Poker Tricky Plays

Some people have asked me how I’ve progressed so fast in poker. I don’t think it has been that fast. Basically my answer is time. I’ve spent a lot of time at the tables. When you’re beating the game you’re in, it is just a matter of time before you make enough money to move up to the next limit. Beating the average online poker player isn’t brain surgery. I’ve spent plenty of time thinking and reading about strategies, but most of that is during my play. 

The key for me is table time. I usually play 3-5 tables at a time. For those playing quarter tables and wanting to move up, I think the biggest obstacle for you will be playing solid poker and not getting tricky. I know how you feel about Phil Hellmuth, but his first book is a great introduction to straight-forward solid poker. His advice will win you money at the lower limit tables. Play good starting cards and let them win for you.

Playing tricky poker will lose you money. You ever watch supposedly good players at the high limits make stupid plays? That is because they’re playing their opponents and being tricky to maximize their EV……haha…they’re being a donkey. Being tricky is important, but being tricky isn’t what you think. Most tricks will get you in trouble. For example, if you’re going to limp with aces, be willing to fold them unimproved. The reason aces usually win is because you narrow the field with your raise. 99% of the time, when I see someone get tricky with aces, it is a mistake. I once witnessed UTG limp with kings and UTG+1 limp with aces in a 9-handed game. Nobody raised and the big blind took both their stacks on a 236 board. They both lost a buy-in because they couldn’t fold one pair in an unraised pot. You see, had they raised preflop, they may have got it all-in preflop and the 45o in the big blind would’ve dropped his hand. Mr. aces went from winning a buy-in to losing a buy-in.

I can’t emphasize enough that you should save tricky plays for smart opponents. Play basic poker! Take away their odds at drawing, play position, put pressure on them, play quality hands or at least those hands that could become great and don’t…don’t…don’t play stupid and justify it as being “tricky”.

It all comes down to this. Most players are not good. When you make a play that you think gives away your hand, your opponent probably won’t pick up on it. Your opponent is probably just thinking that you’re bluffing and will call your nuts anyway. At a time where players can’t wait to push their stack in the middle with flush draws, why on earth would you ever slowplay? Slowplaying should be reserved for precisely the right moment….mostly short-handed tables against good aggressive players. Most so-called LAGs don’t have the heart to fire a second bullet (in NL because the bullet is that much bigger), so slowplaying does you little good anyway.

Start with good hands. Bet your hands. Avoid draws that you don’t have odds for. Sets are gold. Put in the time.