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[Cortana]

Playing Better Hold'Em

[KermieD]

No offense intended, but your math is off, as it assumes that the cards you need are not sitting in other players' hands, which is an assumption that cannot be made. In actuality, after the flop, your odds are based not on a 32 card remaining deck, but instead on a 47 card remaining deck.

[Cortana]

[dorkmaster not logged in]

This is a good thread, though. I think some basic poker instruction would not be a bad idea. I think another good strategy in terms of playing, however (and you really need to be open to looking at both at the same time, to be really good, but...)

I think slightly more important than "how can I improve my cards here?" is "what can beat me?" By playing those odds, you don't have to typically calculate as much, but still have a good idea, of what's against you.

For example... if you've got Q7 of hearts, and you get a flop of Ah/10c/2c, you've got quite a bit to think about. For example, you're NOT likely to pull off a straight (You'd need the next two cards to be J/K) and you'll need two more hearts to pull the flush. So that's the previous strategy view.

However, look at it from my perspective:

same hand: since you don't have an A or 10 or 2, you can only assume that at a full table, at least one other person does pair one of those hands. now, two of those cards could be trouble if paired (the A can trump a pair of either of your hold cards, and the 10 can trump a pairing of your seven.) Also, with two clubs out there, it's entirely possible that someone's going to make a clubs flush draw (at a full table). So, in this instance, though you're still open for a gutshot straight, a flush draw, and still have even the possibility of two pair or even three of a kind, these odds kind of pale considering how many hands likely beat you right off the bat.

Sure you could pull off an amazing River win, but that's luck, not strategy.

So, be smart when playing, and incorporation of both knowing what you can win with, knowing how other people can beat you with the community cards, can make you a smarter, and more intelligent player.

[KermieD]

Yes, this is a good thread. I'm not in any way an expert at the game (or even good at it), so I'm checking threads like this religiously. I've taken a bit away from both of the suggestions offered in this thread for use this evening at the tables.

I'm thinking the answer to good play takes both of these factors into effect. What sort of chance do I have to improve my hand vs. the odds that another hand exists out there that can beat my current and/or potential hand?

[Cortana]

[firefox]

here is a neat table of how to improve your game

How To Play The Flop

and another useful link, the power ratings for your pocket cards
Power Ratings

all thanks to two very useful sites, wizards of odds, and texasholdem at omnihost. now bear in mind, the game is still largely based on chance, and I don't mean percentages and odds, but sheer dumb luck. Something like pocket Queens, Kings or Aces do not always win it for you, dont get blinded by such a killer hand, always check what else is on the table and what could beat you, learning when to bet and how (first link) could ensure an easier win for you with good cards. However folding something good and losing a lot is better than staying it and comitting your entire stack, only to lose to made hand on the river etc. Have fun playing! (In the end its all just luck )

just my two cents, and mostly common sense
more linkies:
Playing Styles
Hand Rankings

[Marrec]

I don't have enough time to write a full poker playing disertation, but I do have enough time to give out some tips. There are two poker rules that I live by, and niether involve complicated math or statistics or anything like that. Don't get me wrong, it's good to know the odds, but they shouldn't controll how you play. Anybody with sense knows that their 2s aren't exactly a good hand with a 7 Q A flop. Which brings me to a little tip. If you have a low pair, make a bet. If anybody raises you, fold. That little tip makes those low pair hands a lot easier to play. That reminds me of my first rule to play poker by.

Think of folding as saving you money, not losing money you've already put in. A lot of people are afraid to fold in a pot they've invested serious money in or with a hand they think is unbeatable. If you fold and would've won, shucks. If you don't fold and lose, well, that's a lot harder to deal with. This rule sounds like common sense sure, but it flees the mind when someone has Cowboys.

My second rule to play poker by: Don't worry about playing hands you might lose, only worry about playing hands you know you'll win. It's more complicated than it sounds. Say you have a pretty decent hand... Jacks and Fives paired. It's a decent hand, but very beatable. Don't wrack your mind on how to play it. If they bet too much, fold, if everyone checks, bet the minimum, stuff like that. Don't worry about winning or losing such hands either, because they don't matter. What matters is when you have that flush or straight or trips or full house. These are hands that win consistently. This is when you start thinking about how much money you can get off the poor suckers around you. Personally, I think trips is an easy hand to win a lot of money with. (You can also lose a lot of money with it...) Basic rules apply, don't chase people off with your flush, don't bet too much on your straight, yada yada.

That's my two cents, very disorganized and hard to understand, but it gets the point across. Oh, one other thing, if someone raises you when you have a full house, bet your bottom dollar. You'll win.