KEEPING YOUR COOL AFTER A BAD BEAT

noreply@blogger.com (livefortheflop) — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 18:15:00 +0000

After a bad beat, it’s human nature for a player to be upset. However, if you let yourself get so upset that you play the next few hands poorly then you should just give your money to the other players at the table. One of the most difficult aspects of poker is keeping your cool after a nasty bad beat, but the ability to keep your cool will allow you to continue playing clear headed and decreases the chance of you going on tilt. Many players find it difficult to recover after a bad beat, but here we will show you how to recover and keep your calm after a bad beat.

Shake it Off
The one thing you need to remember about poker is that the cards have no memory, so the next round is another chance for you to win. You can be as mad as you want when you leave the poker table about a tremendous bad beat, but as long as you decide to stay at the table you have to keep your cool. In addition to illustrating poor sportsmanship, flipping out after every bad beat is risky. A smart poker player will exploit this situation, especially if they have the chips to risk a bad beat. You don’t want to give the other players any additional ammunition to use against you at the table.

If you can’t get over your last beat before the next hand is dealt, excuse yourself from the table if you can. If you find that you’re still fuming about the last hand its best not to play the next hand because your strategy will be based on payback rather than sound poker strategy. Good poker players can spot someone playing on tilt a mile away, and they will do what they can to get the most money out of you as possible.

Focus
More important than how you act after the bad beat, is how well you’re able to concentrate on the next hand. If your emotions are still fueled by the anger of a horrible bad beat, it will be impossible for you to be objective about the strength of your hand. If you need time to cool down either excuse yourself from the table or take your time deciding what to with your current hand. You’ll notice that some players listen to music at the table; it’s a helpful way to block out the noise of the casino and concentrate only on the cards.

Limit the Chatter
It may seem unfriendly, but if you limit how much you engage in random chatter with the other players it will be easier for you to remain cool and composed after a bad beat. Although a friendly table environment is always welcome, if you get too friendly the temptation for talking smack increases. It is near impossible to remain calm after a bad beat if the person that bad beat you is rubbing it in your face. This virtually guarantees that you’ll play on tilt and lose your stack much quicker than you otherwise would. It is perfectly acceptable to be friendly with your tablemates, but you’re there to make money so focusing on your cards would better help you achieve your goal than mindless chatter that distracts you.

When to Play Aggressively

noreply@blogger.com (livefortheflop) — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 17:52:00 +0000

If you’ve ever played live or online casino you know how many Gus Hansen fans exist in the world. These players have no problem calling or even going all-in with absolutely no chance of winning yet somehow they always manage to win these hands against you. If you, like me, are sick and tired of being bullied by Hansen wannabes at the poker table keep reading to find out when and how to play aggressively.

When you get hands like KQ, JQ, or J10 most players opt to either limp in or immediately muck after the flop. However, if you want to play aggressively and take pots that you would otherwise give to another player, you should fight to play this hand. Players like Hansen often get a bad reputation for their willingness to call with virtually any 2 cards, but in most cases the risk is worth the reward. When you get open-ended hands like this you have several options;

Muck your hand after the flop: not suggested
Raise pre-flop to represent a high pair or other quality hand
Limp in and hope you haven’t been bested by another player

If you want to play your hands more aggressively, you will want to raise pre-flop with an open ended hand. Obviously your decision will also depend on your position at the poker table and the actual strength of your hand. Beginner poker players often make the mistake of emulating players without taking into account their true strategy. Aggressive poker play is a very calculated strategy that requires you to study other players before making your move.

Studying your opponents is a major component of poker, and that’s especially true when it comes to playing aggressive poker. A good aggressive strategy will depend on your ability to ascertain the strength of your opponent and his or her hand. When you pick up a hand in first position, how you act will be based mostly on how the players have acted in previous hands. If you want to raise pre-flop, make a bet large enough to let you read how the other players react to this move.

The most important thing you need to know about when to play aggressively is that you need to find ways in which you can shift the advantage in your favor. That means playing aggressive even when you don’t have an impressive hand. Aggressive players more than any other type of poker player find ways to play the player rather than their hands. Reading your opponents will let you know more about how to win with a mediocre hand more than the cards you’re holding.

Above all else, you can only have a successful aggressive poker strategy if you understand the game and the odds associated with your hand. Playing aggressively with no idea of your chances of winning with the cards in your hand is just playing irresponsibly. Before you attempt this strategy practice reading your opponents and base your instincts on how they play. This will allow you to gauge if this is a strategy you’re ready to employ for big money, or if you need to perfect it during your Thursday night poker game with your friends. Unskilled aggressive play is the quickest way to lose your bankroll early in any poker tournament or game, so be sure that before you attempt this at a live table you’ve practiced enough to employ this strategy comfortably at the table.

Poker - Living For The Flop

KEEPING YOUR COOL AFTER A BAD BEAT

When to Play Aggressively