Poker strategy
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Poker strategy is a complex subject. This article only attempts to introduce basic strategy concepts.
The fundamental theorem of poker
The fundamental theorem of poker, as stated by David Sklansky, effectively states that the objective of poker is to avoid playing differently than you would if you could see your opponent's cards, and to induce your opponent to play different than they would if they could see your cards. This theorem is the foundation for many poker strategy topics. For example, bluffing and slow-playing (explained below) are examples of using deception to induce your opponents to play differently than they would if they could see your cards.
There are some exceptions to the fundamental theorem in certain multi-way pot situations, as described in Morton's theorem.
Pot odds and poker probabilities
The relationship between pot odds and poker probabilities is one of the most important concepts in poker strategy. Pot odds are the odds offered to you by the pot. For example, if you must call a $1 bet for the chance to win a $10 pot, your pot odds are 1 to 10. That is, you will break even in the long-run if you win the pot 1 out of 10 times (you put $1 in 10 times, lose 9 times and win $10 once). Poker probabilities describe the likelihood that you have (or will have) the best hand. Generally, if the probability of having (or improving to) the best hand is better than the pot odds, you should call (or raise). Similarly, if your poker probability is worse than the pot odds, you should fold (or bluff).
See the article on pot odds for a more in-depth discussion of pot odds, including implied pot odds and manipulating pot odds. See the article on poker probability for further discussion of determining the likelihood of having (or improving to) the best hand.
Bluffing
Bluffing is a form of deception to induce opponents to fold superior hands. Against observant opponents, it is neccessary to bluff sometimes to induce them to call your bets when you actually do have a superior hand. If your opponents observe that you never bluff, they won't call your bets unless they have a truly powerful hand.
See the article on bluffing for further discussion of bluffing strategies, semi-bluffs, and optimal bluffing frequency.
Slow-playing
Slow-playing (also called sand-bagging) is deceptive play in poker that is roughly the opposite of bluffing: betting weakly with a strong holding rather than betting strongly with a weak one. The check-raise is one such play.
Position
Generally, players in earlier position (who have to act first) need stronger hands to bet or raise than players in later position. For example, if there are five opponents yet to act behind you, there is a greater chance one of them will have a better hand than you than if there was only one opponent behind you yet to act. Being in late position is an advantage because you get to see how the players in earlier position acted (which provides you more information about their hands than they have about yours).
Reasons to raise
Unlike calling, raising gives you an extra way to win: your opponent(s) may fold. An opening bet may be considered a raise from a strategy perspective. David Sklansky, in his book The Theory of Poker, gives seven reasons for raising, summarized below.
- To get more money in the pot when you have the best hand: If you have the best hand, raising for value enables you to win a bigger pot.
- To drive out opponents when you have the best hand: If you have a made hand, raising may protect your hand by driving out opponents with drawing hands who may otherwise improve to a better hand.
- To bluff or semi-bluff: If you raise with an inferior or drawing hand, you may induce a better hand to fold. In the case of semi-bluff, if you are called, you still have a chance to improve to a better hand (and also win a larger pot).
- To get a free card: If you raise with a drawing hand, your opponent may check to you on the next betting round, giving you a chance to get a free card to improve your hand.
- To gain information: If you raise with an uncertain hand, you gain information about the strength of your opponent's hand if you are called. Players may use an opening bet on a later betting round (probe or continuation bets) to gain information by being called or raised (or may win the pot immediately).
- To drive out worse hands your own hand may be second best: Sometimes, if you raise with the second best hand with cards to come, raising to drive out opponents with worse hands (but who might improve) may increase the expected value of your hand by giving you a higher probability of winning in the event your hand improves.
- To drive out better hands when a come hand bets: If a player with an apparent come hand (drawing hand) bets before you, if you raise, players behind you who may have a better hand may fold rather than call a bet and raise. This is a form of isolation play.
Reasons to call
There are several reasons for calling a bet or raise, summarized below.
- To see more cards: With a drawing hand, you may be receiving the correct pot odds with the call to see more cards.
- To limit your risk: Calling may be appropriate to avoid risking more chips than necessary with a marginal hand.
- To avoid a re-raise: Calling denies the original bettor the opportunity of re-raising you.
- To conceal the strength of your hand: If you have a very strong hand, you might smooth call on an early betting round to avoid giving away the strength of your hand on the hope of getting more money into the pot in later betting rounds.
- To manipulate pot odds: By calling (not raising), you offer any opponents yet to act behind you more favorable pot odds to also call. For example, if you have a very strong hand, a smoooth call may encourage opponents behind you to overcall, building the pot. Particularly in limit games, building the pot in an earlier betting round may induce opponents to call future bets in later betting rounds because of the pot odds they will be receiving.
- To set up a bluff on a later betting round: Sometimes referred to as a long-ball bluff, calling on an earlier betting round can set up a bluff (or semi-bluff) on a later betting round.
Gap concept
The gap concept, as described by David Sklansky in his book Tournament Poker for Advanced Players, states that "you need a better hand to play against someone who has already opened the betting than you would need to open yourself." The gap concept reflects that players prefer to avoid confrontations with another player who has already indicated strength, and that calling only has one way to win (by having the best hand), whereas opening (or raising) may also win immediately if your opponent(s) fold.
Sandwich effect
Related to the gap effect, the sandwich effect, as described by Dan Harrington in Harrington on Hold 'em Vol 1, states that you need a stronger hand to stay in a pot when there are players yet to act behind you. Because you don't know how many players will be involved in the pot or whether you will have to call a re-raise, you don't know what your effective pot odds actually are. Therefore, a stronger hand is desired as compensation for this uncertainty.
Loose/tight play
Loose players play a relatively more hands and tend to continue with weaker hands. Tight players play relatively fewer hands and tend not to continue with weaker hands. The following concepts are applicable in loose games (and their converse in tight games):
- Bluffs and semi-bluffs are less effective because loose opponents are less likely to fold.
- Requirements for continuing with made hands may be lower because loose players may also be playing lower value hands.
- Drawing to incomplete hands, like flushes, tends to be more valuable as draws will often get favorable pot odds and a stronger hand (rather than merely one pair) is often required to win in multi-way pots.
Aggressive/passive play
Aggressive play refers to betting and raising. Passive play refers to checking and calling. Unless passive play is being deceptively as mentioned above, aggressive play is generally considered stronger than passive play because of the bluff value of bets and raises and because it offers more opportunities for your opponents to make mistakes.
Hand reading and tells
Hand reading is the process of making educated guesses about the possible cards your opponents may hold based on the sequence of actions in the pot. A tell is a detectable change in a player's behavior or demeanor that gives clues about their hand. Educated guesses about your opponent's cards can help you avoid mistakes in your own play, induce mistakes by your opponent(s), or to influence you to take actions that you would normally not take under the circumstances. For example, a tell might suggest an opponent has missed a draw and holds a weak hand, but you also missed a draw and are sure your hand is even weaker. In this case, using the tell, you should choose to bluff more effectively.
Table image and opponent profiling
By observing the tendencies and patterns of your opponents, you can make more educated guesses about their potential holdings. For example, if a player has been playing extremely tight (playing very few hands), when they finally do enter a pot, you may surmise that they have stronger than average cards. Your table image is the perception of your opponents of your own pattern of play. You can leverage your table image by playing out of character and thereby inducing your opponent(s) to misjudge your hand and make a mistake.
Short-handed considerations
When playing at short-handed table (a table with fewer than normal players), players must loosen up their play (play more hands) for several reasons:
- There is less likelihood of another player having a strong hand because there are fewer players.
- Your share of the forced bets increases because there are fewer players contributing to the forced bets, thus waiting for premium hands becomes more expensive.
Structure considerations
The blinds and antes and limit structure of the game has a signficant influence on poker strategy. For example, it is easier to manipulate pot odds in no-limit and pot-limit games than in limit games. In tournaments, as the size of the forced bets relative to the chip stacks grows, pressure is placed on players to play pots to avoid being anted/blinded away.
See also
- Fundamental theorem of poker
- Morton's theorem
- Pot odds
- Poker probability
- Outs
- Bluffing
- Drawing
- Protection
- Sandbagging
- Position
- Poker value
- Agressive play
- Poker psychology
- Tells
- Starting hands
- Game theory
- Rake