Poker Strategy One-Liners

[Aequitas58]

I've been thinking about this for a while now. Maybe, if it gets popular, TP will make this thread a sticky ... I think many people could find it useful.

This could be a thread where we all post poker "tid-bits" of strategy. The piece of information doesn't HAVE to be one-line, but if you want to post something, try to keep it short, simple, easy to understand, and as clear as possible.

I would imagine that there would be discussion about certain tid-bits, so for ease of reading, when you post a new tactic or strategy, BOLD it. This way, someone can scroll down quickly and find lots of useful facts.

Good Idea? You be the judge.

I'll start us off regarding the types of hands you need to raise vs. call a raise:

Generally, when calling a raise, you need a stronger hand than you would if you were to originally make that raise. This is commonly known as "the Gap Concept."

[PShabi]

I like this thread.


You gotta know when to hold 'em. Know when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away. Know when to run.

[Aequitas58]

LOL.

In NL, KJo is a weak hand.

[Talking Poker]

I disagree. Well, kind of. Here's how I would have written it:
In NL, KJo is a *dangerous* hand.

[Aequitas58]

Depending on the table, I suppose. Gametime is great for this sort of thing.

[SirFWALGMan]

You should ALWAYS call a raise with a pocket pair if the raise pf is less than or equal to 5% of your stack and opponents stack. If it's more than 10%, just let it go. In the middle, it's up to your discretion. This is called the 5/10 rule.

Ok, that might be more than a one liner.

[Talking Poker]

Interesting. I've never heard this rule before, but it is very interesting. I need to give this one some thought. Obviously there are other things to consider, like the position and the number of players in the pot...

[2Tone]

Here's one that applies to playing online

If, in the unlikely event you find yourself seated at a table where three or more of the players are tight aggressive and with few if any calling stations, immediately move to another table of the same limit.

[Talking Poker]

Always split Aces and Eights. Never split 5s or Tens.

Err........

[SirFWALGMan]

I usually never like 2+2, but I read it in a FAQ on there. I can try and dig it up for you. It was attributed to Slansky and either Super System or the Theory of Poker I beleive.

[Aequitas58]

When playing slots, ALWAYS bet MAX.

[Penguinfan]

OK people FOCUS, try to keep it on topic here and maybe we can learn something.

[Kurn]

I think Greg Raymer contributed to 2+2 going downhill. For one thing, before he won the WSOP, he regularly posted on the tournament strategy boards, now his time isn't his own anymore. Second, when he credited the forum for helping him improve his game, it exploded in poularity. That popularity has not only watered down the advice given, but much of the site has become a little too incestuous and cliquey for my taste, There are still some really strong people there and (contrary to what some bloggers say) the best advice there is from people who aren't Sklansky-Malmuth clones. It's just tough to wade through the crap to find the good stuff.

The tournament series (called King of the Zoo - see 'Stars private tournies) run by 2+2 posters (not endorsed by the site) is in it's 3rd year, is well-run, encompasses all forms of poker even-though the NLHE-only crowd does whine a bit, and all-in all is reasonably challenging.

I only say this stuff because a lot of people who've gone to the site lately put it down, and for some very good reasons, but for a long time it was easily the best place to learn. People rag on it because they see some bad advice there. What they fail to understand is that the best way to improve your game is not to just read a book, but to actually dialog about what you're trying to do in certain situations.

One of the reasons that I like posting here is that there's the opportunity for this to becaome the kind of community 2+2 used to be before success gave it a big head . That and there aren't any links to poker sites here so it gets through the blocking software at work.

I've made some good poker friends there, and while I like reading blogs, a blog doesn't offer the opportunity for real interraction and discussion. I've been sending some PM's to some of the better people from 2+2 to come check this site out. They'd add a lot.

[BlibbityBlabbity]

I did get a kick out of our resident......lawyer starting a "Plagiarist's Corner" thread

Not against it, just ironic.

[Talking Poker]

As I was reading your post, I was thinking about asking you to do just this. I would love to have this place turn into the forum you are describing. I consider you an ideal poster, and would be thrilled if you brought some of your friends along to help contribute to the discussions here.

[SirFWALGMan]

I mentioned that I do not frequent 2+2 much. I wanted to explain why. It is not so much the bad advice aspect. I actually appreciate the advice. I find two things annoying.

The first thing is that alot of people ignore your posts. I guess there just sick of hearing for the umpteenth time why is this move bad, or what could I have done differently. I posted a hand up and asked "What would you do differently?", get one response, and he just complained that I wasnt asking a specific enough question. I showed you the freaking hand and asked how you would play it for some insight, what more do you want?

The second thing I dislike about the forum at times is people assume when they say something, you just beleive it as gospel and alot of the time there is not alot of explaination of the why. I find the why much more facinating than the "Do this", because it gives me a chance to see what the motivation behind things are and decide if it fits my style. I tend to see my Poker life as an evolving unqiue and artistic thing. It encorporates what works for me.

Having said all this I do browse the forums and sometimes pickup nice tidbits of information. Everything coming in has some worth.

[Aequitas58]

You're an idiot.

This is a good idea. Not only would it create discussion (on many topics) but it would be useful for people to view "quickly" ... as in: before a big tournament, during a session, etc.

I'd be interested to hear you explain yourself on how this is a "plagarism" thread.

[Kurn]

Only bet Pass/Don't Pass - Come/Don't Come and take/lay a minimum of 3x free odds (thus lowering the house edge to approx 0.3%)