Online Poker Archives

Only 10% of Poker Players Will Ace This C-Betting Quiz

You’re about to find out if you’re an END BOSS when it comes to c-betting on the flop versus a big blind defender. For each question, assume your opponent is a competent player against whom you have no specific reads. […]

The Only Two Valid Reasons to Bet in Poker (Every Other Reason is Wrong)

Why do we bet? This question has fascinated the best poker players for decades now. The legendary David Sklansky probably had the biggest contribution to the unraveling of the reasons behind fundamentally sound betting. Until recent years, the consensus was that there are two reasons to bet: To get value with our strong hands from…

How to Read Poker Hands in No Limit Hold’em (The Professional Way)

Hand reading is one of the most misunderstood concepts among casual poker players. The mistake these casual players make is trying to put their opponent on one specific hand. That may make for good TV, but it’s not a practical or effective way to approach hand reading. You’re about to learn the right way to…

How to Win More Chips When Out of Position in 3-Bet Pots

Like I said in part 1 of this series, a quick way to increase your win-rate is to improve your c-betting strategy in 3-bet pots. Last time you learned about c-betting in position (IP) as the 3-bettor on two different types of flops (coordinated and uncoordinated). Today you’ll learn about c-betting out of position (OOP) as the…

What the Best Poker Pros Already Know About Playing vs. Double Barrels

I know something about you without having met you: you love strategy games. (If you didn’t, you probably wouldn’t have clicked on an article about poker strategy.) Whether its chess, Magic: The Gathering, or League of Legends, you’ve probably spent a lot of time playing these games. So, you must already know that there are…

When Should You Bet on the Flop After 3-Betting?

A quick way to increase your win-rate is to improve your c-betting strategy in 3-bet pots. This article series will help you get ahead of your competition by improving your understanding of these crucial spots. In this first part, we’ll take a look at c-betting in position (IP) as the 3-bettor on two different types of…

[QUIZ] Are You a Boss or a Fish When Your Opponent 3-Bets?

Are you ready to test your skills versus 3-bet? This quiz will reveal two things: your understanding of the theoretical aspects of playing versus 3-bets and your understanding of the practical ways to adapt based on reads. If you want to study […]

[QUIZ] Phil Hellmuth Sees Poker Players as Animals. Which One Are You?

When Phil Hellmuth sees a poker player, he sees an animal (according to his book Play Poker Like the Pros).The specific animal he sees — whether it be a mouse, an eagle, or something else — is based on that player’s style.Ready to find out which animal Phil […]

5 Strategic Mistakes Poker Players Make (And How to Exploit Them)

Exploiting your opponents’ leaks is how you really take your win-rate to the next level. This article is written so you don’t need to understand poker game theory to use these specific tactics to crush your opposition. That said, having a solid understanding of game theory will help you identify these leaks and exploit them as efficiently…

Free Poker Cheat Sheets That Will Make Playing Poker Easier

3 Late Position Battles Analyzed by a Cash Game Expert

Hey guys! In this article, we are going to take a close look at 3 hands in which we 3-bet on the button against a cutoff open. Upswing Lab coach Fried “mynameiskarl” Meulders played these hands at 500NL Zoom on PokerStars (a game he crushes). Then, he analyzed each one for his last Lab video…

Why Bad Beats are a Poker Player’s Greatest Gift

A smart friend once suggested to me that perhaps poker would be better if every time players were all-in, the dealer split the pot according to their equity, instead of running it out and pushing everything to the winner of the hand. For instance, if Alice had AA and Bob had KK and both went…

This Poker “Cheat Code” Will Help You Win More Hands

You’re about to learn about a powerful play that was kept secret for years by elite poker pros. It’s called “the weak lead”, and it entails leading on the turn into a player who just c-bet the flop. If you’re thinking “isn’t this called donk-betting?” the answer is yes! A decade or so ago, donk-betting…

[QUIZ] When Should You Probe Bet Versus A Check Back?

To probe or not to probe — that is the question. The following 10 hand questions take place on the turn after the preflop aggressor checked back on the flop. This is a super common spot that you need to understand if you want to succeed in poker. […]

How to Win More Chips with Your Bluff-to-Value Ratios

Have you ever heard of bluff-to-value ratio? When understood correctly, this concept will help you make more profitable plays both as the aggressor and versus aggression. In this article, you’ll learn: What is bluff-to-value ratio? The purpose of bluff-to-value ratio and how to use it Specific ratios you should aim for on the flop, turn, and…

5 Quick Guidelines for Playing Versus C-Bets on the Flop

Poker is a bit like American football. It’s important to have a solid offense (playing as the aggressor), but if your defense (playing vs. the aggressor) sucks, you’re going to have a tough time winning. Perhaps the most crucial defensive situation in poker is playing vs. a flop c-bet after defending your big blind. This…