Overbetting All-In On the River Revealed

overbet doug polk river all-in

Hey guys! In this article we’re going to talk about a fun and highly exploitative strategy – going all-in on the river as an overbet. This is a powerful and effective play in the following scenarios: You have a range advantage over your opponent, and can therefore exploitatively bluff with a wide range. You have…

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The Beginner’s Guide to Opening the Button in Heads-Up No Limit

Doug Polk Message Las Vegas Tragedy

Heads-up poker is a whole new ball game. As there are only two players, ranges are dramatically wider in every situation. Quickly and efficiently adjusting your strategy to counter your opponent is crucial in heads-up no limit, moreso than any other game. If you use easily exploitable strategies at the wrong time, you will often…

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Doug Polk Answers Your 6 Best Questions About Pre-Flop Play

Doug Bluff Preflop

Pre-flop, where all of the mayhem that is no-limit hold’em begins. With the tough poker climate of 2017, a good pre-flop strategy is mandatory for long term success. In this article, I’ll be reviewing Doug Polk’s answers to 6 pre-flop related questions sent in by you, the Upswing readers. The questions cover the following topics:…

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GTO vs Exploitative Play: Which is the Better Strategy?

I think it’s time to talk about Game Theory Optimal (GTO) vs Exploitative play. This subject seems to confuse a lot of you guys based on how often I hear it asked about and mis-used. It’s a complex subject, so I understand the confusion. GTO vs Exploitative play has been an ongoing discussion in the…

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Revealed: How to React to Preflop 3-Bets In & Out of Position

tournament poker games chips

3-betting pre-flop is a powerful move in No Limit Hold’em. Let’s stop for a moment and consider some of the benefits of 3-betting: 3-betting gives the aggressor a chance to win the pot without seeing a flop, taking advantage of the dead money already in the middle. A pre-flop 3-bet is an effective way to…

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4 Things You Must Know to Play Perfect GTO

It is rare for me to sing the praises of any poker training book. Almost every one I’ve read has failed to provide enough depth and detail to adequately address the nuances and complexities of poker. Matt Janda’s Applications of No-Limit Hold ‘em is an exception. Janda’s book is perfect for players with an understanding…

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3 Poker Concepts Every Aspiring Pro Needs to Know

pratyush buddiga

Poker used to be easy. It almost makes me sick to think about how much money was up for grabs in the years following the ’03 poker boom. All it took to be a poker pro was a little know-how, and a lot of patience.  But the poker landscape has changed with time. Nowadays, aspiring…

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Answered: Your 5 Most Burning Post-Flop Questions

Paired Flop Strategy

Post-flop play is what makes poker interesting and complex. There are virtually infinite possible post-flop situations, which can lead to a lot of uncertainty in one’s decision making. In this article, I’ll be reviewing Doug Polk’s answers to 5 post-flop questions sent in by you, the Upswing readers. The questions cover these topics: How to…

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Strategy Comparison: Regular Tables vs Fast-Fold Tables

zoom rush zone fast-fold snap poker tables strategy vs regular tables

The world is constantly looking to do things faster and the evolution of poker has been no exception. In recent years, fast-fold tables– where players are immediately dealt another hand at a new table after folding –have become a popular choice for cash game grinders. These types of games are known by many a name:…

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12 Preflop Mistakes You Must Avoid to Move Up in Stakes [2nd Edition]

preflop poker mistakes you must avoid in no limit holdem

Poker is easy to learn but difficult to master, which I love! Players with well-thought-out and in-depth strategies are rewarded with easier decisions and a better bottom line. However, the complexity of poker also leads to many opportunities for potential mistakes. Preflop is the most played and important street in poker, so today we are going to…

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These 5 Common Mistakes Are Costing You Money

Poker chip values

Poker is a complex game. There’s more than one way to win, and the depth and variety of available strategies are what make the game so interesting. But with the variety comes the increased opportunity for potential mistakes. Let’s take a look at 5 of the most common mistakes made by poker players. If you…

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5 Goals You Must Set to Succeed in Poker

Goal setting works. On the endless road to strengthen your poker game, giving yourself targets will help you become a better player. However, to benefit as much as possible, it is important to set goals which are both useful and achievable. To give you an idea of some effective poker goals, here’s the top five…

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Why Multi-Tabling Is Costing You Money

Multi-tabling is extremely common in the world of online poker. Many players will choose to sit at multiple tables at the same time, and will see and play considerably more hands per hour than those who do not. Of course, there is justification for this: if you are proven to be a winning player at…

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My Unexploitable Preflop Opening Strategy Explained

preflop opening rfi raise first in strategy 2.25

Preflop is the most common and important street to get right. Having a solid preflop strategy that is well-considered and difficult to exploit is the foundation of any great player. If your preflop game is strong, it will set you up for profitable scenarios postflop and make your future decisions less difficult.  This article will…

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3 Bulletproof Poker Concepts Demonstrated by Ryan Fee

ryan fee ignition zone upswing lab

Want a sneak peek inside the Lab? You’ve come to the right place. Welcome to my new series Dissecting The Lab where I’ll be looking at specific videos from the Upswing Poker Lab and highlighting some of their interesting moments. Today we kick things off with the first half of Ryan Fee’s 2-part live action…

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The Ugly Truth About Staking in Poker

makeup poker staking

You’ve heard of staking. Or at least you probably have if you’ve spent any time with poker players. Over the last decade or so, poker staking has blown up, mostly in tournaments, but cash games as well. Done right, a poker staking deal can be beneficial for both parties, yet staking deals gone wrong have…

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