There is perhaps nothing more satisfying in poker than watching your opponent fall into the trap that you carefully set. The feeling is so great that many players often slow-play strong hands in situations where they should be fast-playing. But this is not one of those hands. In the 2019 Battle of Malta Main Event, […]
How to Play Flush Draws on the Flop & Turn (As the Preflop Caller)
Every time you call preflop with a suited hand, there is an 11% chance that you will flop a flush draw. How well you play those flush draws will have a pretty big impact on your bottom line This article covers how to best play these hands on the flop and on the turn after […]
How to Play Jack-Nine Suited in Cash Games (Preflop & Postflop)
I like getting dealt Jack-Nine suited. It’s a very versatile hand because it has a ton of playability — with an above average chance to flop able to flop any kind of draw. But Jack-Nine is also dominated by a large number of hands that your opponents can have in most situations, such as AJ […]
[QUIZ] Do You Know When to Shove a Short Stack?
Knowing when to shove with a short stack in a tournament has a massive impact on your ROI in tournaments. This quiz will test your ability to do just that. For each question, assume the following: You are playing at an 8-handed table There is a Big Blind ante You are playing a shove or […]
How to Play Pocket Twos in Cash Games (Preflop Advice & 6 Postflop Tips)
Since you will usually flop either a set or an underpair to the board, playing Pocket Twos is usually pretty easy. However, there are still some things you should consider when playing the Deuces. In this article, I’ll cover: How to Play Pocket Twos Preflop 3 Tips for Playing Deuces as the Preflop Raiser (Single […]
When to Turn Your Low Pocket Pairs into Bluffs
When you hold a low pocket pair, you miss the flop most of the time… …but that doesn’t mean you should always check-fold your hand. Instead of waiving the white flag, there are certain scenarios in which you can turn your low pocket pair into a bluff. It’s an advanced move, but that shouldn’t stop […]
How to Play King-Ten Suited in Cash Games
King-Ten suited (KTs) is one of my favorite hands to play. It’s just so damn good-looking. It’s a strong hand because it has great playability and solid blocker effects. However, you often need to be careful with King-Ten suited in case you’re up against a hand that dominates you (like KJ or AT). To help […]
Garrett Flops the Nuts and Plays a $180,000 Pot (Analysis)
Garrett Adelstein is known as one of the best live poker players in the world. If you watch live streams, there’s a good chance you’ve seen him in action. Today, we are going to analyze a hand from the Hustler Casino live stream that features Garrett facing off against Gal Yifrach in a humongous pot […]
How to Play Middling Offsuit Aces in Cash Games
Middling offsuit Aces include A6o, A7o, A8o, and A9o. Playing these hands correctly can be tough, even for experienced players. They aren’t super strong hands, but they’re still worth playing in some situations. If you’re always folding middling offsuit Aces, you’re leaving money on the table. However, it’s arguably an even bigger mistake to play […]
When Should You Bluff with a Missed Flush Draw? (3 Tips for the River)
When you reach the river with a missed flush draw, should you try and bluff your opponent, or is it best to give up? That will be the focus of today’s article. I am going to share with you 3 tips for bluffing (or not bluffing)on the river when you hold nothing but a missed […]
How to Play Combo Draws in Cash Games
Combo draws are super strong hands, especially on the flop… …but their value can obviously change drastically by the time you reach the river. You may end up with a strong five-card hand, a total airball, or something in between (like one pair). To help you navigate this dynamic, this article covers how to play […]
The 5 Best Poker Strategy Articles of 2021
If you want to crush your poker games in 2022, read on. These 5 must-read articles published on the poker strategy blog will prepare you to dominate the tables in 2022 and beyond. I included something for everyone, regardless of your skill level (#5 is introductory, #2-4 are intermediate, and #1 is relatively advanced). (I […]
The 5 Best Poker Hand Reviews of 2021
If you like expert poker hand analysis, you’ve come to the right place. The Upswing Poker team is constantly on the lookout for interesting hands to review. When we stumble upon a great one, we analyze and publish it on the poker strategy blog. This is a list of the 5 most notable/interesting/thought-provoking hands reviewed […]
How to Play King-Jack Offsuit in Cash Games (Preflop & Postflop)
King-Jack offsuit (KJo) is one of those hands that looks super strong to newer players. That’s why Daniel Negreanu calls it “the rookie hand” —Â it’s easy to overplay KJo and many players make mistakes with it. But after reading this article, you will be better prepared to win more (or lose less) money when […]
DoorDash Founder Fires $20k Overbet Bluff with Queen-High (Analysis)
For decades, wealthy people have loved to dabble in high-stakes poker games. One such billionaire poker enthusiast is Stanley Tang, the founder of the delivery app DoorDash, who is worth an estimated $2.2 billion dollars. He recently played a session on Hustler Casino Live, where he attempted a bold $20,350 bluff. It might be easier […]
Magic Antonio Tries to Bluff Aces with 9-5 Offsuit (Analysis)
Live games can get crazy at times, especially in high stakes games that are streamed for thousands of viewers. Some players love to make ambitious (and sometimes reckless) plays when there is an audience to entertain. This recent hand between Antonio Esfandiari and Jeremy Levin from Hustler Casino Live is a great example. “Magic Antonio” […]
