Poker Strategy
How to Simplify Your Poker Strategy Without Sacrificing Value
Most of us strive for simplicity in our life, but is it something to strive for in poker too? Short answer: Yes. In this article, I am going to cover some pros and cons of simplifying your poker strategy so it’s easier for you to execute in-game. Then, I’ll demonstrate the (very low) cost of…
Read MorePhil Hellmuth Loses It Over Liv Boeree’s Very Standard Play (Analysis)
Few things in poker are more entertaining than a Phil Hellmuth rant. The ‘Poker Brat’ is an old school legend of the game. He has over $23,000,000 in live tournament winnings and leads all-time with 15 WSOP bracelets. But despite his success on the felt, many people know him better for his tirades after losing…
Read More[QUIZ] Poker 101 Quiz for Beginners
Ready to test yourself on some of the most fundamental skills in poker? Today’s quiz will take you through 10 questions that cover some basic poker concepts, including pot odds, ranges, c-betting, and bet sizing. Good luck! (Note: If you are unfamiliar with the 9 positions at a poker table, click here to review them.…
Read More10 Crucial Poker Stats To Include On Your HUD (And How to Use Them)
Want to maximize your win-rate? Then you always need to be on the lookout for ways to exploit your opponents. One of the best ways to do that is by using a HUD with poker statistics. What is a HUD in poker? Short for Heads-Up Display, a HUD is a tool used in online poker…
Read More5 Tips to Stop Bleeding Chips from the Small Blind
The small blind is arguably the most difficult position to master in No Limit Hold’em. This position is particularly challenging for two main reasons: You are forced to pay half of a big blind without looking at your cards You play every single postflop situation with a positional disadvantage If you take this 5-step professional…
Read MoreShould He Call 3 Expensive Barrels With Middle Pair? (Analysis)
When you play poker, it can be easy to feel like a one man wolfpack. Even if you get along with the people that you are playing with, at the end of the day, you are still competing against them for money. Table camaraderie only goes so far. That’s why it’s so important to network…
Read More[QUIZ] Can You Play Famous Poker Hands Like a Top Pro?
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to play as one of the world’s most famous poker players? Today you get that chance. This quiz will take you through 8 real spots that were played by world-class players at some of the world’s highest stakes. Your goal is to choose the best possible…
Read More10 Poker Mindset Mistakes to Avoid
Are mental game mistakes costing you money? In this article I’m going to discuss the most common poker mindset mistakes I see being made by online and live poker players. Whether you’re a high stakes, mid stakes, or low stakes player, you will surely recognize some of these mistakes. 1. Neglecting Your Game When Running…
Read MoreSet Over Set for $561,800 (Tom Dwan vs Patrik Antonius Analysis)
Coolers (like set over set) are inevitable in poker. It doesn’t matter if you are playing micro-stakes or the nosebleeds; every once in awhile, a cold deck will slap you in the face. The following “old school” hand between Tom Dwan and Patrik Antonius is an example of that, and unfortunately for one of them,…
Read MoreHow to Maximize Your Profit on Paired Flops In Position
Improving your fundamentals in common spots is one of the easiest ways to improve your win-rate. Here’s the common spot that will be the focus of this article: you raise, the big blind calls, and a paired flop falls. What will be covered? Why You Shouldn’t Play All Paired Boards The Same Way How to…
Read More[QUIZ] Can You Pick the “GTO” C-Bet Frequency on 10 Flops?
This poker quiz is not going to be easy. Each of the following 10 hand scenarios starts the same way: you raise (2.5bb), your opponent in the big blind calls, and then they check on the flop. You will then decide how frequently you should continuation bet (c-bet) given the board and your position/range. The…
Read MoreAmir Vahedi’s 3 Bluffing Tips from 2009 Stand the Test of Time
The evolution of poker strategy is fascinating. When I first started my journey into poker a few years ago, I began by reading every old book I could find. As I got more serious about poker, however, I realized that a lot of the strategy taught in these books is outdated. So when I recently…
Read More5 Advanced Poker Strategies & Tips To Supercharge Your Poker Wins
Ready for some advanced nuggets of poker wisdom that will help your game? For today’s article, I dug through Upswing’s extensive library of strategy articles and extracted five of the most important tips that have been covered over the years. While these tips cover vastly different topics, they should all play a part in your…
Read MoreBluff-Raising to $302,000 vs Patrik Antonius (Analysis)
Let’s take a look at what is perhaps the most interesting TV poker hand Doug Polk ever played. It’s an ultra-high stakes cash game with the blinds at $1,000/$2,000 and $2,000 in total antes. Both Doug and his opponent, the famous Patrik Antonius, are very deep, with an effective stack depth of $470,000 (235 big…
Read More[QUIZ] Can You Exploit This Hypothetical Poker Table?
Time to test your exploit skills! The following quiz will challenge you with 10 hand scenarios at a live $2/$5 table. Before diving into the hands, click “See Player Reads” below to get valuable information about each of the other players at the table. Your goal is to figure out the best play given the…
Read MoreWhy Coffee is Hurting Your Poker Results
Hey there, Upswing fam! Today we’re mixing things up with a guest article by “Coach” Bahman Zarghami that will help you with your mental game. Even if you don’t want to give up your daily coffee, this short article is worth a read so you can better understand stress and anxiety as they relate to…
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