (Unsuited)
K-K or Q-Q or J-J (High Pairs)
A-Q or A-J (Unsuited)
10-10 through 2-2 (Low Pairs)
one of the reasons is that “any two cards can win.” The same holds true for
the new Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker. The best “hole cards” (2-card starting
hand) sometimes will not win… and the worst starting hand (hole cards)
sometimes becomes the winning poker hand after all of the community cards
are exposed.
How To Play Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker:
Two cards are dealt to each player; Two cards to the dealer and Five
Community Cards are dealt face-up in the center for both Players and Dealer
to use in any combination (3, 4 or all of the 5 Community Cards may be used)
to make the highest ranked poker hand.
How the Betting works:
Each player uses his/her 2-card hand along with 3, 4, or all of the
5-Community cards to make the best poker hand!
Any two cards can win!
* No Player to Player competition.
* Each Player plays against the Dealer.
* Best Poker-ranking hand wins.
* Optional side-bet Bonus wager plays against a posted pay table (not the
dealer hand).
When a Player wins, the Player retains his/her Ante and is paid even money
on the Flop + Turn + River wagers.
When a Player’s winning hand is a “Flush” or greater, the Ante + Flop + Turn +
River wagers are paid even money.
All poker-ranked hands of equal value between the Player and the Dealer will
be considered a “tie” or “push” whereas no money will be collected or paid.
Players who have made an Ante Wager have the option to make a Bonus
Jackpot wager. Bonus Jackpot wagers are paid no matter who wins the hand
(Player or Dealer).
Bonus P ayout Odds:
RANKING OF HANDS
Royal Flush
Straight Flush
Four of a Kind
Full House
Flush
Straight
Three of a Kind
Two Pair
One Pair
High Card
Ante
Bonus
2-cards
Flop or Fold
3-cards
Turn
River
Each Player makes an Ante wager to receive 2 cards.
Players also have the option to place a Bonus Jackpot wager.
A 2-card hand is dealt to each Player and the Dealer.
Players wishing to continue to play must wager twice the amount
of the Ante wager on the Flop wager; Players not wishing to
continue may hand-in their 2-cards and forfeit the Ante wager.
3-Community cards are now placed “face-up” on the table.
Players now have the option to not bet or bet equal to the Ante
A 4th Community Card is turned face-up on the table.
Players now have the option to not bet or bet equal to the Ante
A 5th Community Card is turned face-up on the table.
Payout odds
30 to 1
25 to 1
20 to 1
15 to 1
10 to 1
5 to 1
3 to 1
Player’s Hand / Hole Cards
A-A
A-K (Suited)
A-Q or A-J (Suited)
A-K (Unsuited)
K-K or Q-Q or J-J (High Pairs)
A-Q or A-J (Unsuited)
10-10 through 2-2 (Low Pairs)
WPT Poker Hand Rankings
When playing poker nothing is more important than knowing if you have the winning hand. This guide shows you the best winning poker hands.
WPT Poker Hand Rankings
Shown below are the ranking of poker hands, from highest to lowest.
WPT Poker Hand Rankings
Shown below are the ranking of poker hands, from highest to lowest.
Royal Flush
The most-coveted hand in poker - cards of the same suit, in sequence, with the highest card as Ace (10, J, Q, K, A). Straight Flush
Any five cards in sequence of the same suit (Ex: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10). Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same rank or value (Ex: Q, Q, Q, Q). Full House
Three of a kind combined with two of a kind (Ex: Q, Q, Q, 10, 10). Flush
Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence (Ex: 8, 10, J, Q, A). Straight
Five cards in sequence, not of the same suit (Ex: 8, 9, 10, J, Q). Three of a kind
Three cards of the same rank (Ex: Q, Q, Q). Two Pair
Two sets of pairs (Ex: Q, Q, 10, 10). Pair
Two cards of the same rank (Ex: 8, 8). High Card
A poker hand which does not fit in any of the above categories. The hand's rank is the highest card. If two poker hands have the same highest ranked card, the next highest ranked card wins the hand.Poker Showdown
After the final betting round ends, "the showdown" occurs to determine the winner. The player with the best hand wins the pot except in the case when he goes all-in in response to a bet or raise and doesn't have enough chips to cover the bet. In that case, the player only wins the amount that he contributed to the pot. Any player who wins a part of the pot reveals his two hole cards to the rest of the players. The player who raised displays his cards first. If no players have raised, then the first active player to the left of the dealer displays his cards first.
The winning player receives the entire pot (except for players that go all-in and can't cover the bet or raise).
The winning player receives the entire pot (except for players that go all-in and can't cover the bet or raise).
The River Card
After the turn betting round, one last card, called "the river," is dealt face up on the table. No more cards are dealt. Betting begins again with the first active player to the left of the dealer. He can either check, bet, or fold, with betting at a minimum of the higher blind level (Again, in a $2/$4 game, betting on the river would start at $4). Play continues clockwise around the table with each player given the same set of options (check, call, raise, or fold). When all players have either folded, called the last raiser, or put all of their chips in the pot, the betting round is complete. The river is also known as fifth street.
After betting concludes the showdown occurs.
After betting concludes the showdown occurs.
What is the Turn in Poker
Texas Holdem "The Turn"
After the flop betting round completes, another card, called the "turn card," is dealt face up on the table. The betting process is the same as after the flop, except in Limit poker all bets must be made at the higher bet limit (For example, in a $2/$4 game, betting after the turn would start at $4). The turn card is also called "fourth street."
Play continues clockwise around the table with each player given the same set of options (check, bet, call, raise, or fold). When all players have either folded, called the last raiser, or put all of their chips in the pot, the betting round is complete and the cards are dealt for the next round.
After the flop betting round completes, another card, called the "turn card," is dealt face up on the table. The betting process is the same as after the flop, except in Limit poker all bets must be made at the higher bet limit (For example, in a $2/$4 game, betting after the turn would start at $4). The turn card is also called "fourth street."
Play continues clockwise around the table with each player given the same set of options (check, bet, call, raise, or fold). When all players have either folded, called the last raiser, or put all of their chips in the pot, the betting round is complete and the cards are dealt for the next round.
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