3 Questions to Ask Yourself When Facing a Bet

3 questions to ask versus 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…

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Playing with Deep Stacks: Tips, Tricks, & Adjustments to Help You Win

deep stack tips and adjustments

If playing with deep stacks (150bb+) makes you feel anxious or confused, this article will make your life easier. You’re about to learn how to: Adjust your preflop bet sizing when deep stacked. Choose the correct hands to 3-bet and 4-bet when deep stacked. Adjust your postflop game plan when deep stacked. Let’s dive in!…

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3 Crucial Types of Poker Software for Serious Players in 2024

poker tools and software

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…

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[QUIZ] Do You Bluff (& Semi-Bluff) Like A Pro?

bluff semi-bluff quiz

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…

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7 Must-Read Articles That Will Help Your Poker Game

7 valuable poker articles

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…

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How to Destroy Your Opponent After Seeing One Showdown (Part 2)

a7o on 9-5-4-J-K

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…

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How to Play Pocket Aces (5 Mistakes to Avoid)

how to play pocket aces - mistakes to avoid

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…

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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…

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Patrick Leonard’s 4-Part Recipe for Poker Success

patrick leonard recipe for poker success

Patrick Leonard certainly knows a few things about success. The English poker pro and partypoker ambassador boasts a poker resume that speaks for itself, with nearly $14 million in career earnings. Leonard recently authored a blog post on Medium, detailing what he calls his “Four Underrated Ingredients to Success”. Inspired by his recent career-high tournament…

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How to Dominate Ace-High Flops in 3-Bet Pots (Deep Analysis)

ace high flops 3-bet pots

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…

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How to Simplify Your Poker Strategy Without Sacrificing Value

simplified poker strategy

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…

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5 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…

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10 Poker Mindset Mistakes to Avoid

poker mindset mistakes

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…

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How to Maximize Your Profit on Paired Flops In Position

Paired Flop Strategy

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…

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