Have you ever wondered why pure bluffs work when they do? By pure, I mean situations where the player who is betting has absolutely nothing (not even a draw) while the player who ends up folding has something decent, say at least a pair. Let's consider the following situation … [Read more...]
3 Hands That Will Help You Bluff-Catch with More Success
Is there a more satisfying feeling in poker than calling a bluff? I really don't think there is. I'm sure you want to experience feeling as much as possible, so you're about to see 3 hand breakdowns that will help you sniff out more bluffs and fold at the right time. Each hand … [Read more...]
3 Tips for Winning with Gutshot Straight Draws
If you’ve ever been unsure of what to do with a gutshot straight draw, you’ve found the right article. Today you'll learn 3 tips that will help you decide when to bet and when to check so you can start earning more money when you hold this type of draw. But first... What is a … [Read more...]
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. This quiz has been updated (originally published in June … [Read more...]
Introduction to Pot Odds | How to Calculate Pot Odds in Poker
If you aren't familiar with pot odds in poker or if you just want a refresher, you're reading the right article. You are about to learn what pot odds are and how to calculate them step-by-step. After that, we will go over 3 examples of using pot odds in different situations … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
Hand Reading 101: How to Read Hands Better Than a TV Pro
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 … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
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) … [Read more...]
[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 this spot before taking the quiz, … [Read more...]
[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 thinks you are? … [Read more...]
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. What is a Leak in Poker? A leak is a consistent strategic mistake made by a poker player. This article is written so you don’t need to understand poker game theory to use these … [Read more...]
4 Poker Cheat Sheets That Will Make Your Life Easier
Poker cheat sheets can be great tools for improving your skills. To help you crush your competition this year, we're giving you 4 sheets that will help you avoid costly mistakes at the table. Table of contents:Poker Hand Rankings Cheat Sheet Table Positions Cheat … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
