Online Poker Free Coaching Guide To Small Bet Bluffing Tactics And How Small Bets Can Beat Good Players
This latest poker free online instruction lesson is about ways you may not have thought of to use small bets to get bigger wins. But how can, you ask, small bets give big wins? And how do strong players sway from conventional thinking about small and large bets.
Here is a hand illustration that shows the idea:
BLINDS 6k/12k
PREFLOP:
A is from small blind, has 9d-4d, raises to 35k
B from big blind, has As-3s, calls 23k (Pot 88k)
Both plays are simply standard plays. A may be trying to steal the big blind with a raise from the small blind. B calls since he’s got a good hand for the upcoming Flop.
FLOP: Js-Jh-10h
A bets 25k (Pot 123k)
B calls 25k (Pot 138k)
The bet A makes is small as he has very little but he wants to take the pot by showing a J on a paired table, or a draw. On a flop with Straight and Flush possibilities presenting, B may, indeed, put A on a draw and just see if A slows down later. Also, with a call he gets 5-1 odds.
TURN: Js-Jh-10h-Kc
A bets 25k (Pot 163k)
B calls 25k (Pot 188k)
A places another bet! Could A have the Jack, or even the Ten? Now, what B is thinking is that he is getting about 6.5-to-1 on a call to hit an Ace (where if A also has an Ace, they may split the pot) or a Queen (for a Straight). So he calls.
RIVER: Js-Jh-10h-Kc-8h
A bets 30k (Pot 218k)
Still A bets again! Now with a blank river card which hardly fill any possible Flush or Straight (maybe 9-7 or Q-9, but I don’t think both of them think the other one has it) why did A fire three times! Not only that, it’s a small bet. It may be a value bet where A had a Jack and trapped B for two more rounds of betting.
It may also be a value bet where A had A-Q. B might consider: “A might know I’ve got nothing, but if uses big bets he’ll make me fold. So he’s betting small to get more chips out of me. I’m getting 8.5-to-1 on a call, but no matter. I am not going to fail again B says and folds.
A shows a bluff!
If A was betting big B might think A is trying to sustain a 3 round bluff, and might call it. And recall B is a good player, and can detect sneaky stuff like this. (B by the way is Elky Grospellier. A is Jeff Shulman, anyway.) But A bet small, and strong players think small bets are value bets, so strong players doing reverse-psychology can bluff other strong players with a small bet that looks like a value bet.
Why not give small bet play a go by practicing risk free on a free online poker site such as NoPayPOKER where you can play with no risk of loss and get loads of free poker online training too.
Free Poker Games Guide To The 4 Main TYpes Of Poker Player
In any type of poker game, be it free online poker or cash games you will come across 4 basic types of player in terms of psychology and related playing style and philosophy. They are tight-passive, tight-aggressive, loose-passive and loose-aggressive,
Within each type there are gradations, for example, the most extreme loose-aggressive is termed the “maniac”, this is the player who plays most hands and raises all the time, almost regardless of the cards he’s got.
Every poker player falls into one of these groups as a result of their baseline natural playing tendency. In most cases our natural playing tendency results in lost money as we will either play too few or too many hands and act too passive or aggressive at certain times. All styles have a time and place and good poker players are the ones who can switch styles in order to maximize their chances.
As a first step to improvement you need to identify your natural playing tendency. You also need to learn how to identify other players styles so you can counter their strengths and exploit their weaknesses with maximum effect.
Loose-passive
The loose-passive player calls many hands pre and post flop. He really wants to lay in as many hands as possible, and will try and hold on to the bitter end without having the slightest chance of winning. Loose-passive players are also referred to as “calling stations”.
Loose-aggressive
The loose-aggressive player will play many hands aggressively with a lot of betting and re-raises. Although these players lose in the long term they are dangerous sometimes as if their luck in no-limit Hold’em tournaments is good they can get a lot of chips quickly and become the chip leader.
Tight-passive
Also called rocks, they play a few hands and play passively. They only bet if they are sure to have the best hand, making their earnings small when they do win. One of many disadvantages the rock has is that if you identify them as a rock and they play a hand you know to fold. As a result on any table with players who have some skill the tight-passive player is largely sidelined.
Tight-aggressive
His game is selective, will bet hard whenever they have the upper hand. Most players who follow this style are more skilled and have learned to play well and takes into account things like pot odds and implied odds. Not all players using this style are good but many are and overall it is the best singular style to adopt while adding loose and passive elements as game demands and situations change.
The ideal way to identify your style, learn to spot other players and improve yours is in good yet low risk free poker games. It’s a fact that we learn by mistakes in poker so let’s keep those mistakes cheap! Small stakes and free poker games are the ideal way to get experience in the early stages, plus be sure to play free poker games and take as many free poker lessons as you can and learn about things such as pot odds, playable pockets and table position tactics.
Free Online Poker Lesson On What The Word Poker Truly Means And How That Can Help You Win More
Whether you play free poker or money games have you ever stopped to think about what the letters in the word POKER might mean? While the truth is that it most likely comes from an old German or French word I’ve thought of a new interpretation based on the letters that is perhaps more suited to modern times and relates to how you should approach poker game play be it a fun free online poker game or WSOP final table stuff! Read on and you might just be playing poker in a better way.
P – Positive attitude
Having a positive attitude helps a lot in poker. You need to play with the hope that you can win and make things happen. Believe that you’re hand is strong (if it is of course…if you’re a blind and it’s 2-7 fold!) and bet accordingly.
Just waiting and hoping to get a nice pair of aces hardly helps in poker, and when you do get them you might be defeated by a pair of twos. If you play with the wrong attitude, then other players will know that soon and force you to fold by raising the bet.
O – Opportunity
So you are positive and you have a decent hand, now you must take every opportunity that presents itself. Once all the cards have been dealt and you know that you have a winning hand, bet in a way to maximise your profit.
It’s no good if you win a hand and get pennies. So keep raising the stakes and win big. Strike when the iron is hot.
K – Knowledge
Real knowledge about poker and being able to figure all the different hand combinations that you can make. It’s not easy and requires a great amount of skill to predict what cards a person might have.
It’s all about experience and the more you play the more you learn. Once you have played enough hands you will be better at judging your opponents. Not only that, you will also be able to bluff and win (sometimes) even if you have a weak hand.
E – Eliminate
Once in a while you will get a pair of aces and what you need to do is make sure that you win. Your aim is to eliminate other players with weaker cards by raising the bet significantly, and forcing them to fold.
If you are playing on a large table then one or more other players is sure to get a good hand combination sooner or later. If not taken out initially that player could end up with a straight or flush and your aces are no match for that.
R – Realize
The final step is to realize what the other person might have and bail out early. It happens a lot of times that you bet hoping that a card you need to complete your straight or flush will come on the flop, turn or river but it never does. You keep on betting and lose money or lost of chips in free poker games. In these situations only continue if the amounts are small, once the bet is raised its better to fold.
Summary – Poker differs to other types of card game as the best cards do not always win as you will learn after a short time playing! A lot depends on the cards that come at the different games stages and the actions of other players and how you interpret and act upon those other player actions.
Poker is a nasty game at times, to keep your sanity and improve your winning keep in mind at all times that it is a game and you will not always win. Play within your means and don’t bet what you cannot afford to lose and if you can’t afford to lose anything or need to learn how to play poker for beginners only play free online poker at first to get better and to win bonuses that you can convert into a cash bankroll for micro and then mini stakes money games on cash poker sites.
Free Poker Online Guide To How To Steal Money All Poker Player Types And Styles
Here are a few free poker online tips I would like to share with you. We’ll look at different player styles and how to counter them and the importance of table position and how to play each position.
Types of Players
Call Stations
The Call Station is happy to see the flop but will not raise or best, only call until the river comes, hence the name. Play a normal game with decent hands and you’ll get money out of them, just one exception, no bluffing as they will, as the saying goes, call your bluff! Also known as Loose-Passive.
Rocks.
These players do not want to get involved with more hands and thus only plays with strong or premium hands.
The rock is easy to bluff as he believes everyone else is as honest as he is! This players favorite action is folding or calling if he has a premium hand. If a risk calls your bluff respect the call as he won’t be counter bluffing you. Also known as Tight-Passive.
Maniacs.
The maniac loves to bet, raise and bluff all the time almost regardless of the hand. They will often go all in pre-flop without hesitation. This is a common free poker games player. Only call these players if you have the best hand. Bluffs won’t work because they will counter bluff you back. Also known as Loose-Aggressive.
The Solid Player.
These players are sometimes be called the professional players. They understand poker inside out and know a lot of tactics for all occasions and will be trying as hard as you to identify your play style. They know when to fold and when to go all in if sense a bluff. They don’t think poker is about luck, they understand how probability and poker work and make their own luck. The Solid player is also called a Tight-Aggressive.
Position
Position is often the key to getting the most of poker. If you don’t know how to play by position then you are playing poker blindly. An QK might look great to call but its really not too good if you are the first to act and the other players are awaiting your action.
Early Position.
This position describes the first player to act prior to the flop. This position follows the blinds.
There 2 early positions in a table of 10 players. In this position you are at a great disadvantage to other players due to not enough information on the table. It’s always best to be tight in this position and raise with only good hands such as AA, KK, QQ, AK and fold anything else. Why? Since you lack information on the other players and calling so many hands would risk you putting all your chips to the pot. Always raise.
Middle Position.
There are 3 middle positions in a 10 player table. In middle position you will have a little understanding on the other players.
It’s always best to play at least semi loose but still be mindful as there are still other players waiting in line. Hands that can be played in this position are 88 to AA and suited connector cards like 89 diamonds. Be sure to know when you are beat at the flop and fold your hand. Re-raise only if you think that you have the best hand.
Late Position.
Usually this position is the most advantageous. Why? Since you have maximum information on the other players. It is possible to play many cards in this position if the pot hasn’t been raised.
Call with unsuited or suited connectors, suited cards, small pairs like 22, 33, 44 and practically any card as long as you know what the other players are like. This is where bluffs will tend to be successful.
For a great free poker lesson on playable cards and position see the D M Vadnais series, “Building Your Bankroll” also on NoPayPOKER, it’s brilliant.
Unsure how to apply these skills? Don’t lose cash learning, practice and learn first on micro or free poker games sites such as…NoPayPOKER!
And what better place to play poker online for free that at http://www.NoPayPOKER.com where you don’t have the fear of taking a loss like you do at on money sites or live tables yet you can still win real cash.
Find Free Poker Online Success By Knowing When To Fold
This free poker online guide comes from an experience I has in a Sit n Go event I played in a few months ago.
One of the players was duped, but so was I even though I wasn’t in the hand. There is a simple lesson that comes out which is, firstly, you must learn when to fold and second, as related to folding, learn to recognize all the outs available in the hand – or else!
Here’s how and why:
BLINDS 30/60
A has As-Jd, calls 60
B has ??-??, calls 60
Big blind and small blind joins (Pot 210)
FLOP: 8c-4c-As
A thinks his Ace is strongest and so stays aggressive:
Big blind and small blind check-fold
A bets 300
B calls 300
Because A fired out more than the pot, B is now getting less than 2-to-1 on a call, (1.7-1) which is the right price to call for a Straight or a Flush draw with two cards to come. A’s bet is just enough to drive out an incomplete hand. However, since B seems to be a weak player who chases draws, he decided to call.
TURN: 8c-4c-As-5c
The Five of Clubs came, and A, at this point, still has a strong hand, but has weakened. His Pair of Aces is good against what he believes should be a stray Flush draw. If he makes B continue, however, he might not be able to play his Pair. So A continues battering:
A bets 500
B calls 500
RIVER: 8c-4c-As-5c-7d
A Diamond came! Not a four-Flush. Of course A believes his Aces are good already, except if his opponent had A-K. So A tries a check-trap
A checks
B bets 1250
A calls all-in 1250
B reveals 8d-6d, wins the pot
How in the world did B have the Straight? When A saw 3 Clubs, he figured B had, maybe , 1 Pair and 1 Club that could make a made Flush later on. It didn’t, so A thought B’s all-in was because of the value of the small Pair B already had. He believed it will be only 8-x or less, so A called with what he thought was the best hand. It wasn’t.
True the board was risky, but A did not realize just how much danger there was. By focusing too much on the Flush, he didn’t realize that the Board was one card off a Straight (only a 6 is needed to topple him), and when only three Clubs came, he was lifted his fright of the Flush, but it made him recklessly disregard all other potential hands. His check was correct, but if he’s to have folded a fold would be better after that check.
And I, too, was duped. I thought B had a busted Flush, too. When B pushed A all-in, I, too, thought he was doing it with a pair and a busted Flush draw. It was with a Straight.
So what free poker lessons can be taken from this hand?
One is to know when to fold. If the board is one card off a Straight or Flush or any other big made hand, and a big bet is in front of you (which you reasonably believe is not a bluff), you should, more often than not, fold.
Two is to know which cards can crush you. All of them, not just some.
For A, during the Flop and the Turn, he realized that only Clubs can crush him. On the river, as there are only three Clubs (if B had the flush made, he would have moved all-in on the Turn, and A could have folded), A thinks he?s safe. He focused on the Clubs too much; he forgot the 6.
Of course it’s easy with hindsight and analysis, being aware of factors like all the available outs is a tough one if you’re new to poker (hell even if you’ve got some time tucked away) so for that reason it’s best to practice and play poker online for free a lot at http://www.NoPayPOKER.com before you go off to places like Feltstars and PartyPoker or live games and start throwing real money about. Even when you do progress I advise you to come back and play free poker online regularly in order to de-stress, make errors without loss and practice new ideas.
Free Online Poker Easy And Fast Poker Odds Formula
Most poker players, free online poker in particular, don’t like the “technical” parts of poker like odds. I mean doing that means doing math and lets face it math without a calculator or Excel is bad for many of us!
Unfortunately the reality is that to succeed in poker this is a key part of the game that you have to master, especially if you have any aspirations to play live money games.
The big problem for non math wizards is that it is genuinely hard to do it in alive game in your head.
By way of example:
Suppose you hold 8-7 and the Flop comes 5-6-A. You want to know your odds on hitting a Straight later.
Should you use a rigorous mathematical solution, you are going to construct this nightmare:
The cards which will help you are the Four and the Nine. There are upto 8 such cards left in the deck. The odds of your getting them later is P (1-P)Q, where P is the probability of hitting your hand on the Turn, and Q is the probability you will hit at the river. It is P (1-P)Q because (1-P)Q is the probability that you will hit on the river if you don’t complete your hand on the Turn.
Now here are the values for P and Q.
- P = 8 cards still on the deck that will help you divided by 52-5 = 47 remaining cards = 8/47.
- Q = 8 cards still on the deck that will help you, since you didn’t complete on the Turn divided by 52-6 (since there are six cards already out, your hole cards and the Board) = 8/46.
The overall answer is 8/47 (1 – 8/47)(8/46) = .170 (.829)(.174) = .170 .144 = .314 = 31%. You have a 31% chance of hitting your Straight later.
Ouch, that’s fun and beyond the majority of us! However, in a table you usually do not have a calculator (and even if you do you still need to know what to input into it 
.
And many poker players just know the outs, but not really much of basic probability theory. How is this? An out by the way is any unseen card that, if drawn, will improve your hand win chances.
Here then is a much simpler, easy way to work out odds
Why don’t we try an approximation formula:
- You divide 8 by 50, because 47 is near to 50, and get 16.
- Double it again so you get .32.
- It’s a reliable estimate.
- All things considered, poker players, in games, do not need exact solutions; they want only a hint as to where they’re standing.
- In this case “about 32%” is a nice enough answer.
So, in the Flop, here’s the approximation:
- Get the number of your outs, then multiply it by 4, then affix a percent sign.
- That’s a reliable approximation percentage of your hitting the hand.
- During the Turn, if you still have outs, multiply it by 2, then affix a percent sign.
- Preflop, when you choose to push all-in, you usually don’t have to do this since you will rely mainly on pure hand strength.
The best way by far to perfect your odds skills is to play poker online free at http://www.NoPayPOKER.com, there you can get it wrong a hundred times and never lose money! Of course there are odds calculators of allsorts about that can help and do the real complex stuff but these won’t ever help you if you want to play live so it’s best to learn it for yourself if you have any ambition to move beyond free online poker and win proper money.
Free Online Poker Lesson On How To Win Using Poker Calling
The poker call is one of the most misunderstood and badly played moves in both money and free poker online and Texas Holdem.
Players who call to much are referred to as “calling stations”, and they tend to lose more often than not, however their calling is not the reason they lose their chips. The lose because they do not call at the right times and places.
During this free poker online article, we’ll explain to you by way of example how to use calling in poker correctly.
Are there right reasons for calling?
The reasons you may call may be the same reasons that an aggressive player would use for betting. Here are some example situations where you may use the poker call.
- As an example, if you have A-K in a board of 10-3-K-7-8, if you’re first to act, you bet; you don’t check and call.
- You value-bet. However, if you’re not first to act, what do you do if someone bets?
- Do you raise? Now, right reasons for betting are not-so-right reasons for raising. As you still have a hand you don’t raise but neither do you fold.
The rule now, for the above hand, is:
- If you are first to act, you bet.
- If you are not first to act, and someone bets, call an amount less than or equal to the amount you intend to bet if you are the first to act.
- When the amount is greater, you fold. This rule applies only when you have a hand.
- Without a hand, like just Ace-high, you bet, but you fold to a bet.
- Don’t call with Ace-high (unless from curiosity).
Let us try another hand.
You have 8-7 and the Flop is K-6-9. Your options are to check-call or bet. As your hand is not complete betting is the better option as you can hope to make the other player fold.
- If you check-call, however (or call a bet), you may send a message to your opponent that you are on a draw, and then your opponent may keep bullying you later.
- Nevertheless, you need to complete a powerful hand, so you call.
- Just make sure you have the pot odds to call, however.
- If your opponent continues bullying you once you complete the Straight, you can raise.
Now, in another hand, you have A-6 in a Flop of 9-6-2.
- Since the flop comes small cards, anyone with big cards will fold to a bet.
- You can bet your Sixes. And you can also call with it, especially if your opponent decided to end the hand right there with A-Q.
- You are able to call, and later, if your opponent is constantly working you with small bets, you may call each small bet, because your odds are still acceptable.
- In addition, you may pair your kicker or your Six if you call.
Lastly, if you have Q-Q in a Flop of Q-10-10, you’ve got the other guy dead.
If your opponent bets, and you raise, the chances are greater that your opponent will fold than not.
- For the reason that although your opponent could have A-Q, it is not likely since you know there are three Queens already out.
- Also an additional Ten is less likely for a similar reason.
- Your opponent may have K-J or A-K (for a useless Straight draw) or a Flush completer.
Give the opposing players openings to finish their hands, this way you hope to tempt more action from them. If an opponent completes the Straight or the Flush later, you will have the advantage. So keep calling, until everyone escalates.
This also applies if you feel your opponent has the spare Queen or Ten. You may let your opponent just bet and bet till the river, where he thinks you’re calling since you just had a Queen or a small Pair, so at the river you may move your chips in.
Now, what’s misguided with calling stations’ calling beliefs?
- First: they call even with the pot odds against their favor. They generally chase inside Straight draws and so they lose their chips over time when they keep doing so.
- Secondly: they call big bets with modest, but marginal, hands even if they understand they’re beat. In a flop of 9-6-2 above, A-6 may call, but only if your opponents’ bets are small. But in front of a large bet, fold A-6 because you might not win against 9-x if you cannot pair your kicker or turn Trips.
Calling stations are the ones always calling with small pocket Pairs in the presence of overcards.
- Third: they generally imagine that every player is bluffing so they are usually tempted to call even with Ace-high. Quite simply, they call a bluff or something that seems like a bluff.
I hope this gave you some good insight into the use of calling in poker. When you play try to look for similar situations where you can apply the call artfully and be aware of when not to use it.
To play poker online free and win real money risk-free at the same time come to http://www.NoPayPOKER.com
And look for the free poker online blog at http://www.nopaypoker.com/articles for free poker online training guides for all levels from how to play poker for beginners to seriously advanced.
The guides and lessons are 100% free, you do not even have to join NoPayPOKER or play any of the free poker games. Though quite frankly you’d have to be crazy not to as it is free and risk free and you do get a free bankroll just for showing up!
Free Poker Online Success Tips on How to Tell What Hand Your Opponents Have
Whether you’re playing free poker online or at the money tables, the achievements you have will be linked to how well you can use psychological tactics to your advantage. The free online poker games can turn out to be decent money making buy in games and competitions further on.
Using psychology in poker gives you an edge that can make the difference between winning and losing. In fact, I play the players more than I play the cards.
There are loads of psychological scenarios to consider which is as significant as knowing your place at the table: the chances and numbers involved in making a hand, pricing the pot and running a trap.
Good poker psychology is based on two things: intelligent observation, and common sense. Psychology also calls for old-fashioned ham-acting and some high pressure salesmanship. If you put it all together right, you’ll win at poker, whether it is the weekend family game or high-stake poker.
However, it goes almost without saying that you must know the people you are playing poker with; if you don’t know them, you’d better start studying them, because if you really know and understand your fellow card players, you can decide how to play your hand even before the second turn of the cards. Knowing how the other players play is a fundamental sharp poker strategy.
Remember a persons eyes are the path to their soul, and although appearances deceive the eye it’s knowing how to notice any giveaways which counts for all.
There are many signs and bodily giveaways or as the pros call it- tells. An opponent could start becoming a ‘chatter box’ if they hold good cards. Another example could be if a player seems restless to get into the action or a different opponent could become silent if they’re holding decent cards.
If you were playing against me however you wouldn’t know the cards I was holding as I maintain a consistent level of conversation. I also enjoy playing the fool- as the tells of most novice or standard players have is remarkable. For instance I wouldn’t give you a dime to look at these players cards and call them out. As they would have inevitably by now told me by their body language what they’re holding.
Some of these psychology pointers you will have realised only apply in real world games where you can see eye to eye but others, such as the chat (or lack of chat from a normally chatty player) speed of action and so on are very applicable to paid and free online poker games. So if you don’t already do it start to observe, think and observe more and think you way to more winnings.
Free Poker Guide to Dealing with Online Poker Fatigue.
Whether playing online playing for money or free poker can be a rewarding, but a tiring addiction. So here are a few simple (tongue in cheek!) tips to keep you playing for as long as possible.
1. As anxiety has maximised due to an overload of hope on the river, run to the fridge freezer grab an ice pack and wrap this round your head. This will dissolve the anxiety around your head, but may make you cold.
2. After spending half the night on the laptop you may notice and become concerned that the meat and two vegetables are slightly over cooked- I suggest asking your other half to get on their knees and blow on the affected area. As an added bonus you can also put your feet up.
Alternately wrap yourself up in Tin Foil to reflect the heat. This will also stop any evil aliens sending you messages.
3. In the unfortunate even of finger pain, you may wish to give this little piggy a rest. To kill two birds with one stone it would be an idea to rest your finger in an ice cream, which you can then eat afterwards.
4. During the long games with a full table you might feel like you are going to nod off. Bang a nail in the wall behind your playing chair and attach a length of string to it. Sellotape the string to your ear. That way if you do nod off, you will rip your ear off. Waking you up ready to make a bet.
5. If after a couple of days playing non stop you begin to experience back pains, repeatedly pinch both your cheeks, this will take the focus off you back, as well as give you a rosy glow.
These methods have been invented by myself and I can assure you no women, child or animal has been harmed in making these!
Always remember free poker is always a laugh but when you get online exhaustion you need to take some serious action.
A Practical Guide to Playing Pocket Pairs in Free Poker Games
Low pocket pairs are better then many people think they are. They are also a lot worse then some people think they are. If you’re playing a free poker game it may not seem such a big thing but when its high stakes this stuff matters! Actually, even if you are playing “just” free poker games for any reason other than fun then you should treat it serious. So read on!
Ok to start with if the pot odds are about four to one it’s relatively secure to call, although a drawback, you won’t be pocketless after. Four to one may make you think that you should be calling every pocket pair but at the early stages it’s very difficult.
By folding a couple more times now could potentially saving you a lot of money in the long run. If the blinds are quite small compared to the money on the table, and you have gigantic unspoken odds it’s a good time to see these low odd hands.
If the blinds are low then you really have nothing to worry about the amount of money that you lose here calling every single pocket pair you see will be less then the amount of the blinds in 30-45mins.
Although predominately pocket pairs are used as cards to see from the flop, in some scenarios you may even consider going all in with them. To give this some context I wouldn’t suggest going all in with any cards less than 66 as A2 – A5 are favourable cards in today’s game. I cast my mind back to my early playing games where I would miss the flop with AK; you would still end up with an above thirty percent chance to hit the river- so I would go all in without thought.
Some people including myself at one time thought 30% was not bad at all but really the only time you should with such low percents is when you’re forced into a situation that calls for it. Practice your card skills like this in free poker games first before moving on and up into the green.