Raise your hand if you feel like every time you 3-bet with AK, the flop brings three undercards. 3-bet pots are common, but the amount of money involved from the get-go makes things a bit more tense. Today we will try to ease that tension by explaining how to proceed on a pretty common board […]
[QUIZ] Can You Play These 10 Flush Draws Optimally?
Your skills with flush draws are about to be put to the test with ten example scenarios. You will play as the aggressor in the first six hands, then as the defender in the final four hands. Keep in mind that in close situations, the correct answer is the action PioSolver chooses most often. Take […]
Single-Raised Pots vs 3-Bet Pots: How Should Your Strategy Differ?
If you want to make as much money in poker as possible, you need to be well versed in the most common spots. In this article, we are going to take a look at the differences between the two most common types of pots in poker: single raised pots and 3-bet pots. Based on the […]
The Ultimate Guide to Squeezing in No Limit Hold’em
The “squeeze” play — 3-betting preflop versus a raise and one or more callers — was once a staple of TV poker. Players used to be much more likely to just call raises before the flop, which presented many squeezing opportunities for aggressive players. Squeezing is a less frequent part of the game nowadays, especially […]
[QUIZ] Can You Ace 10 Super Tough Poker Questions?
There are dozens of poker quizzes here on Upswing Poker. Over the past few days, my team and I sifted through each of them to find the 10 questions that were answered incorrectly at the highest frequency. In other words, these are the most challenging Upswing Poker quiz questions ever. All were answered correctly by less […]
3 Questions to Ask Yourself When Facing a Bet
Learning poker in 2020 can feel overwhelming. The poker community is always buzzing about solvers and theoretically optimal play — and for good reason. In order to reach the highest levels of the game, you need to be familiar with these things. But for most people, especially those who are newer to the game, mastering […]
3 Crucial Types of Poker Software for Serious Players in 2020
If you’re serious about poker, there are a few must-have types of poker software / poker tools. Whether you play online or live, these tools can help take your game to the next level so you can maximize your winnings and rise up in stakes. In this article, I am going to review the three […]
[QUIZ] Do You Bluff (& Semi-Bluff) Like A Pro?
As Doug Polk likes to say, bluffing is life in poker. 10 years ago you could be a wimpy bluffer and still win in most games. These days, however, you need to have a good handle on this foundation of the game. In this quiz you will be presented with 10 hand scenarios. Your goal […]
7 Must-Read Articles That Will Help Your Poker Game
I’ve been running the Upswing Poker blog for over four years. In that time I have commissioned, read, and published nearly 1,000 articles to help you, my dear reader, improve your poker skills. Today I’ve gathered seven of the most valuable/fundamental Upswing Poker articles ever published. These articles will help you improve your strategy, mental […]
How to Destroy Your Opponent After Seeing One Showdown (Part 2)
Sometimes it takes just one showdown for a great poker player to change their game plan and start crushing opponents. If you want to maximize your win-rate, you need to be able to identify and exploit the leaks in your opponents’ games. One of the best ways to do this is by paying attention to […]
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Playing Pocket Aces
After hours of looking down at hands like T♠ 5♣, it finally happens. You get dealt the beautiful pocket aces. But getting dealt the best hand in poker doesn’t entitle you to win a big pot — or even a small pot. To extract max value with your pocket aces, you have to avoid the […]
10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Exploiting an Opponent
As you’ve probably heard before: everything you do at the poker table conveys information. Anyone that has played live poker for a long time understands that humans are oftentimes bad at hiding what they are thinking. That’s why it’s so important to pay close attention to what your opponents are doing, especially in a live […]
How to Dominate Ace-High Flops in 3-Bet Pots (Deep Analysis)
You need to be well-versed in 3-bet pots if you want to win in 2020. 3-bets are much more common than they used to be, which is why it’s more important than ever to know how to play well in 3-bet pots. This article will zoom in on one specific, but relatively common situation: playing […]
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 […]
Limps in Poker: The Ultimate Guide to Crushing Open Limpers
Think of limpers as your most valuable customers. Every time you see a player limping you should see an opportunity to take their stack — or at least a big chunk of it — in a rather short span of time. You’re about to learn how to absolutely destroy these players. Here’s what you will […]
Phil 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 […]
