Poker Strategy
What is a Button Straddle & Should You Ever Do It?
Listen up, live poker players. If you’ve spent enough time on the live felt, there’s a good chance you’ve encountered a Button straddle. Button straddles create interesting table dynamics that are worth exploring. This article answers the following questions: What is a Button straddle? How should you adjust your strategy when the Button straddles? Should…
Read MoreThe $2.5 Million Bluff That Changed The Poker World Forever (Moneymaker vs Farha Analysis)
Heads-up for the 2003 WSOP Main Event title. A bracelet and $2.5 million on the line. The poker veteran in a sharp suit, shirt unbuttoned, bedazzled with chains. The accountant with the implausibly perfect name, wearing a beige Poker Stars baseball cap and sunglasses. A bluff that will change the poker world forever. Coined the…
Read MoreWhat is Board Coverage & Why Does It Matter?
Board coverage is a relatively new concept in the poker world. It became a hot topic when solvers gained widespread use, but not everyone knows what it is. To bridge that gap, this article will answer some questions about it: What is board coverage? Why does board coverage matter in theory? How much does board…
Read More[QUIZ] Do You Know When to Bet with Ace-King?
Getting dealt Ace-King is cause for some excitement… …but oftentimes no ace or king comes on the flop and our enthusiasm fades away. This quiz will test your ability to identify situations to continuation bet (c-bet) with Ace-King, as well as situations in which you should slow down with a check. After finishing the quiz,…
Read MoreHow to Get Max Value from Poker Database Software
Whether you play online poker seriously or just for practice, using database software like PokerTracker or Hold’em Manager is an easy way to study and increase your win-rate. The following tips will help you use these powerful pieces of software to their full potential. Note: Don’t have database software yet? You are missing out on…
Read MoreWSOP Main Event Winner Stoyan Madanzhiev Joins Team Upswing
The perfect way to hone your skills in preparation for the World Series of Poker is here… Bulgarian tournament poker pro Stoyan Madanzhiev won $4 million and a WSOP Main Event bracelet last year. Now, he’s signed on to be a guest coach in the Upswing Lab training course. (Keep reading for a sneak peek…
Read More10 Cash Game Poker Tips for Dominating the Table
Do you plan on playing a cash game anytime soon? You’re in luck! Today we’ll cover 10 fundamental tips that will help you dominate your cash game competition. You’ll learn when to bluff on the flop, how to play versus limps, and more. And make sure you stay tuned until the end for 2 bonus…
Read MoreHow to Play Ace-Jack Offsuit in Cash Games (Preflop & Postflop)
Ace-Jack offsuit is a solid starting hand in No Limit Hold’em. It’s usually worth playing, but there are certainly situations in which you should let it go before the flop. This article covers how to play “ajax” in a variety of common preflop situations. Plus, tips for playing it postflop when you hit and miss…
Read MoreStop Punting Away Your Equity in Knockout Tournaments
A Wise Hitman Chooses His Targets Carefully… If you aren’t playing knockout poker tournaments as a part of your schedule, you’re seriously missing out. They’re both the most fun and the biggest value format on the internet these days. What is a Knockout / Bounty Tournament? In Knockout/Bounty tournaments, a bounty is a set amount…
Read MoreHow Poker Antes Should Change Your Tournament Raising Strategy
Do you open roughly the same range from each position regardless of antes? If so, you are making a costly mistake. Many players leak chips by failing to adjust their preflop ranges when there’s dead money to go after. With antes in […]
Read More5 Tips for Playing Backdoor Flush & Straight Draws
Backdoor draws play a significant role in the range construction process. If you don’t regularly consider backdoor draws when making decisions at the table, this short list of tips is for you. As you’re about to learn, backdoor draws aren’t valuable just because of their additional equity to hit a strong hand. Backdoor draws are…
Read More5 Best Moments from Phil Hellmuth on the Doug Polk Podcast
Whenever Phil Hellmuth is in front of a camera or microphone, you can expect to hear some pretty… interesting things. His recent appearance on the Doug Polk Podcast is no exception. The conversation was good-natured, but Doug wasn’t afraid to challenge some of Hellmuth’s statements. Not everyone has the time to watch/listen to a nearly…
Read MoreHow to NOT Sound Like an Idiot When Talking About “GTO”
The term “GTO” gets thrown around a lot in the poker world. But while it’s become a part of many players’ vocabulary, many people seem to misunderstand its true meaning. To bridge this knowledge gap, here are 7 insights from Doug Polk on Twitter to help you “not sound like an idiot when you are…
Read MoreShould You Ever Donk-Bet On The Flop?
What is Donk Betting? A Donk-Bet is a somewhat unorthodox bet made by an out of position player who was not the aggressor in the previous street. Donk-betting used to be one of the greatest sins a poker player could commit. Back in the hay day of Limit Hold’em, as No-Limit was gaining popularity, most…
Read More3 Situations to Value Your Overcard Hands in Texas Hold’em
You look down at your cards. You see a nice high card hand, like KQ, QJ or even AK. Your raise picks up a caller or two. Then, you completely whiff on the flop, which is pretty sad. But wait, it might not be over yet! As you will see in this article, there are…
Read MoreHow to Play Draw Poker Games
Pull up your trousers and put on your reading glasses, because I’m about to teach you how to play draw poker. This article will give you an overview of the most popular draw poker games, as well as some variations that you’ve probably never even heard of. To help you come out on top, strategic…
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