Poker Strategy
How Should You React to Check-Raises on the Flop?
It sucks to get check-raised, especially when you’re not totally sure how to react. It’s easy if your opponent is a tight player who rarely bluffs, against whom you should fold all but your strongest hands. But what to do when a tough player — someone capable of bluffing — check-raises you? After reading this…
Read MoreThe Ultimate Guide to 6-Handed Poker | 6-Max Cash Game Strategy
6-max (or 6-handed) poker games are by far the most popular online cash game format. They’re so popular, in fact, that they’ve almost completely replaced full-ring (or 9-handed) games on most online poker sites. If you want to become a successful online cash game player, having a strong 6-max game is mandatory. If you’re a…
Read MoreWhat is a Capped Range? How to Take Advantage of (And Protect Your Own) Capped Ranges
You probably already know that a range is the totality of hands that a player can have in a situation. You also probably know that focusing on ranges, not specific hands, is the professional way to approach poker. But are you familiar with the concept of capped ranges? Learning what a capped range is and…
Read MorePot Limit Omaha Preflop Quiz – Only 5% of PLO Players Will Get 7/7
Ready to put your Pot Limit Omaha preflop skills to the test? The answers to these 7 quiz questions are based on what cutting-edge PLO solvers would do in each situation. Only a true Pot Limit Omaha expert will get 6 or more correct. […]
Read MoreHow to Play Short Deck Hold’em | Short Deck Poker Rules & Strategy
Short Deck Hold’em only hit the poker mainstream in 2018, but it looks like it’s here to stay. Short Deck Hold’em is an action game very similar to Texas Hold’em, except it’s played with a 36-card deck, with all of the 2s through 5s removed. This game is also known as 6 Plus Hold’em. Today…
Read MoreThis PLO Solver Gives You the Optimal Preflop Strategy with Two Clicks
If you play Pot Limit Omaha, this tool will blow your mind. It’s called the PLO Matrix. This easy-to-use PLO solver shows you exactly how to play any hand in any preflop situation. All it takes is two clicks (other than the initial setup). […]
Read MoreHow Doug Polk Reacts to Flop Raises (3 Example Hands)
You’re about to get a look at three hands played by Doug Polk at $2/$5 on WSOP.com. The focus of each hand is on how to properly play against flop raises, which can be pretty tricky. Doug recorded this session for members of the Upswing Lab to watch and learn from. Get in the Lab…
Read More3 Spots You Should Actually Consider Minimum Defense Frequency (And 3 Spots You Shouldn’t)
Poker theory can baffle new players, partly because they have preconceived notions about the game — they’ll say things like, “look him in the eye and you’ll know if he’s bluffing,” or, “I had a feeling that raising was the right play.” Usually, these players learn the hard way that there is much more to…
Read More2 Strategies You Need to Crush Passive Tables
Playing against passive opposition might be easier than you think. It’s very easy to realize equity against these players because of how rarely they bet, and that incentivizes you to use more aggressive strategies both preflop and postflop. In this article, we’ll discuss those aggressive strategies, and how to play against one move in particular…
Read More[QUIZ] Do You Know How to Play Versus Check-Raise?
Playing against check-raises on the flop is an important aspect of a poker player’s game. If you don’t know how to counter check-raises, you open yourself up to being exploited every time you c-bet. This 10-hand quiz is going to test your fundamental understanding of playing versus check-raises. Good luck! Note: These questions assume you…
Read More3 Poker Study Techniques That Will Make You a Stronger Player
Poker is a strategically rich game with a colossal amount of strategic possibilities. And those possibilities only increase with more players at the table. Consequently, in order to book consistent wins, you need to have a better understanding of the game than your opponents. To accomplish this, you need to make studying the game part of…
Read MoreWhat Are Implied Odds? How to Use Implied Odds Like a Veteran Pro
Implied odds aren’t difficult to understand, but many players misapply them while playing. This leads to easily avoidable but costly mistakes, such as chasing a draw that isn’t worth chasing. To help you avoid such mistakes, you’re about to learn what implied odds are and how they should help shape your strategy. We will cover:…
Read MorePros and Cons of 66% & 100% Pot-Sized C-Bets (The Ultimate Guide, Part 2)
Ready to bolster your flop c-betting skills? Today you’re going to learn the advantages and disadvantages of two common flop c-bet sizes: 66% and 100% pot-sized bets. This is part 2 of The Ultimate Guide to Flop C-Bet Sizing. Check out part 1 here. Here’s the example situation we’ll use throughout this article: You are playing…
Read Moretonkaaaap Reveals 3 Insights On His Way To A 2000% ROI
“Do as I say, not as I do” -Parker “tonkaaaap” Talbot as he analyzes a hand from a $530 multi-table tournament (MTT) on PartyPoker, which he went on to win for about $10k. In this 1.5 hour hand review for Upswing Lab members, tonkaaaap walks you through every hand he played in this MTT. I…
Read MoreWhat Flop C-Bet Size Should You Use in Cash Games? (The Ultimate Guide, Part 1)
Here’s a situation you’ve probably faced many times. You are playing a $0.50/$1.00 cash game. The action folds to you on the button, and after raising to $2.50, the big blind calls and you see a flop that looks like this: Q♠ T♦ 5♥ The big blind checks. You have a hand to continuation bet…
Read MoreLimped Pots: How to Adjust Your Strategy to Win More Money
A game with a lot limped pots is a game you want to be playing. These games are often full of weak players because strong players rarely limp. (You may remember this from our How to Destroy Limpers article.) These small pots will have a big impact on your bottom line. If you want that impact…
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