A friend recently challenged me regarding the validity of poker strategy. He said there was no need for one and that he never used any and got along just fine without one. This sparked my interest, and I researched and found many more players who believe in this concept. So, does it even matter if you use a Poker strategy? Are you better at playing off of instinct and in the moment? Find out in this poker strategy guide by the best online casino site in Canada.
Poker Strategy – Old or Outdated?
First, let’s define what poker strategy is to understand where this question comes from. Poker strategy is a tried-and-tested method of betting and playing a hand, depending on your position and cards. It’s based on the idea of conventional wisdom – something that has been proven to work over time.
But does conventional wisdom still apply in today’s modern poker world? In short – no! I believe that poker strategy is outdated and ineffective now, specifically for online poker.
I say this because poker strategy has been around for years since Johnny Moss won the world series of poker. It was only recently that online poker came about and changed everything. The main reason is that there are so many unknowns in online poker cash games.
There are no tells; you don’t know if someone is loose or tight, you don’t see how someone reacts to specific situations, etc. So a strategy-based approach is relatively useless in today’s online environment.
The other reason I say this is because there are just too many unknowns when you have many people playing online. With so many players at the table, everyone can’t play their hand to perfection, no matter how good their strategy is.
For example, you always want to be in position when playing online. The reason being is that if you act last, you will know what everyone else does before making your own decisions. Plus, the game moves much faster when you’re in position.
“You have no idea who is in which position most of the time”
Envavo.com
But applying any strategy is near impossible due to multiple tables and roaming players who jump from table to table. You have no idea who is in which position most of the time, so you could quickly be playing a hand out of position.
So poker strategy for online poker is pointless because of the sheer odds of things going wrong. You can’t be sure if everyone else will play their hand to perfection, so it’s impossible to stick to any strategies you may have developed.
This might sound like I’m trying to discourage you from playing poker, but that’s not the case at all. This is simply a question of facts, and you can’t argue with the facts. Poker strategy may work for low limits in live poker games, and competition is not as harsh. But these days, that’s close to impossible to find!
So if I don’t recommend using any strategies in today’s online environment, what should I do?
Many poker strategies have been developed for this environment. If you can apply yourself correctly in online cash games, then you will be a force to be reckoned with! Even if you only use specific strategies correctly, it could mean the difference between winning and losing.
For example, being patient and waiting for the right opportunities can make or break your bankroll. When you first start playing, it’s essential to build a decent amount of capital first before you start applying any strategies. If you do not, then you will be putting yourself under too much pressure when making split-second decisions at the table.
But if you are patient and can wait for the right time to apply your strategies, you will set yourself up for success. Basic strategy is conventional wisdom that has been proven over time and through extensive research, but it’s important not to forget that this is an evolving game.
To put things into perspective, poker was first played as a high-stakes gambling game in 1670s France. Think about what type of strategies would have been applied back then? Most likely, they were all completely different from what we see today.
So the best strategy is to be on your toes and watch for opportunities constantly; this will allow you to take advantage of any situation that may come about.
What’s The Best Time To Play Online Poker?
There are so many factors involved when trying to determine the best time to play live Poker online. The first factor is which Poker site you choose because each has its unique schedule for tournaments and cash games.
Next, you have to take into account if you are a rookie or a professional. If you’re new to the game, then it would be best to play during peak hours when there is less traffic at the tables. This ensures that your experience will be as good as possible and you won’t lose any money because of mistakes that could have been avoided.
Can You Play Online Poker In Canada?
There are many different sites where you can play poker online in Canada. The best advice would be to do your research into which site offers the most for you.
For example, if you are a beginner who wants to learn how to play the game slowly, it would be advantageous to pick a site with cash games starting at micro-limits. You can then take your time learning the game before you move up to higher limits or tournaments.
On the other hand, if you are experienced and want to get straight into the action, then it would be best to pick a site with multiple games running at all times, so there’s always something for you. Either way, it will always be to your benefit to do your research before choosing a site.
How To Play Low-Stakes Poker?
You can say that ‘low stakes’ is a relative term in Poker. There isn’t such a thing as low stakes in this game because even beginners must put enough money in the pot to make it worth their while.
From a beginner’s standpoint, you should be looking at games with limits lower than what you can afford to lose. Many games cost pennies per buy-in, which is perfect for beginners who want to try their hand at the game without taking too much of a risk. Of course, if you’re feeling confident enough in your abilities, then it would be best to try out higher stakes.
Time is another factor when playing online Poker. You should always aim to invest your time in the games that you feel most comfortable playing. If you’re an experienced player, it would be best to join tables with other regulars you will often play against.
However, if you are just starting and feel like you need more experience before joining higher stakes tables, it would be best to play against weaker opponents; this way, you will get plenty of practice before you work up the ranks.
How To Play Against Aggressive Poker Players?
There are many different types of Poker players, such as loose-passive and loose-aggressive. Loose-passive players tend to call a lot and do not often raise before the flop, while loose-aggressive opponents will play a broader range of hands more aggressively by being willing to bet or raise preflop.
As a beginner, it is more beneficial to play against loose-passive opponents as they tend to be tight players. Tight players are easier to beat because they don’t tend to put much money into the pot before the flop, making it easy for you to outplay them with your hand strength alone.
On the other hand, you have to be very careful when you are up against aggressive opponents. This type of opponent can get into your head by bluffing or betting aggressively with their strong hands to try and force you off the pot.
The best way would be to slowly build a pot preflop before committing yourself without tipping them off that you have a good hand. This way, they will bet all their chips once you make a stand and try to get rid of your hand. By doing this, you can take control of the game and make them pay for trying their luck.
Remember that there is no such thing as a ‘perfect’ poker strategy, and you should always keep your emotions in check. If an opponent manages to bluff their way into the pot, make sure you fold accordingly and not get upset about it. Remember, good things happen to those who wait!
How To Play Loose Aggressive Poker?
Loose-aggressive opponents are extremely dangerous, especially when you’re playing against them with a bad hand. They will almost always raise before the flop and be willing to go all-in if they feel like they have an advantage over their opponents.
As beginners, it is beneficial to play against loose-aggressive players because they tend to act first and think later, which is what you want as an inexperienced opponent. However, if you are up against an excellent loose-aggressive player who plays aggressively to steal blinds and antes, then your best option would be to fold to their bets and wait for better opportunities.
When you finally get the chance to play, the best way would be to tighten up your game and gradually build a pot preflop. By doing this, you force them to invest their chips into the pot instead of taking advantage of smaller pots by stealing blinds or antes. If they are willing to put all their chips in for a relatively small pot, then you will have a good chance of getting them off their hand by going all-in yourself.
Another strategy is to be the aggressor and put pressure on them from the word go. If you get dealt a strong hand early on, then it would be best to get rid of your loose-aggressive opponent as quickly as possible. This way, you will only need to worry about the other opponents at the table rather than worrying about your loose-aggressive opponent coming back into the game.
Poker House Rules
There are many different ways to play poker, depending on what game you’re playing and who’s hosting the game. One of the most common rules that all poker players agree upon is that each player has an opportunity to bet or fold before seeing any of their cards after the initial deal. From there, everyone reveals their cards, and the winner takes the pot.
However, there are many different poker house rules that they can apply to change up how a game is played. Some common examples include:
- Dealer’s Choice: Dealer’s choice means each dealer decides before playing which variant of poker will be played for the duration of the series (i.e., limit, no-limit, pot-limit, etc.).
- Action-Packed: Action-packed is a rule that changes the game by adding more betting rounds to reflect how fast poker is played nowadays. This includes shortening the amount of time between rounds to only 30 seconds.
- Crazy Pineapple or Crazy Cheese Burger: Many poker house rules will add in a few extra betting rounds in the middle of the game, which is an excellent way to break up ongoing games when players get tired or need a short break.
The goal with all poker house rules is to ensure everyone has fun and enjoys the experience. Of course, this won’t always happen, but having different rules can encourage more people to participate.
There are many other poker house rules that you could come across, but the vast majority of them do not change up how games are played all that much. Many people will use different rules to alter the game for one player who may be winning too often or has become overly aggressive. If this is the case, it would be best to discuss some of the issues with the player and encourage them to take a break.
How House Rules May Affect Your Game
Not all poker house rules are created equal – like some, for example, make it easier for you to win more quickly than others might. And if you’re playing a private game for fun with friends, that shouldn’t be a big deal.
But if you’re playing in a home game or with an online group of players who are serious about winning, you might want to keep your eyes peeled for any house rules that skew the odds in your opponents’ favor. This way, when it’s time to ante up and ante up hard, you won’t be caught off guard when your opponent’s raise; you’ll already know how to bet.
Which Are The Best Poker Sites For Beginners?
Playing poker can be extremely fun and rewarding, but sometimes you have to start from the bottom before making any real money.
That’s why most new players join an online poker room first before venturing out on their own. With so many online rooms to choose from, you must find one that has a lot of new player promotions along with low-stakes tables to start at.
Most poker rooms have an age requirement of 18, which means you need to be legally able to play online without incurring any penalties.
You should also make sure the room is trustworthy by looking at their reviews and seeing what other players think about them. More recently, there have also been online poker rooms that are all free to play to give new players a chance at learning how to play before joining for real money.
Playing Live Casino Poker
A live casino game of poker requires that each player have a set of cards, chips to bet with, and something to distinguish the dealer from the other players. In a casino with live poker, the dealers have a uniform that tells everybody who they are.
Poker Hand Rankings
- The best possible hand is the royal flush, which consists of an ace, king, queen, jack, and ten of the same suit.
- After that comes a straight flush, five cards in sequence all in the same suit. An ace can be counted as high or low, making straights with an ace either the lowest straight (A 2 3 4 5) or the highest (10 J Q K A).
- The next best hand is four of a kind, which has four cards of the same value. The best four of a kind is four aces.
- Next is a full house, which consists of three matching cards of one value plus a pair of another.
- After that comes flushes, which are five cards all in the same suit but not all in sequence.
- Then come straights, which are five cards in sequence but not necessarily all in the same suit.
- Then come three of a kind, which are three cards of the same value, this hand is also known as a set.
- Next come two pairs, which are two separate pairs.
- After that one pair, which are two cards of the same value.
- Finally comes high card, which is where no player has any other better hand. The highest card wins.
What Happens If Two Poker Hands Are The Same?
If two players have the same hand or high card, then the next-highest card wins. If those are also equal, then there is a tie and the pot is split between the winners of that hand.
How Does Betting Work In Poker?
As an example, the most popular version of Poker is Texas Hold-em, which uses a standard 52-card deck.
- Each player is dealt two cards face down, followed by a round of betting.
- Three additional cards, which we call the “flop,” are dealt face up in the center of the table followed by the second round of betting.
- A fourth card, called the “turn” or “fourth street,” is then dealt and another round of betting occurs.
- Finally, a fifth and final card, which we call the “river” or “fifth street,” is dealt followed by the final round of betting.
All remaining players then reveal their cards, and the player with the best five-card poker hand wins.
How Much Skill Is Involved In Poker?
To determine how much skill is involved in poker, we need to look at what makes up luck and then what makes up skill. The most important thing that determines whether a player will win or lose money playing poker is their skills with probability and statistics. The more they understand the math behind poker (which everyone can learn), the better able they’ll be to make decisions at the moment when it matters most.
It’s important to understand that this is not easily learned or digested and takes a lot of practice and study. That said, there are some basic concepts people would do well to learn: how odds work, what draw odds are and how they’re calculated, pot odds and how to calculate them, what card odds are and how to calculate them, how randomness works in poker (specifically with drawing hands), and the difference between implied odds and pot odds.
Almost as important, is understanding one’s own ability with all these things so that you can recognize when you’re making mistakes or missing an opportunity for improvement.
Is Poker A Sport?
Poker is a game of chance as well as skill, and as such, it’s not considered to be a sport. A Sport requires physical exertion, which poker does not require. The reason why poker doesn’t qualify as a sport is that the main goal in playing it is to win money, not to test or demonstrate one’s physical abilities.
Of course, this definition has been contested because people point out the similarities between poker and golf which are both games of strategy where players can compete against one another, but are considered to be sports. However, the main difference between poker and golf is that in golf you’re physically competing against nature whereas in poker it’s your fellow players that you’re trying to beat.
FAQ
What Is The Button In Poker?
The button in poker is basically another name for the dealer position, except that they are used interchangeably when talking about tournament play.
What Is The Cutoff Seat In Poker?
The cutoff seat in poker is the seat to the right of the button, and it’s considered to be one of the best positions at a table because you have prior knowledge of your opponent’s betting action.
What Is The Hijack Seat In Poker?
The hijack seat in poker is the seat to the immediate right of the cutoff, and it’s not considered to be as good as the cutoff seat because you have less knowledge of your opponent’s intended betting play.
What Is A Bad Beat In Poker?
A bad beat in poker is when your opponent wins a pot that you were sure they would lose. This could be due to a lucky draw or an unexpected bluff.
What Is A Pocket Rocket In Poker?
Pocket Rockets is the term used when holding pocket Aces, or any Ace. The term is used because the Ace is one of the highest cards in poker, and is considered to be particularly powerful.
What Is A Run In Poker?
A run is when a player goes on a winning streak of hands or games. When a player wins consecutive hands, their run is said to be increasing. When they lose consecutive hands, their run is said to be decreasing. A run can either be positive or negative depending on the direction of the streak.
What Does It Mean To 3 Bet In Poker?
In poker, a 3 bet is when a player raises another player’s opening bet. The term “3 Bet” means to raise a bet by an additional amount of three bets.
What Is A Blocker In Poker?
In poker, blockers are used as a term for cards that you play to reduce the chance of an opponent drawing a specific hand. For example, if an opponent is holding 9h-9d on a Ks-Qd-10h flop, they’re drawing to hit the Straight, but need a Jack. But if you hold Jd-Jh yourself, then 2 of their outs are blocked by your cards. Therefore, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll complete the straight because your hand is a blocker.
What Is A Poker Fish?
A poker fish is a term used to refer to a novice or inexperienced player, so-called because they are easy prey for more seasoned players. It’s important not to be a poker fish because if you’re an inexperienced player then other players will quickly realize this and attempt to take your money by using the knowledge of your inexperience against you.
“After 30 minutes at the table, if you can’t spot the Fish. You are the Fish”
Kevin Maguire – Envavo
How To Leave A Poker Table?
Generally, you can leave by taking your chips from the betting circle and placing them back into your chip rack. If you want to signal that you’re leaving a table then placing your chips in front of the dealer is a good way. However, if you want to leave by walking away then it’s best to just stack up your chips and put them into your pocket.
Don’t be afraid to walk away from poker when you feel like it – be polite and say goodnight to the players at the table before you leave.